2 CHRONICLES 6:12-21; 35-42
King Solomon dedicates the newly constructed temple in Jerusalem to the Lord as a place to host the presence of God. This chapter primarily recounts Solomon’s prayer of dedication, in which he acknowledges God’s faithfulness and prays for his continued presence among the people.
12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 For Solomon had made a bronze platform 7½ feet long, 7½ feet wide, and 4½ feet high and put it in the court. He stood on it, knelt down in front of the entire congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14 He said:
Lord God of Israel,there is no God like youin heaven or on earth,who keeps his gracious covenantwith your servants who walk before youwith all their heart. 15 You have kept what you promised to your servant, my father David.You spoke directly to him, and you fulfilled your promise by your power, as it is today.16 Therefore, Lord God of Israel, keep what you promised to your servant, my father David:“You will never fail to have a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take care to walk in my Law as you have walked before me.”17 Now, Lord God of Israel, please confirm what you promised to your servant David. 18 But will God indeed live on earth with humans? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this temple I have built.19 Listen to your servant’s prayer and his petition,Lord my God, so that you may hear the cry and the prayer that your servant prays before you, 20 so that your eyes watch over this temple day and night, toward the place where you said you would put your name; and so that you may hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.21 Hear the petitions of your servant and your people Israel, which they pray toward this place. May you hear in your dwelling place in heaven.May you hear and forgive. When your people go out to fight against their enemies, wherever you send them, and they pray to you in the direction of this city you have chosen and the temple that I have built for your name.
35 may you hear their prayer and petition in heaven and uphold their cause. 36 When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and hand them over to the enemy, and their captors deport them to a distant or nearby country,
37 and when they come to their senses in the land where they were deported and repent and petition you in their captors’ land, saying, “We have sinned and done wrong; we have been wicked,” 38 and when they return to you with all their mind and all their heart in the land of their captivity where they were taken captive, and when they pray in the direction of their land that you gave their ancestors, and the city you have chosen, and toward the temple I have built for your name, 39 may you hear their prayer and petitions in heaven, your dwelling place, and uphold their cause. May you forgive your people who sinned against you.
40 Now, my God, please let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place. 41 Now therefore: Arise, Lord God, come to your resting place, you and your powerful ark. May your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and may your faithful people rejoice in goodness. 42 Lord God, do not reject your anointed one; remember your servant David’s acts of faithful love.
HEAR:
In his dedication prayer at the completion of the temple in Jerusalem, Solomon acknowledges God’s faithfulness, seeks forgiveness for the people’s sins, and petitions God to listen to their prayers and maintain his covenant promises.
Listen to the Holy Spirit. Specifically think about:
Do you see the Lord as the one who is faithful to keep his promises (vv.14-16)? See that he holds his name and his word above all things (Psalm 138:2).
What areas do you think God doesn’t see or know? His eyes are open and ears attentive (v.40).
Where do you need to turn away from sin and return back to God with all your heart (vv.36-39)? Know that he exalts himself to show compassion (Isaiah 30:18).
RESPOND:
Solomon’s prayer is a picture of the authority we have in Christ in prayer. When we pray, we must look to the character of God and hold fast to what he has promised. We are asking God to move in light of his goodness and in light of his word.
Respond to God:
Pray that our church would be resolved to kneel before the altar of the Lord and lay our hands toward heaven (v.13).
Like Solomon, declare the character and the promises of God back to him (v.14).
Confess areas that we have turned away from the Lord and ask for forgiveness (v.39).
Ask God to come back to his resting place (v.41). Would we be restless until he takes up rest where he belongs.
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