2 Chronicles 9:21

2 Chronicles 9:21 says, For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.  Solomon's ships continued to engage in trade with other countries, along with the servants of Huram.  They brought not only gold, silver, and ivory, but apes and peacocks as well.  Solomon was successful in business.  Whether we are successful in worldly terms or not, we as followers of Christ need to be successful in sharing the gospel with others. Verse twenty-two adds, And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.  Solomon was greater than any king of the earth in riches and wisdom, but he pales in comparison to our King as Christians, Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-three continues, And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.  All the other kings sought to be in the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which was really the wisdom that God had given him.  It would be nice if everyone came to Christians to hear the wisdom of God, but too often they do just the opposite.  They try to discredit us as people who have been deceived.  Verse twenty-four states, And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.  These were freewill offerings according to Matthew Henry, given to seek the favor of Solomon.  I do know that if we are to be saved, we must offer ourselves to God as a freewill offering, but we shouldn't do it just to gain His favor.  We should do it because He loves us and has already granted us His favor, salvation through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son on the cross.  Verse twenty-five adds, And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.  Solomon also had four thousand horse and chariot stalls and twelve thousand horsemen to use them throughout the nation of Israel.  God has His army in place today, but our main purpose is to spread the gospel.  Verse twenty-six continues, And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.  Solomon ruled over many other kings, and King Jesus rules over all other kings or leaders of any kind, whether they acknowledge it or not.  Verse twenty-seven says, And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the low plains in abundance.  In Jerusalem, silver was like stones and cedars like sycamore trees.  When we get to our heavenly home, we will walk on streets of gold, but our real riches come from the forgiveness of sins and restoration with God through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Nothing else will matter. Verse twenty-eight continues, And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands.  This is just another statement of people bringing gifts to Solomon, this time horses from Egypt and elsewhere.  Verse twenty-nine states, Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?  We are told that the rest of the acts of Solomon were written in two books that we do not have.  If they were important, I believe that God would have preserved them for us, but we know what we need to know about Solomon and his reign from the Bible.  Verse thirty adds, And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.  Solomon reigned for forty years, during which time Israel was mostly at peace and even looked up to by the rest of the world.  Jesus Christ, our King, will reign forever and He will always lead those who put their faith in Him to peace with the Heavenly Father.  Verse thirty-one continues, And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.  Then, Solomon died and left all the riches behind.  Whatever we own and no matter how powerful we may be, one day we will die and leave it all behind, unless Jesus Christ returns first, and even then, we will leave it all behind.

2 Chronicles 9:13

2 Chronicles 9:13 says, Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;  Solomon was bringing in a lot of gold to the kingdom of Israel.  I don't believe that he was just using it for his own personal gain, but for the benefit of all of Israel.  I do know that I believe that if God is blessing us as individuals or as a nation, that we should use the things He blesses us with for the good of the more than just ourselves.  Verse fourteen adds, Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.  People from other countries were bringing gold and silver to Solomon.  Solomon had not defeated them in war, but he ruled with wisdom in a time of peace, and this was all because of the blessing God shed on him.  We need o do our best to live at peace int he world, but I am afraid that we will always at war with Satan and his forces.  We will likely never have the eartly riches that Solomon had either, but we do have God's promise that He will always meet our needs.  Verse fifteen continues, And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.  Verse sixteen concludes, And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.  Solomon made defensive weapons out of gold, but they were stored and not used.  God's gives us all the defensive weapons we need spiritually, and they are even more valuable than weapons made of gold.  They are forged by God's word.  Verse seventeen states, Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.  Solomon made a great throne of ivory overlaid with gold.  As great as Solomon's throne was, it was temporary.  We will never have a throne as followers of Christ, but we worship the One Who sets on the throne forever.  Verse eighteen adds, And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays:  This was an elaborate throne, and Solomon had to go up six steps just to sit on it.  There was also a footstool of gold, maybe so people could sit at Solomon's feet.  It seems to me that Solomon went overboard in making his throne.  We do not need to sit ourselves above other people, no matter how rich and powerful we may be, nor do I believe that we need to spend lots of money just to make things look impressive.  Verse nineteen continues, And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.  There were six lions on each side of the throne, plus the two by the stays.  The stays served a purpose, but the lions really didn't.  As Christians, I don't believe we should spend a lot of resources on things that really serve no purpose other than adornment. Verse twenty concludes, And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon.  Silver was too cheap for the drinking vessels of Solomon, so they were made of pure gold.  This was about as necessary as gold toilet seats today, and I don't believe God is pleased if we live in opulence while others are starving.

