Bible Verses About Public Prayer: Solomon

Shlomo said, "ADONAI said he would live in thick darkness.

But I have built you a magnificent house, a place where you can live forever."

Then the king turned around and blessed the whole community of Isra'el. The whole community of Isra'el stood

as he said, "Blessed be ADONAI, the God of Isra'el, who spoke to my father David with his mouth and fulfilled his promise with his hand. He said,

'Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I chose no city from any of the tribes of Isra'el to build a house, so that my name might be there; nor did I choose anyone to be the leader of my people Isra'el.

But now I have chosen Yerushalayim, so that my name can be there; and I have chosen David to be over my people Isra'el.'

It was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of ADONAI the God of Isra'el;

but ADONAI said to David my father, 'Although it was in your heart to build a house for my name, and you did well that it was in your heart,

nevertheless you will not build the house. Rather, you will father a son, and it will be he who will build the house for my name.'

Now ADONAI has fulfilled this spoken word of his; for I have succeeded my father and sit on the throne of Isra'el, as ADONAI promised; and I have built the house for the name of ADONAI the God of Isra'el.

And there I have placed the ark containing the covenant of ADONAI, which he made with the people of Isra'el."

Then he stood before the altar of ADONAI in the presence of the whole community of Isra'el, spread out his hands -

for Shlomo had made a bronze platform eight-and-three quarters feet long, eight-and-three-quarters feet wide and five-and-a-quarter feet high and had set it up in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on it, then got down on his knees before the whole community, spread out his hands toward heaven,

and said, "ADONAI, God of Isra'el, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth. You keep covenant with your servants and show them grace, provided they live in your presence with all their heart.

You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father; you spoke with your mouth and fulfilled it with your hand; so it is today.

Now therefore, ADONAI, God of Isra'el, keep what you promised to your servant David, my father, when you said, 'You will never lack a man in my presence to sit on the throne of Isra'el, if only your children are careful about what they do, so that they live by my Torah, just as you have lived in my presence.'

Now therefore, ADONAI, God of Isra'el, please let your word, which you spoke to your servant David, my father, be confirmed.

"But can God actually live with human beings on the earth? Why, heaven itself, even the heaven of heavens, cannot contain you; so how much less this house I have built?

Even so, ADONAI my God, pay attention to your servant's prayer and plea, listen to the cry and prayer that your servant is praying before you,

that your eyes will be open toward this house day and night - toward the place where you said you would put your name - to listen to the prayer your servant will pray toward this place.

Yes, listen to the pleas of your servant, and also those of your people Isra'el when they pray toward this place. Hear from where you live, from heaven; and when you hear, forgive!

"If a person sins against a fellow member of the community, and he is made to swear under oath, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house;

then hear from heaven, act and judge your servants, paying back the wicked, so that his way of life devolves on his own head, and vindicating the one who is right, giving him what his righteousness deserves.

"If your people Isra'el sin against you and in consequence are defeated by an enemy; then if they turn back to you, acknowledge your name, and pray and make their plea to you in this house,

hear from heaven, forgive the sin of your people Isra'el, and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.