2 Chronicles 6:12–21
Prayer takes many forms. Sometimes it is a whispered cry for help, other times a joyful thanksgiving, and still other times a desperate plea for God to move. The way each of us prays is as unique as the way God created us in His image. Yet, one question presses in on us: do our prayers focus on revival? Revival is not simply an event; it is God breathing new life into weary souls, transforming situations, and advancing His kingdom.
In 2 Chronicles 6:12–21, Solomon offers a prayer at the dedication of the temple. This prayer models for us how true revival begins. It begins with humility, covenant faithfulness, and intercession.
The Context of Solomon’s Prayer
The temple had just been completed, a permanent dwelling place for the ark of the covenant, representing God’s presence among His people. Solomon, the most powerful king on earth, knelt before the only true King. His prayer came before the manifest glory of God descended in a way the people would never forget.
Yet Solomon knew something profound: even this magnificent temple could not contain the infinite God. That realization shaped the way he prayed and that can also shape the way we pray.
Praying with Reverence for God’s Greatness
Solomon began with reverence. Kneeling before the altar, he acknowledged that posture matters less than the heart’s humility before God. “But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house, at Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You” (Psalm 5:7).
He exalted God’s uniqueness when he says, “there is no god like You.” He recognized that God is faithful to those who walk in truth. True revival always begins here, with worship and awe, not with requests. Revival starts where prayer bends the knee before God in humility and reverence.
Pleading on the Basis of God’s Covenant
Solomon then prayed based on God’s covenant promises, not his own merit. He recalled how God had been faithful to his father David and pleaded that God would continue His faithfulness. The temple was not an “I have it now, Lord” moment; it was a recognition of absolute dependence on God’s faithfulness.
We, too, pray on the basis of covenant—not the covenant with David, but the new covenant sealed by Christ’s blood. Hebrews 10:19–23 reminds us that we have confidence to enter the holy place because Jesus shed His blood for us. Our prayers are not works-based or performance-driven; they rest entirely on God’s promises.
Biblical prayer appeals to God’s character and covenant, not to our own performance.
Interceding for God’s People and Future Generations
Finally, Solomon prayed beyond himself. He marveled that the God of heaven would condescend in love to dwell with His people. That same God came in the flesh through Christ to serve and save us.
Solomon interceded for God’s people and even for those yet unborn. His prayer anticipated what Jesus would later pray in John 17—that future believers would know the Father’s love and share in His glory.
True revival-seeking prayer always stretches outward, into the world, into our community, the next generation, and even to those who do not yet believe. Revival is never just about “me”; it is about God’s glory and God’s people across time.
Conclusion: Pray Bigger
Standing before a temple that could not contain the fullness of God, Solomon prayed big, bold, kingdom-shaped prayers. He prayed with awe, based on God’s promises, and with a heart for others.
And here we are standing as evidence that God heard. His kingdom has expanded across centuries and continents, reaching us today.
So why would we limit our prayers? If the temple could not contain the infinite God, why should our prayers try to?
Let us:
- Pray Bigger – because we serve a God without limits.
- Believe Deeper – because His promises never fail.
- Seek Revival – not because of our strength, but because of His faithfulness.
Revival begins when God’s people pray this way. May our prayers rise with humility, covenant trust, and intercession that reaches beyond ourselves—all for the glory of the One who is greater than we can imagine.