Bible Commentaries

As the ceremonies had begun with sacrifice and song, so they closed, and it is quite easy to realize how "joyful and glad of heart" the people were as they dispersed. Had only the king and people remained on the high altitude on which they stood that day, their history would have been very different. How deeply we should realize the awful truth, that even in the midst of such high experience the seeds of evil may already be at work in our life.

Solomon's greatest work now being completed, God appeared to him in a second vision, in which He first declared that the work done was accepted, and Solomon's prayer heard and answered. Then with the tenderness and faithfulness of His infinite love He restated for Solomon the conditions of Solomon's safety. Obedience would be rewarded with continuity of blessing. Disobedience, on the other hand, must issue in rejection and disaster.

The words speak to us also. No height attained, no work done, no blessing received, is in itself suf6cient to ensure our continuance in favor. Nothing but continued fidelity can do that. The influence of particular and sacred work was over, and therefore new and subtle perils awaited the king. The underlying weaknesses of his nature would now appeal, with new force for attention. Either he would hear their appeal, to heed, and yield, and fail; or to refuse, and conquer, and rise. On the eve of the coming struggle God spoke. It was the action of perfect love.