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King Solomon, Son of David, had built the house for God as his father intended. He brought the sacred ark into that house, and "the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord" (vs. 11). Then Solomon gave a speech, blessing the people and recounting a bit of history. Then he prayed to the Lord, a rather long prayer recorded here (vs. 23-53). It is a very encouraging and interesting prayer to read during your own prayers because he constantly prays for future generations, including ours.

The part I have cited for today's reading is where Solomon looks abroad and includes in his prayer even the stranger, the Gentile. That's me.

What I enjoy especially about this passage are the parenthetic sentences. There's one in verse 39. "For You Lord, and only You, know the hearts of all humans." Solomon confirms that God knows what I need without my prayers, and he continues to pray! These two, the knowing by God and the continuing prayers by humans, could seem contradictory in my little brain, but here they are side by side in the Bible. My brain needs stretching!

Another parenthetical sentence in is very 42, "They, the strangers, will hear of Your great name and strong hand and stretched out arm." Apparently Solomon was not yet exclusively nationalistic in his claim on the blessing of God. This fits with the entire aim of the prayer as stated in verse 43 and then again in verse 60, "That all people of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is none else."

There's another parenthetical in verse 46. Look it up and read it. It will encourage you.