The Results

As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven…and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’s house…all the people…bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD…

Then the LORD appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer…“

2 Chronicles 7:1-12

This was the result of Solomon’s prayer in 2 Chron. 6:

  • God’s fire coming down
  • God’s glory filling the place
  • All the people bowing in worship
  • And God hearing his prayer
    “And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests,” 1 John 5:15

I hope we all want prayer results like this. This is the goal, and we should strive more and more to pray in such a way that this goal is attained.

So where better to start than to meditate on the very prayer that ushered in such results…

The Prayer

Solomon’s prayer is recorded in 2 Chronicles 6 (and 1 Kings 8). Studying this will help us learn God’s heart in prayer, and how to pray with similar results.

The King Kneels

First, notice his posture at the beginning:

He knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven

2 Chron. 6:12

Imagine that. A king! Here is a king who is kneeling so everyone can see and his hands are empty and open to the Lord. Prayer that touches God’s heart begins with utter humility – we have nothing, the Lord has everything. Don’t fool yourself. King Solomon was plenty rich, wise, and powerful. But he recognized his place. How much more may we!

Focus on God’s Character and Words

Next, Solomon esteems God as better than all. Why? Because of what He has done and what He has said.

Elsewhere, these 2 things are at the heart of why God does things:

  • “The LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and since he had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.” (2 Chron. 21:7) – God’s Person (upholding his promises; being faithful to those He covenants with) and God’s Word are THE REASON he spared his people who did wickedly.
  • In Psalm 105 it lists off many things the Lord did for a very undeserving people. Why? “For He remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant.” (Psalm 105:42). Again, God’s trustworthiness and faithfulness, alongside His word, showed why He was moved to compassion on Israel.

Thus, the more you are steeped in the word and interested in learning about Him, the more you will know His character and what you can truly pray. Sadly, a lot of prayer seems focused around what we are like or what we want or what we think God is like. But only if you know God truly will you know what moves Him and what you can rely on Him to do.

A chief way of doing this is the revelation of Scripture. This is a record of God and His ways over the millennia. It shows the revelation of Him and what He is truly like. This is sadly very different than what a lot of people claim He is like. If you want to pray in power, read the Bible more.

The word also reveals what He has said He would do. When David (Solomon’s father and also example) prayed, he said:

You, O LORD of hosts…have made this revelation to your servant, saying, “I will build you a house.” Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.

2 Sam. 7:27

So, similarly, Solomon prays:

keep…what you have promised…let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken

2 Chron. 6:16-17

Just consider for a moment the power of having God’s actual words before you and Him in prayer. The power of presenting to the King of Kings who is completely trustworthy the very things He has said He would do alongside the very nature of who He is. Of course you will see results!

Forgiveness

Next for Solomon is a revelation of God’s greatness compared to human wickedness: “Listen from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.” (2 Chron. 6:21)

Similarly, the Lord teaches us to pray for forgiveness (as we forgive others). There is tremendous power (and the need for a holy revelation) in seeing your sins and God’s forgiveness–ultimately found at the Cross and Resurrection.

Related: “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:24-25)

We only hold grudges and unforgiveness when our eyes drift away from the gospel, forgetting how much we have been forgiven by a great cost to God (Matt. 18:21-35).

In fact, the next part of Solomon’s prayer shows a great warning against those who sin but don’t confess it (2 Chron. 6:22-23)

How Much Forgiveness?

Solomon presses this further in giving 3 scenarios where people ask forgiveness:

  • “If your people Israel are defeated before the enemy BECAUSE they have sinned against you, and they turn again and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house…forgive…” (2 Chron. 6:24-25)
  • “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain BECAUSE they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, then hear in heaven and forgive…” (2 Chron. 6:26-27)
  • “If there is famine in the land…whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own sorrow and stretching out his hands toward this house, then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive…” (2 Chron. 6:28-31)

That is a tremendous amount of forgiveness that God is willing to grant (see how wonderfully He answers this in 2 Chron. 7!). It doesn’t take away God’s loving hand of discipline. That is there the whole time to get our attention, like a loving father using a rod in love to bring his children back to godly conduct. And there are consequences for sin that do happen even after we get forgiveness. But forgiveness has been secured BECAUSE of God’s character. How much more can and should we have the same boldness to repent and ask forgiveness no matter how far we’ve strayed.

Consider even that the wickedest king in Israel (Ahab) and the wickedest king in Judah (Manasseh) both repented in their time of horrific sin. And guess what? God forgave them both. This is a posture and part of prayer that pleases God. How much more confidence do we have to pray this side of the cross and resurrection? God help us where we can’t pray this for ourselves and God’s people all across the world.

Who and Where?

Next, Solomon prays that Gentiles who come near could have their prayers (2 Chron. 6:32-33) heard and that Israelites who go far could have their prayers heard (2 Chron. 6:34-35).

This is all fully realized in the gospel. Through Christ’s sacrifice, Gentiles now can have boldness to come near to God (Eph. 2).

Further, the place where someone goes no longer determines how much their prayer is heard, as result of Christ’s coming (see John 4). God will hear us wherever we go and whoever we are, so long as our reliance to enter boldly comes from Christ’s sacrifice alone (Heb. 4).

Even When Sin Takes You REALLY Far Away

How about if you are like the prodigal son, and sin takes you really far away from where you should be? Yep, even then Solomon prays God would hear and forgive if there is true repentance (2 Chron. 6:36-39).

Sin is not a barrier. Distance is not a barrier. Who you are is not a barrier.

Truly, if you lean all dependence on who God is and what He’s said, then your prayer will flourish.

Note: this is a far cry different than depending on who you think God is and what you think God said. Sadly, many prayers today I fear are based on this, and thus lack any results.

Covered in Christ

At the end, Solomon prays that God’s servants would be clothed in salvation and God’s goodness (2 Chron 6:41). This, I believe, points to us praying that the church would truly know and rely on the proper gospel–which says we can only be covered in salvation and God’s goodness if we repent and trust ONLY in Jesus and His sacrifice and resurrection.

Further, Solomon prays that God would hear their prayers on the basis of His love for…David! Not Solomon, not anyone else. He appeals to God’s love for David–a type for Christ. Christ alone was a Son fully pleasing to God. As a result, God is ready to grant Christ His requests. So when we come on the basis of who Christ is and what He did in the gospel, we have an immovable basis for God hearing us.

Truly consider that. Everything Solomon leans on can never be changed by me, you, or any circumstances. We see to lean on God’s Person, God’s Word, God’s forgiveness, and who Christ is to God (whom we are covered by when believe the gospel–see 1 Corin. 1). This is the kind of prayer that any of us can offer at any time and will get God’s attention.