在昨天的閱讀中，我們看見上帝的榮光充滿聖殿，又有光明的雲彩作記號，使祭司暫時無法在聖殿內事奉，而必須走到外院（5:13~14）。在這一刻，所羅門站立，祝福所有的百姓，並向他們說話。他首先向上帝感謝，然後作了一個短短的見證，證明上帝是可信的。上帝對大衛實踐了祂的應許，而聖殿的完成便證明了這一事實。祂也踐履了祂對摩西所說，關於某一地方的話。即：一旦以色列的子民在應許之地被建立，則在這地方，祂會安放祂的聖名（申12:5）；那個地方便是耶路撒冷（6:5~6）。君王耶穌，大衛的子孫，完成了上帝對大衛的應許，將在天上的寶座永遠治理著新耶路撒冷。

        在所羅門獻殿的禱告中，他謙卑地跪地俯伏。雖然他是最偉大最聰明的君王，卻公開地承認自己只是全能上帝所揀選，治理祂王國的僕人。（要讀有關所羅門禱告的更多註釋，請看王上8章之評註）。所羅門的職責是公正治理，但他承認至高的公義來自上帝，祂「定惡人有罪，照他的行為報應他；定義人有理，照他的義賞賜他」（6:23）。

        所羅門禱告特別強調的一點是：當上帝子民向聖殿禱告時，（即象徵著他們的心向著上帝），求上帝務必垂聽以色列選民的聲音。所羅門記下以色列民因罪可能從上帝遭受的懲罰，這些包括：以色列民被敵人打敗（6:24）；大乾旱（6:26）；饑荒或瘟疫（6:28）；以色列需外出打仗（6:34）；以及人民犯罪導致被擄（6:36）。所有這些情況，在以色列的歷史上都曾出現過！

        所羅門祈求上帝在這些時刻，務要聽他們的禱告；只要他們肯悔改，並承認自己的罪，上帝必寬恕他們。約翰壹書一章九節可作總結：「我們若認自己的罪，上帝是信實的，是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義。」

        所羅門的另一祈求，清楚地表明以色列民的目標，向萬國作見證說：他們也能到上帝面前，接受赦罪，和禱告蒙應允。外邦人（以色列國以外的人民），也會在上帝的殿中受到歡迎，他們也可以敬拜祂，並與其他被上帝救贖的子民，立於同等的地位。很可悲的，歷史證明，希伯來人辜負了這一使命，並且不許外邦人與他們共同敬拜上帝。

        所羅門禱告的結尾，再度集中在聖殿上，但也提到祭司們的事。他祈求，他們能「穿上救恩之衣」，因為經由他們的中介，敬拜者從自己的罪中得到赦免和拯救。今日耶穌的信徒，也同樣是有君尊的祭司（彼前2:9），以拯救為衣（賽61:10），並且穿上上帝所賜的全副軍裝（弗6:10~17），使我們的生活討祂喜悅。

        主，當我們讀到鑰節時，我們向著您在天上的寶座祈求。謝謝您，因為基督的犧牲，我們可以坦然無懼來到您的面前。奉耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。

English

        In yesterday's reading, we saw that when God's glory filled the Temple by the sign of the bright cloud, the priests could no longer see to minister within and had to go out to the court (5:13-14). At this point, Solomon stood to bless all the people and address them with a beautiful sermon. He firstly blessed God, then He gave a brief testimony to God's faithfulness. God had fulfilled His promise to David and the completion of the Temple attested to this fact. He had also fulfilled His words spoken to Moses concerning the place on which He would put His Name once the children of Israel were established in the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 12:5); that place was Jerusalem (6:5-6). King Jesus, the Son of David, who fufilled God's promise to David, will reign forever upon the heavenly throne of the New Jerusalem.

        In Solomon's prayer of dedication, he humbly bowed down upon his knees. Though he was the greatest and wisest king, he publicly acknowledged that he was but a servant whom his sovereign God had chosen to administer His kingdom. (For more notes on Solomon's prayer, see commentary on 1 King 8.) Solomon's role was to administer justice, but he acknowledged that justice ultimately comes from God who "brings retribution on the wicked..., and justifies the righteous" (6:21-23).

        The main emphasis of Solomon's prayer was his petition that God would listen to His people Israel when they faced His Temple and prayed (their hearts symbolically looking toward Him). Solomon listed several possible circumstances wherein Israel would suffer divine punishment for their sin. These included: when Israel would be defeated by an enemy (6:24); when there would be a drought (6:26), a famine, or a plague (6:28); when Israel would go out to battle (6:34); and even when the people's sin would lead to their captivity (6:36). All of these were fulfilled during the course of Israel's history.

        In each instance, Solomon prayed that God would hear their prayer when they repented and confessed their sins, and that He would forgive them. It is all summed up by 1 John 1:9 — "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

        Another petition of Solomon clearly explains the purpose of Israel: to be a witness for all nations, that they too might come to God and receive forgiveness of sins and answers to their prayers. Foreigners (Gentiles) were to be welcomed at God's Temple, that they also might worship Him and thus have an equal status with God's redeemed people. Sadly, history proved that the Hebrews lost this missionary vision and excluded Gentiles from worshipping with them.

        The conclusion of Solomon's prayer focused again upon the Temple but also mentioned the priesthood. He prayed that they might be "clothed with salvation", since through their mediation, the worshippers received God's atonement and salvation from their sin. Believers in Jesus today are likewise a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), clothed with salvation (Isaiah 61:10), and are to put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-17) that our lives may be pleasing to Him.

        Lord, as we read in our key verse, we pray toward Your temple in the Heavens. Thank You that because of the sacrifice of Christ, we can come boldly into Your presence" '