Daniel Kneeling in Prayer Before an Open WindowBible World
8:491 Kings 8:49
Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause,
The verse belongs to Solomon's remarkable prayer at the dedication of the temple, offered with a felt need for divine power. In it Solomon asks God to hear the prayers and supplications of His people from heaven, His dwelling place, and to uphold their cause. That plea covers Israelites who go out to war as God directs when they pray toward Jerusalem and the temple. It also covers those carried into captivity after sinning: when they repent, confess their sins, and turn back to God and seek Him from exile, He will hear and forgive them and grant them compassion. They can reach Him from wherever they are, without the temple's ceremonies or visible glory.
God is not confined to a temple or any earthly place, for though heaven is His dwelling place He meets His people by His Spirit when they gather for worship. He hears their prayers and visits and encourages them wherever they are, so His children may worship their heavenly Father in every place. The prayer shows that Israel's dependence was in the God of Israel, who honored the many people who built Him a large and grand house as a sanctuary where they could meet to worship Him. Those who worshiped Him sincerely had His blessing.
In that same prayer Solomon prayed for the people that their hearts might be wholly and undividedly given to the Lord. That prayer stands in contrast to his later course, for though once closely related to God he became his people's seducer into idolatry. His pagan wives led him away from God, and he built high places for their worship. The ruined idols and buildings opposite the temple stood as evidence that separation from obedience to God leads away from wisdom and righteousness.
The verse belongs to Solomon's remarkable prayer at the dedication of the temple, offered with a felt need for divine power. In it Solomon asks God to hear the prayers and supplications of His people from heaven, His dwelling place, and to uphold their cause. That plea covers Israelites who go out to war as God directs when they pray toward Jerusalem and the temple. It also covers those carried into captivity after sinning: when they repent, confess their sins, and turn back to God and seek Him from exile, He will hear and forgive them and grant them compassion. They can reach Him from wherever they are, without the temple's ceremonies or visible glory.
God is not confined to a temple or any earthly place, for though heaven is His dwelling place He meets His people by His Spirit when they gather for worship. He hears their prayers and visits and encourages them wherever they are, so His children may worship their heavenly Father in every place. The prayer shows that Israel's dependence was in the God of Israel, who honored the many people who built Him a large and grand house as a sanctuary where they could meet to worship Him. Those who worshiped Him sincerely had His blessing.
In that same prayer Solomon prayed for the people that their hearts might be wholly and undividedly given to the Lord. That prayer stands in contrast to his later course, for though once closely related to God he became his people's seducer into idolatry. His pagan wives led him away from God, and he built high places for their worship. The ruined idols and buildings opposite the temple stood as evidence that separation from obedience to God leads away from wisdom and righteousness.