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1) Solomon's Prayer; A guide For All Ages
Many years ago there was a powerful monarch, who would have been greatly envied through the ages by many kings, emperors and priests. Not only because he was wealthy and powerful, but chiefly because his prayer, before his assembled people, on a very important state occasion, was publicly, visibly and unmistakably acknowledged by his God. Just imagine this monarch, having made his public prayer to his God, witnessed that God sending fire that devours the offering and fills the temple with smoke. All the people saw this impressive, powerful and wonderful sight. From that time, 2500 years ago, this monarch’s prayer has had great influence on the lives of many people.
This prayer contains principles that are very important to us today also. The more so, because this is one of the few prayers that the God of Israel has visibly and physically set His seal of His approval upon and endorsed it. There is not just one detailed Biblical record of this prayer but two records in the book of Chronicles and the book of Kings. This vitally important prayer of Solomon is often overlooked and not given the attention that it deserves.
2 CHRONICLES 6 (Parallel record is in 1 Kings 8)
It is necessary to look closely at 2 Chronicles 6 to see why this prayer is so significant to us today and the principles that apply to those who desire to worship the God of Israel in a way that is pleasing to Him.
2 Chron. 6 : 5 is the prelude to Solomon’s prayer in which he states that Yahweh had chosen no other city in Israel that “my name might be there”… “but I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there.”(verse 6) It was on the Mountain of Moriah, where Abraham had sacrificed the kid which Yahweh had provided, that the future temple was to be built.
King David had wanted to build a house “for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel,” (verse 7) but he was not permitted to do so. Solomon, typical of Yahshua (i.e. Jesus) the greater son of David, built “the house for the Name of Yahweh, God of Israel.” (verse 10) Yahshua is yet to establish the future House of Prayer for all nations. It is interesting to note the number of times that the statement that Solomon’s temple was a house for “the Name of Yahweh, God of Israel,” occurs in this prayer.
Solomon “kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands towards heaven.” (verse 13) Solomon knelt. He showed the people of Israel his reverence towards the God of Israel. Despite all his power and earthly glory, Solomon showed that he was not too proud to humble himself before the God of Israel.
In his prayer, Solomon firstly acknowledges Yahweh’s great power saying, “There is no God like thee in the heaven nor in the earth.” (v. 14) He speaks of the great promises to David and the fathers of Israel. (v. 15-16) He then appeals to Yahweh asking that “thy word be verified.”(v. 17) He mentions that God dwells among men (v. 18) which was through His prophets, angels and the greatest example was Immanuel (El with us), the Messiah.
Solomon makes a plea that his prayer will be heard. “O Yahweh my God … hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee… unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.” (v. 19-29) This plea is repeated in verse 21 and he also requests that Yahweh “ “forgive”. After speaking of transgression, sins against others, of oppressors and oppression, Solomon requests that Yahweh will hear when they “make supplication before thee in (Strongs gives ‘towards’) this house. (v. 24) Notice that in this verse and in some following verses “in this house” is also rendered “towards this house.”
When there is no rain, Solomon asks that “if they pray toward this place, and confess thy Name … then hear thou from heaven and forgive.” (v.26) A similar appeal is made if there are more personal needs (v. 28-29). “Spread forth hands in (or towards) this house.”
In 2 Chron, 6:36-38 Solomon says that if their enemies “carry them away captives into a land far off or near… if they …turn unto thee in the land of their captivity … if they return unto thee with all their heart…and pray toward their land…then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications.” This makes it obvious that they would pray towards the temple and not in the temple.
In verse 32, “the stranger which is not of thy people” is mentioned. “If they come and pray in/towards this house, then hear thou from the heavens… that all the people of the earth may know thy name and fear thee … and know that this house which I have built is called by thy Name.” Is that not us, the people called out for the name?(see Acts 15:14) Is it not the faithful followers of the Messiah who look to the time when he returns to this earth to establish the Kingdom of God on earth and when the greater House of Prayer for all nations will be built in Jerusalem?
Eight times in his prayer, Solomon teaches the people that when they are in trouble they are to turn and pray towards the house of the God of Israel, towards Jerusalem, to the place where the God of Israel said He would put His Name.
The prayer closes (v. 42) with allusions to the promise of the Kingdom, which is mankind’s only hope. When the people of Israel saw the “glory of Yahweh” fill the house, “they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped and praised Yahweh.” (2 Chron. 7: 1-3) When the glory of Yaahweh filled the house what greater evidence could there have been that Solomon’s prayer had been heard and accepted. Solomon was assured by Yahweh that ,“Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place (Heb. Prayer of this place)…mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually,” said Yahweh.( 2Chron. 7: 15-16) Note here the word ‘perpetually’ and what it means to the faithful of all generations.
