1 Kings

1 Kings 8: The LORD hears His people's prayer

Begin in prayer

Before we read Solomon's long prayer at the dedication of the house, let us come before the Lord as one family. Ask Him to hear us now, and to show us the one who prays for those who come to God.

Hear my prayer, Yahweh. Listen to my petitions. In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me.

Psalm 143:1

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You keep Your covenant and hear Your people, and help us to trust You and Your Son, Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Solomon gathers the elders and the tribes, and the priests bring the ark of the covenant into the inner room. When the priests come out, a cloud fills the LORD's house, and His glory is so great that the priests cannot stand. Solomon blesses the LORD for keeping the promise He made to David, and then he stands before the altar and prays. He asks the LORD to hear His people in every place, and to forgive them when they turn back and pray toward this house. The people offer many sacrifices, and they go home joyful for the goodness the LORD had shown to David.

As you read 1 Kings 8, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD keeps His covenant, and He hears His people when they pray.

Solomon brought the ark of the covenant into the inner room, and a cloud filled the house (verses 6 to 11). The priests could not stand to serve, because the LORD's glory filled the house (verse 11). In his long prayer Solomon asked how God could dwell on the earth, when heaven cannot contain Him (verse 27). So the house was a place to pray toward, and the LORD would hear from heaven, His dwelling place (verses 29 and 30). Solomon spoke again and again of sin and forgiveness, because there is no man who does not sin (verse 46). He even prayed for the foreigner, so that all the peoples of the earth would know the LORD's name (verses 41 to 43). At the end he said that not one word of the LORD's good promise had failed (verse 56). The LORD keeps His covenant, and He hears and forgives His people. Jesus lives forever to pray for those who come to God through Him (Hebrews 7 verse 25).

How does 1 Kings 8 show us that the LORD keeps His covenant, and that He hears His people when they pray?

The LORD fills His house with His glory.

The priests brought the ark into the inner room, under the wings of the cherubim (verses 6 and 7). When they came out, the cloud filled the LORD's house, and the priests could not stand (verses 10 and 11). The LORD had said that He would dwell in thick darkness (verse 12).

The LORD keeps covenant and loving kindness.

Solomon said there is no God like the LORD in heaven or on earth (verse 23). He blessed the LORD for keeping the promise He made to David (verses 15 and 56). Not one word of the LORD's good promise had failed (verse 56).

The LORD hears prayer from heaven and forgives.

Solomon asked the LORD to hear His people whenever they prayed toward this place, and to forgive (verses 30 to 35). Yet he said that heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain God, so no house could hold Him (verse 27). Jesus spoke of His own body as the temple (John 2 verses 19 to 21). He lives forever to pray for those who draw near to God through Him (Hebrews 7 verse 25).

Memorise

Listen to the supplication of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Yes, hear in heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.

1 Kings 8:30

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I confess my sin to the LORD, and will I pray through His Son?

Solomon asked the LORD to hear from heaven and to forgive, for there is no man who does not sin. Jesus is the one Mediator between God and men, and He stands in the gap that sin made.

He gave Himself as a ransom for sinners. He died on the cross, the Father raised Him, and now He is at God's right hand, where He pleads for His people. The sacrifice was offered once for all.

So come to Him, turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. Pray in His name, and the Father hears. Forgiveness is given to every sinner who comes to God through Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD hears prayer, and that Jesus is the one Mediator who brings sinners to God. Parents, you may want to explain verses 31 to 53 in your own words, since the prayer is long. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He hears His people, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Yahweh is good to all. His tender mercies are over all his works.

Psalm 145:9

Father, thank You that You keep Your covenant and hear Your people when they pray. Thank You for Jesus, the one Mediator, who came to save His people. Draw each of us away from sin, and help us to trust Jesus. Teach us to pray to You this week. Amen.