1 Kings 8:54, commentary and pictures

At the dedication of the finished temple, the verse records the close of Solomon's prayer and supplication to the Lord, when he arose from before the altar from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. He offered this kneeling supplication in front of all Israel, with many people from other nations also present at the splendid dedication. Before praying he taught that God is not like heathen gods confined to temples built for them, but the God of Israel meets His people by His Spirit when they assemble in the house dedicated to His worship. His kneeling prayer asks whether God will indeed dwell on earth when heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him, much less the house that was built, and asks that His eyes be open toward the house night and day toward the place where He put His name, to hear the prayer made toward that place.

The prayer asked that the people give their hearts wholly to the Lord. His kneeling with raised hands expresses humble petition before God, presenting him as a subject of grace with his whole being in submission to the Creator. In its larger context the prayer sets out the conditions for receiving God's blessings in worship, showing that Israel depended on the God of Israel, that sincere worshipers received His blessing, and that God honored the people who built Him a sanctuary where they could meet to worship. After he finished this earnest, solemn prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices, the glory of the Lord filled the house so that the priests could not enter, and the congregation bowed with their faces to the ground in worship.

Although the prayer pleaded for wholehearted devotion, Solomon later lived contrary to it, and his apostasy stood in contrast to that plea. The verse teaches worshipers to approach God with humility, reverence, and godly fear, showing that kneeling is fitting when offering petitions in both public and private worship.