Intercessory Prayer: 2 Chronicles 7:12-15

2 Chronicles 7:12-15 King James Version (KJV)

12 And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

We serve a merciful God. He is always ready to forgive our sins. When we make intercessory prayer he listens and answers positively. Just as in the case of Solomon, who prayed sincerely and with a pure heart on behalf of the children of Israel, got a positive response from God.

The fire from heaven that consumed the offering was a sign that God accepted Solomon’s prayer. This however did not mean that God answered the prayer. He appeared to Solomon at night, just as he had done before in 2 Chronicles 1:7 which was also after a day of sacrifice, and answered his prayer in a peculiar way.  When you look at 1 Kings 9: 2-9, you will realize that we had the substance of it before.

Promises made by God

God promised to own this house for a house of prayer for all people and as a house of sacrifice to Israel.  They therefore get merciful healing since God promised to heal their land and redress all their grievances .He also promised to answer prayers of his people that were made at that place. The prayers however need to be those of repentance and reformation. The person making the prayer should be able to acknowledge his/her sin and be ready to suffer the consequences even though they shall receive forgiveness. “God expects that his people who are called by his name, if they have dishonoured his name by their iniquity, should honour it by accepting the punishment of their iniquity. They must be humble themselves under his hand, must pray for the removal of the judgment, must seek the face and favour of God; and yet all this will not do unless they turn from their wicked ways, and return to the God from whom they have revolted.” Quote from Matthew Henry's Commentary

Solomon’s kingdom would be perpetuated as long as Solomon preserved his duty 2 Chronicles 7: 17, 18. This is in regard to God’s covenant with David and was obliged to imitate the example of David.

Solomon built a house, a dwelling place that the people could use for worship of God. In this house, anyone who offered sincere prayers unto God asking for forgiveness would be forgiven by God. When he had finished his prayer, he offered a sacrifice unto God. After this, not even the priest could enter into the house because it was filled with the glory of God.

God expects us to pray with thanksgiving for what he has done for us and with faith so that He can hear our prayer. When we offer intercessory prayer, it is not different. As much as we are praying on behalf of another person or people, we should trust in God so that He can hear us and accept our prayers.