Solomon's Benediction

1 Kings 8

⁵⁴ _r And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the LORD, that he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. ⁵⁵ Then he stood _s and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying: ⁵⁶ "Blessed be the LORD, who has given _t rest ₁ to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. _u There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses. ⁵⁷ "May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. _v May He not leave us nor forsake us, ⁵⁸ "that He may _w incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers. ⁵⁹ "And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day may require, ⁶⁰ _x "that all the peoples of the earth may know that _y the LORD is God; there is no other. ⁶¹ "Let your _z heart therefore be ₂ loyal to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day."

1. Cross References
   2 Chronicles 7:1
   When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
   
2. Cross References
   Numbers 6:23 - 26
   Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
   2 Samuel 6:18
   And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
   1 Kings 8:14
   Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.
   
3. Cross References
   1 Chronicles 22:18
   Is not the LORD your God with you? And has He not given you rest on every side? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and before His people.
   
4. Cross References
   Deuteronomy 12:10
   But when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies round about, so that you dwell in safety.
   Joshua 21:45
   Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.
   Joshua 23:14
   Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed.
   
5. Cross References
   Deuteronomy 31:6
   "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
   Joshua 1:5
   No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
   1 Samuel 12:22
   For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people.
   Romans 8:31 - 37
   What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
   Hebrews 13:5
   Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.
   
6. Cross References
   Psalms 119:36
   Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness.
   Jeremiah 31:33
   But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
   
7. Cross References
   Joshua 4:24
   "that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."
   1 Samuel 17:46
   This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
   1 Kings 8:43
   Hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.
   2 Kings 19:19
   "Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone."
   
8. Cross References
   Deuteronomy 4:35
   To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.
   Deuteronomy 4:39
   Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
   1 Kings 18:39
   Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!
   Jeremiah 10:10 - 12
   But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.
   
9. Cross References
   Deuteronomy 18:13
   You shall be blameless before the LORD your God.
   1 Kings 11:4
   For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.
   1 Kings 15:3
   And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.
   1 Kings 15:14
   But the high places were not removed. Nevertheless Asa's heart was loyal to the LORD all his days.
   2 Kings 20:3
   Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.