1 Kings 8:36

36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Israel, ¹indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And ²send rain on Your land, which You have given Your people for an inheritance.

1 Kings 8:36 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 8:36

Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy
servants, and of thy people Israel
By removing the judgment of drought upon them:

that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk;
the way of worship and duty prescribed by the Lord which was good in itself, and good for them, good things being enjoyed by them that walk therein; and this the Lord sometimes teaches by afflictions, as well as by his word; but whenever he does it, it is by his Spirit, and then afflictions are blessings, ( Psalms 104:19 ) ( 2 Chronicles 6:27 ) where the same phrase is differently rendered:

and give rain upon the land which thou hast given to thy people for
an inheritance;
as he did at the prayer of Elijah, ( James 5:18 ) .

1 Kings 8:36 In-Context

34 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers.

35 "When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain, because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name and turn from their sin when You afflict them,

36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Israel, indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land, which You have given Your people for an inheritance.

37 "If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, locust or grasshopper, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,

38 whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his hands toward this house;

Cross References

• 1. 1 Samuel 12:23; Psalms 5:8; Psalms 25:4, 5; Psalms 27:11; Psalms 86:11; Psalms 119:133; Jeremiah 6:16
• 2. 1 Kin 18:1, 41-45; Jeremiah 14:22