1. May your eyes be open toward this temple

Solomon prayed that the temple be a place where people's broken relationships with God were healed. Sacrifices offered on the altar look forward to Jesus, the perfect sacrifice. The temple would be the focal point of prayer for God's people, no matter where they might be. What can God's people do when defeated in battle or when disaster strikes? They must repent. They must turn from sin toward God. When they spread out their hands toward the temple, repent and ask God's mercy, he will hear from heaven, forgive, heal and restore. Still he deals with each person according to his doing, for God knows each heart.

2. So that all people of the earth may know

Solomon held the whole world in his heart. He saw the temple as a place of prayer for all nations. (32-35) All the world must know and fear the God of Israel.

Application: Lord, have mercy on this sinner. Forgive me for Jesus' sake. He is our temple. Through him alone we may come to you.
One Word: Hear from heaven and forgive