lessons from solomon's temple dedication

What a grand privilege to be called to be part of that Temple Class! Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Through the building of Solomon's palace of judgment and the Temple, God reveals seven timely lessons for . Primary. We need to remember that this entire Temple complex was designed to house the Ark of the Covenant and only then to become a house of prayer! 1Ki 8:9 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. In addition, Solomon employs the term plead (ESV, ASV-supplication). Solomon and the people of Israel were gathered in the court of the temple at Jerusalem. 1Ki 8:63 And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. The temple was one of the most beautiful structures of ancient times. 5:16:11), the sanctuary could function as the place for Israels worship that it was intended to be. Elements of each are present in this prayer, but some are more implicit than explicit. The highest point on the temple that King Solomon built was actually 120 cubits tall (about 20 stories or about 207 feet). It is by Prayer that we have fellowship with the Lord. Lev. 13(V)When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14if My people who are (W)called by My name will (X)humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, (Y)then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. This is the same Cloud of Glory that had filled the Tabernacle when it had been completed. 2023 Fortify Your Faith Foundation. I noted how the dedication included worship, prayer, and praise. Just as Moses had been awestruck by this obvious sign of the presence of God, so it was with all of Israel this day of the Temple dedication. He used the finest gold, silver, wood, and stone. Preparation. ----- 1. The Ark of the Covenant is brought to the temple. There are two main Bible references that provide a description of Solomons Temple. (Used 12x in 2 Chronicles 6 alone), -----C. Forgiveness (6:21, 25, 27, 30, 39), ----------1. The altar built in Solomon's Temple was made of cedar and gold. "ACTS" Model of Prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. *****1Ki 8:22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: Our prayers are not to be a request only thing! Perhaps the gates of Zion have reference to the position these two pillars bore at the entrance of the temple! So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. (4) Davids seed, his son, would build the temple. Solomon's Temple Building and Its Divine Approval in Biblical Historiographies. In our last lesson we saw part of the construction of the Temple and its furnishings. If we will just walk in the ways of Gods Word. This page presents the rationale for considering it as a Pinpointed Lunar Sabbath, and discusses several objections. In the early years of the Israelite kingdom, the Ark of the Covenant was periodically moved about among several sanctuaries, especially those of Shechem and Shiloh. The time for sin offerings will have been in the past. I will also make you very rich. Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 4) God told David that Solomon would be king and that Solomon would build the temple ( 1 Chronicles 22:9-11 ). As David sat in his house David said toNathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an houseof cedars, but the ark of the covenant of theLORD remaineth under curtains. Israel has been restored as a nation and as small and as vulnerable as they are, Israel stands firmly and boldly before the world. Prayer should lead to these things as well as spiritual rejuvenation, increased trust, peace that passes all understanding (cf. Solomon was very careful to give God the glory for what he had accomplished. Not Allah, not Confucius, not Buddha, not any other false thing! The word forgive [derived from the Heb.slh is used in the Old Testament only of that which issues from the Lord. But there is yet another, entirely different way to arrive at this date of circa 967 b.c.e. Love the brotherhood. 7When (B)Solomon had finished praying, (C)fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and (D)the glory of the Lord filled the [a]temple. We must realize that this entire Temple complex and all the things associated with it were designed to house the Ark of the Covenant. And as many as believed Word Of God showed up. The books of 1 Kings has three parts. The Dedication of Solomon's Temple is often cited as a Pinpointed Lunar Sabbath because the people rested on the 22nd of the month before Solomon sent the people away to their tents on the 23rd. Prepare for Easter with Bible Gateway Plus. The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the Lord's musical . Solomon's prayer at the time of the dedication of the Jewish Temple is a remarkable piece of literature. They suggest the Lord's . This was not only the time of the Feast of the Tabernacles but it also fell a Jubilee year and the fulfillment of the words of Moses! Solomon wanted to build the temple out of the best materials possible. Solomon was given a tremendous responsibility and Solomon failed! 1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Since Solomon represents Jesus and the Church in glory, we see illustrated the fact that Jesus and the Church will accept the sacrifices of the people in the Kingdom. Solomon mentions the fact that God has been faithful to the promise which He made to his father David. 1Ki 8:56 Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. It was not Solomon that had caused this to happen as much as it was his father King David. Solomon had rule over the religious power all the days of his life. 8:61. 