‘…and when thou hearest, forgive.’
1 Kings 8:30

Solomon’s greatest achievement (apart from being an inspired penman of Scripture) was the building of the magnificent temple. The greatness of this temple did not ultimately consist in the materials from which it was made or the size of it. Its magnificence was due to the fact that God chose to manifest His glorious presence there.

This once wisest of all kings asked one of the great questions in 1 Kings 8:27, ‘but will God indeed dwell on the earth?’. His theology was spot on. Since the heaven of heavens could not contain the infinite God, Solomon realised that this temple was not going to limit God to four walls. It was never intended too. The Lord was choosing to especially manifest His holy presence in this temple just as He does when God’s people meet together as a corporal body.

This was on the King’s heart and so as he prays, he knows that of all the things which God’s people (along with all people) stand in need of, is forgiveness.

The cry for forgiveness  is inseparably joined to all true prayer

This unbreakable link was revealed when the temple was finished. We could think of that well known passage in 2 Chronicles 7:12 -14‘I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice…if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray…then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin…’.

When we come to God in prayer as sinners, we first cry out ‘have mercy on me’ and we come to discover that there is justifying grace in our Lord Jesus Christ. He alone has authority to forgive our sins and cast them into the sea of God’s forgetfulness. Now, while the justified sinner can no longer be under the condemnation of God, yet knowing the corruptions of each day, the child of God will daily renew that cry ‘forgive’.

The need for forgiven is always included in all true prayer

Our Lord Jesus when providing a blueprint for prayer in Matthew 6:12 spelt this out. First of all we direct our prayers Godward: is is all about His name, His Kingdom and His will. Afterwards we then address what daily needs we have. God’s people need daily provisions but also daily forgiveness. People speak about keeping short accounts with God and there is no better account than to cry daily ‘when thou hearest, forgive’.