Slices
Prepare
What specific things are you praying for your nation at the moment? How does it compare with what Solomon is praying?
Bible passage
Solomon’s prayer of dedication
22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands towards heaven 23 and said:
‘Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below – you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it – as it is today.
25 ‘Now Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, “You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.” 26 And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true.
27 ‘But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 28 Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. 29 May your eyes be open towards this temple night and day, this place of which you said, “My Name shall be there,” so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays towards this place. 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray towards this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.
31 ‘When anyone wrongs their neighbour and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath before your altar in this temple, 32 then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.
33 ‘When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, and when they turn back to you and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple, 34 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.
35 ‘When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray towards this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 36 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.
37 ‘When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 38 and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel – being aware of the afflictions of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands towards this temple – 39 then hear from heaven, your dwelling-place. Forgive and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know every human heart), 40 so that they will fear you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.
41 ‘As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name – 42 for they will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm – when they come and pray towards this temple, 43 then hear from heaven, your dwelling-place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.
44 ‘When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to the Lord towards the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, 45 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.
46 ‘When they sin against you – for there is no one who does not sin – and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive to their own lands, far away or near; 47 and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors and say, “We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly”; 48 and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you towards the land you gave their ancestors, towards the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; 49 then from heaven, your dwelling-place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 50 And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offences they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy; 51 for they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace.
52 ‘May your eyes be open to your servant’s plea and to the plea of your people Israel, and may you listen to them whenever they cry out to you. 53 For you singled them out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance, just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, Sovereign Lord, brought our ancestors out of Egypt.’
Explore
The notes in the ‘Explore’ sections of this series in 1 Kings are written as the diary of a fictional courtier in King Solomon’s court (but look carefully at the Bible passages to check out his accounts!). As he observes, questions and comments on what he sees happening in Solomon’s life, he tries to discern God’s hand at work – and challenges us to do the same in our families, churches, communities and societies.
‘It’s difficult today to imagine our nation ever being unfaithful to God, but as Solomon starts to pray, I realise (yet again) how much wiser he is!
‘He knows how great God is and how high are the standards that God requires of those who follow him. He knows that covenants are two-way promises – God is keeping his part, but will our nation keep theirs? And Solomon knows that people’s inclination is to turn away from God or to forget him.
‘And so our wise king appeals to God’s love and mercy. As he prays, Solomon imagines people falling out with neighbours and asks God for justice; he imagines foreigners coming to believe in our God and prays that they are welcomed. But above all, Solomon talks about our people sinning against the Lord, and imagines numerous disastrous scenarios resulting from that.
‘On a day like today, when we are so conscious of God’s presence with us, it’s hard to believe that any of these scenarios could arise. But again and again the message is clear – if our nation then turns back to God, he will show mercy and forgive, and restore us in his love.’
Respond
Pray for yourself and other believers that God will keep you faithful to him. Think of someone you know who has turned away from the Lord, and pray that they will return and ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Deeper Bible study
‘Fill thou my life, O Lord my God, / in every part with praise.’1
This is one of the great prayers of Scripture. As Solomon prays at the consecration of the Temple, he stretches out his hands towards heaven (v 22). In a similar way, in our church we encourage people to stretch out their hands as a sign of openness to what God has for us, signifying humility and receptivity. Solomon focuses on the faithfulness of God, who keeps his covenant promises out of his steadfast love (v 23). The word translated in the ESV as ‘covenant love’ or ‘steadfast love’ is the Hebrew word hesed, reflecting a committed, loyal, reliable disposition – like one who keeps their end of the bargain. When we pray, we pray to a reliable partner in this relationship. God is trustworthy, not trying to hoodwink us or manipulate us, but granting mercy and grace. In the recounting of God’s promises throughout Israel’s history, Solomon reminds the people of the nature of the God with whom the people covenant.
The Temple signified the presence of God on earth, but Solomon acknowledges that God cannot be confined to a building (v 27). In ancient Israel, a house was considered dedicated when the resident came to live in it, so, when we read of God’s Name being present, it is a sign of his enduring presence in the Temple and with the people. It was in the context of God’s residence in the Temple that disputes were settled (v 31) in the sight of God.
The Name was known outside Israel (vs 41–43) too, so the Temple served an evangelistic function as well. Not only are foreigners to be treated with favour and grace, but should Israel go astray, Solomon asks for the same mercy. The Temple then serves as a monument to grace, a reminder that when we too go astray there is one who welcomes us home with compassion and kindness.
Which of God’s promises give you most comfort and encouragement? Why?
1 Horatius Bonar, 1808–82
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 1 Kings 6,7; 1 Corinthians 12
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Kate Doogan as she continues to settle into her role as a Revealing Jesus Pioneer, asking that she will be able to connect with churches in the Merseyside area and help them reach the 95. Pray especially for her preparation for her first Rooted retreat at the end of June.
