 Previous Chapter |
 Return to Outline |
 Ask Questions |
 Next Chapter |
The material here is repeated from I Kings 8 .
Chapter 6 records the dedication of the Temple and Solomon's prayer to God to accept and answer all the prayers that would be offered there. Solomon spoke to the people and told them that the Temple was the fulfillment of God's promise. Then he spoke to the Lord. He phrased God for his faithfulness to his father David, he acknowledged the desire of his father to build the Temple, he acknowledged God's promise to David that a Temple would be built and that he was privileged to build it and asked God to look down favorable on his efforts.
Solomon spoke this prayer standing on a platform in the center of the outer court that surrounded the Temple. He asked God to honor the prayers of those who prayed there and to forgive them. He asked God to punish those who were guilty and defend those who were innocent. If the land is taken from the people for their disobedience, he prayed that God, when they repented, would return it to them. If the rain is withheld because of the sins of the people, and the people repent, he prays that God will hear their prayers and forgive them and send the rain. If plagues are sent as the judgment for disobedience and the people repent, he asks for forgiveness and deliverance from the plagues.
He asked for God's help in dealing with the enemies of Israel and he sums up his prayer for God's attention to all the prayers that would be made there at the Temple.
Previous Chapter |
Return to Outline |
Ask Questions |
Next Chapter |