WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.920 Emily: Welcome To Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience. 00:00:03.010 --> 00:00:04.560 Day 300 and 38. 00:00:04.787 --> 00:00:09.137 Solomon then summoned to Jerusalem, the elders of Israel and all the 00:00:09.137 --> 00:00:13.307 heads of tribes, the leaders of the ancestral families of Israel. 00:00:14.237 --> 00:00:18.407 They were to bring the Ark of the Lord's covenant to the temple from its location 00:00:18.407 --> 00:00:21.407 in the city of David, also known as Zion. 00:00:22.067 --> 00:00:26.627 So all the men of Israel assembled before the king at the Annual Festival of 00:00:26.627 --> 00:00:32.807 shelters, which is held in early autumn when all the elders of Israel arrived. 00:00:33.347 --> 00:00:35.147 The Levites picked up the ark. 00:00:35.717 --> 00:00:39.467 The priests and Levites brought up the ark along with the special tent 00:00:39.497 --> 00:00:44.117 and all the sacred items that had been in it there before the Ark. 00:00:44.447 --> 00:00:50.087 King Solomon and the entire community of Israel sacrificed so many sheep, goats, 00:00:50.087 --> 00:00:52.337 and cattle that no one could keep count. 00:00:53.457 --> 00:00:58.067 Then the priests carried the Ark of the Lord's covenant into the inner sanctuary 00:00:58.067 --> 00:01:00.497 of the temple, the most holy place. 00:01:01.247 --> 00:01:03.977 And placed it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 00:01:04.967 --> 00:01:09.347 The cherubim spread their wings over the ark, forming a canopy over 00:01:09.347 --> 00:01:11.237 the ark and its carrying poles. 00:01:12.227 --> 00:01:16.577 These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the holy 00:01:16.577 --> 00:01:21.437 place, which is in front of the most holy place, but not from the outside. 00:01:22.397 --> 00:01:24.257 They are still there to this day. 00:01:24.932 --> 00:01:29.492 Nothing was in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in 00:01:29.492 --> 00:01:34.292 it at Mount Sinai where the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel. 00:01:34.292 --> 00:01:39.182 When they left Egypt, then the priest left the holy place. 00:01:39.962 --> 00:01:43.742 All the priests who were present had purified themselves, whether 00:01:43.742 --> 00:01:45.602 or not they were on duty that day. 00:01:46.262 --> 00:01:51.272 And the Levites who were musicians, Asaf, Heman, Judean, 00:01:51.962 --> 00:01:53.642 and all their sons and brothers. 00:01:54.212 --> 00:01:58.622 Were dressed in fine linen robes and stood at the east side of the altar 00:01:58.652 --> 00:02:01.202 playing symbols, liars and harps. 00:02:01.922 --> 00:02:06.062 They were joined by 120 priests who were playing trumpets. 00:02:07.202 --> 00:02:10.712 The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to 00:02:10.717 --> 00:02:12.722 praise and give thanks to the Lord. 00:02:13.292 --> 00:02:17.102 Accompanied by trumpets, symbols, and other instruments, they 00:02:17.102 --> 00:02:20.282 raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words. 00:02:20.972 --> 00:02:22.022 He is good. 00:02:22.967 --> 00:02:25.727 His faithful love endures forever. 00:02:26.747 --> 00:02:30.077 At that moment, a thick cloud filled the temple of the Lord. 00:02:30.947 --> 00:02:34.217 The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud. 00:02:34.817 --> 00:02:38.537 For the glorious presence of the Lord filled the temple of God. 00:02:39.377 --> 00:02:40.847 Then Solomon prayed. 00:02:41.627 --> 00:02:46.547 Oh Lord, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness. 00:02:47.207 --> 00:02:49.877 Now I have built a glorious temple for you. 00:02:50.372 --> 00:02:52.502 A place where you can live forever. 00:02:53.822 --> 00:02:58.232 Then the king turned around to the entire community of Israel standing 00:02:58.232 --> 00:03:00.722 before him and gave this blessing. 00:03:01.892 --> 00:03:06.422 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept the promise 00:03:06.422 --> 00:03:08.432 he made to my father, David. 00:03:09.182 --> 00:03:14.072 For, he told my father from the day I brought my people out of the land 00:03:14.072 --> 00:03:18.992 of Egypt, I have never chosen a city among any of the tribes of Israel as 00:03:18.992 --> 00:03:23.762 the place where a temple should be built to honor my name, nor have I 00:03:23.762 --> 00:03:26.612 chosen a king to lead my people Israel. 00:03:27.332 --> 00:03:32.072 But now I have chosen Jerusalem as the place for my name to be honored. 00:03:32.732 --> 00:03:36.632 And I have chosen David to be king over my people Israel. 