We see the end of Solomon’s “Temple Dedication” prayer today, and God’s response to it.
Second Chronicles 6:14-42, a very long prayer!
Its closing centers on God’s “help” when the nation goes to war. “If thy people go out to WAR against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name; then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.” 2nd Chronicles 6:34-35, the “if” placing the petition into what I call “contingency” praying. “Just in case!”
The Solomon, once again, mentions the possibility of “sin” and Israel. It’s longer but worth reading, for sure. “If they SIN against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near. Yet if they bethink (Hebrew “shub” … to “turn,” better yet, “to repent”) themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and PRAY unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, WE HAVE SINNED, WE HAVE DONE AMISS, AND HAVE DEALT WICKEDLY. If they RETURN to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name: then HEAR thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and FORGIVE thy people which have sinned against thee.” 2nd Chronicles 6:36-39, note how very sensitive to “sin” Solomon was in those early days!
Lastly Solomon pleads a general need, a Nation “right” with God, having the “Ear” of the Almighty! “Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.” 2nd Chronicles 6:40, just a single verse.
Then, in conclusion, God is “invited” into His new House, the Temple that has just been dedicated! “Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.” 2nd Chronicles 6:41
But, importantly … how did God respond?
The very next chapter, 2nd Chronicles 7 (particularly verses 1-2) tells us. “Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house.”
Wow!
God did move “into” His earthly abode.
And, as long as Israel obeyed the Word, our Lord answered every request Solomon had lodged, no exceptions. Solomon, a leader in public prayer. A King, praying with his people!
No wonder the devil “hates” Israel like he does.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell