2 Chronicles 6

In 2 Chronicles 6, Solomon delivers a prayer of dedication for the newly completed temple. This prayer emphasizes God’s covenant with David, the central role of the temple as a place of worship and forgiveness, and the hope that God will listen to the prayers offered at this temple. Solomon’s prayer acknowledges Israel’s potential failures, yet it pleads for God’s mercy and the fulfillment of His promises.

2 Chronicles 6:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Then Solomon spoke: “The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud.
2 I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell in forever.”

Solomon begins by acknowledging that God had spoken of dwelling in a dark cloud, a reference to God's presence in the thick cloud at Mount Sinai. The dark cloud symbolizes God’s unapproachable majesty and holiness. Solomon then points to the temple he has built, seeing it as a permanent dwelling place for God's name, though not God Himself, as God cannot be confined to a building. This sets the tone for understanding the temple as a place where people can approach God, even though God transcends any physical space.

2 Chronicles 6:3-4 (NKJV)
3 Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.
4 And he said: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His hands what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying,

Solomon now blesses the people of Israel, acknowledging the fulfillment of God’s promise to David. The completion of the temple marks a significant event in Israel’s history, fulfilling God’s word that David’s son would build the temple. Solomon praises God for being faithful to His promises, showing that what God declares with His mouth, He brings to pass with His hands. This reflects God’s active involvement in the affairs of His people.

2 Chronicles 6:5-6 (NKJV)
5 ‘Since the day that I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that My name might be there, nor did I choose any man to be a ruler over My people Israel;
6 yet I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’

God reminds Solomon that since the Exodus, He had not chosen a specific city or ruler to establish His dwelling or leadership until David and Jerusalem. This choice of David’s dynasty and the city of Jerusalem as the center of worship signifies God’s intentional design for Israel. Jerusalem, as the chosen city, becomes a symbolic place of God’s presence, and David’s lineage represents God’s covenant promise to maintain a ruler over Israel. This verse connects Israel's past to its present, showing the continuity of God's plans.

2 Chronicles 6:7-9 (NKJV)
7 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel.
8 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well in that it was in your heart.
9 Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’

Solomon recalls that it was David’s desire to build a temple for the Lord, but God had chosen Solomon, David's son, to complete this task. God commended David for having the right intentions, even though David was not permitted to build it. This shows the importance of intention in worship and service to God, even if the actual work is carried out by another. God’s plan is fulfilled in His timing and through the person He chooses, in this case, Solomon, reflecting God’s sovereignty in guiding Israel’s history.

2 Chronicles 6:10-11 (NKJV)
10 So the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke, and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised; and I have built the temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel.
11 And there I have put the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord which He made with the children of Israel.”

Solomon emphasizes that God has been faithful to His word by allowing Solomon to take the throne of David and complete the temple. The temple now holds the ark of the covenant, a powerful symbol of God’s promises and His covenant with Israel. By placing the ark in the temple, Solomon signifies that this is the central place where God's presence and promises are remembered and where Israel's relationship with God is renewed. It represents God's continued faithfulness to His people.

2 Chronicles 6:12-13 (NKJV)
12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands
13 (for Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven);

Solomon stands before the altar, spreads his hands in prayer, and kneels before the assembly, symbolizing humility and dependence on God. His position and actions reflect deep reverence and submission to God, setting an example for the people. Solomon's use of the bronze platform underscores the public nature of this prayer, showing that this is not just a personal moment but a communal dedication, where all Israel witnesses and participates in seeking God’s presence and favor over the temple and the nation.

2 Chronicles 6:14 (NKJV)
14 and he said: “Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.

Solomon begins his prayer by acknowledging God’s uniqueness. There is no other God like the Lord, who is both transcendent and faithful. Solomon praises God for keeping His covenant with those who are loyal and devoted to Him. This sets the tone for the entire prayer, recognizing that God’s relationship with Israel is based on His covenant faithfulness, which is met by the people's devotion. Solomon emphasizes that God’s mercy is extended to those who walk with sincere hearts, underscoring the importance of obedience in maintaining this relationship.

2 Chronicles 6:15-17 (NKJV)
15 You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.
16 Therefore, Lord God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’
17 And now, O Lord God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David.

Solomon acknowledges that God has already fulfilled His promise to David by placing him on the throne and completing the temple. However, Solomon also petitions for the continuation of that promise, which is conditional upon the obedience of David’s descendants. This part of the prayer highlights the connection between God’s promises and the responsibility of human faithfulness. Solomon seeks the ongoing fulfillment of God's word, showing that while God's promises are steadfast, they require cooperation through walking in His laws.

2 Chronicles 6:18 (NKJV)
18 “But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!

Solomon acknowledges that even though the temple has been built for God’s presence, God is far greater than any physical structure. The heavens themselves cannot contain Him, let alone the temple. This shows Solomon's understanding that the temple is not a place to limit God, but rather a symbol of His presence among His people. It emphasizes God’s transcendence and His ability to dwell with humanity, even though He is far beyond human comprehension or confinement.

2 Chronicles 6:19-21 (NKJV)
19 Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You:
20 that Your eyes may be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your name, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.
21 And may You hear the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive.

