King David longed to build a house for God, but God told him no. Instead, it would be King David’s son, Solomon, who would build it. Of all David’s children, God chose to pass on His promise to Abraham through Solomon. Solomon set to work to build God’s temple. Inside the temple, an area was designated as the court of the Gentiles. During Solomon’s prayer of dedication, he asked God to hear the prayers of every foreigner who came to pray, so that all the people of the earth would know God. Later, in Isaiah 56:7, the temple would be called “a house of prayer for all nations.”
Bible: Read 1 Kings 8:22-53 with your family.
Family Activity:
Teaching Time: 20 minutes, ongoing
Materials: blankets or cardboard, pictures of people from around the world, construction paper, markers, tape
Build a house of prayer in a room in your home. Use blankets or cardboard boxes to create your temple. Decorate the inside with pictures or drawings of people from all around the world. In the coming week, use this as a place where your family can gather and pray for the nations.
Discuss:
- What did Solomon believe about the reach of the Lord’s fame and His desire for foreigners?
- Read Revelation 7:9. How is the temple foreshadowing what is to come?
Pray:
Pray, like Solomon, that all the people of the earth would know God.
