2 Chronicles 6:24 – 42 “When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple, then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.
When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, praying and pleading before You in this house, then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel. May You restore them to the land You gave to them and their fathers.
When the skies are shut and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and they turn from their sins because You have afflicted them, then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, so that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk. May You send rain on the land that You gave Your people as an inheritance.
When famine or plague comes upon the land, or blight or mildew or locusts or grasshoppers, or when their enemies besiege them in their cities, whatever plague or sickness may come, may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make—each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this house— be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of men— so that they may fear You and walk in Your ways all the days they live in the land that You gave to our fathers.
And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your great name and Your mighty hand and outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this house, then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You. Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and they will know that this house I have built is called by Your Name.
When Your people go to war against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to You in the direction of the city You have chosen and the house I have built for Your Name, then may You hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and may You uphold their cause.
When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to a land far or near, and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’ and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name, then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and petition, and may You uphold their cause. May You forgive Your people who sinned against You.
Now, my God, may Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. Now therefore, arise, O LORD God, and enter Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might. May Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and may Your godly ones rejoice in goodness. O LORD God, do not reject Your anointed one. Remember Your loving devotion to Your servant David.”
WOW! Now Solomon is getting specific and praying realistically. If Solomon had merely confined himself to a prayer of praise, everyone could have listened and gone off to celebrate without coming under conviction. But Solomon is wise enough to know the failings of nations and now he is praying specifically and prophetically as well. Let’s look at Solomon’s petitions.
- “When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple…” In ancient Israel, oaths were considered sacred and a man’s word was his bond. Anyone involved in a matter so serious that it required priestly intervention would be required to swear before God. Solomon is begging God to punish anyone swearing falsely and to justify the righteous. We can do the same, taking our cues from Solomon.
- “When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name…” The Israelites firmly believed that only God could give success in war and they recognized that defeat indicated that they were not right with God. Solomon is begging God to hear the Israelites when they repent.
- “When the skies are shut and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You…” Recently, we have heard all kinds of propaganda regarding climate change; yet, those who are most vocal also seem most unwilling to acknowledge that nations have sinned before God and are receiving the results of their sins. Satan has convinced various groups of humans to blame various other groups of humans. While it is true that there are wise practices that can help the planet, it is equally true that the fundamental problem is sin and that all the other problems stem from sin. We need repentance to heal our world! We cannot encourage aborting babies, whether in the womb or out of it, and expect to heal our planet. The shedding of innocent blood brings curses on a land; we cannot shed innocent blood and expect anything else.
- “When famine or plague comes upon the land, or blight or mildew or locusts or grasshoppers, or when their enemies besiege them in their cities, whatever plague or sickness may come, may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make…” In the last two years, many of us have lost friends and loved ones to COVID; yet, we seem reluctant to realize that our nations need to repent. Human solutions without divine interventions will only result in stop – gap measures and we will continue to face more pandemics.
- “And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your great name and Your mighty hand and outstretched arm…” Many foreigners did actually come to Jerusalem. Many continue to be attracted to the God of Israel. God has created us with a desire for holiness and righteousness; however, many times, we settle for something less.
- “When Your people go to war against their enemies…” During World War II there were many times when Great Britain was quite vulnerable; yet, the Germans failed to conquer. Throughout Great Britain, there were prayer meetings going on 24/7. Our prayers can change the course of history, but only if we do pray.
- “When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to a land far or near…” Here Solomon was praying prophetically. Eventually, the Jews were carried off to Assyria and to Babylon and later returned. One elderly friend once told me that it was the return of the Jews to Israel that convinced her of the truth of the Bible when she saw Biblical prophecy coming true before her eyes.
- “Now, my God, may Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. Now therefore, arise, O LORD God, and enter Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might. May Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and may Your godly ones rejoice in goodness. O LORD God, do not reject Your anointed one. Remember Your loving devotion to Your servant David.” The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem is the only part of Solomon’s temple that yet remains. To this day, millions of people visit the Wailing Wall to worship there and to offer petitions to God. In the cracks between the stones are untold slips of paper with petitions written in many languages. Even though Solomon uttered his prayer thousands of years ago, God is still honoring that prayer today!
APPLICATION: When we look at Solomon’s petitions, we realize how appropriate they are for our time. May God help us, so that we will persistently and whole – heartedly intercede for the nations!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to be persistent in prayer and to continue to trust that You are working, even when we don’t see it. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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