NOVEMBER 13, 2025 – PRAISE AND PETITIONS

READ: 1 Kin. 8:22-53: … And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the Lord, that he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven …

After praising the Lord and blessing the people, Solomon kneels in prayer before God. First, he praises the Lord for His faithfulness and mercy. He recalls God’s words concerning David’s sons sitting on the throne, as long as they walk in God’s ways.

Solomon acknowledges that the temple must not be viewed in earthly terms: the Lord is so great and glorious that even the highest heaven cannot contain Him (v.27).

He then pleads that God will listen from His heavenly dwelling to the prayers offered toward the temple, and that He will forgive the sins of those who pray (v.30).

Seven petitions follow. In the first, Solomon asks God to condemn the guilty and vindicate the righteous when legal disputes arise, especially in cases involving sworn oaths.

The second request is for forgiveness when repentance follows sins that have led to captivity.

The third and fourth petitions concern droughts or other calamities as punishments for sin, and Solomon asks that God forgive when the people repent (vv.35-40).

The fifth is striking: that the Lord would also hear the prayers of foreigners who call on His name (vv.41-43).

The sixth petition concerns Israel’s army and requests that the Lord grant them justice.

Finally, Solomon prays extensively for the case when the people, because of their sins, are taken into exile. He pleads that God hear their prayers for deliverance from a distant land, appealing to His covenant mercy as shown in the exodus from Egypt.

What can we learn from this for personal and congregational prayer?
Sing: Ps. 143:1,5