8:41-43
God’s promise to Abraham was that all peoples would be blessed through him (Gen 12:3). We see here Solomon looking forward to that promise being fulfilled. How would it happen? The nations would hear of the great name of the Lord and what He has done. Then they would come to pray towards God’s temple. When this happens, Solomon calls on God to hear their prayers. Solomon sees everything focused around the temple, in terms of the temple representing God’s presence.
8:44,45
This prayer does not involve Israel’s sin! It concerns God’s people going out to war against their enemies. “Wherever you send them”, then “when they pray to the Lord”, with the temple again being mentioned. So here the people are acting in obedience to the Lord, In those circumstances Solomon asks God to “uphold their cause”.
8:46,47
We are back to sin! “When they sins against you ...” Solomon knows that all people sin, and Israel is no different. The Old Testament is completely clear on the sinfulness of Israel, and the whole of the world. Solomon also knows that this will result in God’s judgement upon Israel. He then goes on to consider the possibility of the people realising that they have sinned, and turning back to the Lord.
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