Exploring Prayers in the BibleSample

Day 2: Solomon’s Prayer of Blessing

from 1 Kings 8:56-61

“Praise the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses. May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us. May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors. And may these words that I have prayed in the presence of the Lord be before him constantly, day and night, so that the Lord our God may give justice to me and to his people Israel, according to each day’s needs. Then people all over the earth will know that the Lord alone is God and there is no other. And may you be completely faithful to the Lord our God. May you always obey his decrees and commands, just as you are doing today.”

Being people of faith, we offer special prayers as an important part of our big events, whether a wedding, baptism, house blessing, or retirement. The act of praying honors our God, whose faithfulness, grace, and provision are the reason for any true blessing in our lives. Our prayers point us to God, the true source of our life and hope.

In this week’s passage, Solomon lifted up special prayers at a very significant moment in the lives of God’s people, Israel. The temple had just been completed, and the ark of the covenant, a symbol of God’s presence, was placed in its permanent home. Today’s Scripture is the last segment of Solomon’s prayers at the temple dedication and is in the form of a Jewish blessing prayer called a berakah.

Typical of a berakah, Solomon’s prayer began with “Blessed be the Lord.” It’s not that God needs our blessing, but we praise God for His blessedness. Then, also in berakah format, Solomon praised God for something specific about His character and what He has done: “Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel according to all that he promised; not one word has failed of all his good promises that he spoke through his servant Moses." Solomon was referring to a promise in Deuteronomy 12:9-10, that a day was coming when Israel would come into rest from all their wandering in the desert and would dwell securely in the Promised Land. This promise was being fulfilled before their very eyes.

Finally, Solomon’s prayer ends with a two-part request for the people of God and all peoples. Solomon first asks that God would turn the people’s hearts toward Himself and enable them to walk in obedience, and second, that all peoples would come to know the one true God as a result. This continues to be our prayer for Christ to empower us – the people of God - to walk in His Kingdom ways through the Holy Spirit’s work within us and then for the world around us to see the reality of God as a result and turn to Him.

As we participate in events, big and small, this summer, may we not forget to pray together, blessing the Lord with open hearts to what He wants to do in and through us.

Prayer Practice: Berakah

A berakah has 2-3 parts: 1) It begins with “Blessed be the Lord,” 2) it contains a statement about God – who He is or what He has done, and 3) it sometimes ends with a request (as does Solomon’s prayer).

Here are steps to write your own berakah:

1. What characteristic or action of God would you like to praise Him for at this time in your life? Write “Blessed be the Lord who….” and fill in the rest.

2. Add a request for what you, your family, your church, or your community are needing right now.

3. Pray your berakah and share it with someone else.