00:03:37.532 --> 00:03:43.592 Then Solomon said, my father, David wanted to build this temple to honor 00:03:43.592 --> 00:03:46.442 the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 00:03:47.102 --> 00:03:51.692 But the Lord told him you wanted to build the temple to honor my name. 00:03:52.292 --> 00:03:56.132 Your intention is good, but you are not the one to do it. 00:03:56.672 --> 00:03:59.852 One of your own sons will build the temple to honor me. 00:04:01.337 --> 00:04:05.537 Now the Lord has fulfilled the promise he made for I have 00:04:05.537 --> 00:04:07.727 become king in my father's place. 00:04:08.117 --> 00:04:12.317 And now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised. 00:04:13.277 --> 00:04:17.627 I have built this temple to honor the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 00:04:18.257 --> 00:04:22.367 There I have placed the ark, which contains the covenant that the Lord 00:04:22.367 --> 00:04:23.897 made with the people of Israel. 00:04:25.337 --> 00:04:30.377 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire community of 00:04:30.377 --> 00:04:33.527 Israel, and he lifted his hands in prayer. 00:04:34.577 --> 00:04:39.647 Now, Solomon had made a bronze platform seven and a half feet long, seven and 00:04:39.647 --> 00:04:44.177 a half feet wide, and four and a half feet high, and had placed it at the 00:04:44.177 --> 00:04:46.217 center of the temple's, outer courtyard. 00:04:46.937 --> 00:04:48.377 He stood on the platform. 00:04:49.127 --> 00:04:52.547 Then he knelt in front of the entire community of Israel and 00:04:52.547 --> 00:04:54.167 lifted his hands toward heaven. 00:04:54.737 --> 00:04:59.267 He prayed, oh Lord God of Israel. 00:04:59.897 --> 00:05:03.527 There is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. 00:05:04.337 --> 00:05:08.867 You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk 00:05:08.867 --> 00:05:11.237 before you in wholehearted devotion. 00:05:11.777 --> 00:05:15.767 You have kept your promise to your servant, David, my father. 00:05:16.457 --> 00:05:20.627 You made that promise with your own mouth and with your own hands. 00:05:20.627 --> 00:05:22.037 You have fulfilled it today. 00:05:22.937 --> 00:05:28.967 And now, oh Lord God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to 00:05:28.967 --> 00:05:35.447 your servant David, my father, for you said to him, if your descendants guard 00:05:35.447 --> 00:05:40.877 their behavior and faithfully follow my law as you have done, one of them will 00:05:40.877 --> 00:05:43.037 always sit on the throne of Israel. 00:05:44.027 --> 00:05:50.057 Now, oh Lord God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David. 00:05:51.197 --> 00:05:54.197 But will God really live on earth among people? 00:05:54.887 --> 00:05:58.187 Why even the highest heavens cannot contain you? 00:05:58.787 --> 00:06:01.427 How much less this temple I have built? 00:06:02.327 --> 00:06:05.957 Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea. 00:06:06.047 --> 00:06:07.337 Oh Lord, my God. 00:06:07.847 --> 00:06:11.357 Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you. 00:06:12.377 --> 00:06:17.327 May you watch over this temple day and night, this place where you have said you 00:06:17.327 --> 00:06:22.697 would put your name, may you always hear the prayers I make toward this place. 00:06:23.447 --> 00:06:28.187 May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people. 00:06:28.192 --> 00:06:30.617 Is Israel when we pray toward this place? 00:06:31.697 --> 00:06:37.457 Yes, hear us from heaven where you live and when you hear, forgive. 00:06:38.522 --> 00:06:43.322 If someone wrongs another person and is required to take an oath of innocence in 00:06:43.322 --> 00:06:48.362 front of your altar at this temple, then hear from heaven and judge between your 00:06:48.362 --> 00:06:51.302 servants, the accuser and the accused. 00:06:52.082 --> 00:06:54.122 Pay back the guilty as they deserve. 00:06:54.962 --> 00:06:57.782 Acquit the innocent because of their innocence. 00:06:58.532 --> 00:07:01.832 If your people, Israel are defeated by their enemies because 00:07:01.832 --> 00:07:03.182 they have sinned against you. 00:07:03.992 --> 00:07:08.162 And if they turn back and acknowledge your name and pray to you here in 00:07:08.162 --> 00:07:12.542 this temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people 00:07:12.542 --> 00:07:17.732 Israel, and return them to this land you gave to them and to their ancestors. 00:07:17.732 --> 00:07:22.412 I if the skies are shut up and there is no rain, because your people have 00:07:22.442 --> 00:07:26.912 sinned against you, and if they pray toward this temple and acknowledge 00:07:26.912 --> 00:07:30.902 your name and turn from their sins because you have punished them. 00:07:31.742 --> 00:07:37.142 Then hear from heaven and forgive the sins of your servants, your people, Israel. 