1 Kings 8:54-61 - When Solomon had finished

8:54-57

Solomon had been kneeling before the altar while he uttered all these prayers, and had had his hands “spread out towards heaven”. Then he stood and blessed the whole assembly. The basis for the blessing was that God had fulfilled all His promises made through Moses. Solomon asks that God would never leave nor forsake them. Sadly, Israel would leave and forsake the Lord.

8:58-61

“May He turn out hearts to Him ...” Israel would turn away from the Lord, but there will come a time when they do turn back to the Lord. The goal is that “all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God”. “And may your hearts be fully committed.” God’s purposes are a fully committed people, and His glory going throughout the earth. These purposes have not changed.