SOLOMON'S PRAYER

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16). 

 

When David the ancient king of Israel died, His son Solomon ascended to the throne.  During David’s reign, it was in his heart to build a fabulous temple for God.  God, however, told David that there was too much blood on his hands due to the extensive wars that he had fought to expand Israel’s borders.  David was told that it would be his son who would build God a house.  Therefore, David began to amass great quantities of materials with which his son could build a glorious house for God.  When David’s son Solomon became king, most of what he needed to build the House of God was provided already by his father.  Gold, silver, precious gems, brass, iron, timber, stone, fabrics, and much more were all waiting for Solomon to use.  He just needed to command the work.  David had even been given the blueprints for the temple by the inspiration of the Spirit of God.  “Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things: also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD…All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.” (1 Chronicles 28:11-13, 19).

 

All of this is a beautiful type and shadow of God the Father providing everything needed for His Son (Jesus) to build a glorious temple (His Church, the House of God) in which God would dwell.  God has said that He doesn’t dwell in houses made with hands (see Isaiah 66:1, 2).  From the beginning, His desire was to find a people in whom He could dwell through the Spirit.  “…as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (2 Corinthians 6:16b).  “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).  It is, therefore, not some place that we draw near to God today, but we are learning to worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for that is who the Father is seeking to worship Him (John 4:23).  We find that we can rejoice and fellowship with all of God’s people who have been truly born again regardless of where they worship.  In Christ is where the Church finds its unity.  “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; in Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22).

 

After several years, Solomon’s temple was finally completed, and all of Israel was gathered together for its dedication.  At that time, Solomon offered up a prayer to Almighty God.  In it he acknowledged the fact that the God of all creation could not be contained in any mere house or temple on earth.  He said, “…will God indeed dwell on the earth?  behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” (1 Kings 8:27).  Solomon then went on to pray a number of amazing things to God which point to Christ for their fulfillment.  Solomon prayed that the eyes of the Lord might be open night and day toward this place that He had chosen, and that the prayers of those who would pray toward this place would always be heard by Him.  It is clear that God the Father was thinking of His dear Son as that place where His attention would always be focused, and that it was Christ’s Church (His Body) where the Spirit of God would dwell.

 

Bear with me as I repeat the specific petitions that Solomon asked God to answer when men prayed toward this holy place, keeping in mind that we are talking about Jesus being that Holy Place today.  Scripture tells us that “…in Him [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.   And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power.” (Colossians 2:9).

 

These, then, are the specific prayers that Solomon asked God to hear and respond to in 1 Kings chapter 8:

 

·         If a man trespasses against his neighbor…

·         When God’s people are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned…

·         When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain because His people have sinned…

·         If there is pestilence in the land, or blight, or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; or        when the enemy besieges them; or when plague or sickness afflict them…

·         If someone who doesn’t know the Lord prays toward this place…

·         When God’s people are engaged with their enemies…

·         If His people sin against God…

 

In my estimation, Solomon’s prayer ranks pretty high in comparison to other great prayers of the Old Testament such as that of Abraham, Moses, David, Hezekiah, Jehoshaphat, Nehemiah and Daniel, just to name a few.  All of God’s promises of salvation, deliverance, and healing are contained in Solomon’s prayer, and they point us to Jesus in Whom all of those promises are fulfilled.

 

After the dedication of the temple, God appeared to Solomon by night and said to him, “I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to Myself for an house of sacrifice.  If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people; if My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.  For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever: and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually.” (2 Chronicles 7:12-16).  The only way that man can maintain a right relationship with his Maker is to humble himself, acknowledge his need for a Savior, and seek to know God and His will for his life.  God will then respond to man and show him where he has failed, and where he must repent.  Then, when man makes a deliberate choice to turn away from his wicked and selfish ways, God will hear his prayer, forgive his sin, and bring healing and wholeness into his life.  Perpetually, the Lord says, His eyes and His heart will be toward the House that His Son Jesus Christ has built and purchased with His own life and blood.

 

There is great power and anointing when the children of God come together.  It doesn’t have to be a large crowd, and they don’t have to assemble in a temple or cathedral.  The simplest form of church is when two or more are gathered in Jesus’ name.  Scripture tells us that Christ Himself is then in the midst, and He will hear and answer the prayers that are spoken in that place (see Matthew 18:20).  “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11). 

 

Jesus said, “If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:23).  What an astounding thing that the Father has chosen to make His home in our hearts!  What a glorious Gospel!