When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;
When the sky is closed up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn away from their sin when you are disciplining them,
God is explaining that when He withholds rain as discipline for sin, He will listen if people pray toward His temple, confess His name, and turn from their wrongdoing.
📚 Historical Context
This is part of Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem around 960 BC. In ancient Israel, drought was understood as divine judgment for the nation's unfaithfulness to God. Solomon is asking God to hear prayers offered toward the temple when the people repent during times of drought and hardship.
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