Solomon’s Prayer
1 Kings 8:22-53 The prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the Temple was a sublime utterance. It would be well for the Church of God to copy it now. The days in which we live need such a prayer. Let us review it somewhat in detail.
IT WAS REVERENT.
He commences, “Lord God of Israel, there is no God like Thee in heaven above, or on earth beneath.” There is a solemn awe felt in his soul before such a God. Much of our worship, I fear, is not reverent enough; we do not sufficiently recognise in whose presence we are. While angels veil their faces before Him, men oft forget when they come into His presence, that they are treading on holy ground. Hence that lack of godly fear becoming those who are but dust and ashes before the Most High God. True worshippers, realising the greatness of Him in whose presence they stand, bow in solemn awe before Him whom earth and heaven cannot contain. How, then, shall worms approach Him aright?
IT WAS PENITENT.
There is joined to every petition a plea for pardon, “Then hear Thou in heaven and forgive.” We all need to plead thus, for who sinneth not? Never is this more realised than when we draw near to Him who is most holy. Past offences come back to memory, leading to heartfelt confession of sin; and were it not for the atoning sacrifice of Christ, sin would sink us to despair. “But there is forgiveness with Him, that He may be feared.” “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Let us seek His pardoning grace at His mercy-seat. We need to pray for it and humble ourselves before God at this time, for I believe it is because of our transgressions God has hidden His face from us. Solomon anticipated trials for the nation, and he traced it to wrong-doing, needing God’s pardoning mercy for the same. The trials are now upon us in our Church declensions and barrenness. Let us seek forgiveness and restoring, reviving grace.
IT WAS DEFINITE.
The royal pleader went into matters in detail, mentioning nearly every possible case. We are too indefinite often in our prayers; they are too vague. There is a multitude of words, but no real, importunate, definite petitions asked of God. Our prayers are often a wordy letter, with no direction to them; hence they never reach God’s throne, and we get no answer. Solomon told God what they wanted in clear, forcible language, coming from the heart. God hears such prayer. When there is a real errand to His throne, words may be few, but they will be concise and to the point. Real need will make us definite in our pleading with God when want presses on the soul.
IT WAS PERSONAL.
The prayer of the man who knew the plague of his own heart. Such feel the inward smart; they smite upon their breasts, with the cry, “God be merciful to me—the sinner.” While they feel for others, their own burden is the heaviest load. They know what conflict is between the flesh and the spirit. It is a real sorrow to them that sin still dwells within. Instead of making excuses on the ground of human frailty, they pray most earnestly they may be delivered from the reigning power of sin and its defiling tendency upon their heart, for it pollutes their best endeavours to serve God, and robs them of inward peace and communion with Him. “When they would do good, evil is present with them.” It is a spreading disease, contaminating every part. Nothing but sanctifying grace can control its baleful influence; thus the need of constant prayer and watchfulness. God alone can preserve when the streams are foul within. Thus the soul has recourse to the cleansing blood of a precious Saviour, who alone can purify from sin.
IT WAS COMPREHENSIVE.
He did not omit to pray for the stranger who came from a far country. True prayer is not selfish; it embraces those who are without God, without hope, without Christ in the world. It stretches forth its hands unto God for the prodigal in a far country—that those who are as yet strangers to the God of Israel, but yet cry out of their distress, may be heard; that they may know God’s name and favour which He bears toward His people, and know “His name as do Thy people Israel”; that strangers may find a place in God’s house and among His people, and share the privileges His favoured people enjoy.” May the Lord enlarge our hearts and petitions toward the strangers, and for them, remembering that we once were strangers and foreigners in the world. When we are all stirred up to pray as did the King of Israel, we may expect to see God’s glory fill His house, and we shall with-draw before His sacred Majesty. His overpowering presence will be so awe-inspiring, and yet it will fill with joy.
IT WAS GRATEFUL.
With gratitude Solomon mentions God’s covenant with His people, His mercy toward them, His deliverance from Egypt, out of that furnace of iron; how He had led and fed them in the desert; the promises He had fulfilled; the inheritance He had given them; what mercies had strewn their pathway; and, not the least, that He was their God in the midst of them; and how He had given them a house of prayer, a settled abode, with the ordinances of divine worship, where they could meet with Him, offering their sacrifices with solemn praise and prayer, typical of Gospel days and heavenly worship, when they reach that place where no temple will be needed, but God and the Lamb will be the glory thereof.
Edwin White (1846-?) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. His first pastorate was with the church meeting at Orphington (1877-1879). After two years, the communion question cropped up, the majority of members deciding to throw the Table open. He forthwith resigned his office. His second pastorate was with the church meeting at Clare, Suffolk (1881-1887). After six years of blessed ministry, he resigned the office due to health reasons. His third pastorate was with the church meeting at Woolwich, Enon Chapel (1891-1919). In 1911 was elected president of the Metropolitan Association of Strict Baptist Churches.
