Solomon’s Prayer That God May Forgive

If they sin against you—and who has never sinned?—you might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to a foreign land far away or near. But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray, “We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.” If they turn to you with their whole heart and soul in the land of their captivity and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors—toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name—then hear their prayers and their petitions from heaven where you live, and uphold their cause. Forgive your people who have sinned against you.

2 Chronicles 6:36-39

King Solomon had been given the great honor of constructing the Temple for the worship of the Almighty. His prayer to God at the dedication of the Temple showed his wisdom and farsightedness. He foresaw the day when God would have to discipline his people because of their persistent sin. But Solomon also realized that the suffering of being captives in a foreign land might bring them to their senses. In that case, he asked God to hear their prayers and forgive them.

If we are honest with ourselves, we will realize that, despite our best intentions, we will disobey our Lord. We shouldn’t pray that God would withhold his correction. Instead we should pray, as Solomon did, that we may repent and turn back to God and that God may forgive.

• Dear Lord, when I sin against you, hear my cry of repentance . . .