Day 31: The Fear That Inspires Prayer

Posted on: April 8, 2025
by: Gerrit Dawson, Senior Pastor

Every day, pray aloud worshipfully this golden thread that weaves through the entire tapestry of God’s intent for us.

Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD,

when I will make a new covenant with the

house of Israel. . . .

I will put my law within them,

and I will write it on their hearts.

And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

They shall all know me, from the least of them

to the greatest. . . .

For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will

remember their sin no more.

(Jeremiah 31:31, 33-34)

Daily Scripture

1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-28, 38-43

Context Note: King David longed to build the LORD a temple, a “home” for God’s worship where his special presence, his name, could dwell. The LORD told David that the temple he envisioned would be built not by him but by his son Solomon. It would be a house of prayer that would draw people from all nations. Today’s passage is from Solomon’s prayer dedicating the Jerusalem temple in about 960 BC.

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven, and said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart.”

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you

this day.”

“[W]hatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house, then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind), that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers. Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name’s sake (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in 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.”

Picking Up the Thread

What a beautiful prayer offered in front of the thousands assembled for the opening of the temple! In this prayer, Solomon so clearly acknowledges that God could never be contained in a building. But he also knows how gracious God is to locate his name, his special presence, in that temple. People near and far can now visualize that sacred location as they make their praises and petitions to the LORD I AM. Today we highlight the connection between this ardent prayer and the life-giving fear of God.

Solomon speaks first of the LORD’s particularly called people, Israel. As a whole or as individuals, the people of Israel may pour out their hearts to God with hands stretched toward Jerusalem where his name resides. Solomon asks God to 1) hear their heart cries, 2) forgive any sin, and 3) act in response. Then he makes a beautiful connection. When the LORD replies to prayers in a way we can discern, our fear of him deepens. Immediately, we remember the five “r’s” of healthy fear that we noted in the introduction. Fearing God involves referring all situations to him, respecting his powerful reality and steadfast character, remembering his mighty deeds to us in the past, relating to him in trust based on all God is and has done, and relaxing joyfully in the care that we anticipate receiving.

Later, Solomon prays for people who are not Israelites. He entreats the LORD to hear the pleas of those who have heard about our God and have come to petition him for help. Again, he asks the LORD to hear and to do for the foreigner who seeks the true God’s intervention. Solomon reminds God that if he does answer, the five “r’s” fear of him will spread to other people. This is a major way people come to trust in the triune God. They call out to him in desperation with great need but perhaps faint hope. Then they become believers as they recognize God’s answers.

Stitching It In

Of course, we know that God’s hearing of our prayers does not obligate him to answer in exactly the way we would like. The LORD of creation is not a vending machine or a genie. He is after a relationship with us that weaves us into participating in his massive redemption plan for the world. This is where Biblical fear comes in. The more we come to revere the God of Scripture through noting and praising his mighty deeds recorded there, the more we can notice how he answers us. The more we relate to him and relax into trusting him, the more his unexpected answers appear wonderful to us.

To me, answered prayer very rarely seems like rabbit-out-of-the-hat magic. It’s not usually splashy. It never feels like I have manipulated or charmed my heavenly Father into giving me something he wouldn’t have given me otherwise. I surrender a situation to him, asking that his will, not mine, be done even as I tell God what’s worrying me and what need I have. I thank him in trust and take on the demands of the day.

Later, upon reflection, I realize that his unseen hand has moved in a way that could only have been God. These gifts occur even as the Father does not spare me the troubles of life, the sweat of work or the messiness of relationships. He just shows up in ways beyond hope. And so I grow to fear him more. That means realizing I dare not try to live without him but that I can confidently place my hands in his. Sharing the loving care of this God in thankful praise draws others to pray to him this way as well.

Praying Along the Pattern

Dearest heavenly Father, with the psalmist, I pray,

“Teach me your way, O LORD,

That I may walk in your truth.

Unite my heart to fear your name” (Psalm 86:11).

I know that I often have a divided heart.

I want what I want without regard to your will.

And so often that leads me away

From the love, grace, hope and joy I seek.

I try to ignore your reality and make my own.

I walk in my distortions along the way I choose,

As if you did not exist or care,