Devote Yourselves to the Lord

Tuesday, December 9, 2014
1 Kings 8:54-62 KJV

54 And it was [so], that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. 55 And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, 56 Blessed [be] the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. 57 The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: 58 That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. 59 And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: 60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD [is] God, [and that there is] none else. 61 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day. 62 And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did King Solomon do after praying to the Lord? (v.54-55)
2) Why did King Solomon bless the Lord? (v.56)
3) What did Solomon desire from the Lord? Why? (v.57-58)
4) Why did the king want his words to ever be with the Lord? (v.59-60)
5) What did King Solomon expect of God's people? Why? (v.61)
6) How did the king and all Israel respond King Solomon's declarations? (v.62)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) How has the Lord blessed you recently?
8) Have you ever asked the Lord to incline your heart to fear Him and to walk in obedience to His ways? Why, or why not.
9) Why do you think that you are obedient to God's commands?

LIFE LESSONS
10) The blessing and favor of the Lord is upon those who are obedient to His word.
11) Those whose hearts are perfect before the Lord are those with a heart to obey His commands.
12) Worship is the only acceptable response to a petition after it has been offered to the Lord.
13) We are obedient to the Lord, not because of our own personal goodness, but because of the Lord's goodness to us.