Daily Devotional for Tuesday, March 11

The Supplication

“And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive,” 1 Kings 8:30.

Solomon’s dedication prayer echoes Deuteronomy 28. Solomon prayed on behalf of the people in supplication, and his prayer rehearsed God’s Law. God’s blessings and curses follow His people’s behavior. Solomon asked the Lord to keep watch over them. When justice, forgiveness, restoration, relief, rescue, victory and mercy are needed, may the Lord intervene.

Solomon’s prayer displayed his insight and wisdom and contained seven petitions that involved situations that required the Lord’s hand. Each concluded with “then hear” (or you hear) and a request for action. The first was for justice. When it was difficult to determine the victim from the guilty, may the Lord vindicate the righteous one.

The second, third, and fourth petitions asked for forgiveness and restoration for Israel when, not if, they sin. Defeat in battle, drought, famine, pestilence, blight, mildew, locusts, caterpillars, enemy siege, plague and sickness are all results of sin. After forgiveness is requested, may God hear and act accordingly. Only the Lord knows man’s heart (1 Kings 8:39) and will do what is best in each situation.

The fifth petition involved foreigners. Deuteronomy, in particular, is concerned with the treatment of foreigners living in Israel. When strangers look to our God for help, may the Lord hear.

The sixth petition asked for help in maintaining their cause as the Lord directed in battle (verse 45).

The last petition is prophetic. It is the lengthiest and most pleading because exile is dire. If and when as a nation their sin was so great it resulted in captivity in enemy lands, may they repent with all their hearts and souls. May the Lord forgive them, maintain their cause, and make their captors have compassion. Later, the Lord did just that with King Cyrus (2 Chronicles 36:22, 23).

THOUGHT

Let’s pray as Solomon prayed, “Teach them [us] the good way wherein [we] should walk” 

(1 Kings 8:36).

Kelli Reynolds