Chapter Summary

Ark brought in; Skekinah glory fills the temple. Solomon's sermon.

Discussion Questions for 1 Kings, Chapter 8

1. Does the extreme animal sacrifice in verse 5 bother you? Why or why not? How might we explain the purpose behind this?
2. What is the significance of the ark being in the most holy place in verse 6? Using Hebrews 10:19-25, describe how this applies to believers today.
3. Cherubim also appear at the Garden of Eden in Genesis. What might be the connection between creation and the temple? What can this teach us about the creation we live in today?
4. Why might the tablets of stone be so important in verse 9? What lesson does this have for us today?
5. What do we learn about the presence of God in verses 10-11? How is this similar to or different from our access to God today? How can this shape our thinking about God in our lives today?
6. Compare verses 12-21 and 27-30? How are they different and do they contradict? What are the two lessons we learn about the presence of God from these passages and how can they apply to us today?
7. What relevance could verse 23 have for evangelism? How might you compare the God of Israel with other gods people believe in today?
8. This chapter sees confession of sin as an important element of prayer. What elements of prayer do you focus most on in your own life? What are some ways you could incorporate more confession of sin?
9. What is the relationship between God's justice in verses 31-32 and his mercy in verses 33-34? How might you respond to someone who claims the two are contradictory?
10. What do verses 35-40 teach us about where our food truly comes from? Do people normally think this way? How might this verse shape our thinking in our own lives?

Key Words/Phrase

Dedicated (filled with glory) v. 11.

Characters

God, Solomon.

Strong Verse(s)

10, 27, 57, 58, 61.