Daily Thought

Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple is one of the most beautiful recorded for us in scripture. As with his prayer for wisdom, there is an overall atmosphere of humility and submission. He stands before the altar, the place of sacrifice. As we pray today, we remember that our entrance into the presence of the Lord is on the ground of Christ’s one sacrifice, Heb. 10. 12-14. Where Solomon stood was interesting.

We notice his approach. He began by affirming his appreciation of God’s majesty and greatness, vv. 23, 27. There was a sense of awe and godly fear. There was no casual familiarity in his approach, and yet he could come with confidence in God’s mercy and faithfulness. Here was a covenant-keeping God, v. 3. Solomon laid hold of the steadfast love of this faithful God - his very position on the throne he owed to God’s fulfilled promises.

Pause as you pray today. How great does God seem to you? All notable servants of God through the ages have known this awe-inspiring sense of God’s majesty. Beware of irreverence!

As he prayed, Solomon’s appreciation of the issues at stake are clear. All his achievements he reckoned small, even the greatness and magnificence of the temple he had built. No earthly dwelling could contain the God of earth and heaven. Also, he realized that the building would be but a hollow shell without the presence of God. Long years before, God had promised to dwell among His people. No magnificence of man’s creation could replace the magnificence of this promise. Let us remember today that we approach our God having nothing of ourselves, and that the experience of God’s presence is indispensable to blessing.

Think carefully on this appeal of Solomon, ‘Have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication’, v. 28. Here was a great earthly king, appealing to the King of the universe. He knew he had the right to claim God’s promise, but in humility he would request. This is indeed the true spirit of prayer. Note his sense of unworthiness, ‘when thou hearest, forgive’ vv. 28-30. ‘I have heard’, said God, 1 Kin. 9. 3.