Dedication and Fellowship


1 Kings 8:62-66
62 Then the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the Lord.
63 Solomon offered as peace offerings to the Lord 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord.
64 The same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord, for there he offered the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat pieces of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before the Lord was too small to receive the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat pieces of the peace offerings.
65 So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt, before the Lord our God, seven days.
The NIV and the King James Version (and other translations) put verse 65 differently. “65 So Solomon observed the festival at that time, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. They celebrated it before the Lord our God for seven days and seven days more, fourteen days in all.” Just found that interesting.
66 On the eighth day (or “the next day” as seen in the NIV) he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their homes joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord had shown to David his servant and to Israel his people.

One of the things we are known for in the Christian Church is fellowship. We love to get to gather and eat, play games, visit, and just be together. Here, recorded for us in 1 Kings is one such event – a really LARGE fellowship event. The entire nation gathered together as one and partied for 2 weeks! And what an out-lay of resources! Now that’s a barbeque!

But more importantly we need to see that not only were the people a part of this celebration, but so was God. The people were “fellow-shipping” with God Himself. The fat and entrails were burned as an offering before the Lord, but the people got to consume all of the edible meat. They shared this party together. Not often do we think about God joining us in celebration and experiencing the fellowship of faith with us. But that is kind of the picture you get with this national party. It might be an interesting thing to invite God into our celebrations rather than simply having them because we all love Him. That might add a whole new dimension to our times together!

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