1 Kings 8:33, commentary and pictures

Solomon prayed at the dedication of the temple that when Israel was defeated by enemies because of sin, if the people turned back to God, confessed His name, and prayed toward His house, He would hear in heaven, forgive their sin, and bring them back to the land given to their fathers. The temple was the appointed place where God met His people by His Spirit and blessed sincere worship, yet He was not confined to it, and His people could find Him through prayer wherever they were, even in captivity far from it. God set His seal upon the prayer by sending fire to consume the sacrifices, filling the house with His glory, and assuring Solomon by night that his prayer was heard and mercy would be shown to worshipers there. The promise gives wonderful encouragement that God is willing to show mercy to those who seek Him after apostasy, to hear and defend His people in war and oppression, and it was abundantly fulfilled in the reformation under Hezekiah and in his prayer in the temple for deliverance from Sennacherib, that all the earth might know that the Lord alone is God. Solomon himself afterward acted against the undivided devotion he had prayed for, forsaking temple worship for idols through his heathen alliances and marriages, showing that even one greatly honored and enlightened by God can fall from obedience and lose wisdom and righteousness.

Temple Dedication Prayer

The verse belongs to Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple, pleading that when Israel is smitten down before the enemy because they have sinned, if they turn again, confess His name, and pray and make supplication in the temple, God will hear in heaven, forgive their sin, and bring them back to the land given to their fathers. It is a prayer for hearing and forgiveness after defeat caused by sin, with turning back, confession of the name, and prayer in the house as the way to seek favor. The following verse carries the request to its completion, that God would hear from heaven, forgive, and restore.

The house is the appointed place toward which the defeated people are to pray, the sanctuary built as a place to meet and worship Him. It is where He meets His people by His Spirit, honoring those who built it for that purpose and blessing sincere worshipers who come there. Yet He is not confined to it, and His people are not confined to it for access to Him. Even in captivity and far away from the temple they may approach Him through prayer and heavenly communion and worship Him wherever they are.

Divine approval was set upon the prayer when fire came down from heaven to consume the sacrifices and the temple was filled with His glory. By night He appeared to Solomon to assure him the prayer was heard and that mercy would be shown to worshipers there. That seal confirmed the promise of forgiveness held out in the prayer.

The prayer declares that Israel's security depended on the God of Israel, to whom they were to return with confession and prayer at the temple when smitten for sin. It was offered by one who felt his need of divine power. In it he prayed that the hearts of Israel would remain wholly devoted to the Lord.

Mercy After Defeat

When defeat before the enemy comes because of sin, the way back is to turn again to God, confess His name, and pray and make supplication in His house, with the plea that He hear in heaven and forgive sin. That prayer expresses willingness to show mercy to those who seek Him after apostasy. He will hear and show favor and maintain the cause of His people at all times as the matter requires. This is especially true in times of war or oppression by an army, when the chief men enter the house of prayer and plead for deliverance.

The prayer gave wonderful encouragement to those who entered the temple courts in Hezekiah's day to seek forgiveness and renew vows of allegiance to God. Its promise of mercy met abundant fulfillment during the reformation under Hezekiah. In the setting of Hezekiah's Passover, judgments upon the northern tribes awakened some to seek God. Some humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem, for turning back, confessing His name, and praying at His house were the way to seek His favor.

Hezekiah's taking Sennacherib's taunting letter into the temple, spreading it before the Lord, and praying with strong faith for help from heaven was in harmony with this promise and with the mind of God. The deliverance so sought vindicates the honor of Jehovah as the living and reigning God. He is God alone of all the kingdoms of the earth, who made heaven and earth. The deliverance is that all the kingdoms and all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is none else.

Solomon's Later Apostasy

The prayer at the dedication of the temple showed that Solomon felt his need of divine power, yet afterward he separated himself from God and forsook the worship of the temple for groves devoted to idols. The prayer he had offered there was remarkable for its plea that Israel turn back to God when sin brought defeat, confess His name, and seek Him in His house, but his later course ran directly contrary to the loyalty and undivided devotion he had asked for. He allowed idolatry to corrupt his religion until he himself became an apostate.

He became an idolater through alliances and marriages with worshipers of false gods, and he built high places for his wives' idols close beside the temple. Receiving great divine light did not keep him faithful. Those ruined high places stood as evidence that even one once honored by God and closely connected with Him can abandon obedience and lose wisdom and righteousness.