What a strange request from a rich king
Submitting & Obeying God
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May the Lord our God be with us, as he was with our ancestors. May he not abandon us or leave us. May he make us submissive, so we can follow all his instructions and obey the commandments, rules, and regulations he commanded our ancestors.
1 Kings 8:57-58 (NET)
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This is part of King Solomon’s prayer when he dedicated the temple to God.
Something surprising about it, to me:
He asks God to make them submissive.
That’s definitely not a request I’ve thought about asking of God before.
Sure, I’ve asked plenty for help in overcoming a sin, or dealing with a trial in life, or help in a sudden crisis. I’ve not thought to ask for help submitting to God.
Probably my own ego in the way there.
Of course Solomon doesn’t stop at just submission, there’s a purpose to his request.
He wants to live a life worthy of God.
He wants the people to honor God with the life they live too.
He wants help following God’s instructions, obey His commandments, rules, and regulations. Because he knows that this is the best plan for life.
(If he didn’t know it at the time, he found out eventually as evidenced by the book of Ecclesiastes.)
I guess this is a kind of prayer I’ve asked God for before.
I’ve prayed plenty of times asking for help becoming a man of God, a man who honors God with my life and actions.
Now I can add a new strategy to my requests:
Asking for help submitting to Almighty God.
I think it’s a pretty good plan.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2026 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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