Bible Society of South Africa

Season after Pentecost: Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

First reading and Psalm

The Covenant Box is Brought to the Temple

1Then King Solomon summoned all the leaders of the tribes and clans of Israel to come to him in Jerusalem in order to take the LORD's Covenant Box from Zion, David's City, to the Temple.

1 Kings 8:1GNBOpen in Bible reader

6Then the priests carried the Covenant Box into the Temple and put it in the Most Holy Place, beneath the winged creatures.

1 Kings 8:6GNBOpen in Bible reader

10As the priests were leaving the Temple, it was suddenly filled with a cloud 11shining with the dazzling light of the LORD's presence, and they could not go back in to perform their duties.

1 Kings 8:10-11GNBOpen in Bible reader

Solomon's Prayer

22Then in the presence of the people Solomon went and stood in front of the altar, where he raised his arms 23and prayed, “LORD God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You keep your covenant with your people and show them your love when they live in wholehearted obedience to you. 24You have kept the promise you made to my father David; today every word has been fulfilled. 25And now, LORD God of Israel, I pray that you will also keep the other promise you made to my father when you told him that there would always be one of his descendants ruling as king of Israel, provided they obeyed you as carefully as he did. 26So now, O God of Israel, let everything come true that you promised to my father David, your servant.

27“But can you, O God, really live on earth? Not even all heaven is large enough to hold you, so how can this Temple that I have built be large enough? 28LORD my God, I am your servant. Listen to my prayer, and grant the requests I make to you today. 29Watch over this Temple day and night, this place where you have chosen to be worshipped. Hear me when I face this Temple and pray. 30Hear my prayers and the prayers of your people when they face this place and pray. In your home in heaven hear us and forgive us.

1 Kings 8:22-30GNBOpen in Bible reader

41-42“When a foreigner who lives in a distant land hears of your fame and of the great things you have done for your people, and comes to worship you and to pray at this Temple, 43listen to his prayer. In heaven, where you live, hear him and do what he asks you to do, so that all the peoples of the world may know you and obey you, as your people Israel do. Then they will know that this Temple I have built is the place where you are to be worshipped.

1 Kings 8:41-43GNBOpen in Bible reader

Longing for God's House

1How I love your Temple, LORD Almighty!

2How I want to be there!

I long to be in the LORD's Temple.

With my whole being I sing for joy

to the living God.

3Even the sparrows have built a nest,

and the swallows have their own home;

they keep their young near your altars,

LORD Almighty, my king and my God.

4How happy are those who live in your Temple,

always singing praise to you.

5How happy are those whose strength comes from you,

who are eager to make the pilgrimage to Mount Zion.

6As they pass through the dry valley of Baca,

it becomes a place of springs;

the autumn rain fills it with pools.

7They grow stronger as they go;

they will see the God of gods on Zion.

8Hear my prayer, LORD God Almighty.

Listen, O God of Jacob!

9Bless our king, O God,

the king you have chosen.

10One day spent in your Temple

is better than a thousand anywhere else;

I would rather stand at the gate of the house of my God

than live in the homes of the wicked.

11The LORD is our protector and glorious king,

blessing us with kindness and honour.

He does not refuse any good thing

to those who do what is right.

12LORD Almighty, how happy are those who trust in you!

Psalms 84:1-12GNBOpen in Bible reader
Bible Society of South Africav.4.24.4
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