Sermon Central
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Remeber The Dedication
Contributed by Steven Green on May 14, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: A reminder to young people about their dedication and their value to God.
Remember the Dedication NLT
The Dedication
14 "I have worked hard to provide materials for building the Temple of the LORD ¡X nearly four thousand tons of gold, nearly forty thousand tons of silver, and so much iron and bronze that it cannot be weighed. I have also gathered lumber and stone for the walls, though you may need to add more. 15 You have many skilled stonemasons and carpenters and craftsmen of every kind available to you. 16 They are expert goldsmiths and silversmiths and workers of bronze and iron. Now begin the work, and may the LORD be with you!"
4,000 tons of gold (3,400 metric tons) at $421.70 per ounce that is roughly $50,561,830,000.00 or $50.5 billion in gold
40,000 tons of silver (34,000 metric tons) at $6.42 per ounce is roughly $7,697,580,000 or $7.7 billion in silver.
The Temple was approximately 90 ft. long, 30 ft. broad, and 45 ft. high.
This is not to mention the other precious stones, craftsmanship, trees, time and sacrifices offered there.
Estimated value is greater than $58 billion USD!
This temple is worth more that Bill Gates!
Solomon¡¦s Prayer
12 Then Solomon stood with his hands spread out before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire community of Israel. 13 He had made a bronze platform 71/2 feet long, 71/2 feet wide, and 41/2 feet high and had placed it at the center of the Temple’s outer courtyard. He stood on the platform before the entire assembly, and then he knelt down and lifted his hands toward heaven. 14 He prayed, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. You keep your promises and show unfailing love to all who obey you and are eager to do your will. 15 You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and today you have fulfilled it with your own hands. 16 And now, O LORD, God of Israel, carry out your further promise to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ’If your descendants guard their behavior and obey my law as you have done, they will always reign over Israel.’ 17 Now, O LORD, God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David.
18 "But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built! 19 Listen to my prayer and my request, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you. 20 May you watch over this Temple both day and night, this place where you have said you would put your name. May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place. 21 May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.
The Lord¡¦s Reply
When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple. 2 The priests could not even enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the LORD filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying,
"He is so good!
His faithful love endures forever!"
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices to the LORD. NLT
11 So Solomon finished building the Temple of the LORD, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do. 12 Then one night the LORD appeared to Solomon and said, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. 13 At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or I might command locusts to devour your crops, or I might send plagues among you. 14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land. 15 I will listen to every prayer made in this place, 16 for I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be my home forever. My eyes and my heart will always be here.
17 "As for you, if you follow me as your father, David, did and obey all my commands, laws, and regulations, 18 then I will not let anyone take away your throne. This is the same promise I gave your father, David, when I said, ’You will never fail to have a successor who rules over Israel.’