00:07:38.282 --> 00:07:42.602 Teach them to follow the right path and send rain on your land 00:07:42.632 --> 00:07:46.142 that you have given to your people as their special possession. 00:07:47.282 --> 00:07:51.452 If there is a famine in the land or a plague or crop disease, or 00:07:51.452 --> 00:07:55.982 attacks of locusts or caterpillars, or if your people's enemies are in 00:07:55.982 --> 00:08:00.902 the land, besieging their towns, whatever disaster or disease there is. 00:08:01.667 --> 00:08:06.167 And if your people Israel, pray about their troubles or sorrow raising their 00:08:06.167 --> 00:08:12.047 hands toward this temple, then hear from heaven where you live and forgive. 00:08:13.307 --> 00:08:16.997 Give your people what their actions deserve for you alone. 00:08:16.997 --> 00:08:22.337 Know each human heart, then they will fear you and walk in your ways 00:08:22.337 --> 00:08:28.217 as long as they live in the land you gave to our ancestors in the future. 00:08:28.847 --> 00:08:32.477 Foreigners who do not belong to your people, Israel will hear of you. 00:08:33.287 --> 00:08:37.277 They will come from distant lands when they hear of your great name and 00:08:37.277 --> 00:08:42.227 your strong hand and your powerful arm, and when they pray toward this 00:08:42.227 --> 00:08:47.447 temple, then hear from heaven where you live and grant what they ask of you. 00:08:48.137 --> 00:08:52.397 In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and 00:08:52.397 --> 00:08:54.887 fear you just as your own people. 00:08:54.892 --> 00:08:55.877 Israel do. 00:08:56.687 --> 00:09:01.037 They too will know that this temple I have built honors your name. 00:09:02.147 --> 00:09:06.767 If your people go out where you send them to fight their enemies, and if 00:09:06.767 --> 00:09:11.387 they pray to you by turning toward this city you have chosen, and toward this 00:09:11.387 --> 00:09:16.547 temple I have built to honor your name, then hear their prayers from heaven 00:09:16.757 --> 00:09:22.607 and uphold their cause if they sin against you and who has never sinned. 00:09:23.432 --> 00:09:26.732 You might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer 00:09:26.732 --> 00:09:30.752 them and take them captive to a foreign land far away or near. 00:09:31.712 --> 00:09:36.722 But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray. 00:09:37.022 --> 00:09:43.532 We have sinned done, evil and acted wickedly if they turned to you with 00:09:43.532 --> 00:09:48.302 their whole heart and soul in the land of their captivity, and pray toward 00:09:48.302 --> 00:09:50.342 the land you gave to their ancestors. 00:09:51.077 --> 00:09:55.217 Toward this city you have chosen and toward this temple I have built 00:09:55.217 --> 00:10:00.107 to honor your name, then hear their prayers and their petitions from heaven 00:10:00.107 --> 00:10:03.107 where you live and uphold their cause. 00:10:04.007 --> 00:10:06.497 Forgive your people who have sinned against you. 00:10:07.907 --> 00:10:13.397 Oh my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to all the 00:10:13.397 --> 00:10:15.227 prayers made to you in this place. 00:10:16.277 --> 00:10:17.897 And now arise. 00:10:18.137 --> 00:10:18.887 Oh Lord God. 00:10:19.937 --> 00:10:24.647 Enter your resting place along with the ark, the symbol of your power. 00:10:25.547 --> 00:10:29.927 May your priests, oh Lord God, be clothed with salvation. 00:10:30.377 --> 00:10:33.497 May your loyal servants rejoice in your goodness. 00:10:34.247 --> 00:10:36.917 Oh Lord God, do not reject the king. 00:10:36.917 --> 00:10:37.877 You have anointed. 00:10:38.477 --> 00:10:43.187 Remember your unfailing love for your servant David, when 00:10:43.187 --> 00:10:44.417 Solomon finished praying. 00:10:45.227 --> 00:10:49.487 Fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and 00:10:49.487 --> 00:10:54.017 sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the Lord filled the temple. 00:10:55.007 --> 00:10:59.147 The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glorious 00:10:59.147 --> 00:11:01.007 presence of the Lord filled it. 00:11:01.607 --> 00:11:06.017 When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious 00:11:06.017 --> 00:11:11.327 presence of the Lord filling the temple, they fell face down on the ground and 00:11:11.327 --> 00:11:14.207 worshiped and praised the Lord saying. 00:11:14.612 --> 00:11:15.902 He is good. 00:11:16.322 --> 00:11:19.082 His faithful love endures forever. 