Prayer, Session 5: Solomon’s Prayer

Read the passage: 2 Chronicles 6:12-42 (ESV, Bible Gateway)

Read 2 Chronicles 6:12-42 To begin, we’re going to look at the role of posture and place:

Look at v12-13 What body postures does Solomon adopt in prayer, and why does body posture matter?
- Consider the common (physical) postures of worship and prayer. How do they impact how you feel / what is their role?
Considering v20-21 (or the prayer as a whole!), what ‘place’ is the main focus, and why?
- How does this change in the New Testament?
- What does the fact that Christ is the true, greater temple mean for our own prayer?
- With this in mind, what is striking about Solomon’s comment in v18 about the limits of space for an infinite God?
Now, for the prayer itself. Look at v14-17. How does Solomon begin his prayer?
- How does this compare to the way that the prayer Jesus taught us begins? (Matt 6:9-13)
  - Why is starting with praise a good way to begin?
  - How do you tend to begin yours?
Look at v18-19. How would you describe Solomon’s attitude?
- Why is humility, and an understanding of God’s greatness and our weakness, crucial for effective prayer?
Considering v22-23, Solomon is praying for justice to be done. What does humanity’s widespread desire for justice tell us?
- Is justice something you pray for? If not, should you?
Look at v24-31. What’s the underlying theme?
- Why do confession and repentance matter for life in general and prayer in particular?
- How do you handle them in your own prayer?
Considering v32-33, for whom and what is Solomon praying in this section? What does this reveal?
- How is this fulfilled in the New Testament?
- How does this attitude help explain Jesus’ cleansing of the temple? (Mark 11:15-18)
Considering v34-35, how does God’s presence transcend the locality of the temple? Why is this significant (then and now)?
In 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 (also 7:11-22) we have God’s response to Solomon’s prayer. How does God respond?
- How do the people respond to God’s response?
  - Have you experienced a time when God felt very real and very close?
  - What expectation should we have of dramatic encounters with God like this?

Recap & Reflect

What is the importance of posture and place in prayer?
What is the temple now and who is welcome to enter it?
What will you take with you from this study for your own prayer-life?

Leader’s notes

The notes are here to help you lead a group and answer tough questions. The idea isn’t to read the “right” answer out after each question, but rather to give you support or the helpful nudge in guiding your discussion in the right direction. Feel free to use them as best suits your group.

Look at v12-13 What body postures does Solomon adopt in prayer, and why does body posture matter?
We are not brains on sticks. We are embodied beings. What we do with our bodies matters. Physical posture generally reveals what the person is truly thinking or feeling deep down. Solomon’s physical posture reveals his spiritual posture – he is humbling himself before God. Also, what we do repeatedly with our bodies grows habits and thus, over time, influences the way we think and respond and changes the person we are.
- Consider the common (physical) postures of worship and prayer. How do they impact how you feel / what is their role?
  Consider sitting, standing, kneeling, raising your hands, putting your hands together, leaving your eyes open or closing them, clapping, even dancing.
Considering v20-21 (or the prayer as a whole!), what ‘place’ is the main focus, and why?
The temple becomes the focal point, the place where heaven and earth meet/intersect.
- How does this change in the New Testament?
  Consider John 2:18-22; Matt 12:5-8; Eph 2:19-22 Christ replaces the temple, the One greater than the temple. He is the One where heaven and earth meet; and in him we are being built as a dwelling place of God.
- What does the fact that Christ is the true, greater temple mean for our own prayer?
  Consider Heb 10:19-25
- With this in mind, what is striking about Solomon’s comment in v18 about the limits of space for an infinite God?
  Nothing can contain God and yet, in the incarnation, the Son of God takes on a human body: God narrows himself down to become one like us.
Now, for the prayer itself. Look at v14-17. How does Solomon begin his prayer?
v14-15 Worshipping God for his character – steadfast love, faithfulness, power
Look at v18-19. How would you describe Solomon’s attitude?
Solomon is in awe of God’s majesty and infinity. This humbles him.
Considering v22-23, Solomon is praying for justice to be done. What does humanity’s widespread desire for justice tell us?
We all want justice to be done – for the guilty to be punished. Therefore, we know there are such things as moral absolutes, and we want there to be a righting of wrongs. This desire only makes sense in a cosmos where there is a Supreme Judge.

Considering v32-33, for whom and what is Solomon praying in this section? What does this reveal?
An openness to and a desire that all nations might experience the mercy of the God of Israel.
- How is this fulfilled in the New Testament?
  The gospel goes to the Gentiles who become full members of God’s people. Coming to the temple was ‘come and see’ mission; the NT mission is ‘go and tell’. Compare Romans 10:11-13
- How does this attitude help explain Jesus’ cleansing of the temple? (Mark 11:15-18)
  Jesus cleansed the court of the Gentiles; at least in part this was clear hindrances to Gentile access to God. He wants the nations to come.
Considering v34-35, how does God’s presence transcend the locality of the temple? Why is this significant (then and now)?
God hears the prayers of his people even when not prayed in the temple. He is not merely a territorial God – restricted to either geographic Israel or the ‘Christian West’. He is God of the whole earth, and all can and must cry out to him wherever they are.

Download the complete study: Bible study on Prayer (PDF)