Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
January 23, 2023
Commentary
In this section we find a magnificent dedicatory prayerby Solomon. He first stood beside the altar and then fell to his knees (v. 54). He began his prayer with worship and praise to God for His faithfulness as prayer should be and not with requests. He then proceeded to petition God and intercede for his people. His prayer contained nine requests:
1.God’s presence and protection (vv. 25-30).
2.Forgiveness of trespasses (vv. 31-32). This referred to interpersonal disputes.
3. Forgiveness of sins that had caused defeat in battle (vv. 33-34).
4. Forgiveness of sins that had brought on drought(vv. 35-36).
5. Forgiveness of sins that had resulted in calamities (vv. 37-40).
6. Mercy for foreigners who would trust God (vv. 41-43).
7. Victory in battle (vv. 44-45).
8. Restoration after captivity (vv. 46-51).
9. To listen to His people when they pray (vv. 52-53).
The key to Solomon’s prayer is probably v. 26 where he says, “Let thy word, I pray thee, be confirmed.” To Solomon, Jehovah was a God who made specific and definite promises and fulfilled them. He prayed with confidence that those who sinned, those who were defeated and those who had needs would bring their cares to the Temple. Sin was recognized as a cause of God’s withholding His blessings (v. 35) and he requested that Israel’s repentance would result in her release from captivity and return to the land.
Application
Solomon declared (v. 27) that even the heavens cannot contain God. It is humbling to think that though the heavens can’t contain God, He is willing to live in the hearts of those who love Him.
1 Kings 8:22– 40 (NET)
22 Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward the sky. 23 He prayed: “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You maintain covenantal loyalty to your servants who obey you with sincerity. 24 You have kept your word to your servant, my father David; this very day you have fulfilled what you promised. 25 Now, O Lord, God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said, ‘You will never fail to have a successor ruling before me on the throne of Israel, provided that your descendants watch their step and serve me as you have done.’ 26 Now, O God of Israel, may the promise you made to your servant, my father David, be realized.
27 “God does not really live on the earth! Look, if the sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this temple I have built! 28 But respond favorably to your servant’s prayer and his request for help, O Lord my God. Answer the desperate prayer your servant is presenting to you today. 29 Night and day may you watch over this temple, the place where you promised you would live. May you answer your servant’s prayer for this place. 30 Respond to the request of your servant and your people Israel for this place. Hear from inside your heavenly dwelling place and respond favorably.
31 “When someone is accused of sinning against his neighbor and the latter pronounces a curse on the alleged offender before your altar in this temple, be willing to forgive the accused if the accusation is false. 32 Listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants’ claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve.
33 “The time will come when your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they sinned against you. If they come back to you, renew their allegiance to you, and pray for your help in this temple, 34 then listen from heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.
35 “The time will come when the skies are shut up tightly and no rain falls because your people sinned against you. When they direct their prayers toward this place, renew their allegiance to you, and turn away from their sin because you punish them, 36 then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Certainly you will then teach them the right way to live and send rain on your land that you have given your people to possess.
37 “The time will come when the land suffers from a famine, a plague, blight and disease, or a locust invasion, or when their enemy lays siege to the cities of the land, or when some other type of plague or epidemic occurs. 38 When all your people Israel pray and ask for help, as they acknowledge their pain and spread out their hands toward this temple, 39 then listen from your heavenly dwelling place, forgive their sin, and act favorably toward each one based on your evaluation of his motives. (Indeed you are the only one who can correctly evaluate the motives of all people.) 40 Then they will obey you throughout their lifetimes as they live on the land you gave to our ancestors.