There are consequneces for rebelling against God's will for His people. All of Israel, except Judah and Benjamin, rebelled against the rigthful king over them and went their own way. They suffered grave consequnces as a result. We will too if we do the same thing.

Rehoboam refused to listen to the counsel of older and wiser men when he became king of ancient Israel. It was a disastrous decision. We can learn what not to do from him.

Solomon is a cautionary tale for anyone who fancies himself or herself to be a faithful follower of God. We are all in the same danger as Solomon for wondering away and chasing the gods of the nations around us. May we learn from him to guard our hearts and minds in faith and repentance.

Solomon allowed intimate partners to lead him away from his God. He and the people of Israel paid the consequences for his failure to pursue God above all others.

Solomon received the blessing of God's grace freely. Once he entered into a covenant with God, he was responsible for obeying his God's commands. We must do the same.

Solomon and the people of God offered an abundance of sacrifices to the Lord for His good provision for them in the buidling of the Temple. We should be as grateful for his care over us.

Solomon pronounced a benediction over the people at the conclusion of his prayer of dedication on the day it was dedicated to the Lord. This good word reminded the people of God's faithfulness and challenged them to live lives of holiness and obedience so that God would be glorified.

Solomon's prayer of dedication at the Temple was realistic. It acknowleded the faithfulness of God, the realities of a fallen world, and God's grace for his people. May we learn to pray similar prayers through the ministry of the Holy Spiirt.

God always fulfills his promises. Solomon recognized that God had used him to build the Temple in Jerusalem. We must realize that God uses us to fulfill his promises too.

The Temple signigfied God's permanent presence among His people in the Pomised Land. Up to the point of the Temple's conclusion, God had moved with his people. But, now He was settling them in a specific location and dweeling amongst them. Permanence is good.