Solomon pleads with God to listen to his prayer and the prayers of the people, acknowledging that while God resides in heaven, He has promised His presence in the temple. Solomon asks God to continually watch over the temple and to hear the prayers offered toward it. His prayer for forgiveness shows the temple’s role as a place of mercy and reconciliation between God and His people. Solomon seeks assurance that even though God is in heaven, He will still engage with His people and grant forgiveness when they seek Him.

2 Chronicles 6:22-23 (NKJV)
22 “If anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple,
23 then hear from heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, bringing retribution on the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

Solomon asks God to intervene in cases of disputes between individuals, where a person must take an oath before the altar to confirm their honesty. He requests that God judge fairly, punishing the guilty and vindicating the innocent. This reflects the temple’s role as a place of justice, where truth is upheld and God’s judgment is sought. Solomon emphasizes God’s wisdom in determining the hearts of individuals and His power to administer righteous justice in human affairs.

2 Chronicles 6:24-25 (NKJV)
24 “Or if Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this temple,
25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to them and their fathers.

Solomon recognizes that Israel’s defeat by enemies could be a result of sin against God. He prays that if the people repent, confess God’s name, and seek forgiveness at the temple, God will hear from heaven and restore them to their land. This highlights the temple as a place where Israel can turn to God in times of trouble, acknowledging their failure and seeking divine restoration. Solomon’s request reflects a deep trust in God’s mercy and willingness to forgive and renew the people when they humble themselves.

2 Chronicles 6:26-27 (NKJV)
26 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them,
27 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

Solomon foresees drought as a possible consequence of sin and disobedience, showing how intimately connected the people’s spiritual state is to their material well-being. He prays that when the people turn back to God, confess their sins, and pray toward the temple, God will hear from heaven and send rain. This prayer not only requests forgiveness but also guidance, asking God to teach the people the right way to live. Solomon emphasizes that physical blessings like rain are tied to the people’s spiritual alignment with God’s will.

2 Chronicles 6:28-30 (NKJV)
28 “When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is;
29 whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows his own burden and his own grief, and spreads out his hands to this temple:
30 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men),

Solomon acknowledges various forms of disaster—famine, pestilence, plagues, and enemy attacks—that may strike the people due to sin. He prays that when individuals or the entire nation come to the temple and seek God with heartfelt prayer, God will respond from heaven. Solomon recognizes that God alone knows the true condition of each person’s heart and asks for God’s judgment to be based on this divine knowledge. This part of the prayer highlights the temple as a place of personal and national supplication, where God’s forgiveness and mercy are sought in times of trouble.

2 Chronicles 6:31 (NKJV)
31 that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.

Solomon’s prayer emphasizes that the ultimate goal of God’s intervention and forgiveness is to instill a healthy fear of the Lord in the people. This reverence would lead them to walk in obedience to His ways throughout their lives. Solomon connects the fear of the Lord with the well-being of the nation, stressing that it is essential for Israel to maintain their covenantal relationship with God in order to continue receiving His blessings and living in the promised land. The temple becomes a central place for renewing this covenantal fear and obedience.

2 Chronicles 6:32-33 (NKJV)
32 “Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for the sake of Your great name and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray in this temple;
33 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.

Solomon anticipates that even foreigners who are not part of Israel will come to seek God’s presence at the temple because of His reputation. He asks that God hear their prayers as well, so that all nations may come to know, fear, and revere God. This demonstrates that the temple was not only for Israel but was meant to be a beacon for the whole world. By answering the prayers of foreigners, God’s name would be glorified globally, and people from all nations would recognize the special relationship God has with Israel through His temple.

2 Chronicles 6:34-35 (NKJV)
34 “When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name,
35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

Solomon asks that when Israel goes to battle, if they turn in prayer toward Jerusalem and the temple, God would hear their prayers and grant them success. This acknowledges that Israel’s military victories depend not on their strength but on God’s favor and protection. Solomon emphasizes the importance of the temple as a focal point for seeking divine help, even when the people are far from it. The success of Israel’s campaigns is linked to their reliance on God’s intervention, and the temple represents that divine connection.

2 Chronicles 6:36-39 (NKJV)
36 “When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to a land far or near;
37 yet when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, and have committed wickedness’;
38 and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been carried captive, and pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and toward the temple which I have built for Your name:
39 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.

Solomon acknowledges that Israel will inevitably sin, leading to their defeat and captivity. However, he prays that when they repent and turn back to God, even in foreign lands, God would hear their prayers and forgive them. This shows Solomon’s understanding of human weakness and sin, but also his confidence in God’s mercy and willingness to restore His people if they genuinely repent. Solomon sees the temple as a place of reconciliation, even for those who are far away, emphasizing that God’s presence transcends geographic boundaries, and that sincere repentance can lead to restoration.

2 Chronicles 6:40-42 (NKJV)
40 “Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place.
41 Now therefore, arise, O Lord God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let Your saints rejoice in goodness.
42 O Lord God, do not turn away the face of Your Anointed; remember the mercies of Your servant David.”

Solomon closes his prayer by asking God to be attentive to the prayers made at the temple. He invites God to take His place of rest in the temple, with the ark representing His presence and strength. He prays for the priests to be clothed in salvation and for the people to rejoice in God’s goodness. Finally, he pleads with God to remember the covenant made with David, asking for mercy on the basis of that promise. This final plea highlights the central role of God’s covenant with David in the life of Israel and the significance of the temple in maintaining that covenant.