Was this an idiosyncrasy of Solomon? Was Solomon the only one who prayed kneeling towards Jerusalem? He certainly gave this advice to the nation of Israel at the dedication of the temple and to all others who seek Yahweh.
Pause and consider some of the other faithful servants of Yahweh.
2) Examples of Prayer Towards Jerusalem
Elijah on Mt Carme1 Kings 18: 42-44
Elijah had gone to Mount Carmel to pray for the rain that would end the long drought in Israel, following Elijah’s sign to determine and thereby glorify the true God against the prophets of Baal. “Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel, and he cast himself down upon the earth.” (1 Kings 18: 42) Elijah sent his servant seven times to “look towards the sea.” On the seventh occasion, the servant saw a little cloud rising out of the sea.
The following is an observation made by a visitor to Mt Carmel.
“Elijah, when praying for rain could not see the sea. When I was on Mt Carmel, I realised that it is on a peninsula jutting out into the sea. To the North, West and South you can see the sea. The slope of the mountain is such that at the top in these directions the vision is unimpeded. I realised there is only one place on the top of Mt Carmel where you cannot see the sea! The hair stood up on my scalp. Elijah to not be able to see the sea had to on the section with a slight slope to the South-East and therefore he was facing towards Jerusalem when he prayed.” (Janet Henriksen)
This observation reveals that there is “only one place” on Mt Carmel where you cannot see the sea. If Elijah had been able to see the sea , why would he have sent his servant seven times to “look towards the sea”? To the perceptive reader, the record of this event in Israel’s history, would make it obvious that Elijah could not see the sea and was therefore facing Jerusalem as he prayed. Undoubtedly this is a reflection of Elijah’s faith in Yahweh and the promises to Israel and his understanding of Solomon’s prayer.
The result of Elijah’s prayer is impressive
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.(Jam 5:17-18 KJV)
Jonah’s Prayer (Jonah 2)
Jonah, whilst in the whale, prayed to Yahweh and spoke of the temple of Yahweh. “Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet ‘I will look again’ toward thy holy temple…When my soul fainted within me I remembered Yahweh; and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.” (Jonah 2: 4,7)
These words of Jonah’s prayer are an application and acknowledgment of Solomon’s prayer. Jonah was in great difficulty and perplexity and his hope of salvation came from Yahweh’s promises and Jerusalem was the focal point of the fulfilment of these.
Daniel And Prayer (Daniel 6)
Daniel was a man of great faith. His prayers and faith were recognised and acknowledged by Yahweh. “O Daniel, a man greatly beloved understand the words that I speak unto thee…from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand and chasten ( Heb. To make thyself small) thyself before thy God, thy words were heard and I am come for thy words.” (Daniel 10: 11-12) To understand this we need to look more closely at one of the most outstanding events in the life of Daniel.
Daniel in the lion’s den is probably one of the most well known of the records of faith. Every child who has any knowledge of the Bible, can relate this event in the life of Daniel.It has become one the most popular “stories” in the Bible. The emphasis is always placed on the miraculous survival of Daniel. Perhaps more important than this, as far as we are concerned, as students of the scriptures, is the reason why Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den.
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God as he did aforetime.”
This verse contains three important things:
Daniel prayed towards Jerusalem three times daily.
He knelt upon his knees.
He gave thanks and supplication before his God.
Daniel would no doubt have been concerned about his people and nation and longed to see their return from captivity. He would have petitioned on their behalf. Emphasis is always placed on the physical dangers that Daniel faced at this time: the ferocity of the lions, the pain, the suffering that he could endure. Daniel knew that there was a conspiracy against him, to topple him from power and toss him to the lions. Despite this, he must have felt great compulsion to continue to pray in this way.
Daniel understood the workings of man’s mind, but his faith was grounded in the restoration of Israel and the distant future destiny of Jerusalem as the world capital. He openly acknowledged this when he prayed towards Jerusalem humbly, on his knees, in the spirit of Solomon’s prayer, before the Creator of all.
Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20)
At a time when Jehoshaphat faced invasion from his enemies, in the spirit of Solomon’s prayer he turned to Yahweh. He prayed in the midst of the congregation,
when evil comes upon us, as the sword, judgement, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.”…”And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before Yahweh, worshipping Yahweh. (2 Chron. 20: 9, 18)
Again there are the elements of Solomon’s prayer displayed here by the people.
They prayed towards the temple.
They fell down before Yahweh.
