Solomon's Prayer of Dedication to Adonai

1 Kings 8:22-66

Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

22 Then Shlomo stood before the altar of Adonai in the presence of the whole community of Isra’el, spread out his hands toward heaven, 23 and said, “Adonai, God of Isra’el, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below. You keep covenant with your servants and show them grace, provided they live in your presence with all their heart. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father; you spoke with your mouth and fulfilled it with your hand; so it is today. 25 Now therefore, Adonai, God of Isra’el, keep what you promised to your servant David, my father, when you said, ‘You will never lack a man in my presence to sit on the throne of Isra’el, if only your children are careful about what they do, so that they live in my presence, just as you have lived in my presence.’ 26 Now therefore, God of Isra’el, please let your word, which you spoke to your servant David, my father, be confirmed.

27 “But can God actually live on the earth? Why, heaven itself, even the heaven of heavens, cannot contain you; so how much less this house I have built? 28 Even so, Adonai my God, pay attention to your servant’s prayer and plea, listen to the cry and prayer that your servant is praying before you today, 29 that your eyes will be open toward this house night and day — toward the place concerning which you said, ‘My name will be there’ — to listen to the prayer your servant will pray toward this place. 30 Yes, listen to the plea of your servant, and also that of your people Isra’el when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven where you live; and when you hear, forgive!

31 “If a person sins against a fellow member of the community, and he is made to swear under oath, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house; 32 then hear in heaven, act, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, so that his way of life devolves on his own head, and vindicating the one who is right, giving him what his righteousness deserves.

33 “When your people Isra’el sin against you and in consequence are defeated by an enemy; then if they turn back to you, acknowledge your name, and pray and make their plea to you in this house; 34 hear in heaven, forgive the sin of your people Isra’el, and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.

35 “When they sin against you, and in consequence the sky is shut, so that there is no rain; then, if they pray toward this place, acknowledge your name and turn from their sin when you have brought them low; 36 hear in heaven, forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Isra’el — since you keep teaching them the good way by which they should live — and send down rain on your land, which you have given your people as their inheritance.

37 “If there is famine in the land, or blight, windstorm, mildew, locusts or shearer-worms; or if their enemy comes to the land and besieges them in any of their cities — no matter what kind of plague or sickness it is; 38 then, regardless of what prayer or plea anyone among all your people Isra’el makes — for each individual will know what is plagueing his own conscience — and the person spreads out his hands toward this house; 39 hear in heaven where you live, and forgive, and act, and, since you know what is in each one’s heart, give each person what his conduct deserves (because you, and only you, know all human hearts), 40 so that they will fear you throughout the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.

41 “Also the foreigner who does not belong to your people Isra’el — when he comes from a distant country because of your reputation 42 (for they will hear of your great reputation, your mighty hand and your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house; 43 then hear in heaven where you live, and act in accordance with everything about which the foreigner is calling to you; so that all the peoples of the earth will know your name and fear you, as does your people Isra’el, and so that they will know that this house which I have built bears your name.

44 “If your people go out to fight against their enemy, no matter by which way you send them, and they pray to Adonai toward the city you chose, toward the house I built for your name; 45 then, in heaven, hear their prayer and plea, and uphold their cause.

46 “If they sin against you — for there is no one who doesn’t sin — and you are angry with them and hand them over to the enemy, so that they carry them off captive to the land of their enemy, whether far away or nearby; 47 then, if they come to their senses in the land where they have been carried away captive, turn back and make their plea to you in the land of those who carried them off captive, saying, ‘We sinned, we acted wrongly, we behaved wickedly,’ 48 if, in the land of their enemies who carried them off captive, they return to you with all their heart and being and pray to you toward their own land, which you gave to their ancestors, toward the city you chose and toward the house I have built for your name; 49 then, in heaven where you live, hear their prayer and plea, uphold their cause, 50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you — forgive their transgressions which they have committed against you, and give them compassion in the sight of their captors, so that they will show compassion toward them; 51 for they are your people, your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, out of the flames of the iron furnace.

