In 1 Kings 8:22-53, Solomon stands up before the people of Israel and dedicates the newly built temple to the LORD. Solomon’s prayer was spoken long ago, right after building a physical temple for God; but, today, we are building a spiritual temple for God. The church is described as a “spiritual house” in 1 Peter 2:4-8 (NASB95). We are collectively built into “a holy temple… into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22, NASB95). And we are individually described as the temple of God: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19, NASB95), and “…what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people”” (2 Corinthians 6:16, NASB95). So, what might Solomon’s temple dedication prayer look like, if it were spoken by us?
"Praying For Certain Wisdom" - By David Williamson
Reading 1st Kings 3:3-14, there is at least one fact that is easy to overlook. Solomon does “not pray for wisdom” in a vacuum. Solomon prays for a discerning heart because he is in a certain situation. In verse 9 Solomon says: “Therefore give to your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (NKJV). To repeat an oft-worn question— what’s the therefore there for?