Following the victory against their enemies in a battle, in the VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT, (see volume 1) in which they were not required to fight, “they assembled in the valley of Berechah; for there they blessed Yahweh.” (2 Chron 20: 26) Here we have the prayers of Jehoshaphat answered visibly and with power and their enemies vanquished.
3) Hezekiah in Strength and Weakness (2 Chron 29)
In the first year of his reign, Hezekiah opened the doors of the house of Yahweh and gathered the Levites and commanded them to sanctify themselves. He told them that “our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of Yahweh our God, and have forsaken him.” (2 Chron 29:6)
Note the next statement in this verse very carefully.
“They have turned away their faces from the habitation of Yahweh, and TURNED THEIR BACKS.”
Not only had they neglected the worship of Yahweh, they had figuratively and literally turned their backs to the temple, to Jerusalem.
When the Levites and the people were prepared for the re-establishment of the appropriate worship and the house of Yahweh had been cleansed, “and when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.” (2 Chron 29:29) In this verse the word used for ‘bowed’ is ‘to bend the knee’ (Strong 3766)
Here again we see the same reverential attitude of Hezekiah and the people.
Another interesting observation about Hezekiah occurs in Isaiah 38:2. Isaiah had told Hezekiah that he was about to die and to set his house in order. “Then Hezekiah turned his face towards the wall, and prayed unto the Yahweh.” Why does Isaiah mention this fact? Why does Hezekiah turn to face the wall? This could be something for us to meditate on. Had Hezekiah indeed turned towards the temple? Consider Ezekiel 43:8 where Ezekiel records Israel’s sins against Yahweh. “In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their posts by my posts, and THE WALL between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name, by their abominations that they have committed.” It would appear that Hezekiah turned towards the temple wall, the temple being next door to the king’s house.
Backs TO Temple
Hezekiah is not the only one who refers to Israel turning their backs to Yahweh.
Jeremiah 2:27 states, “they have turned their back unto me and not their face.” This is again repeated in Jeremiah 32:33. “They have turned unto me the back and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.”
Ezekiel also makes this observation. Ezekiel was shown the abominations in Jerusalem. “And he brought me into the inner court of Yahweh’s house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of Yahweh, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs towards the temple of Yahweh, and their faces towards the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east”, (Ezekiel 8 :16)
These examples seem to equate faithlessness both figuratively and literally as turning their backs to the temple and Jerusalem, and thus dishonouring their creator and rejecting the promises to Israel.
4) Prayer and the New Testament
Does Solomon’s prayer have any significance for the Christian?
When discussing the attitude to prayer displayed by such faithful men as Daniel and Solomon, the modern day Christian will invariably refer to the words of Stephen in Acts 7: 48-49.
Howbeit the most high dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?”
The reasoning that is then given is that ‘God is everywhere’ and the temple is irrelevant, therefore prayer, in whatever place or in whatever way it is presented, will be heard. People seem to have no doubt that prayer will be heard in whatever circumstance.
However Stephen is quoting from Isaiah 66:1. Isaiah 66 presents a vision of the events that culminate in the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth and the Temple of Ezekiel’s prophecy. Stephen recognises that the works of men’s hands are futile and his emphasis would have been on the question in this quotation from Isaiah 66:1, “where is the place of my rest?”
This word ‘rest’ ( Strong’s 4496) is not used frequently. The same word is used in Deuteronomy 12:9. “For ye are not yet come to the rest and the inheritance which Yahweh your God giveth you.” Again in Psalm 95:11, the Psalmist states, “I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.” Many of the Israelites were destined to have no part in the ultimate promise made to their fathers. In the same way, if the Jews of Stephen’s day knew the scriptures, Stephen’s reference to this quotation would have told them that they stood in danger of rejection by the God of Israel, as they had rejected their Messiah and consequently would not enter into that promised ‘rest’
In Isaiah 28:12, the Israelites found the Law and commandments a dreariness and Yahweh’s Word was not in their hearts. “This is the rest (Strong’s 4496) wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.” In the same manner , the leaders and Jews to whom Stephen spoke, would not hear the Word, and would therefore not enter into that final rest which would come through the promises and the Messiah whom they had rejected. They had heard and seen Him but refused to “hear”. They had a form of religion and worship, but failed to heed the prophets of Yahweh and their warnings.
In 1 Chron. 28:2, it states, “And David the King stood up upon his feet and said. Hear me… I had in mine heart to build an house of rest (Strong’s 4496) for the ark of the covenant… for the footstool of our God.” This takes us back to Solomon’s prayer. It was Solomon who built this Temple, which as we have seen was built in Jerusalem, to be a “house of rest.”(Strong’s 4496) In the future age there will be a far more magnificent temple as a “house of rest.”
