In First Kings, chapter eight, verse forty-six, Solomon’s words are not an attempt to justify his or Israel’s sins. Instead, he was expressing the truth since sin is universally present. Turning away from God is always possible for His people, as in verses forty-six through fifty, Romans three, verse twenty-three, and First John one, verse ten, respectively. If idolatry and backsliding occur, deliverance is possible if the people repent and turn to God.
The last quarter in Solomon’s dedication of prayer speaks to God about all people who sin and fall short, the need to return, and also to forgive. The universal corruption of man’s whole race and nature makes the possibility they will fall into sins and withal makes hope that they will not be severe to deal with them as their sins deserve. Solomon did not mean that the weakness of human nature, and its proneness to sin, would excuse known and wilful offenses against God, especially apostasy from Him and His service, which was the cause of all the calamities of the Israelites. Today, some believers sin willfully due to making wrong choices contrary to God’s Word. However, some lack the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding due to not spending enough time reading and studying the Bible for God to reveal the scriptures to them.
At the beginning of Hosea four, verse six states how people bring destruction upon themselves due to a lack of knowledge. The knowledge of God is life eternal. Lack of knowledge is his law, menaces, providences, and governing the world. Had they known his holy nature, his jealousy for his glory, his hatred of sin, and his power to punish it, had they known their God, they would either have forborne to sin or repented of what sins they had committed and so prevented his wrath.