God Answers Solomon

Solomon finished building the Lord’s house, the king’s house, and all he had planned to make. Then the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him before at Gibeon. God said he had heard Solomon’s prayer and had made this house holy for his name.

God said his eyes and his heart would be there continually, and that he would be attentive to prayer made in that place. Chronicles adds that if the land suffered from no rain, locusts, or pestilence, God’s people were to humble themselves, pray, seek his face, and turn from their wicked ways.

Then God spoke directly to Solomon. If Solomon walked before him as David had walked, with integrity and uprightness, obeying God’s commands, statutes, and ordinances, God would establish his kingdom over Israel, as he had promised David. There would not fail to be a man from his line on Israel’s throne.

But God also gave a serious warning. If Solomon or his sons turned away, left God’s commands, and served other gods, then Israel would be cut off from the land God had given them. Even this house, though made holy for God’s name, would be cast out of his sight and become a proverb and a byword among the peoples.

People passing by would be astonished and ask why this had happened to the land and to the house. The answer would be that they had abandoned the Lord, the God who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and had taken other gods, worshipped them, and served them. So God’s answer to Solomon brought both assurance and warning.