2 Chronicles 9:1

2 Chronicles 9:1 says, And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.  The queen of Sheba had heard about Jerusalem, and came to ask Solomon what is said to be some hard questions.  People who hear about Jesus Christ today may come to us who are followers of Christ with some hard questions, but we can only share with them the gospel, because until they understand and accept it, they can never understand anything about God.  They may have some general knowledge about God's existence, but they will never really understand Who He is until they accept His gift of salvation.  The queen of Sheba came with gifts and not in an attitude of demanding.  People today should come with an air of superiority demanding to know God.  Verse two adds, And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not.  Solomon answered all her questions and didn't hide anything from her.  We need to answer people's questions about God today, starting with sharing gospel and not trying to hide any of God's truth from them.  We are not to view God as ours exclusively.  Verse three continues, And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,  The queen of Sheba we are told saw the wisdom of Solomon and the house that he built, which I would think means that she understood that God was behind what Solomon had done and gave him both the wisdom and the resources to accomplish it.  I do know that whatever we achieve in life as Christians, we need to make sure that people realize that God is behind our success.  Verse four concludes, And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her.  When the queen of Sheba saw all the work in the temple, we are told there was no more spirit in her.  I believe this means she was humbled at what God had done through Solomon, and people must be humbled before God when they see what He did for them when He sent His only begotten Son to die for them. Verse five states, And she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom:  She said what she had heard about Solomon was true, and people must realize that what we say about Jesus Christ is true today, and they can only know this by hearing and accepting Him as their personal Savior and Lord.  Verse six adds, Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.  She then told Solomon that she couldn't believe what she had heard until she saw it with her own eyes, and then when she did it exceeded what she had heard.  Until someone personally sees the truth of the gospel, they cannot believe it, and when they do accept it, it will exceed their belief.  Verse seven continues, Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.  She noted that Solomon's men were happy to stand before him and hear his wisdom, and we as Christians should be happy to stand before God and hear His wisdom.  Verse eight says, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the Lord thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.  Then, she gave praise to God for Solomon's success.  She said God had set Solomon on the throne because He loved Israel and established them forever.  Still, the nation of Israel is not the only people God loves.  He loved the queen of Sheba just as much, even if He had chosen to work through the nation of Israel.  God love each individual the same, no matter where we are from, since Jesus Christ died for the sins of all.  Of course, like the nation of Israel, we must be faithful to Him in order for Him to work through us.  Verse nine adds, And she gave the king praise hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.  She then gave Solomon many gifts, including a very unique spice.  We as followers of Christ should never expect the praise of people nor expect them to reward us for doing what God calls us to do.  The praise and rewards should all go to God and we should be content with His providing for us daily.  Verse ten continues, And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones.  Huram and Solomon's servants also brought gold, algum trees, and precious stones into his storehouse.  This was a very prosperous time for the people of Israel, but I don't think that Solomon was using these gifts or profits just for himself, but I believe he was using them for God's glory; at least at first.  I do know that we shouldn't use the things that God blesses us with just for our own benefit or glory.  Verse twelve states, And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the Lord, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.  We are told that at least with the algum trees that Solomon used them for doing God's work, making a terrace on the temple and harps and psalteries for the singers.  Verse twelve adds, And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants.  Solomon showed respect for the queen of Sheba as she had for him, giving here anything she desired and asked for, and then she went back to her own land.  We as Christians today should have same mutual respect for each other.

2 Chronicles 8:11

2 Chronicles 8:11 says, And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the Lord hath come.  Solomon had built a separate house for his wife, who was Egyptian.  Matthew Henry says she was likely a proselyte to God, but her servants may not have been.  For whatever reason, he felt it wouldn't be right for her to dwell in David's house.  None of us are Christians by birth, and if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, there is no place that we are not good enough to be.  Verse twelve adds, Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the Lord on the altar of the Lord, which he had built before the porch,  Solomon continued to offer burnt offerings to God.  He built the temple and consecrated it, but it would be of no purpose if he didn't continue to worship God there.  We offer ourselves to God as a living sacrifice as Christians, but that doesn't mean we are not to do the same every day if we are to be effective in doing His work.  Verse thirteen continues, Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.  This verse just continues to speak of Solomon's observing the law of Moses, or God's law, in keeping all the sacred days.  As Christians, every day is a sacred day and we should observe God's commandments every day, not just one or two days a week when we gather to worship Him and study His word.  Verse fourteen states, And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.  The priests and porters were assigned their time to serve according to God's order of service that was given to David.  We need to do things orderly in worship today, with people serving where and how God has called them to serve.  Verse fifteen adds, And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.  The priests, Levites, and porters didn't stray away from Solomon's command in this, which was in accordance with what God had established for their service. We need to all serve where and how God calls us to serve.  Verse sixteen continues, Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord, and until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was perfected.  Solomon had followed the directions of God from the time the foundation of the temple was laid until it was completed.  Once the foundation of our faith is laid through putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we need to daily do our best to build on that foundation so that our faith may become perfected.  This is a lifelong calling.  Verse seventeen says, Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom.  Solomon then moved on to other things.  Once we have completed one task for God, we need to move on to the next task that He calls us to.  Verse eighteen adds, And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.  Solomon entered into a business of commerce through sea trade with Huram.  Solomon sent his people to these ports but relied on Huram to provide the ships and knowledge to carry out the trade missions, with help from the Israelites.  We may have to work with those who are not Christians in order to more effectively do God's work, but we can never allow them to lead us away from serving and glorifying God.

