Word and Prayer

At the very center of Israel's worship at the dedication of the temple are two things: the Word of God and prayer.

We looked at the pattern of worship that Solomon followed in the dedication of the temple. Solomon follows the pattern that Moses used in Exodus 24 – as Moses had followed the pattern that he saw on the mountain.

Worship begins with Israel assembling and offering sacrifices before the LORD. There is a close connection between the book of the covenant and the blood of the covenant. The book of the covenant (the Word of God) is what gives meaning and significance to the blood of the covenant (the sacrifice) but the blood of the covenant (the sacrifice) is what gives power and efficacy to the book of the covenant (the Word of God).

If Israel offers sacrifices apart from what God says to do in his Word, their sacrifices will be idolatrous (think of the golden calf in the wilderness); and if Israel only hears the Word, but offers no sacrifices, then the Law will only condemn them (think of the first giving of the Law, where the people cringe with fear at hearing the Word of God.)

As Hebrews concludes, “without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.”

And just as the glory of God had left the mountain and filled the tabernacle in Moses' day, so also the glory of God fills the temple in Solomon's day.

Because the whole point of this connection between the book of the covenant and the blood of the covenant is that God might dwell with his people!