TRUE WORSHIP, Sarah Barry
HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND FORGIVE OUR SIN
Passage: 1Kings 8:22~40  
Key verse: 30
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(A)
22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands(B) toward heaven 23 and said:
“Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like(C) you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love(D) with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.
25 “Now Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises(E) you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.’ 26 And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised(F) your servant David my father come true.
27 “But will God really dwell(G) on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven,(H) cannot contain(I) you. How much less this temple I have built! 28 Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. 29 May your eyes be open(J) toward(K) this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name(L) shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray(M) toward this place. Hear(N) from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.(O)
31 “When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath(P) before your altar in this temple, 32 then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.(Q)
33 “When your people Israel have been defeated(R) by an enemy because they have sinned(S) against you, and when they turn back to you and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple,(T) 34 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.
35 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain(U) because your people have sinned(V) against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 36 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach(W) them the right way(X) to live, and send rain(Y) on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.
37 “When famine(Z) or plague(AA) comes to the land, or blight(AB) or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers,(AC) or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 38 and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of the afflictions of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands(AD) toward this temple— 39 then hear(AE) from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive(AF) and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know(AG) their hearts (for you alone know every human heart), 40 so that they will fear(AH) you all the time they live in the land(AI) you gave our ancestors.
Cross references
- 1 Kings 8:22 : 8:22-53pp — 2Ch 6:12-40
- 1 Kings 8:22 : S Ex 9:29
- 1 Kings 8:23 : S Ex 9:14
- 1 Kings 8:23 : S Dt 7:9, 12; Ne 1:5; 9:32; Da 9:4
- 1 Kings 8:25 : S 2Sa 7:15; 1Ch 17:23; 2Ch 1:9
- 1 Kings 8:26 : S 2Sa 7:25
- 1 Kings 8:27 : Ac 7:48; 17:24
- 1 Kings 8:27 : S Dt 10:14
- 1 Kings 8:27 : 2Ch 2:6; Ps 139:7-16; Isa 66:1; Jer 23:24
- 1 Kings 8:29 : ver 52; 2Ki 19:16; 2Ch 7:15; Ne 1:6; Ps 5:1; 31:2; 102:17; 130:2; Isa 37:17
- 1 Kings 8:29 : Ps 28:2; 138:2; Da 6:10
- 1 Kings 8:29 : S Dt 11:12; 12:11; S 2Sa 7:13
- 1 Kings 8:30 : ver 47; Lev 26:40; Ne 1:6; Jer 29:12; Da 9:4
- 1 Kings 8:30 : ver 39; Ps 34:6
- 1 Kings 8:30 : S Ex 34:7, 9; Lev 26:40-42; Ps 85:2
- 1 Kings 8:31 : S Ex 22:11
- 1 Kings 8:32 : Dt 25:1; Eze 18:20
- 1 Kings 8:33 : S Lev 26:17
- 1 Kings 8:33 : Lev 26:39
- 1 Kings 8:33 : Isa 37:1, 14, 38
- 1 Kings 8:35 : S Dt 28:24; S 2Sa 1:21
- 1 Kings 8:35 : Jer 5:25
- 1 Kings 8:36 : S Dt 8:3; S 1Sa 12:23
- 1 Kings 8:36 : Ps 5:8; 27:11; 107:7; Pr 11:5; Isa 45:13; Jer 6:16; 7:23; 31:21
- 1 Kings 8:36 : ver 35; 1Ki 17:1; 18:1, 45; Jer 5:24; 10:3; 14:22; Zec 10:1
- 1 Kings 8:37 : S Lev 26:26
- 1 Kings 8:37 : S Ex 30:12; S Lev 26:25
- 1 Kings 8:37 : S Dt 28:22
- 1 Kings 8:37 : S Ex 10:13; Ps 105:34
- 1 Kings 8:38 : S Ex 9:29
- 1 Kings 8:39 : S ver 30
- 1 Kings 8:39 : Ps 130:4
- 1 Kings 8:39 : S Jos 22:22; S Ps 44:21; Jn 2:24; S Rev 2:23
- 1 Kings 8:40 : ver 39-40; Dt 6:13; Ps 103:11; 130:4
- 1 Kings 8:40 : S Dt 12:1
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. There is no God like you (22-30)
Solomon led the whole assembly in prayer. He began by acknowledging God's greatness. There is no God like the God of Israel. God kept his covenant of love toward Israel and his promise to David to build a temple. Solomon then asked God to help David's descendants to be faithful to God. Solomon knew the heavens cannot contain God, let alone the temple he had built. Nevertheless, based on God's character, Solomon humbly asked God to hear his prayers and the prayers and repentance of his people.
2. Repent and ask for forgiveness (31-40)
Solomon prayed for God's justice when disputes arose between neighbors. Solomon also recognized that God would allow enemies to defeat his people or withhold rain or other disasters because of the people's sin. God's purpose in allowing these problems was to help his people to turn their hearts back to God. Solomon asked God to forgive the people when they repent.
Prayer: Lord, there is no one like you. Please forgive our sins and teach us the right way to live.
One Word: Repent our sins and be forgiven