1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. His life - charmed as it was by wealth, power, wisdom, and love - teaches us many things. And may these words of mine, which I have offered in supplication before the LORD, be close to the LORD our God day and night, that He may provide for His servant and for His people Israel, according to each day's needs 8:60. to the end that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD alone is God, there is no other. Bibliography. Second Chronicles 6:2239 describes several specific circumstances under which the people might pray toward the temple, focusing particularly on prayers prompted by Gods discipline that could come in the form of military defeat, famine, drought, or exile (see Deut. And it came to passthe same night, that the word of God came toNathan, saying, Go and tell David my servant,Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not buildme an house to dwell in: For I have not dwelt inan house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day: but have gone from tent to tent and from one tabernacle to another Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning. There are many in our world that think they can loose their salvation but that could only happen if we did not have an Intercessor who is dedicated to keeping us saved! (b) The Temple pictures her future spirit born condition wherein she shall possess her spiritual body and the divine nature (1Corinthians 13:10, 2 Peter 1:4). And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: No, there is no other god like unto the LORD! Because Davids reign involved warfare and the shedding of blood, he would not be allowed to build the temple. The latter word carries the idea of soliciting Gods favor, with the subtle contextual suggestion that, as a result of ones sins, the Lord has turned away (Proverbs 28:9; Isaiah 59:1-2; Habakkuk 1:13;1 Peter 3:12). Num 3:31 And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof. 17(AB)As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, 18then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, (AC)You shall not fail to have a man as ruler in Israel.. What does this say of the rather common modern tradition (even among the people of God) that advocates the notion one in a sinful condition may ask the Lords pardon, but remain firmly fixed in the status quo. The pure truth of the Lord is that He provides the needs that we require daily. Crafts: Draw or paint self-portraits and write out 1 Corinthians 3:16 on the picture. -----A. We can catch a glimpse of the relationship Solomon had with God and the feeling of this prayer. 85-99 of the 1869 edition of "The Symbolism of Freemasonry" by Albert G. Mackey. The natural question is, Why was David not permitted to build the temple? The answer comes from Jehovah. 1 Kings 8 - The Dedication of the Temple A. It is framed by a brief address ( 2 Chronicles 6:2-11 )-in which Solomon claims that, in his accession to the throne . 1921). After seven years, the temple was ready to be dedicated to Jehovah. Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. A nation that knows Jehovah God will truly be blessed and they will know it! The movement of the Ark had to coincide with the proper time. 1 Kings 8:62-64 records the dedication of the temple. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Part I. Listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Known as an ambitious builder of public works, Solomon's crowning achievement was the building of the Temple. The burnt offerings, meal offerings, and peace offerings that Solomon presented were free-will offerings. 4(H)Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. Curiously, these pillars are named! But we must remember that the Lord meets His people wherever they come together for worship. Mic 5:4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. The people would be required to confess, we have sinned and acted perversely and wickedly (47; cf. A reasonable suggestion is that the two pillars represent certain qualities of The Christ as the world of mankind will recognize them. Handed down. Public Domain. This can help us to appreciate the value of these experiences, knowing that Jesus, the antitypical David, has gathered together the precise combination of strangers to help us in our quest of Christ-like character. Dedication. If we will just keep the two royal commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ. Part II. strangers, were used in the preparation work of the temple. Not in Temples made with hands (6:18). 2 Chronicles 2:1-18. People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them. God cannot be confined to a particular space, but He does meet with His people in particular spaces. The holy sanctuary would not put a spatial limit on God, as if He could be contained in the temple or found only there. *****1Ki 8:3 And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. This cloud was the symbol of the divine presence of the Lord and a symbol of Gods acceptance of the Temple as a place of worship. We thus quote the following passages for sincere reflection. (LogOut/ However, the world will remember the saints as they once knew them when they dwelt among them in the flesh. Solomon's temple stood in Jerusalem for almost 400 years. The walls. Jo 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. It took seven years from start to finish in the construction of the Temple, not for the lack of skills but only because of the lack of modern machinery. Bible Students recognize frequent lessons associated with names in the Bible, and it is so here also. Deu 16:16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: Originally the Ark had contained not only the stone tablets but also the golden pot that held manna and also Aarons rod that had budded but these had been removed leaving only the two stones. 1 Kings 8:6. From the study of Solomon's prayer after the completion of the temple, the students will . America is divided because Gods people have allowed Satans worldly system to dominate over the truth of God! 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 2 Chronicles 6, 2 Chronicles 6:12-7:4, Hebrews 4:14-16, Philippians 4, Romans 12:1, Sermon Topics: . The truth is that God will answer every prayer that reaches into Heaven! Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Adding 70 to 454, the year 524 B.C. 1Ki 8:6 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims. -----C. Today, Christians are Temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). Even the highest heaven cannot contain our Creator (2 Chron. (v. 1) Solomon assigned workers for the projects. And We Must Then Sacrifice Ourselves To The Lord! Location. (The Christ Kings and Priests). Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; Sin signifies to miss the goal or path of right and duty. The term perverse suggests the idea of that which is twisted or distorted, thus not in line with sacred truth. And all these things come about when we pray. New King James Version (NKJV). We must give God the glory for what He has done in our lives and even if God only saves us He has done much more than what we deserved! Lessons from David and Solomon Solomon's Preparation for the Temple . Being filled with knowledge and understanding of God, we will have the wisdom of Gods will for our lives. Jos 23:14 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. Another word for this dedication would be sanctification. Mic 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? 6 Reasons Why Some Prayers Are Never Answered. At the dedication of the temple, Solomon prayed, charged the Israelites to be loyal to God, and offered an incredible number of animal sacrifices (1 Kings 8:14-65). He prays best in public who prays most in private. 21:26, Deut. Wayne Jackson. The Temple of Solomon could only be dedicated one time. 3:16; 6:19). (3) Yet, King Solomon offered peace and burnt offerings seemingly with God's full approval. Mar 11:17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? 1Ki 8:10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD. 1Ki 8:60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. Rather than information alone, Solomon . Fear God. 1 Chronicles 28:10. In this case Solomon becomes the equivalent of Melchizedek, the King-Priest. When we gather for worship, the Lord meets with us, and we The Lord blesses Solomon with wisdom, riches, and honor ( 3:10-15 ). 1Ki 8:46 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near; The Temple of Solomon could only be dedicated one time. And listen from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive (v. 21). V. 22b Verse 54 tells us that he knelt on his knees: "when Solomon had finished praying all Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 1Ki 8:48 And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name: To repent is to bethink, which is to recall to the mind. Solomon asked God to hear the cries of His sinful people on such occasions, pardon their sins, and restore them in accordance with His promises (see Deut. Num 3:32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary. Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. Change). 7Furthermore (K)Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the Lord; for there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat. *****1Ki 8:66 On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people. It is introduced by the procession of the ark (vv. While the context under review pertains initially to the circumstance of the ancient Jews and their relationship to Jehovah, the principles therein are echoed throughout the New Testament. ----- INIQUITY ('avon) - Complete and rebellious depravity. Its location, Mount Moriah, was where God appeared to David, and also where Abraham . America is divided because our national leaders do not accept the Word of God as the basic tool for humanity! The Temple was begun in the year of the World 2992 (1012 B.C. He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever. The Apostle Paul wanted us to know about the symbolism of the temple (1 Corinthians 3:17, Ephesians 2:21). Originally given at New Hope Christian Fellowship (Assembly of God), Mundelein, IL. I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: Solomon began his prayer of dedication while standing but Solomon just as soon went to his knees. Here are some basic observations: (1) The ancient Tabernacle represented the temporary or transient dwelling place of Jehovah, where He communed with Israel, whereasthe Temple represents His eventual and permanent abode with His completed spiritual family. The Lord Jesus is not just preparing us a place in our new home but He is also saving us to the uttermost so we can get there! November 2020 Series on Thanksgiving - for more information and an outline see here. 2(E)And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lords house. 1:6). Solomon's prayer includes Worship, Repentance, Petitioning, and a Restatement of the LORD as God. Tom Benton November 7, 2020 Bible Study. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. This was the place to offer sacrifices, the blood atonement, the propitiation. 1Ki 8:50 And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them: God said the way to get restored after wickedness Israel would have to return to the Lord with all their heart and all their soul, even if they were in the land of their enemies! Used by permission. He alone is God (6:14), -----B. The fact that scholars and architects offer a wide variety of designs also suggests that we lack sufficient details to be exact. It was not just the building itself that was dedicated for God's use. 6(I)And the priests attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of the Lord, which King David had made to praise the Lord, saying, For His mercy endures forever, whenever David offered praise by their [b]ministry. 11Thus (Q)Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the kings house; and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the Lord and in his own house. When the temple was complete Solomon praised God before His people reminding them of His promises. 1217; 2 Sam. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It was the Ark that was the symbol of Gods presence and without the presence of God, this Temple would be just a building and of no use for the work of God! Not one Word out of the mouth of God will ever fail! Introduction. All rights reserved. It is particularly significant as a lexicon definition of sorts of what is involved in genuine repentance. 