to the Lord a thousand burnt offerings (3:4). These offerings were intended to signify complete devotion to the Lord. While Solomon was at Gibeon, the Lord appeared to him in a dream (3:5). Here we get a small glimpse of the astonishing grace of God. Solomon, as we have noted, was not perfect in obedience, but the Lord appeared to him just the same. How we should rejoice that the Lord is gracious to us even though we are sinful! The Lord’s visit itself would have been gracious enough, but God manifested
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