2 Chronicles 6:1 – 21 Solomon Blesses the LORD (1 Kings 8:12-21)
Then Solomon said: “The LORD said that He would dwell in the thick cloud; and I have built You an exalted house, a place for You to dwell forever.” And as the whole assembly of Israel stood there, the king turned around and blessed them all and said: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His own hand what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying, ‘Since the day I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house so that My Name would be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over My people Israel. But now I have chosen Jerusalem for My Name to be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’
Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Since it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you have done well to have this in your heart. Nevertheless, you are not the one to build it; but your son, your own offspring, will build the house for My Name.’
Now the LORD has fulfilled the word that He spoke. I have succeeded my father David, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. I have built the house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. And there I have provided a place for the ark, which contains the covenant of the LORD that He made with the children of Israel.”
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication (1 Kings 8:22-53)
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. Now Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, (7/5 ft. x 7.5 ft. x 4.5 ft high) and had placed it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on it, knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven, and said:
“O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven or on earth, keeping Your covenant of loving devotion with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. You have kept Your promise to Your servant, my father David. What You spoke with Your mouth You have fulfilled with Your hand this day.
Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’ And now, O LORD, God of Israel, please confirm what You promised to Your servant David.
But will God indeed dwell with man upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built. Yet regard the prayer and plea of Your servant, O LORD my God, so that You may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying before You.
May Your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place of which You said You would put Your Name there, so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.”
Oh, if only Solomon would have continued in the same spirit in which he is offering his prayer of dedication for the temple! Sacrifices have been made, and the Lord has so filled the temple with His presence that the priests cannot even stand up but are prostrated in awe before Him. Now Solomon comes to bless the people and then to offer his prayer of dedication. This prayer is magnificent, not only in its wording but also in its scope.
Solomon has erected a bronze platform out in the central courtyard. This platform is 7.5 feet square and 4.5 feet high. This platform allows Solomon to stand above the assembly. It’s likely that Solomon’s workers have carefully situated this platform so that the temple will act as a sounding board for Solomon’s voice, making it easier for all to hear and understand him.
Solomon’s opening words in his prayer have echoed through the centuries. ““O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven or on earth, keeping Your covenant of loving devotion with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.” Next, Solomon reminds the gathering of God’s promises to David, indicating that Solomon’s reign as king and the completion of the temple are proofs of God fulfilling those promises. In the beginning, God did not choose any city or any king, but now God has chosen David and his descendants to rule and Jerusalem to become the center for God’s worship.
“But will God indeed dwell with man upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.” God is great, and Solomon gives witness to that fact. While the pagan gods reside in their temples, the One True Living God is so vast that He is outside the universe.
“Yet regard the prayer and plea of Your servant, O LORD my God, so that You may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying before You. May Your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place of which You said You would put Your Name there, so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.” Here Solomon is acting as a priest, representing the people and humbling himself, begging God to be attentive.
APPLICATION: Both David and Solomon at various times fulfilled the roles of prophets and priests, as well as kings, thus foreshadowing Jesus the Messiah. Solomon’s prayer is magnificent and well worth studying.
One thing to notice is that Solomon humbles himself before God and does not presume to dictate to God. It’s quite likely that there was a holy hush in that temple courtyard as men strained to hear Solomon’s words. Contrast that hush with what happens in many prayer meetings. Corporate prayer with lots of people praying at the same time can be an uplifting experience, provided it does not degenerate into a shouting contest.
It’s amazing the number of people who evidently believe that God is deaf; meanwhile, the Holy Spirit generally speaks in a still small voice. A few years ago, we attended a program in which a young lady was to open in prayer. This woman clasped the microphone in one hand and began screaming at the top of her voice, going on and on while she waved her free hand frantically. We had come to hear one of our friends who was singing on the program; however, when the screaming continued for more than twenty minutes, we finally gave up.
A second thing is Solomon’s concern for his people. Solomon is praying on behalf of the nation and therefore does not mention any of his personal requests. Some people who lead corporate prayer confuse public prayer times with private ones and pray inappropriate requests. While Solomon may have had problems with some of his brothers, he is not using this time to complain to God about them; he is interceding on behalf of the nation.
Solomon’s prayer is lengthy, and I have chosen to divide it so that the discussion does not become tedious. Tomorrow we will look at Solomon’s key prayer points. Be advised that most of the petitions Solomon prayed for ancient Israel are still valid for us today!
What can we learn from Solomon? Public prayers should point people to God and not turn into a performance. An effective prayer time leaves people feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Prayer times that are merely performances simple leave people exhausted and wishing they had left earlier. May God help us so that we follow Solomon’s example!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow You all the days of our lives. Thank You, that You do hear our prayers and that You do answer them in Your good time. Help us to continue to trust that when answers appear to delay, we must merely wait for Your timing and Your provision. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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