1 Kings 8:34
Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers. Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers.
This verse is part of Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple he was employed to build, offered after remarkable manifestations of divine power as his most remarkable prayer. Its plain meaning is that when Israel is defeated and smitten before the enemy because of sin, the people are to turn back to God, confess His name, and pray and supplicate in the temple, and He will hear in heaven, forgive their sin, and bring them again to the land given to their fathers. It therefore gives assurance of mercy to those who seek forgiveness and renew allegiance to God, and prayer remains the way for His faithful people to approach Him even when scattered or in captivity. The prayer expresses deep humility and devotion and teaches that God is not confined to a temple but hears and meets His people wherever they gather in sincere worship. This mind was seen when Hezekiah pleaded in the temple for Judah and for the honor of God that all the earth might know the Lord is God, and it was fulfilled when humbled ones came to Jerusalem at his Passover call seeking a clearer knowledge of God's will.
Solomon's Dedication Prayer
This petition belongs to Solomon's prayer for Israel at the dedication of the temple God employed him to build. It was offered as he entered upon his work after remarkable manifestations of divine power, and it was his most remarkable prayer. In it he asked God to hear Israel in heaven and forgive them when, after sin and defeat by an enemy, they turn back to him, and to restore them to the land given to their ancestors.
The prayer expresses deep humility and devotion. In it Solomon recognized his need for divine power. He asked that the people remain wholly devoted to the Lord. It gave precious views of the divine character.
It teaches that God is not confined to a temple, but hears and meets His people wherever they gather to worship. The temple was built as a place where the people could meet to worship God. Sincere worshipers received His blessing there, while Israel's dependence remained on the God of Israel who hears from heaven, forgives His people's sin, and brings them back to the land given to their ancestors.
The prayer stands in contrast to Solomon's later departure from God. The light he had did not save him. He afterward forsook the very temple he had dedicated, to worship idols, despite his close relation to God and his prayer that God would hear Israel's plea, forgive the people's sin, and return them to the land given to their ancestors.
Repentance, Forgiveness, Restoration
The petition concerns Israel when defeated and smitten before the enemy in times of war or oppression because of sin. In that condition the people are to turn back to God, confess His name, and pray and plead and make supplication in the temple and house of prayer. God's promised response to such repentance and prayer is to hear in heaven, forgive the sin of His people Israel, and bring them again unto the land given to their fathers. Forgiveness is thus presented as God's assured answer to turning, confession, and prayer.
The verse gives assurance of mercy to those seeking forgiveness and renewing their allegiance to God. Prayer and supplication remain the appointed way for God's faithful people to approach Him even when scattered or in captivity. It applies especially when Israel is oppressed by an enemy army and its chief men and leaders enter the house of prayer to plead for deliverance, with the Lord showing favor to such pleading. Hezekiah's pleading in the temple in behalf of Judah and of the honor of their Supreme Ruler was in harmony with this mind of God, seeking deliverance so that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God and there is none else.
This promise was fulfilled during Hezekiah's reformation to renew worship and gather Israel and Judah for Passover, fulfilling the promises of mercy. The terrible judgments befalling the ten tribes awakened in some a desire for better things. Those who humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem to seek God for a clearer knowledge of His will were coming into that forgiveness and return.