1.
Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
2.
And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.
3.
And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
4.
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
5.
And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
6.
And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
7.
Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.
8.
Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.
9.
And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
2 Chronicles 7:9. And the feast seven days— That is, emphatically, the feast of tabernacles.
10.
And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.
2 Chronicles 7:10. Glad and merry in heart for the goodness, &c.— That is, according to the Targum, "for the goodness of the Lord shewn unto David, in opening the doors of the sanctuary; and unto Solomon, whose prayer God had accepted, and had honoured him with his presence in the house that he had built; and unto his people Israel, in his acceptance of their sacrifices, and sending down fire from heaven to consume them."
REFLECTIONS.—1st, A glorious answer was given to Solomon's fervent prayer. Fire from heaven, either distinct from the former, or issuing from the cloud which had filled the house, consumed the sacrifices. Struck with the awful sight, the people reverentially bowed and worshipped, and, regarding it as a token of God's especial favour, adored his goodness and never-ending mercy. A vast multitude of sacrifices fed this sacred fire, which was maintained continually. The priests and Levites with diligence and zeal discharged their offices; the singers, with the psalms and instruments that David appointed, set forth God's praises; the people with delight and joy feasted before the Lord fourteen days; and Solomon enjoyed the peculiar satisfaction of seeing the labours of his hands accepted and prosperous; an encouragement never to be weary of serving so great and good a master. Note; (1.) The fire which once broke forth on Jesus our sacrifice, though terrible to behold, speaks God now reconciled to believing sinners, as having taken one for all. (2.) When God has kindled the fire of divine love in our hearts, it becomes us to feed it with the continual sacrifices of prayer and praise; and whilst it is thus kept burning, we may be assured that our sacrifice is accepted. (3.) A sinner, conscious of his deserts, is ashamed and confounded before a holy God. (4.) We can never be in any situation, in which praise is not our bounden duty. As long as we are out of hell, we must ever say, He is good, for his mercy endureth for ever. (5.) They who delight in God's worship, will never count the time long which they spend in his service. (6.) All our prosperity in our undertakings must be ascribed wholly to the divine blessing; and when we make God's glory our first concern, we may confidently expect it.
2nd, God's second gracious visit to Solomon we had before, 1 Kings 9. The Almighty expressly grants all the particulars that he had prayed for. Whenever the people, according as he had spoken, should return in penitence and prayer, their sin should immediately be pardoned, and their sufferings removed. He consents to make this house his abode for ever, and to establish his kingdom to the later posterity, provided he approved himself faithful; but warns him withal, that if he or they (as it was too possible, and they were too prone to do,) should turn aside after other gods, and be unfaithful in his covenant, then they might expect no protection from this temple, their land should be wasted, the people destroyed, the sanctuary made desolate, and such terrible judgments overtake them, as should astonish their heathen neighbours, and even make them reflect with just reproach on their apostacy. Note; (1.) If God is so gracious, let us beware not to anger him. The heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked, and we had need fear for ourselves continually. (2.) Whenever God engages the heart in humiliation to return to him, it is a sign that there is still mercy in store.
11.
Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.
12.
And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
13.
If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15.
Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16.
For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
17.
And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statues and my judgments;
18.
Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.
19.
But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
20.
Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.
21.
And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?
22.
And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.