00:11:20.792 --> 00:11:24.782 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices to the Lord. 00:11:25.622 --> 00:11:32.612 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and 00:11:32.617 --> 00:11:37.862 goats, and so the King and all the people dedicated the temple of God. 00:11:38.822 --> 00:11:43.922 The priests took their assigned positions and so did the Levites who were singing. 00:11:44.297 --> 00:11:46.937 His faithful love endures forever. 00:11:47.807 --> 00:11:51.107 They accompanied the singing with music from the instruments King 00:11:51.107 --> 00:11:55.487 David had made for praising the Lord across from the Levites. 00:11:55.577 --> 00:11:58.997 The priests blew the trumpets while all Israel stood. 00:11:58.997 --> 00:12:03.497 The Solomon then consecrated the central area of the courtyard 00:12:03.497 --> 00:12:04.967 in front of the Lord's temple. 00:12:06.017 --> 00:12:11.027 He offered burnt offerings and the fat of peace offerings there because the bronze 00:12:11.027 --> 00:12:15.677 altar he had built could not hold all the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and 00:12:15.677 --> 00:12:19.757 sacrificial fat for the next seven days. 00:12:20.027 --> 00:12:24.167 Solomon and all Israel celebrated the festival of shelters. 00:12:24.767 --> 00:12:29.687 A large congregation had gathered from as far away as Libo Hamoth in the north 00:12:29.957 --> 00:12:32.027 and the brook of Egypt in the south. 00:12:32.927 --> 00:12:37.097 On the eighth day, they had a closing ceremony for they had celebrated the 00:12:37.097 --> 00:12:42.527 dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival of shelters for seven days. 00:12:43.547 --> 00:12:47.567 Then at the end of the celebration, Solomon sent the people home. 00:12:48.347 --> 00:12:53.057 They were all joyful and glad because the Lord had been so good to David and 00:12:53.057 --> 00:12:55.817 to Solomon and to his people Israel. 00:12:57.377 --> 00:13:00.137 So Solomon finished the temple of the Lord. 00:13:00.482 --> 00:13:02.192 As well as the royal palace. 00:13:03.002 --> 00:13:06.392 He completed everything he had planned to do in the construction 00:13:06.392 --> 00:13:07.832 of the temple and the palace. 00:13:08.732 --> 00:13:14.072 Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, I have heard your 00:13:14.072 --> 00:13:18.662 prayer and have chosen this temple as the place for making sacrifices. 00:13:19.262 --> 00:13:23.732 At times, I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls or 00:13:23.732 --> 00:13:28.442 command grasshoppers to devour your crops or send plagues among you. 00:13:29.567 --> 00:13:34.937 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and 00:13:34.937 --> 00:13:40.547 seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will 00:13:40.552 --> 00:13:43.457 forgive their sins and restore their land. 00:13:44.237 --> 00:13:48.497 My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in 00:13:48.497 --> 00:13:54.017 this place for I have chosen this temple and set it apart to be holy. 00:13:54.737 --> 00:13:57.317 A place where my name will be honored forever. 00:13:58.202 --> 00:13:59.822 I will always watch over it. 00:14:00.152 --> 00:14:01.712 For it is dear to my heart. 00:14:02.822 --> 00:14:08.852 As for you, if you faithfully follow me as David, your father did, obeying all 00:14:08.852 --> 00:14:14.192 my commands, decrees and regulations, then I will establish the throne of your 00:14:14.192 --> 00:14:20.282 dynasty for I made this covenant with your father, David, when I said one of your 00:14:20.282 --> 00:14:22.802 descendants will always rule over Israel. 00:14:23.627 --> 00:14:27.827 But if you or your descendants a abandon me and disobey the decrees 00:14:27.827 --> 00:14:32.597 and commands I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, 00:14:33.167 --> 00:14:37.037 then I will uproot the people from this land that I have given them. 00:14:37.727 --> 00:14:41.957 I will reject this temple that I have made holy to honor my name. 00:14:42.527 --> 00:14:46.787 I will make it an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations. 00:14:47.357 --> 00:14:52.637 And though this temple is impressive, now all who pass by will be appalled. 00:14:53.042 --> 00:14:57.152 They will ask, why did the Lord do such terrible things to 00:14:57.152 --> 00:14:58.982 this land and to this temple? 00:14:59.912 --> 00:15:05.252 And the answer will be because his people abandoned the Lord, the God 00:15:05.252 --> 00:15:10.292 of their ancestors who brought them out of Egypt and they worshiped other 00:15:10.292 --> 00:15:12.962 gods instead and bowed down to them. 00:15:13.862 --> 00:15:17.372 That is why he has brought all these disasters on them.