And listen to the supplication of Thy servant and of Thy people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear Thou from Thy dwelling place, from heaven; hear Thou and forgive. (verse 21)
Message: Solomon's Prayer of Dedication
Time: 2 Chronicles, like 1 Chronicles has a mystery writer and was separated into 2 books in 200 BC when the Septuagint was translated. This book focuses on Judah from 971-586 BC. The chronicler focused on the blessings God bestowed when leaders were faithful to His law. It covers Solomon's ascension to the throne to Judah finally carried into exile in Babylon.
What the Lord is Saying: The Temple has been built by Solomon, the furnishings have been added, the Ark has arrived and now here at the end of 2 Chronicles 6 is Solomon's prayer. I looked at another prayer to start this month's lessons back in April that David had given that was beautiful. It was prior to the anointing of Solomon. As Solomon begins to pray he doesn't just stand anywhere, but stands at the altar. I liken this to standing at the front of the people, at a podium, in church. But it has a bigger meaning here for it represents the pivotal reason for the Temple. This temple is the place for sacrifice, for atonement of sin. It also is a place of worship. Worship extols God as the provider for our ransom, atonement and making us right with God. Thus, here is where Solomon prays.
It begins with verse 14, a beautiful opening - "O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no god like Thee in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Thy servants who walk before Thee with all their heart." God keeps covenant and shows us lovingkindness. And then we as a people walk before Thee. But God keeps covenant with us first and shows us love first. And then we walk before Thee in response. In the prayer, Solomon confirms the promises made to David and the promises God will keep. The people of God need that assurance that God will do what He promised.
In verse 18, "But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth?" And God that has regard to his servant's prayers (verse 19) and "listen to the supplications of Thy servant" (verse 21). Verses 22 and 23 also mentions the importance of the Temple as a place to settle disputes between people - namely those who sin and then take an oath. Verse 24 and 25 mention people returning to God after a time of turning away from God. God is to bring them back to the land He promised to their fathers before. It is as if the temple becomes the central place to come back to God after sinning. This seems to be where the idea of confessing sin to a priest possibly has its origin.
In verse 26, the withholding of rain for agriculture is connected to people's disobedience. They then go to the temple to confess His name, turning from their sins. We go to the temple, yet in verse 27 God is "in heaven and forgive the sin of Thy servants." As people we need God's forgiveness.
In verses 28-38, Solomon records activities that people of God do or find themselves in (famine, traveling foreigners, soldiers, sinners) and then a request from Solomon to God for each -- "hear from heaven their prayer and their pleading (verse 35)." For the famine, Solomon adds the word "forgive." He says to traveling foreigners "to do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You." For those in battle, "maintain their cause." And for those who have sinned, "repent."
Once again, I really appreciate these prayers. They serve as a guide I think in helping us see how we can pray. This is a prayer of confidence. I think of all of the prayers that are offered for health related reasons and wonder if we need to make sure as we pray that we are also talking about sin and forgiveness. Health related issues are the result of sin and so with sin we need to talk of forgiveness.
In the last 3 verses are some concluding thoughts or excerpts, "My God, please, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place...Lord God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed; remember Your faithfulness to Your servants.”
These words - please, do not, remember, hear - these are words I don't think I use much in my prayers, if at all. Need to change this.
Summary: After the Temple has been completed, Solomon offers a prayer that centers on the Temple as the central place of refuge for God's people to navigate life.
Promise: The Lord meets His people wherever they come together for worship.
Prayer: O Lord God, you are Savior, Lord. My God, please let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed; remember Your faithfulness to Your servants. Lord, I am a sinner, but I repent of my sin and come to You begging Your forgiveness for the many ways in my life I have sinned against You, not only recently, but in my life and not only me, but my family and humanity. Your grace is needed in this day. O Lord, is there is no god like thee in heaven or on earth. You are the God of Israel, of the United States, of Jews, of Gentiles, of every people group you keep covenant and show lovingkindness to Thy servants who walk before Thee with all their heart. You keep Your promises God. You speak with your mouth to Your people and fulfill our needs with Thy hand, in the past, present, and today. God, stay with us. Be with us. Be with our children. Anchor yourself in their life. Make your presence known to them. Be their God and their Savior. They have heard your truth in their life, from us, from the Church, from family members. Seal that truth in them. Heaven cannot contain Thee God. Your mighty works are displayed on this earth, on the land, in the mountains, as we walk and look out our windows, your creation God is your handiwork. You established the colors of the horizon we look at each day. Have regard to the prayer of Thy servant and my supplication. Listen to my cry. From heaven God here me and forgive. Provide for the needs of your people who call upon Your name. O God, hear Thou from heaven and act and judge Thy servants. Punish the wicked, justify the righteous. People sin, but when they return to You after sinning and repent and call on Your name, hear them, and bring them back to the land and people you intended for them. Teach your people in the way they should walk. Bend their minds and heads to You to embrace Your words and Your commands. Bend my mind and bend my head God. Awaken in me an urgency for focusing my time on the things of life which matter most. Your heart knows people. You alone know the heart of people. Remove blinders. Remove deception. Remove untruth. Divide the truth of Your word to people so they understand You as You are. May these people fear Thee, walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land which Thou hast given to our father and all those before me. Listen to the prayers of all people, near and far. Hear their prayer. Hear thou from heaven in order that all the people of the earth may know Thy name and fear Thee. May Your name be proclaimed on this earth, in our communities, in our land. Open Thin eyes and Thine ears attentive to the prayer offered at this time, in this place. Do not turn away from the face of Thine anointed. Remember Thy lovingkindness to Your people.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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