52 “May your eyes be open to the plea of your servant and to the plea of your people Isra’el, so that you will hear them whenever they cry out to you. 53 For you made a distinction between them and all the peoples of the earth by making them your inheritance, as you said through Moshe your servant when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, Adonai Elohim.”

54 When Shlomo had finished praying all this prayer and plea to Adonai, he got up from in front of the altar of Adonai, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven, 55 stood up, and raised his voice to bless the whole community of Isra’el. He said, 56 “Blessed be Adonai, who has given rest to his people Isra’el, in accordance with everything he promised. Not one word has failed of his good promise, which he made through Moshe his servant. 57 May Adonai our God be with us, as he was with our ancestors. May he never leave us or abandon us. 58 In this way he will incline our hearts toward him, so that we will live according to his ways and observe his mitzvot, laws and rulings which he ordered our fathers to obey. 59 May these words of mine, which I have used in my plea before Adonai, be present with Adonai our God day and night, so that he will uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Isra’el day by day. 60 Then all the peoples of the earth will know that Adonai is God; there is no other. 61 So be wholehearted with Adonai our God, living by his laws and observing his mitzvot, as you are doing today.”

62 Then the king, together with all Isra’el, offered sacrifices before Adonai. 63 For the sacrifice of peace offerings which Shlomo offered to Adonai, he offered 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. Thus the king and all the people of Isra’el dedicated the house of Adonai.

64 The same day, the king consecrated the center of the courtyard in front of the house of Adonai, because he had to offer the burnt offering, the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings there. For the bronze altar before Adonai was too small to receive the burnt offering, the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings.

65 So Shlomo celebrated the festival at that time. All Isra’el, a huge gathering [that had come all the way] from the entrance of Hamat to the Vadi [of Egypt], celebrated with him before Adonai our God for seven days and then for seven more days — fourteen days in all. 66 On the eighth day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and returned to their tents full of joy and glad of heart for all the goodness Adonai had shown to David his servant and to Isra’el his people.

A Deeper Study of the Scriptures with Bible Gateway:

8:22–53 Much can be learned about prayer from Solomon’s prayer. First, Solomon begins his prayer with praise and worship (vv. 22–25). Second, he acknowledges his unworthiness to be in Adonai presence (vv. 26–30). Third, Solomon requests forgiveness for Israel’s sins against their neighbors (vv. 31, 32), for sins that caused defeat by enemies (vv. 33, 34), for sins that caused drought (vv. 35, 36), and for sins that resulted in other misfortunes (vv. 37–40). Fourth, he asks Adonai to be merciful to foreigners who fear Him (vv. 41–43). Fifth, Solomon prays that Adonai will grant them victory in battle (vv. 44, 45). And sixth, the king seeks Adonai for their future restoration when they fail (vv. 46–53).

8:22 Solomon . . . spread out his hands toward heaven: He lifted his hands to praise and give thanks to Adonai.  The lifting of hands in Scripture is a frequent physical expression of worship to Adonai.

8:54 Here is one of the clearest pictures in the Bible showing the posture of an intercessor, kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.

It’s impossible to grasp Adonai’s size and power. As Solomon acknowledged, even the highest heaven cannot contain Adonai. We can scarcely comprehend our own planet, let alone the infinity of space and the numberless galaxies and stars beyond us. The amount of energy needed to create and organize such a vast universe is beyond human comprehension.

Dynamic devotion flows from the totality of our heart and strength belonging entirely to Adonai.  Earnestly seek Adonai.  Ask Him to continually turn you heart toward Him that you might walk in His ways.  Admit that you do things you know you should not do.  Ask Adonai to search your heart daily.  Be quick to ask Adonai's forgiveness, turn from sin, and be confident that He will forgive you and restore you.

Adonai desires that our hearts be wholly His.  Be ever watchful over those things for which you heart longs.  God calls us to purity of heart so that we will not stumble and stray from Him.  The lives of Solomon and the kings reveal how a divided heart produces weakness that leads away from Adonai. Solomon amassed wealth, power, and women in direct disobedience to the Lord's direction to the Kings of Israel.  The Lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life continue to tempt us today.  Adonai calls us apart from these things that we might walk ever closer to Him.