1 Kings 8:31-36: a reflection

31“If a man sins against his neighbor, and an oath is laid on him to cause him to swear, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house, 32then hear in heaven, and act, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness. 33“When your people Israel are struck down before the enemy because they have sinned against you, if they turn again to you and confess your name, and pray and make supplication to you in this house, 34then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land which you gave to their fathers. 35“When the sky is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and confess your name, and turn from their sin when you afflict them, 36then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on your land which you have given to your people for an inheritance.

In his prayer at the dedication of the temple, Solomon anticipates the times when God's people will sin and fall into trouble, defeat, drought, and other consequences; and again and again he prays the same thing: that when they turn back to God, confess his name, and pray, God would hear in heaven and forgive. When they turn again to you and confess your name, he prays; then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your people. Solomon is confident of this: that God is ready to forgive and restore those who turn back to him.

Notice Solomon's confidence: that God will hear and forgive those who turn back. He anticipates his people's sin and its consequences; but he is sure that the way back is always open, that when they turn again to God, confess, and pray, God will hear and forgive and restore them. The refrain, hear and forgive, runs through his prayer; he is confident that God stands ready to forgive the returning, to restore those who turn back. The door of return is never shut; God is ready to forgive those who come back to him.

That confidence is worth taking to heart, for we can fear that God will not receive us back when we have sinned. When we have sinned and fallen into trouble, we can fear that God is done with us, that the way back is shut; but Solomon was confident that God hears and forgives those who turn back to him. The door of return is always open; God stands ready to forgive and restore those who turn again to him, confess, and pray. When you have sinned, do not fear that God will not receive you back; turn again to him, confess, and pray, confident that he will hear and forgive, as Solomon prayed. God is ready to forgive and restore those who turn back to him; do not stay away in fear, but turn again to him, trusting that he will hear and forgive, as Solomon was confident that God would forgive his people whenever they turned back to him and confessed his name.

Lord, in his prayer at the dedication of the temple, Solomon anticipates the times when your people will sin and fall into trouble, defeat, drought, and other consequences; and again and again he prays the same thing: that when they turn back to you, confess your name, and pray, you would hear in heaven and forgive. When they turn again to you and confess your name, he prays; then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your people. Solomon is confident of this: that you are ready to forgive and restore those who turn back to you. Show me Solomon's confidence: that you will hear and forgive those who turn back. He anticipates his people's sin and its consequences; but he is sure that the way back is always open, that when they turn again to you, you will hear and forgive and restore them. The refrain, hear and forgive, runs through his prayer. The door of return is never shut; you are ready to forgive those who come back to you. Take that confidence to my heart, for I can fear that you will not receive me back when I have sinned. When I have sinned and fallen into trouble, I can fear that you are done with me, that the way back is shut; but Solomon was confident that you hear and forgive those who turn back. The door of return is always open. When I have sinned, keep me from fearing that you will not receive me back; help me turn again to you, confess, and pray, confident that you will hear and forgive, Lord, as Solomon prayed. Help me not stay away in fear, but turn again to you.