3) Solomon was the son of David by Bathsheba. is the first possible year for the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. If prayer could not change the outcome of things God would not teach us to pray! BibleGateway+ is less than $5/mo. And as King Solomon enclosed the walls with boards of cedar, so he fixed on them plates of gold, which had sculptures upon them; so that the whole temple shined, and dazzled the eyes of such as entered, by the splendor of the gold that was on every side of them. Thousands of skilled men and women worked on the temple. 15Now (Z)My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. Blessings will flow to the world as a resultof the reign of Jesus and the Church. We can know that our prayers will be answered if we belong to God! And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God (1 Chronicles 22:2). . Solomon's Birth, Rise, and Temple Building. God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood (1 Chronicles 28:3). Go to www.ccontario.com for an. Solomon realized that prayer changes things! Thus, on behalf of the Hebrews weaknesses, he petitions the Lord God. -----A. turn47a] with all their mind and with all their heart (48). 1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 1Sa 12:22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great names sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. A nation that knows the Lord will also be a blessing to its leaders. Dedication of the Temple. If you read on through the verse, you come to understand that there was actually quite an assembly . 6:4042). 1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. There's so much to learn from Solomon's life but let us look at three lessons we can learn today: 1. *****1Ki 8:54 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. Solomon's palace takes about twice as long to finish (13 years) as the temple. God cannot be confined to a particular space, but He does meet with His people in particular spaces. 1 Kings 5:1-8. First Kings 6:1-38 and chapters 78 describe the construction and dedication of Solomon's temple. Solomon was dedicating the new Temple to the Lord. Who He is - e.g. 1 John 1:9). The Bible's description of Solomon's Temple (also called The First Temple) suggests that the inside ceiling was was 180 feet long, 90 feet wide, and 50 feet high. From Gods standpoint they were perfect, justified by the blood of Christ. 2) To provide a central place where all the tribes of Israel could assemble at the time of the three feast as directed by God to preserve the unity of Israel. It is interesting to note that non-Israelites, i.e. This method was, in fact, arrived at before Thiele's researchand at the . Then Solomon dedicated the temple the Lord in a ceremony where they brought the Ark of the Covenant in to the Most Holy Room. This indicates that the New Covenant will then be in operation. Solomon's dedicatory prayer ( 2 Chronicles 6:12-42) closely follows 1 Kings 8:22-53. For all the saints. 12Then the Lord (S)appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: I have heard your prayer, (T)and have chosen this (U)place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. We must dedicate our places of worship to the Lord! 1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Solomon's Dedication of the Temple. . Solomon's prayer of dedication is interesting in many respects. Moses taught the children of Israel with these words: Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 13 For Solomon had made a bronze platform 7 feet [] long, 7 feet wide, and 4 feet [] high and put it in the court. For the LORD to Hear! Walking worthy of the Lord Jesus is being in the will of God! Consecration must always be a voluntary presentation of ones powers, and hence this is represented in some of the sacrifices after the Atonement Day (Tabernacle Shadows, page 94). These pillars, framing the entryway to the temple, bring to mind the 87th Psalm: The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.Glorious things arespoken of thee, O city of God. What He has done - e.g. Gods Plan of Salvation for His Lost Children. We must also certainly never forget that when God makes promises, God uses people to fulfill those promises during this time of Gods Grace! 17:1; 2 Chr. Note some of the propositions chronicled in this section. Solomon's prayer includes Worship, Repentance, Petitioning, and a Restatement of the LORD as God. Selah (Psalms 87:2,3,5,6). Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Solomon's dedicatory prayer makes repeated mention of praying "toward this place," a clear intimation that the temple was to become the center of a world religionthat is, the true . What, therefore, was the remedy to be (at least in part) for pardon? Scripture taken from the New King James Version. 10(P)On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the good that the Lord had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel. The Cherubim on the Mercy Seat faced each other as a sign they observed the mysteries of Gods Grace. Defeat by an Enemy (6:24-26), ----------4. Daniel 9:5; Psalm 106:6). As a believer, you are also part of Jesus' holy priesthood (1 Pet. NKJV, Ancient-Modern Bible, Comfort Print: One faith. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. Solomons prayer at the time of the dedication of the Jewish Temple is a remarkable piece of literature. The glory of the Lord is known as the shekinah. This is a picture of the Grace of God and God tells the Church to do the very same thing! Townsend and Boyd's commentary title this week's lesson "Solomon's Dedication Prayer". As I recently read through his story again, I noticed eleven practical life lessons. Sinners must repent [cf. Exo 40:35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Bullinger through use of scriptures in the Old and New Testament, showing that the 480 years of I Kings 6:1 did not constitute . -----OT: Temples are set apart for prayer and service to the LORD. The person who knows he has sinned, and refuses to concede that either privately to God, or publicly before his peers, as the case may require, cannot be absolved of liability (cf. he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. (v. 2) Remember that the major planning for the Temple had already been accomplished by David (designing the architecture, gathering the supplies, and enlisting the personnel).