In First Kings, chapter eight, verse thirty-nine, Solomon understood that God would forgive His people if they turned from their sin and sincerely repented in regret and sorrow, as in verses thirty-five through thirty-six. He also acknowledged that God might have to discipline them so that they may fear all days that they may live in the land in verse forty.
Solomon continues in his prayer of dedication midway, mentioning to God the hearts of the people He knows to reward them accordingly. Why would he be concerned with the duties of the Lord evaluating the hearts of the people?
In this excellent prayer from verses twenty-two through fifty-three, Solomon does as we should in every prayer: he gives glory to God. Fresh experiences of the truth of God’s promises call for praise. He soothes for grace and favor from God. The experience of God’s performing his promises should encourage us to depend upon them, to plead them with him, and those who expect further mercies must be thankful for former mercies. God’s promises must be our desires and the ground of our hopes and expectations in prayer.
Under one word, forgive, Solomon expressed all he could ask on behalf of his people. All misery springs from sin. Forgiveness of sin prepares the way for the removal of every evil and the receiving of every good. Without it, no deliverance can prove a blessing. They shall know every man the plague of his own heart, what it pains him: shall spread their hands in prayer toward this house. Whether the trouble is of body or mind, they shall represent it before God. Sin is the plague of our hearts: our in-dwelling corruptions are our spiritual diseases: every true Israelite endeavors to know these, that he may mortify them and watch against them. These drive Solomon to his knees; lamenting these, he spreads forth his hands in prayer.