Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you, that your eyes may be open day and night toward this house, the place where you have promised to set your name, that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. (II Chronicles 6:19,20 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Pray Like Solomon
Solomon was a man who sinned. We all remember his major sins, but we forget he was already sinning when Solomon finished building the temple. And as Solomon organizes how to be in God’s Presence in the temple he presents a theme that can guide our prayers.
Because now Christians, not a building, are the temple of God. (I Corinthians 10:19)
We seem to think that prayer, as a salve for our fears, involves requests, need-expression, and expression of trust. Those things are all fine things to include in our prayers. But they are not Solomon’s recommend method when drawing near to the One True God as we cry out to Him.
Solomon mostly repents.
The remainder of Solomon’s instructions for temple-ing look like this:
And listen from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. (verse 21)
then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel (Verse 25)
then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants (verse 27)
then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive (verse 30)
then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their pleas, and maintain their cause and forgive your people (verse 39)
Whether you are ahead of your fear, in the midst of your fear, or after your fear… the way to approach God is to confess, repent, and know His extravagant, Christ-purchased forgiveness.
Fear not, the pray like Solomon