2 Chronicles 8:1

2 Chronicles 8:1 says, And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the Lord, and his own house,  In the twenty years after Solomon had built the temple and the house for the king, he had also continued to build up the nation of Israel during the time of peace.  He did not sit idly by but stayed busy in doing good works, even if he was mainly noted for his wisdom.  We cannot just sit idly by when we complete one task for God but need to be continually at work for him.  Verse two adds, That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.  Solomon had been having the cities that had been restored to him by Huram rebuilt and the people of Israel were living there.  As stated, the kingdom of Israel was being built up thorough rebuilding projects, and we need to rebuild the church if it falls into disrepair today.  Verse three continues, And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it.  Solomon was also defeating other people who were close to Israel.  We aren't called on to defeat other people militarily, unless they go to war against us, but we do need to be expanding God's kingdom by spreading the gospel.  Verse four states, And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath.  We are then told that Solomon had Tadmor built in the wilderness, as well as other store cities.  Again, he was busy fortifying Israel in the time of peace.  We may never be at peace with the world, but we do need to fortify ourselves with God's word as we live our lives.  If we have free time, there is no better way to spend it than using it to grow in our Christian life.  Verse five adds, Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;  There is a continuation of the listing of the cities Solomon had built and the fact that they were walled cities.  Verse six continues, And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.  Solomon had many cities built in Israel and Lebanon, and he built them for different purposes, all having to do with being ready for war.  We are wise if we use times of peace and prosperity to build up the kingdom of God.  Verse seven says, As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel,  Verse eight adds, But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day.  Those who were not people of Israel who were left alive when their land was taken were forced to pay tribute to Solomon  We cannot expect to conquer other people to have them pay tribute to God, but we must give willingly to Him and share the gospel, and if they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, then they too should willingly contribute to getting God's work done.  Verse nine continues, But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen.  The people of Israel didn't do any work as servants but were men of war.  We need to be prepared to fight those who oppose God, but our main calling is to reach out to them with the gospel.  Verse ten concludes, And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.  Solomon had his military organized, and we as the army of God need to be organized today, and God will call thoe who are to be in charge.

