12 Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;
13 I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.”
14 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them.
15 Then he said: “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to my father David. For he said,
16 ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, but I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.’
17 “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
18 But the LORD said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name.
19 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’
20 “The LORD has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
21 I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”

Reflection

Cloud of Glory (8:12–14)
King Solomon recognizes God’s continuing presence with His people in a cloud—coming between them and the armies of Egypt as He parted the Red Sea, leading them through the desert wilderness, making known His presence at Mount Sinai when He established His covenant, covering the tent of meeting when He spoke with Moses. The cloud that followed Israel for hundreds of years since their deliverance from Egypt now rests on the temple in Jerusalem. This cloud of God’s presence will be witnessed by Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus is revealed to them in all His glory. In and through Jesus, what was a cloud in Solomon’s day becomes the full revelation of God today.

- In what ways does the presence of God in a cloud speak of the mystery of God? What has Jesus revealed to us about God that Solomon and Israel did not fully understand?

In God’s Time (8:15–21)
God keeps His promises, of that we can be certain. But the fulfillment of those promises is in His time, not ours. Solomon notes that it was in his father’s heart to build a temple for the Lord, and this pleased God. It was not, however, a part of God’s sovereign will for David to build His temple. This task fell to his son. We are creatures of time. For this reason, our understanding of God’s promises and their fulfillment is limited. But God’s Word gives us the answer to our limited perspective: we are to live by faith and not by sight. It is not for us to know how or when God’s promises will be fulfilled. We can rest in knowing who will fulfill them.

- What are some ways your limited perspective challenges your faith in God’s promises? What are some ways you can nurture a faith that patiently waits on God and His timing? 

A letter to God 

Lord, I trust You. I may not be able to see what lies ahead, but I know that whatever comes my way, You will be there to comfort, guide, and lead me. I will cling to Your promises in faith. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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