This takes us back to that quotation of Stephen and to Isaiah 66.
This chapter presents a vision of the establishment of the Kingdom. Stephen would have been fully aware of this, but did the Jewish leaders realise this? The chapter describes war and upheaval. Following this, Yahweh’s glory will be established in Jerusalem, when Jews and Gentiles will worship there. “I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see my glory… they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren… to my holy mountain Jerusalem… into the house of Yahweh. And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Yahweh.” ( Isaiah 66: 18-23) .
The quotation that Stephen used from Isaiah is at the beginning of the last chapter in Isaiah, which culminates in the vision of the Kingdom and Yahweh’s glory throughout the earth. Was this Stephen’s final warning to them that they stood in danger of not being part of that time and that they were blind to the promises to Israel? His focus was the future Temple, not the present day temple of Herod. The use of that question, “Where is the place of my rest?” should have immediately alerted them and directed their thoughts to Isaiah’s prophecy, but they would not heed the message. Similarly our minds should also turn to Isaiah’s prophecy, to the future Temple.
Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem had provided a “rest” for the ark, but the future temple in Jerusalem will be the place of worship in the age when the earth is at “rest”. Jerusalem is the future “place of rest”. Yahweh’s glory will be throughout the world, but Jerusalem will be the centre and focus of worship. It is the corner stone of the hope and promises and site of the Temple of Ezekiel’s prophecy and worldwide worship. Just as our Lord is the cornerstone of the spiritual temple, Jerusalem and the literal temple of Ezekiel’s prophecy is the corner stone of the political and temporal, where ultimately the spiritual and literal temple will be united in the worship of Yahweh in that age..
Having warned the people of his day, Stephen knelt and prayed before the people. The ultimate glory of Jerusalem over a world in subjection to Yahweh’s will was Stephen’s hope. The quotation used by Stephen should be seen in the context of Isaiah’s prophecy and not just ignored, because Stephen was quoting from Isaiah 66.
Prayer is personal and can be offered in many situations and circumstances of life, but the examples of the faithful men that we have looked at, in certain circumstances and difficulties in their lives, also prayed as Solomon did and as he taught the people of Israel.
What examples are there of prayer in the New Testament records?
5) Prayer in the New Testament
Peter
Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Peter was in Joppa at this time. We can note here that Peter knelt in accordance with Solomon’s prayer. However there is a very interesting statement in this quotation. After praying, Peter turned to the body of Tabitha. Ask yourself the question, why did he turn to the body? The natural assumption would be that he would have prayed over Tabitha. It appears that he did not. Why did he turn to her after praying? Was it for the same reason that Hezekiah had turned on his bed of sickness to pray?
Paul
It is recorded in a number of places that Paul knelt in prayer.
Acts 20:36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. Acts 21:5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
Paul in the book of Romans quotes from Isaiah 45:23 in the following manner.
Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
In his epistle to the Ephesians, Paul plainly shows, by his example, that what he believed Yahweh required in the future, He also desires now.
Ephesians 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
To the Philippians, he writes:
Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
If this is only a future vision, why did Paul and Peter follow Solomon’s example?
Yeshua
Our Lord, God’s own son, humbled himself before His father.
Luke 22:40-42 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation...And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
6) The Psalmist
It would be a grave omission not to mention the words of David, the man after God’s own heart. There was no Temple in Jerusalem in David’s lifetime, but like Stephen, David looked forward to a future Temple to be built in Jerusalem, as we see in Psalm 5
Psalm 5:7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
It must be noted that at the time of King David the Temple had not been built and it would not be built until after his death.
Psalm 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
As Solomon his son does after him, David kneels in prayer.
Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
7) A Final Word
Solomon’s prayer dealt with the many varied needs of the nation of Israel. The people were to acknowledge Yahweh’s great power and Jerusalem was to ever stand as the ultimate place where His name would be established and the centre of future world government.
To both Jew and Gentile today, Jerusalem still remains the future site of Divine government and rulership, and, worship.
Solomon did not fail to include the “stranger” in his prayer:
If they come and pray in (i.e.Heb.towards) this house; then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.”(or, “Thy name is called upon this house”; see margin of K.J.V.)
The faithful stranger /gentile today, like the faithful of all ages awaits the elevation of Jerusalem to the religious and political capital of this world. To kneel in prayer towards Jerusalem is an acknowledgment of Yahweh’s supreme power and the truth of His promise to mankind. But to accept or reject this, of course, becomes the individual’s decision.
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