It must be stated that Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Lord's Temple is dense with theological teachings and should be noted as an outline so they are all recognized for what they are. I pray I have effectively captured them in this brief outline. As always, if the reader sees or know of more, please feel free to comment. Please keep in mind though I blog like I do, to reach people that are trying learn fundamentals or are at the place I am at in my walk. As I progress and mature this blog will also. I am not here to split hairs on theological terminologies or finer nuances of theological doctine that are non-essential.Solomon's prayer like other prayers or psalms in the Bible create excellent patterns for modern worshippers to emulate in terms of understanding and glorifying God in their prayer life. (2 Chronicles 6:14-42)
1. God is unique and one of a kind: (v. 14) “God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth”
2. God is immutable and unchanging: (v. 14) “you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.
a. (v. 15) Kept promise to David; with His “hand” He fulfilled it (anthropomorphism)
b. (v. 16) [will] Never fail to have a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only sons are careful in all they do to walk before (according to God’s law as David did).
3. God is omnipresent: (v. 18) “Heavens…cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!”
4. God is personable and has revealed Himself to man: (v. 19) “Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy”
5. God is love, merciful, full of grace: (v. 19-21) “O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence”, “...hear the prayer your servant” ”...Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people” …”forgive”.
6. God is Just/Justice and a Judge: (v. 22-31) "...a man wrongs his neighbor”, “...required to take an oath and he comes and swears the oath before your altar in this temple” “ Judge between your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing down on his own head what he has done.”
a. Declare the innocent not guilty and so establish his innocence. (absolute moral truth)
b. When Israel is defeated by an enemy and when they turn back and confess your name, praying and making supplication God bring them back to the land of their fathers. (restoration)
c. When there is no rain and they repent, when famine or plague comes to the land, blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come. The list continues…He will uphold their cause.
7. God is sovereign over all men: (v. 32) “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple”.
8. God’s Communicable attribute of Wrath: (v. 36) "When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near.
9. God is full of grace & merciful (again and again) (v. 37) “…and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, 'We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly'; and if they turn back to you…He will uphold their cause. And forgive His people.
10. God is goodness: (v. 41) … may your saints rejoice in your goodness.
11. God is faithful to His covenants and unchanging: (v. 42) O LORD God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember the great love promised to David your servant."
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