2 Chronicles 7:12

2 Chronicles 7:12 says, And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.  God appeared to Solomon during the night, and He often appeared to people during the night.  We need to acknowledge that God can speak to us at any time.  God also said He had chosen the temple as a place dedicated to Himself and for it to be a house of sacrifice.  Our church buildings today should be places chosen by God as houses of worship and sacrifice to Him.  Verse thirteen adds,  If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people:  God then warned of some bad things that could happen to the people of Israel if they turned away from Him, and bad things can still happen to God's people in the world today if we turn away from Him, even though we will still be His people if we are saved by accepting Jesus Christ.  Verse fourteen continues, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. We hear this verse quoted a lot today, but it isn't enough to just quote it.  We as Christians must humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face, and turn form our wicked ways, and then God will heal our land.  The burden is not on the lost people to do this, but on Christians.  Verse fifteen states, Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.  God told Solomon that He would be attentive and hear the prayers made in the temple if teh people were obedient.  We don't have to go to the church building for God to hear our prayers, even though He will hear prayers offered there as long as we are asking by faith in accordance with His will.  We can pray to God anywhere at any time and He will hear our prayers if we are one of His people.  Verse sixteen adds, For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.  God said he had chosen and sanctified the temple as a place that His name would be forever, and His heart and eyes would be there at all times.  We also know that later, Jesus Christ said that His body was the temple of God, and it is He through whom God forgives and blesses the world, and not a physical building somewhere.  Verse seventeen continues, And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;  God then set some requirements on Solomon if God was going to bless him.  He was to walk before God as David had and obey God's commandments and observe His laws and judgments.  If we expect God to bless us today, we need to do the same thing, not to be saved but because we are.  Verse eighteen concludes, Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.  God said that if Solomon did this, that He would fulfill His promise that there would always be a descendant of David on the throne of Israel.  We also know that this was fulfilled with Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, and the only ruler of God's people that there ever was or ever will be.  Still, as Christians, we are expected to follow God's commandments, as servants of God and not rulers.  Verse nineteen says, But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;  After the promise of God doing good things for the people of Israel came the warning of what would happen if they turned away from God and followed other gods.  We need to realize that if we allow anything to become more important to us than God is, then we are chasing a false god.  Verse twenty adds, Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.  God said if they turned away from Him, that He would allow them to be carried out of the land He gave them, and the temple would be destroyed and made a byword to all nations.  The people of the world would talk about the fact that God and His people couldn't keep His house from being destroyed.  W know they would have been only half correct.  God could have kept it, but He worked through His people, and if they refused to obey Him, there was no need for the temple.  Verse twenty-one continues, And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house?  God said that if His people turned away from Him that the people of the world would look at the temple in astonishment and ask why God had done this.  We may have beautiful church buildings today, but if we are not obedient to God when we enter them, the people of the world may look at them and ask why God allows some things that we may do there to happen.  Verse twenty-five concludes, And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.  God said that if this happened it would be because of the disobedience of His chosen people.   If the church becomes ineffective in the world today, it will be for these same reasons.  Just as He had freed them from bondage in Egypt and they would have then chosen to reject Him, He has freed us from the bondage of sin if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ, but He will still allow us to choose to sin.   

2 Chronicles 7:1

2 Chronicles 7:1 says, Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. After Solomon completed his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifices and God's glory filled the temple.  I believe this would have been great evidence that God had heard Solomon and accepted the sacrifice.  The sacrifice was consumed by fire, but the people were unharmed, and through our faith in Jesus Christ, our sins are consumed or washed away, but we are unharmed.  We may not have any visual conformation that God answers our prayers, but we should be filled with His presence in our hearts if we are sincere in our prayers, and that is what is important.  Verse two adds, And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house.  The priests couldn't even go into the temple because it was so filled with the glory of the Lord.  We can only enter into God's glory through putting our faith in Jesus Christ, and once we do, He should fill us completely with His Spirit.  Verse three continues, And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.  The people of Israel all bowed down with their faces to the ground and worshipped and praised God when they saw this.  They then proclaimed that God was good and that His mercy lasted forever.  People might have the same reaction today, but I believe many would still try to discount what had happened or run away in fear instead of worshipping God.  We as followers of Christ have seen a greater miracle, Jesus Christ sacrificing Himself on the cross for our sins, and we need to bow down to God and worship Him every day.  His mercy does last forever.  Verse four states, Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord.  Solomon and all the people then offered sacrifices to God, and we as Christians need to sacrifice everything we have God for His use.  He will never leave us in need if we do.  Verse five adds, And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.  Solomon offered a sacrifice of a great number of ox and even more of sheep.  As stated before, we need to offer everything we have to God once we become one of His people, and we should never think that we are being asked to give too much.  Verse six continues, And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.  The priests began to celebrate with music, and the people all stood when they heard the trumpets sound.  We still need to worship God with music and song, and do so because of His mercy to us, which will last forever.  Verse seven says, Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.  Solomon offered sacrifices in the middle court of the temple because the brazen altar couldn't contain all the sacrifice.  It would be something wonderful if we had offerings to God so great that they overflowed even the needs of the church, or God's people.  Verse eight adds, Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.  Solomon and the great congregation of Israel kept the feast going for seven days.  Sometimes today we have a hard time keeping worship services to God going on for over an hour.  Verse nine continues, And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.  On the eighth day, they made a solemn assembly since they had kept the dedication of the altar for seven days and the feast for seven days.  This day would have been at the end of the second seven days and would be the day of atonement Matthew Henry points out.  Every day should be a day of atonement for God's people, because our sins are continually washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Verse ten states, And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.  Matthew Henry also points out that the fifteenth day started the feast of tabernacles, which lasted until this twenty-second day.  The people had continued to worship God this whole time, with a merry heart for God's goodness to His people.  We should always be thankful to God for His everlasting mercy to us as Christians.  Of course, His mercy is offered to all, but not everyone benefits from it.  Each individual must accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord in order to benefit from God's mercy.  Verse eleven adds, Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.  Solomon had completed the building of the temple and of his own house.  Jesus Christ completed the sacrifice for the salvation of all people on the cross, and we simply need to accept His gift.