8:37 「國中若有饑荒、瘟疫、旱風、霉爛、蝗蟲、螞蚱,或有仇敵犯境圍困城邑,無論遭遇甚麼災禍疾病,
8:38 你的民以色列,或是眾人,或是一人,自覺有罪(原文是災),向這殿舉手,無論祈求甚麼,禱告甚麼,
8:39 求你在天上你的居所垂聽赦免。你是知道人心的,要照各人所行的待他們(惟有你知道世人的心),
8:40 使他們在你賜給我們列祖之地上一生一世敬畏你。
37 “When
famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or
grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever
disaster or disease may come, 38 and when a prayer or plea is
made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of
the afflictions of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands toward this
temple— 39 then
hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with everyone
according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know every
human heart), 40 so that they will fear you all the time they
live in the land you gave our ancestors.
*********
所羅門王在獻殿的時候,求上帝能夠應允來聖殿禱告的人,尤其是來認罪的人!因為人心剛硬,通常不會自己覺得有罪;需要遇到在難時,人才會反省、才會認罪。
當然所羅門王也清楚上帝的心意,是希望以色列人會敬畏上帝!所以,他勇敢向上帝說:「求你在天上你的居所垂聽赦免。你是知道人心的,要照各人所行的待他們(惟有你知道世人的心),使他們在你賜給我們列祖之地上一生一世敬畏你。」
因此,我們存敬畏的心,向上帝認罪悔改,我們就必享受上帝所賜的福!而上帝拯救我們,就是要我們敬拜祂,將榮耀歸給祂,使上帝的心得滿足。