Chronicles 6 is a fervent prayer offered by Solomon as he dedicated the temple. Very passionately, the prayer recognized every pitfall human hearts seek after. Then Solomon asks God to forgive and restore His people—as He had so many times. So, wisely he spoke of times when other nations would overtake them because of their sin. At times famine or drought might come to chasten the people. Or rebellion from within would rise to destroy them because they forsook God. Whatever plague or judgment came, Solomon trusted that God would be using it to restore His people to Himself and to teach them to follow God alone. Because humanity can only find joy, hope, and peace in a relationship to God. Everything else leads to bitterness, pain, and despair. The prayer was a humble prayer, recognizing the majesty of God and the desperate wickedness of the human heart.
That is what a fervent prayer is! It is one that comes from deep sorrow blended with reverence, recognizing God as Holy, Righteous, and Just. It does not seek self-gain nor is it fretfully impatient. A fervent prayer recognizes that God is Sovereign, Abounding in love, and Gracious. Afterall, look at how wondrous a redemption plan He devised despite our constant destruction of all He so graciously has given. We want it our way, never recognizing that all we do is tainted with evil thoughts and desires were it not for His gracious hand of love intervening.
God’s Response to Solomon’s Fervent Prayer
Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house.
2 Chronicles 7:1-2,
Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:12-14
But this was conditional, for He went on to say:
19 “But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, 20 then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have [g]sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 2 Chronicles 7:19-20
We do know by history that God provides a way for all those who believe in Him. He has never promised they would not go through the suffering; but that He would be there with them. Just as He was with Daniel.
What Good is Fervent Prayer?
Still, we are to lift our voices in fervent prayer for our nation. There was a time that it seemed only Daniel continued to pray. It was 70 years, as God foretold through Jeremiah that the captivity continued; but God was faithful. So, does our prayer accomplish anything? Throughout scripture, we are told to pray. We also know that God already knows the end. So, what does it matter? God is both outside space and time; but, dwells within our space and time. Therefore, although He knows what will happen, He does respond to our prayer in time where we are. We do not have to fully understand this to accept that it is true.
So, will He heal our nation? Perhaps not in our timing, but our fervent prayers are still vitally important. Even if they are for the purpose of changing who we are from the inside out and helping us to see Him more clearly. It is part of having an ongoing relationship with God where the lines of communication remain open. What marriage or family relationship could ever survive if no one spoke to each other or expressed their feelings, wants, or desires? Furthermore, it helps us to gain His heart, understand that true love is sacrificial willing to suffer so that others find Christ.
Therefore, fervent prayer is powerful because it allows us to transform into people who exemplify Christ amid this world’s trials. But who are the righteous who can pray this way? All who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, for it is His Cloak of Righteousness which unites us with the all-powerful God, creator of heaven and earth.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2020
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