I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading. I had been using One Year Bible Online, but it was time for a change.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 1 Kings 8.

    When Muslims pray they kneel facing Mecca, which was command given them by Mohamed, who claimed that it came from Allah. However, it was Solomon who first proposed the idea of praying towards a particular place in order to show one’s dedication to God. In addition, it was not God who gave this as a command. No, this was a request from Solomon. Solomon requested that when people prayed facing towards the Temple that God would give their prayer special consideration. That was the wording of Solomon’s request. I do not think the meaning was so much about the particular direction we face when we pray. Rather the point is that God had said that His name would always be in the Temple. Therefore, if we take the effort to direct our prayers towards where God’s name is He will hear and answer our prayers.

    The most meaningful part to me is when Solomon requests that God hear and accept the prayers from foreigners, those who have never known Him before. When they hear of God’s wondrous power, turn to Him, and ask His aid, Solomon requested that God hear them and give them His aid. We should always be ready to extend our hand on behalf of God to those who need His aid. No matter what difficulty or trouble has come our way, whether it is our own fault, or just the vagaries of this world that brought it about, if and when we turn to God and call out to Him, He will hear us and answer our prayers. God will come to our rescue if we turn to Him. As importantly, let us follow Solomon’s example and ask God to hear and help those who have never before turned to Him.