2 Chronicles 6:26–42 (September 22, 2025)

6:26 “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, 27 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.

28 “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemies besiege them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 29 whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own sorrow and stretching out his hands toward this house, 30 then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways, for you, you only, know the hearts of the children of mankind, 31 that they may fear you and walk in your ways all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers.

32 “Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for the sake of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when he comes and prays toward this house, 33 hear from heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name.

34 “If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause.

36 “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near, 37 yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ 38 if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, 39 then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their pleas, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you. 40 Now, O my God, let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place.

41 “And now arise, O Lord God, and go to your resting place,

you and the ark of your might.

Let your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation,

and let your saints rejoice in your goodness.

42 O Lord God, do not turn away the face of your anointed one!

Remember your steadfast love for David your servant.”

Prayer for Forgiveness, Presence, and Salvation

Summary

Chapter 6 records Solomon’s great prayer of dedication at the temple. He begins by blessing the Lord who has fulfilled His covenant promise to David (vv. 1–11). Then he prays that God’s eyes would be open toward the temple day and night, hearing the prayers of His people when they cry out (vv. 12–21).

Solomon presents seven scenarios in which Israel may fall into sin or trouble, requiring God’s forgiveness (vv. 22–39). Our passage (vv. 26–42) contains the final portion of this prayer:

When famine, pestilence, blight, or siege come, may God hear the prayers of every individual who knows the plague of his own heart and forgive (vv. 28–31).

Even foreigners who come to pray toward the temple, hearing of God’s great name, may they be heard and know the Lord’s greatness (vv. 32–33).

When God’s people go to battle and pray toward the city and temple, may God uphold their cause (vv. 34–35).

When they sin, are carried into exile, and repent with all their heart, may God forgive them and restore them (vv. 36–39).

The prayer ends with a plea:

Who is God?

God is the covenant Lord who hears our prayer, forgives sin, and shows steadfast love for the sake of His servant David. He is the sovereign ruler who controls rain and drought, pestilence and plenty, exile and restoration. His greatness is displayed not only in His power but in His willingness to stoop down and hear the cries of His people. This passage reveals God as both transcendent and near. He is enthroned in heaven, yet He is attentive to the individual who knows “the plague of his own heart” (v. 29).

What is our guilt?

Our guilt is that we, like Israel, constantly fall into sin that brings brokenness, drought, and defeat. We chase after idols, and the heavens are shut. We experience the bitter fruit of sin—emptiness, strife, and distance from God. Worse, we are slow to confess the plague of our own hearts. We hide from God rather than turn back to Him. Even when disciplined, we are tempted to harden our hearts rather than repent. This passage confronts us. Sin is not merely external; it is mainly in the heart. And unless we confess it, we remain under the influence of sin and therefore under God’s hand of judgment.

How does grace shine?

God is faithful to hear our prayers, forgive, and restore us. Solomon’s prayer anticipates exile, but also envisions forgiveness and return when God’s people repent (vv. 36–39).

In Christ, God’s eyes and ears are forever open to our prayers. In Him, forgiveness is certain, not conditional. At the cross, Christ bore the ultimate drought and exile—forsaken by the Father—so that we might be restored and clothed in salvation. His resurrection is the guarantee that God’s steadfast love for David endures forever, and His Spirit now dwells in us as God’s true temple. Hallelujah!

Prayer

O Lord, you are the God who hears from heaven, forgives, and restores. We confess that our hearts are plagued by sin and that we too often feel the drought of your displeasure. Forgive us when we abandon your ways and chase after idols. Thank you for Jesus Christ, the true Son of David, who bore our exile and opened the way for our restoration. Clothe us in His salvation, fill us with your Spirit, and teach us to walk in the good way. Let our worship be full of joy in your goodness, and let your steadfast love in Christ be our hope forever. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.