2 Chronicles chapter 6 is perhaps the single greatest moment in the spiritual life of King Solomon. He stood before the newly completed Temple which has just been accepted by God. He was surrounded by an adoring nation as he prayed for God’s continued blessing. Sadly, I am reminded of those people that seemed to peak in High School. The ones that achieved personal greatness as teenagers, and then can only point to tarnished trophies and faded pictures for validation. Solomon would reach the greatest height of fame possible, but his spiritual life never graduated. The chapter begins with Solomon on stage outside the Temple. He began his production as the skilled politician, “I have built a magnificent temple for You, a place for You to dwell forever“. Next we have Solomon as benevolent ruler, “While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them“. And finally as the master showman, he pointed to God’s promise to David, “You shall never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful in all they do to walk before Me according to My law, as you have done“. Are you trusting in your ability to be good enough?
King Solomon than began a beautiful prayer extolling God’s compassion, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way“. What a cool way of expressing God’s promise. God’s faithfulness is trustworthy because He loves us. Love will endure far more than any contractual obligation. Solomon continued, rightly focusing on God’s mercy, “Yet give attention to Your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer … Hear the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive“. Solomon prayed for God’s blessing on the nation. Five times Solomon asks God to “hear from heaven” the prayers and pleas of the people when they face adversity. And repeatedly he asks God to “forgive the sin of your people Israel“. What do you do when you face adversity?
Finally Solomon describes the process we see repeated over and over with Israel, “When they sin against you for there is no one who does not sin… repent and plead with you…if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul…forgive your people, who have sinned against you“. God desires intimacy with each of us and the first step is forgiveness, but there is one more thing required for forgiveness and that is a sacrifice. Hebrew 9:22 says, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness“. Solomon’s prayer ended, “O Lord God, do not reject Your anointed one. He was referring to his father David, but Jesus was the King of Kings. Jesus, our Savior was called the Son of David to fulfill God’s promise and to become the sinless sacrifice for all. “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28). At the last supper Jesus announced the New Covenant and promised, “I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes“. Friend, there is room at the cool table. Will you join Him?