“Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house: then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men).” — 2 Chronicles 6:29-30

When I was growing up, we always had chickens on our farm. One year, Mom and Dad bought huge incubators and filled the small living area of our house with them. The lamps of those incubators warmed the eggs—and us as well—night and day as the eggs developed into hatching chicks. 

The incubators had double shelves holding trays with rows of eggs, which had to be turned every day. The part that fascinated us children was the “candling.” That was when each egg was held up to a light so we could look into it and determine if a chick was developing inside. If it was, we could actually see the embryo growing in the egg! If there was no life evident in the egg, it was discarded. 

Anyone can see through an eggshell if they hold it up to a bright light, but there is only one who can see into the hearts of men, and that is God. Today’s focus verse says, “Thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men.” When a sinner is longing for salvation, though you and I might not think that one would ever surrender, God can see through the facade and pretense. He sees past the false bravado of a soul that is crying inside for Him, and can melt the hardness of that heart. Then, when that person surrenders, God gives a new heart, removing all the confusion, guilt, and turmoil, and replacing it with peace, joy, and confidence in Him. How thankful we are that while we were still sinners, He looked past our sinful actions to our longing for deliverance! 

Even after we are saved, it is important for us to allow God to keep searching our hearts. He watches to make sure we are developing properly and nurtures us each day. He knows when we hurt, when we are lonely, when we are discouraged, and when we are faithful. No matter what challenges we face, God knows how to help us through because He sees what we need—even when we do not. 

It is a comfort to know that God can see past what others see to the innermost thoughts and intents of our hearts! As we walk with Him, let’s remember to ask Him to look into our hearts, that we might grow to be more like Him each day.

BACKGROUND

Chapter 6 continues the description of the dedication of Solomon’s Temple that began in chapter 5. This chapter describes Solomon’s blessing upon the people who had assembled for the event (verses 1-11) and then records his prayer of dedication and request for God’s blessing upon Israel (verses 12-42). 

Solomon’s address to the congregation that stood before him centered on gratitude to God for fulfilling His promises to David. His comment in verse 4 about God “who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth” was recognition that the Temple was the fulfillment of God’s plan rather than David’s or his own. David and Solomon were human instruments, but the design was God’s. In verse 5, Solomon referenced Israel’s history by mentioning the exodus out of Egypt. Though that event had occurred some five hundred years earlier, it was important that it remain as real in Israel’s national awareness as it was on the day it happened. In verses 10-11, Solomon presented the newly finished Temple to the Lord. 

Solomon’s prayer of dedication (verses 12-42) took place on a high brazen scaffold that would have enabled the entire assembly to easily see him. His posture of kneeling before the Lord in view of the whole assembly (noted in verse 13), was unusual for a king because it denoted submission to a higher authority. Both by words and actions, Solomon demonstrated his respect for and acknowledgement of God as the ultimate authority. 

Solomon began his prayer by expressing gratitude to God for His past fulfillment of promises, and then asked the Lord to fulfill the promises He had made to his father, David. In verses 22-39, Solomon made seven specific petitions to God, and each was directly associated with worship at the Temple. His petitions were:
     • That God would confirm the innocence of the just and condemn the guilty (verses 22-23).
     • That God would forgive and restore the nation (verses 24-25).
     • That God would forgive and send rain when Israel’s sins would bring drought (verses 26-27).
     • That God would forgive and heal the land of famine, pestilence, and other afflictions (verses 28-31). 
     • That God would hear the prayer of foreigners who would seek Him (verses 32-33).
     • That God would grant His people victory in any God-directed battles (verses 34-35).
     • That God would hear and forgive those who would pray for their sins while in captivity (verses 36-39). 

Solomon concluded his prayer in much the same way as he began—with an expression of his desire for God to fulfill the promises He had made to David.

AMPLIFIED OUTLINE

I. The reign of Solomon
    B. The construction of Solomon’s Temple
         3. The dedication
              b. The address and prayer of Solomon (6:1-42)
                  (1) Solomon’s address to Israel (6:1-11)
                  (2) Solomon’s dedicatory prayer (6:12-42)

A CLOSER LOOK

1. According to verse 10, what promise to David did Solomon say was fulfilled?
2. Why does God sometimes allow difficulties to come into the lives of those who do not serve Him (verses 26-27)?
3. What can we learn and apply to our lives from the opening of Solomon’s prayer in verse 14?

CONCLUSION

God is looking at hearts today. What does He see when He looks at yours and mine? By His grace we want to be developing just as He desires.