Very similar to the read from yesterday so I will keep this brief. Solomon’s prayer is one of the most important prayers in the Old Testament. In his prayer, Solomon explained the significance of God coming to dwell in His temple. God had come to empower, to have fellowship, and to judge, if necessary. God was present among His people, and He would hear their prayers when they obediently called out to Him.
Solomon specified seven specific situations in which he asked the Lord to intervene in answer to prayer.
- when the people swore an oath in the temple (v. 22-23)
- suffered defeat and exile from an enemy (v. 24-25)
- lacked rain (v. 26-27)
- when they experienced disease or other disasters (v. 28-31)
- when foreigners would come to pray toward the temple (v. 32-33)
- when Israel was at war (v. 34-35)
- when Israel was in captivity due to sin (v. 36-39).
How is this applicable today? Dear Lord…Please intervene when…
- when we make an oath in church(v. 22-23)
- suffered defeat from an enemy (v. 24-25)
- lacked rain (needs) (v. 26-27)
- when we experience disease or other disasters (v. 28-31)
- when lost people come to pray for you (v. 32-33)
- when we are at war (v. 34-35)
- when America will be defeated by our enemeies due to sin (v. 36-39).
The biggest difference between the 2 prayers is the insert from Psalm 132 into the prayer:
40 “Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
41 “Now arise, Lord God, and come to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
May your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation,
may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness.
42 Lord God, do not reject your anointed one.
Remember the great love promised to David your servant.”
You know me by now, I see the “If” and I KNOW this can’t be good!!!
Chapter 7 ends with:
19 “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22 People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’”
Listen, if I get started on this topic, this post will be longer than the Bible. If this is your first time reading- SPOILER ALERT- It WILL happen.
Don’t forget to read the Psalm, if I hadn’t posted the song yesterday…I would have totally posted it today.
His love endures forever.
Mercy, or loyal love, is one of the most prominent attributes of God’s character. By His very nature, He shows unstoppable, limitless, everlasting mercy, even to those who don’t deserve it.
“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy” (Micah 7:18).
Reading the Bible - 2021 
I love today’s text. I can just imagine the excitement they felt. All this time watching the temple being built and finally it’s ready. I can imagine the excitement of offering your sacrifice, first time, at the new temple, listening to the singers and the musicians, the hundreds of priests preparing the offerings, then watching and listening to King Solomon pray this prayer. Top that off with the glory of the Lord filling the place. (I wanna go to that church).
At the same time while His love endures forever is playing there’s a mama rocking her baby singing Oh be careful little eyes what you see…. Oh be careful little hands what you do…
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