Prayer and “Thin Places” and “Thin Times” (1 Kings 8.27–30)

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! Regard your servant’s prayer and his plea, O LORD my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, ’My name shall be there,’ that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive.

Background

Solomon began the prayer with petitions that also included praise, then turns to the primary subject of the prayer—the Temple. Because this prayer is formal, it does not sound like most public prayers we hear. It is lofty, grand, and becomes theologically conversant at times. This is also a prayer of petition, but it, like the beginning of the prayer, hints at praise.

First, Solomon addresses a theological question about the Temple: can God really dwell on earth in a Temple built by humans? He answers the question himself—of course not! Even the universe cannot contain God, Solomon says, so certainly no building—however magnificent—can do so. It may seem strange to discuss divine philosophy in a prayer. Yet the question (and its answer) implies something about God’s character. He is a transcendent, sovereign, and unfathomable God. That qualifies this prayer as a praise prayer. Part of the function of this section may also be to contrast some popular beliefs that gods and goddesses did dwell in the temples which were built for them.

Next, Solomon turns to the petition itself. Because God cannot actually dwell in the Temple, Solomon asks that He be continually aware of it. He reminds God that He said, “my name shall be there,” another example of how petitions can sometimes emphasize a promise made by God, with the implication that He will keep it because He is faithful—an implied praise.¹

For more on this concept of a petition implying praise, see the last chapter, “A Petition That Also Praises (1 Kings 8.23-26).” ↩