If My People Pray

How do you pray? How do you pray for a nation in trouble?

Solomon began his reign on the three legs of leadership that make the stool stable: righteousness, love, and wisdom. These are what stabilize any life. We must do what is right toward one another, sincerely care for each other, and wisely apply God’s truth in our day. Wisdom without love or righteousness is craftiness. Love without righteousness or wisdom becomes enabling. Righteousness without wisdom or love is harsh and unkind. Scripture makes clear—we need all three.

In 2 Chronicles 2, Solomon begins preparing to build the Temple. He knows it cannot contain God, but it will represent His great Name and be a place of offerings. In 2 Chronicles 3–4, the Temple is built and furnished on Mount Moriah, the very mountain where Abraham was tested with Isaac, and God provided a substitute sacrifice. It is where David’s offering stopped a plague. On this mountain—where judgment stopped and blessing came through sacrifice—God wanted His Temple built.

In chapter 5, Solomon times the bringing of the Ark into the Temple with the Feast of Tabernacles. Israel’s wandering was over; they were finally home. On this highest of days, Solomon stands and prays (2 Chronicles 6). He knows the Temple cannot contain God, but asks that when His people pray there, God will hear and forgive. Asking God to forgive assumes His people will come as sinners in need of grace. Solomon then offers seven prayers for a hurting nation.

1. For justice within the nation. Their greatest threat was tearing each other apart, breeding chaos, and showing cruelty.

2. For external conflict. When they faced battles, lost, and it was their fault, Solomon asks God to forgive and restore if they repent—following the same cycle seen in Judges: sin, punishment, repentance, restoration.

3. For natural disasters. Not all disasters are caused by sin, but when blessing stops, it is often God withholding resources from destructive paths. Like a loving parent, He disciplines to correct, not harm. Solomon prays that pain would lead to repentance, forgiveness, restoration, and deeper teaching from God.

4. For personal repentance. He asks that discipline would be constructive, not destructive, shaping and leading people toward good.

5. For foreigners. When outsiders come because they’ve heard of God’s greatness, Solomon prays that God would hear them too, so His Name would be known and feared among the nations.

6. For those far from home. Whether on mission or in battle, he asks that God would hear their prayers and uphold their cause.

7. For those far from God. When everything is broken because of sin, Solomon prays that if they repent, God will restore them.

This is not the triumphant “pump-up” speech one might expect at such a celebration. Solomon knows none of us are immune to failure, so he prays: God, when we mess this up, please forgive, give us repentant hearts, and restore us.

In 2 Chronicles 7, God responds. Prayer is not one-sided—it is dialogue. God appears to Solomon at night and says yes. His heart is to restore, not destroy.

Some aspects of these chapters apply uniquely to Israel, but God’s heart is unchanging. When people made in His image walk away, lose His blessing, and experience pain, the pain can bring perspective. If they repent, seek His face, and turn back, He promises to hear, forgive, and heal. That is the heart of God.

In the New Testament, Jesus reveals that He Himself is the place where heaven meets earth. He is where communion with God is found. Through His sacrifice, forgiveness is possible, and we become living stones—the Temple—pointing people to God.