SCRIPTURE READING
1 Kings 5:1-5; 8:27-30,41-43
1Now King Hiram of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, when he heard
that they had anointed him king in place of his father; for Hiram had
always been a friend to David. 2Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying,
3‘You know that my father David could not build a house for the name of
the Lord his God because of the warfare with which his enemies
surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. 4But
now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither
adversary nor misfortune. 5So I intend to build a house for the name of
the Lord my God, as the Lord said to my father David, “Your son, whom
I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my
name.”
27‘But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest
heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! 28Have
regard to your servant’s prayer and his plea, O Lord my God, heeding
the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; 29that your
eyes may be open night and day towards this house, the place of which
you said, “My name shall be there”, that you may heed the prayer that
your servant prays towards this place. 30Hear the plea of your servant and
of your people Israel when they pray towards this place; O hear in
heaven your dwelling-place; heed and forgive.
41‘Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes
from a distant land because of your name 42—for they shall hear of your
great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm—when a
foreigner comes and prays towards this house, 43then hear in heaven your
dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so
that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do
your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been
invoked on this house that I have built.’”
Reader: Word of God. Word of life.
All: Thanks be to God.
