Twenty years after construction began, the LORD appears to Solomon a second time with a stark conditional: obedience secures the throne forever, but idolatry will turn the temple to rubble and Israel into a byword among the nations.
Full sung version coming soon.
Lyrics
When Solomon had finished the building of the LORD’s house The king’s house and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do
The LORD appeared to Solomon the second time as he had appeared at Gibeon The LORD said to him I have heard your prayer and your supplication I have made this house holy which you have built To put my name there forever and my eyes and my heart shall be there
As for you if you will walk before me as David your father walked In integrity of heart and in uprightness To do according to all that I have commanded you And will keep my statutes and my ordinances
Then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever As I promised to David your father There shall not fail from you a man on the throne of Israel But if you turn away from following me
You or your children and not keep my commandments and my statutes But go and serve other gods and worship them Then I will cut off Israel out of the land And I will cast this house which I have made holy out of my sight
Israel will be a proverb and a byword amongst all peoples Though this house is so high yet everyone who passes by Will be astonished and hiss And they will ask Why has the LORD done this
At the end of twenty years in which Solomon had built the two houses The LORD’s house and the king’s house Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar and cypress And with gold according to all his desire
King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee Hiram came out of Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him They didn’t please him and he called them the land of Cabul Hiram sent to the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold
King Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings On the altar which he built to the LORD Three times per year burning incense with them So he finished the house
Listen
1 Kings 9 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.