SOLOMON’S PRAYER OF DEDICATION
2 Chronicles 6:12-21
Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive. (21)
chapter 6
12. Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.
13. Now he had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.
14. He said: "Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth - you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.
15. 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.
16. "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 according to my law, as you have done.’
17. And now, Lord, the God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.
18. "But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!
19. Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence.
20. May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.
21. Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. Solomon made petitions to the LORD as he dedicated the temple. First, he asked the LORD to keep his promise to David and bless his house from generation to generation (16). He did not doubt God'spromise but made a bold petition based on his confidence that he had carefully followed God’s instructions. The promise of God was also an assurance to him that God would be faithful and bless him, as he was faithful in keeping the instructions.
2. Second, he asked the LORD to hear their cry and prayer with mercy as they prayed toward the temple (19). Solomon understood that God would show mercy to them as they turned to Him for salvation. This petition prompted his people to turn to God in times of trouble, rather than looking for salvation elsewhere. The house of God would be the place the people would pray toward, with an earnestness (21) to receive the reward from heaven, the forgiveness of their sins.
3. It was amazing grace that the people of Israel had access to God, and Solomon prayed for his people to continue living in such a state of grace.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the grace that enables us to come to you in prayer. I examine my heart before you and ask for your mercy and forgiveness today
One Word: God hears and forgives TESTIMONY