King Solomon prayed for you and me! I find this to be so astounding. At the dedication of the temple, he lifted his hands to heaven and first interceded on behalf of the people of Israel who would come there to pray and asked God to hear their prayers. He then prayed for the foreigners—non Israelites—who would also come there to pray to the God of Israel.
The temple was to be the place on earth where the presence of God dwelt. But Solomon knew that if even the heavens could not contain God, how much less this temple he had built! Nevertheless, he asked the Lord to hear the prayers His people would pray from there: “And listen to the pleas of Your servant and Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. And may You respond from heaven, the place of Your dwelling, so that You hear and forgive” (2 Chron. 6:21).
Solomon also knew God intended to make the people of Israel a light to the nations, and one day, Gentiles would be drawn to worship the God of Israel and pray to Him at the temple. So Solomon prayed that the Lord would hear their prayer as well and answer from heaven.
Once Solomon finished his prayer, the glory of the Lord so filled the temple that the priests could not enter it to minister. God had accepted Solomon’s prayer, and His presence had sealed the deal!
Today there is no longer a temple in Jerusalem, but the God who is so great that even the heavens cannot contain Him still hears our prayers—the prayers of the foreigner to the God of Israel. So don’t be shy, and in your time of need, pray to the God who hears and answers from heaven!
If you would like to learn more, join me for this week’s episode of Out of Zion podcast on Charisma Podcast Network, God Hears From Heaven. Walk Thru the Bible with me each week by downloading our Bible reading plan, and get started reading right away! Invite your friends and family to join us! I can’t wait to Walk Thru the Bible with you! {eoa}
Dr. Susan Michael is USA director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and host of the Out of Zion podcast.
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