GREAT PRAYERS OF BIBLE: KING SOLOMON. 1 Kings 8

The wisest man who lived was a man of prayer. King Solomon brought up the ark of the covenant, sacrificing vast numbers of sheep and oxen. Verse 6 tells ’How the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy place, under the wings of the cherubim. ‘There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel.

The Lord came down in heavenly glory, for ‘When the priests came out of the holy place, the (Shekinah ) cloud filled the house of the Lord. (v10) The priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. (v11)

Solomon blessed the entire congregation, choosing choicest language; such as ‘the Lord God of Israel spoke with HIS mouth to my father, and has fulfilled it with HIS hand. “(v15) He repeated his reverent address ‘the Lord God of Israel’ 5 times in a short span. We must preserve this respect when addressing the Lord’s people; not daring to take liberties with the Lord of the whole universe. His name is holy.

Solomon introduced his prayer, as he stood before the altar of the Lord, in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands towards heaven.’

He was in the immediate Presence of the eternal ONE. He asserted ’There is no God in heaven above or on earth below like YOU, Who keep your covenant and mercy with your servants who walk before you with all their heart.’ He said, ’the Lord has fulfilled His Word on that very day.’ Solomon’s prayer substantiated this truth.

The king prayed that ‘The heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain YOU. How much less this temple which I have built.’ He clearly appreciated the grandeur of the Lord. Oh, that we may recapture the true magnificence of our Lord.(v27)

Solomon requested simply that ’The Lord would regard the prayer and supplication of His servant, knowing the Lord would listen to the cry and prayer your servant is praying before you. He pleads that ’Your eyes may be open towards this temple night and day; and reminded the Lord that ’His Name would be there. Eight times he prayed ’HEAR YOU IN HEAVEN ’ The number ‘eight’ speaks of the Lord’s resurrection.; for the risen life of the Lord must fill His people. Lord, remind us how You in heaven long for Your children to pray; and You listen to those prayers.

Solomon prayed ‘Hear Thou in heaven, Your dwelling place -and when you hear, forgive. (v30 ) God’s people had wandered from the fold, needing forgiveness.

Verse 33 illustrates ‘when your people are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against you, and when they turn back to you and confess your name and pray, ‘then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land. Our heavenly Father restores what is lost.

Solomon’s prayer applied to our Australian nation when famine and drought faced us. ‘When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain, because they have sinned against You, when they pray towards this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because you afflict them, (v35 ) then the remedy, Then hear from heaven , and forgive the sin of Your servants, your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and (marvellously) give rain on your land, which You have given to your people as an inheritance. Real prayer!

Solomon predicted disasters as he prayed, ‘ When there is famine in the land, or pestilence, blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities.‘ He insisted that insightful prayer was the answer,

‘Whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by your people, Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands towards this temple, then hear from heaven your dwelling place, and forgive , and act.’(v38) Natural and spiritual disasters may follow disobedience to the Lord.

Solomon’s strong missionary plea coloured his prayer, ’Foreigners will hear of your great Name and Your strong hand and outstretched arm. When he comes and prays to this temple, ’Hear in heaven your dwelling place that all peoples of the earth may know Your Name and fear You.’ (v43 ) The risen Lord commanded us ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’ Scripture is consistent.

Foreseeing warfare against neighbours, Solomon pleaded for this people,’ When Your people go out to battle, when they pray to the Lord towards the city which You have chosen and towards the temple, which I have built for your Name, ‘then hear in heaven their prayer and supplication; and maintain their cause.‘ The king consistently prayed to the God of heaven. We should always call on our Lord.

Solomon foresaw their sin and their captivity following that. ‘When they sin against You and deliver them to the enemy ( 70 years they would pine in Babylon for these offences ) ‘and they come to themselves and repent and make supplication; and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul; and pray to you towards the land, the city and the temple, ‘then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their supplication and maintain their cause.’ His prayer prophesied God’s dispersion of them and their return after penitential recovery.

He reminded his Lord, ‘They are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out of Egypt, out of the iron furnace. Tenderly he prayed, ‘That Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant.(v52 ) May we pray like this mighty ruler, for when ‘Solomon finished praying, he arose from the altar, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. Triumphantly he cried,

‘ Blessed be the Lord, Who has given rest to His people. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through his servant Moses.’ (v56)

How does your prayer depth/breadth compare with Solomon‘s? What rating 1-10?

Ask God in heaven to sharpen our prayer, privately, family and group-wise?