By It comes as a bit of a surprise that the main petitions in Solomon’s famous temple-dedication prayer of 1 Kings 8, is the plea to God to listen to the prayers prayed as part of the worship at the temple. Solomon understood that in light of God’s great greatness, and our rather puny-ness, it is quite remarkable that God would listen to the prayers of mankind (1 Kings 8:27-28), so perhaps it is not such a surprising request after all.
Although Jesus clearly taught that believers no longer pray with the temple of Solomon in mind (John 4:21-24), the details of Solomon’s prayer still enlighten us to the kinds of prayers God listens to.
1 Kings 8:31-32
God listens to prayers for justice for the wicked and justice for the righteous.
1 Kings 8:33-34
God listens to prayers of repentance after sin was committed.
1 Kings 8:35-40
God listens to prayers regarding affliction resulting from one’s own disobedience and the oppression from another.
1 Kings 8:41-43
God listens to prayers from all believers from all places.
1 Kings 8:44-45
God listens to prayers for fulfilling His instructions.
1 Kings 8:46-51
God listens to prayers for forgiveness.
1 Kings 8:52-53 God listens to prayers based on what He revealed in His Word.
Our God hears. Our God listens when we pray.
Pray, because God listens.