Wisdom Wednesday Wisdom of Solomon – Part 3
Solomon’s Wise Prayer of Dedication
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
“[Solomon] said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart; who has kept with Your servant David, my father, that which You have promised him; indeed You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.” (2 Ch 6:14–15) NASB 95
The Second Book of Chronicles provides an account of Solomon’s reign in chapters 1-9. Chapter 1 introduced his early worship and prayer for wisdom, as well as the growth of his kingdom. Chapters 2, and 4 detail his massive construction project to build the temple and construct the finishings for formal worship. Chapter 5 gives the account of bringing The Ark of the Covenant to the temple, and the appearance of God’s visible glory of God as a cloud. Chapter 6 records the public prayer of dedication given by Solomon before the assembled leadership of Israel (2 Chron 6; also 1 Kings 8:12-54).
The chronicles described the momentous event in vivid detail that you can picture in your mind:
Then [Solomon] stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. Now Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. (2 Chron 6:12-14)
The Prayer
Solomon’s prayer covered almost 9 specific elements to God that are summarized here:
- Adoration of God (vv. 14-15)- “O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart’ (v. 14)
- Remembering God’s Promise to David (vv. 16-17) – Solomon recalled God’s promise to David for a kingdom and asked that the promise be confirmed.
- God’s Dwelling place on Earth with men (vv. 18-23) -Solomon asked (rhetorically), “But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? …” (v. 18) and then asked that God dwell in the temple so men would pray to Him, looking to the temple. (Just as, today, we seek God to dwell with each of us in the Person of the Holy Spirit, John 14:7; Romans 8:11).
- Repentance in Defeat (vv.24-25) – If defeated in war because of their sin, but the people repent, Solomon asked that the nation be forgiven.
- Repentance in National Sin (vv.26-31) If the nation suffers famine or pestilence because of their sin, but repent, Solomon asked that the nation be forgiven.
- Witness to World (vv.32-33) And Solomon requested that Isreal would be a witness to foreigners (non-Jewish Gentiles) to bring them to know Him,” … in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, and fear You as do Your people Israel… (v.33).
- Conqueror In War (vv.34-35)- When God sends His people out to war, Solomon asked for his blessing as they pray and rely on Him.
- Repentance in Personal Sin (vv.36-39) – And worst of all, Solomon prayed for those who may be captured in war, that if they repent and call upon God in captivity, that God would, :… hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, their prayer and supplications, and maintain their cause and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.” (v.39) [Indeed this did happen to the divided kingdom many generations after Solomon.]
- Closing refrain (vv. 40-42) Solomon closed with an impassioned request, “O Lord God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed; remember Your lovingkindness to Your servant David.” (6:42) The New Living Translation (NLT) for this passage makes explicit whom he is praying for: “O Lord God, do not reject the king you have anointed. Remember your unfailing love for your servant David.” Solomon is saying, “Do not reject me, remember your unfailing love (that I observed) for my dad.” Today, we can pray, “Lord keep me and guide me, I remember your unfailing love for my Savior, your Son, Jesus Christ.”
The Wisdom of Solomon’s Prayer
Notice that the wisdom theme of walking with God (living daily with God in every aspect of life) is introduced in the very beginning (v.14) and it is repeated throughout the prayer: 1)David’s descendants to walk in God’s ways (v.16), 2) request God will “…teach [the people] the good way in which they should walk” (v.27), and, 3) That God’s people will “…fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live” (v. 31)
The structure of Solomon’s prayer follows the familiar pattern of the Lord’s Prayer: Worship and acknowledgement of God and His glory, looking toward His eternal kingdom, Petition for God to provide for our earthly needs, and a closing (or benediction) that again acknowledges God’s power and might. The following table provides a visual comparison of this pattern of prayer.
