I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 1 Kings 8.

It tells me a lot about this passage when it tells us that all that was in the Ark of the Covenant when King Solomon moved it into the Temple was the two stone tablets.  However, in Exodus 16:34 we are told that a jar of manna was placed in the Ark in front of the stone tablets (Numbers 17:10 is worded in a way which could be interpreted that Aaron’s staff was placed there as well)..  This is one of those points where, if the author was just making it up, one would expect him to either not mention what was in the Ark, or to tell us that the stone tablets and the jar of manna were there (and possibly Aaron’s staff).  So, at some point between the death of Moses and King Solomon dedicating the Temple, the jar of manna and Aaron’ staff had been lost (Aaron’s staff may never have been in the Ark, but it would surely have been mentioned when Solomon later brought the Tabernacle to Jerusalem).

As part of dedicating the Temple, Solomon asked God to hear and honor the prayers of those who pray towards the Temple.  Solomon listed many sorts of situations where people would do so and asked God to bring deliverance and blessings to those who did so.  I believe that in all of the situations which Solomon listed, God will answer the prayers of anyone, and any group of people, who turn to Him in those situations.  Then Solomon turned to the people and invited them to pray with him in requesting that God give each and every one of them the desire to do God’s will and to follow His commands.  Let us join Solomon in praying that prayer and then follow through on the desire God gives us and do His will.