1 Kings 8:31-40
At the beginning of his prayer, Solomon extolled the faithfulness, the mercy (v. 23) and the greatness of the LORD (v. 27). Now he recognises what the people are capable of, and what the consequences of their sins may be. Our thoughts turn from Solomon to Christ, the great High Priest. He knows full well the weaknesses of the hearts of His own, and calls upon God before Satan sifts them, praying that their faith may not fail. This He did for Peter before his denial (Luke 22:32) . . . and how many times also for each one of us in the hour of temptation, without our knowing. Truly God knows the heart of man (v. 39; see Jeremiah 17:9-10). And where has this heart, "deceitful above all things and desperately wicked", displayed the full extent of its treachery? In what circumstances has Christ known its ultimate depravity? Is it not at the cross, where the hostility of man was totally expressed against Himself (Psalms 22:16)? But this crime, the greatest of all Israel’s sins, will itself also be pardoned when the repentant nation turns with "grace and supplication ", no longer towards "this house", but towards "him whom they pierced" (Zechariah 12:10).