This verse begins a section that continues to verse 21. Do not be mistaken in thinking, because of the manner in which it begins, that it is a prayer. Solomon’s prayer of dedication begins with 1 Kings 8:22. Instead, what we have in the present verses is an address to the assembled people that sets a context for the understanding of the building of the temple. This context is both historical and theological.
The phrase and he said
introduces the manner in which Solomon blessed the people who were assembled before him. Nevertheless, the words that follow in this verse are words that initially spoke of the blessedness of the Lord, not the people. We may be mildly surprised.
We ought to learn, however, a lesson here. The greatest blessings that God’s people can receive are found in the blessedness of the God whom they serve. God’s true blessedness is not found to be something that is given to him from outside himself. This is impossible according to Hebrews 7:7, since there the writer tells us that the lesser is always blessed by the greater, and there is no one greater than the Lord.
The words that follow in the verse show the blessing that the people were to find in their God. It is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Solomon’s father David regarding the temple.
15 And he said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying,