3 Then the king faced e about and blessed all the assembly of Israel , while all the assembly of Israel was standing . 4 He said , "Blessed be the Lord , the God of Israel , who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hands , saying , 5 'Since the day that I brought My people from the land of Egypt , I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there , nor did I choose any man for a leader over My people Israel ; 6 but I have chosen Jerusalem that My name might be there , and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel .' 7 " Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord , the God of Israel . 8 "But the Lord said to my father David , 'Because e it was in your heart to build a house for My name , you did well that it was in your heart . 9 'Nevertheless you shall not build the house , but your son who will be born e to you, he shall build the house for My name .' 10 "Now the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke ; for I have risen in the place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel , as the Lord promised , and have built the house for the name of the Lord , the God of Israel . 11 "There I have set the ark in which is the covenant of the Lord , which He made with the sons of Israel ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 6:3-11
Chapter Contents
Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple.
The order of Solomon's prayer is to be observed. First and chiefly, he prays for repentance and forgiveness, which is the chief blessing, and the only solid foundation of other mercies: he then prays for temporal mercies; thereby teaching us what things to mind and desire most in our prayers. This also Christ hath taught us in his perfect pattern and form of prayer, where there is but one prayer for outward, and all the rest are for spiritual blessings. The temple typified the human nature of Christ, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. The ark typified his obedience and sufferings, by which repenting sinners have access to a reconciled God, and communion with him. Jehovah has made our nature his resting-place for ever, in the person of Emmanuel, and through him he dwells with, and delights in his church of redeemed sinners. May our hearts become his resting-place; may Christ dwell therein by faith, consecrating them as his temples, and shedding abroad his love therein. May the Father look upon us in and through his Anointed; and may he remember and bless us in all things, according to his mercy to sinners, in and through Christ.