Lately, since the Covid-19 outbreak I have heard the scripture 2 Chronicles 7:14 repeated more and more. I began wondering if there was more to the scripture than what we seem to espouse. I mean was there more intensity or emphasis placed on anything that our English translation did not express as well. So I did my usual when in these kinds of quandary. I began to do a word study. I am not a Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek scholar but I have become pretty adept at reading lexicons, dictionaries and other study aids. So with that said I jumped into my research. As I was studying the thought came to me, “What is the context?” Why did God say this? Verses 11,12 says God spoke after Solomon finished the temple and his (Solomon’s) house and prayed. What did he ask in prayer? Was it just a prayer of praise or did Solomon ask something of God? Might knowing that offer added insight? I stopped the word study and backed up to read the prayer. My God, My God, that prayer and all that was happening is a study in itself. So I am going to back up and begin before the prayer.

Picture this.

There standing on a hill in Jerusalem believed to be Mt Moriah, was this magnificent temple and the King’s house. In the courtyard stood the brazen altar and a bronze scaffold. A multitude of people were there with all their animal and grain sacrifices to offer as they dedicated the temple, the House of God.

At the dedication of God’s house stood the elders of the tribes, the priests and the Levites. All the Levitical singers were present, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthum with their sons and relatives. They had a variety of instruments: cymbals, psalteries and harps. Across from them stood 120 trumpet blowing priests. There was going to be some seriously loud praising going on.

Solomon stood on the bronze scaffold and addressed the people. He blessed the whole congregation as they stood. He praised God. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel….who made a promise to David and today has fulfilled.” Then Solomon knelt down before the people, spread his hands toward heaven and prayed.

Can you see it? Solomon, the King, let the people see him, humble himself before the altar of God. And he prayed.

Tomorrow: Solomon’s prayer.