1 Kings 8:22

Verses 22-30: Here Solomon really fills the role of priest. He stands before the altar, facing all the congregation of Israel. There he stretches out his hands toward heaven, taking the character of intercessor. He is truly, as we have said, the type of Melchizedek, king of righteousness and king of peace. Like Melchizedek he knows and proclaims the Lord, the God of Israel, as the Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth.

The record of that great day, when the Temple was dedicated, never once mentions the High Priest. Everything was under the direction of the king. This shows us the great change in the Lord's dealings with Israel after the priestly house broke down in the days of Eli. God said that from then on the priest would walk before His anointed forever (1 Sam. 2:36). The priest became secondary to the king. God's King in the end is Christ. All blessing depends on Him, and He holds all authority.

Notice that in everything, and especially in bringing the sacrifices, Solomon takes the full character of a priest. He acts as the king-priest, another Melchizedek, King of Salem. In all this he foreshadows Him who is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. "There shall be a priest on His throne" (Zech. 6:13) is a prediction still unfulfilled. Right now He is on the Father's throne as the priest and advocate of His people. When He comes again He will have His own throne and be a priest as well.

The king admits that the highest heaven cannot contain Jehovah. Even so, he asks Him to grant every prayer that is prayed to Him in this house. God granted that request (chap. 9:3). So the house stood as the throne of the God of heaven on earth — the place where He revealed Himself, and where He had put His name.

Scripture quotes Solomon's prayer in full, because Israel was to keep it in memory always. He spoke in front of the whole assembly of Israel, and he addressed God as "the LORD, God of Israel." The prayers of the New Testament letters are far fuller and more precious. Ephesians 1:17 is addressed to "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory." Such a prayer reaches far beyond the one nation, Israel.

Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had set it in the middle of the court. He stood on it, knelt down in front of the whole assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven (2 Chron. 6:12-13)... Anyone can read his whole prayer in five minutes without rushing it. Sadly, we have had to sit through public prayers that took far longer than Solomon's, but that held far less definite matter. When will we learn that we are not heard for our "many words"? (Matt. 6:7)... God's Word commends prayer that is definite and persistent.

Solomon knows his position, and he prays. He blesses the Lord God. He blesses the congregation. Then he takes the posture of a man pleading, and spreads out his hands toward heaven. David stood before the ark; Solomon stands before the altar. But what a difference between David's psalm and Solomon's prayer! The ark stood only in a tent, and the altar stands in a splendid temple. Even so, David's view of the coming glory was not hidden by Israel's failure in between — the failure that limits Solomon's outlook.