Have you ever wondered, just what should I pray for? Is there anything I should not pray for? Is there anything that would be improper for me to bring before the Lord? Should I pray for something just because someone asked me to? How should I pray? In this passage of scripture Solomon is praying an intercessory prayer, a prayer on behalf of the people on behalf of the nation of Israel. This is considered a “high priestly” prayer and it is almost identical to the prayer found in 1 Kings 8:12 -52. As awesome and amazing as the Temple is, Solomon is fully aware that God is not limited to only this one place. (Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain you; how much less this temple which I have built! 6:18b NKJV). The Temple serves as the meeting place where the Israelites would come to worship God, to connect to God, to center their worship of God.Solomon’s brings before God many requests and concerns and asks that God would help them in every situation. He acknowledges that whenever anyone comes to the Temple to pray, that God would hear them. Solomon doesn’t limit God to helping only the Jews, but respond to each person who comes seeking God. (6:32-33). Solomon prays for those who would fall away from God, that God would forgive them when they come back to Him.
It would seem then that there is no request that we could ask for of God. That we can take everything to Him in prayer.
But I asked earlier if there is anything we shouldn’t pray for or about. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
need
Praising God in His Holy Temple
Pastor Kathy