Solomon's Prayer

2 Chronicles 1:1-12 (KJV)

1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

2 Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.

3 So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness.

4 But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

5 Moreover the brazen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the Lord: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.

6 And Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.

7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.

9 Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

The first nine chapters of the book of 2^nd Chronicles narrate the peaceable reign of Solomon:

Made possible by his deliberate actions in recognising the place of God in his domain.

• He did not misuse the divine privilege given to him.
• He carefully merged his earthly inheritance with his divine inheritance. 
• He honoured God with SACRIFICE (2^nd Chronicles 1: 1-6).
• He honoured God with PRAYER (2^nd Chronicles 1: 7-12).
• He honoured the people of Israel with trade (1^st Chronicles 1: 13-17).

1. God honoured Solomon in return and also made it possible for the people to honour him. The presence of God strengthened his HEART, HANDS and made a SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE in his labour on the throne (2^nd Chronicles 1: 1-3).

PRAYER:

• Lord, please visit the foundation of my walk with You afresh and rid it of any pollution. Remove anything that is not of You that has secretly or publicly crept into my life, so that I will not misuse the divine privilege upon my life. Set me free from all forms of entanglements by way of religious rites, affluence, habits, association, self-righteousness, pride, lust, etc. 

• I present my life as a living sacrifice to You. Consume me and let Your presence make an evident difference in every area of my life. Establish my heart in Your word and strengthen my hands in my labour of love for Your Kingdom. 

• Grant me the grace to engage all within and outside my cycle of influence in the things that pertains to THE CROSS. 

2. Solomon made a public declaration by his manner of worship from the start of his rulership. He ensured SACRIFICE (himself) was not far from the ALTAR (God). He laid hold on the eternal truth and the established understanding that IT IS ONLY THE ALTAR THAT CAN SANCTIFY THE SACRIFICE (2^nd Chronicles 1: 4-5).

PRAYER:

• Lord, have mercy on me and forgive me where I have not publicly declared my stand in You, where I have missed it, or mixed it up due to carelessness, or pressure from my leaders in all capacities. 

• Lord, put out all the strange fires on my sacrifice unto You. Let Your Holy Fire burn constantly in my life. 

• Lord, please bind all aspects of my sacrifices unto You to Your ALTAR, sanctify and purify them with Your HOLY FIRE; so they can be acceptable and measure up to the standard of heaven. 

3. Solomon's CHOICES and DESIRES reflected in his prayers. His prayer reflected his heart and what he gave preference to in his life. It was the preference of heaven for his labour that drove his heart desires for the Kingdom labour (2^nd Chronicles 1:6-10).

PRAYER:

• Lord, please affect my choices and desires in significant ways for Your pleasure, affect all the areas that are still untouched by the life of Jesus; so that I may reflect Your nature and character in all my endeavours. 

• Lord, let me not carelessly remove You from the throne of my life. Be the centre, be my all, be my vision in all things, be my confidence and be my dominating focus. 

• Help me to co-operate with You to work out what You have already worked out in me. Let me be content in whatever position I find myself in You (full, empty, abased, abound, weak, strong, etc). 

4. Solomon acknowledged God as the SOLE-GIVER of knowledge and wisdom. He admitted that God put him in that position, and would give him the grace for the duties attached to it according to the Spiritual Order of Heaven (2^nd Chronicles 1:8).

PRAYER:

• Lord, open my eyes and my heart to The WISDOM (Jesus) that comes from above. Increase my faith in Your Wisdom, and grant me the grace to live my entire life through Your Divine Wisdom and Knowledge. 

• Lord, quicken my heart to This Wisdom and abundant grace, so I can faithfully work and walk in the Spirit of my FATHER through the Lord Jesus Christ. 

• Lord, help me not to talk, live or throw myself out of the Spiritual Order of Heaven. Keep me near The Cross where my life will constantly and consistently measure up with the rules of Your Kingdom. 

5. Solomon did all from the very beginning to ACTIVATE THE PROMISES OF GOD in his life and labour. He made the promises of God as the platform for approaching God's throne and for discharging his duties as the recipient of those promises. (The Promise made to David, his father - 2^nd Samuel 7: 13-16).

PRAYER:

• Lord, please let not my life forfeit Your mercy.
• Grant me the wisdom and grace to fulfil my part in standing on Your promises for my life.
• Lord, please grant me glorious answers to my requests according to Your will.
• Crush my confidence in anything that does not have a place in heaven.
• Let me always seek YOU first in every area of my life.

Scripture Lyrics: Solomon’s Prayer

(2 Chronicles 1:7-12. “When I Survey”)

1. The Lord came down, to Solomon

Israel’s king, and David’s son,

By night He said, come ask me now,

What shall I give, To thee my son?

2. The king looked up, and said to God

Mercy hast Thou, my father shown

And me Thou made, his stead to reign

O Lord God now, hear me I pray

3. Give unto me, wisdom, knowledge

That I may go, and come before

This mighty flock, for who can judge

This Thy people, that is so great?

4. Thou hast not asked, riches or wealth

Thine enemies, lives did not ask

Wisdom, knowledge, is granted thee

With much more too, Replied the Lord

5. Grant Lord my heart, Like Solomon’s

To seek Thee first, Thy kingdom too

Abide in Thee, and Thou in me

One with my God, is all I seek.

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