(15) And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying, (16) Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel. (17) And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. (18) And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. (19) Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name. (20) And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. (21) And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.
Here is, what may be called, Solomon's sermon, in the dedication of the temple. He calls up the attention of the people to the subject self. He first opens his mouth in blessing God, as a faithful promise making, and a promise-performing God. He next adverts to the Lord's gracious design in the building; showing, that what Solomon had done was in perfect conformity to the Lord's design, and to the Lord's appointment. Hence, the king evidently meant to imply the certainty that the Lord's hand was with him in the building, and would assuredly bless it. He then expresses his joy, in having been blest of the Lord, to finish what he had begun. And in the close of these verses, Solomon not only refers all the praise to God, but all the right of the building. The house is the Lord's. Reader! it is truly lovely in believers, both to see the Lord's hand in all their ways, and as thankfully to acknowledge it. Of thine own, Lord, we give thee.