From Splendor to Shadow

Solomon's Prayer

In the midst of the court of the temple had been erected a brass platform. On this Solomon stood and with uplifted hands blessed the vast multitude before him. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hath with His hands fulfilled that which He spake with His mouth to my father David, saying, ... I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name might be there.” 2 Chronicles 6:4-6. SS 20.3

Solomon then knelt upon the platform and lifting his hands toward heaven, prayed: “Heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Thee; how much less this house which I have built!... Hearken Thou to the supplications of Thy servant and of Thy people Israel, when they pray toward this place; yea, hear Thou from heaven Thy dwelling place; and when Thou hearest, forgive ... .” SS 20.4

“If Thy people Israel ... have sinned against Thee, when they turn again and acknowledge Thy name, and pray and make supplication to Thee in this house, then hear Thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of Thy people Israel ... .” SS 20.5

“When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against Thee, if they pray toward this place, and acknowledge Thy name, and turn from their sin, when Thou dost afflict them, then hear Thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of Thy servants ... .” SS 21.1

“If their enemies besiege them in any of their cities; whatever plague, whatever sickness there is; whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by any man or by all Thy people Israel, each knowing his own affliction, and his own sorrow and stretching out his hands toward this house; then hear Thou from heaven Thy dwelling place, and forgive, ... that they may fear Thee and walk in Thy ways all the days that they live in the land which Thou gavest to our fathers.” SS 21.2

“Likewise when a foreigner, who ... comes from a far country for the sake of Thy great name, ... when he comes and prays toward this house, hear Thou from heaven Thy dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to Thee; in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Thy name and fear Thee ... .” SS 21.3

“If Thy people ... sin against Thee—for there is no man who does not sin—and Thou art angry with them, and dost give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near; yet if they lay it to heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to Thee in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, and have acted perversely and wickedly’; if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land of their captivity, ... then hear Thou from heaven Thy dwelling place their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause and forgive Thy people who have sinned against Thee. Now, O my God, let Thy eyes be open and Thy ears attentive to a prayer of this place.” SS 21.4

And now arise, O Lord God, and go
to Thy resting place,
Thou and the ark of Thy might.
Let Thy priests, O Lord God, be
clothed with salvation,
and let Thy saints rejoice in Thy
goodness. Verses 18-41, RSV

As Solomon ended his prayer, “fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices.” The priests could not enter the temple because “the glory of the Lord had filled” it. 2 Chronicles 7:1, 2. Then king and people offered sacrifices. “So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.” Verse 5. For seven days the multitudes kept a joyous feast. The week following was spent in observing the Feast of Tabernacles. At the close of the season the people returned to their homes “glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had showed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel His people.” 2 Chronicles 7:10. SS 22.1