◄ 2 Chronicles 6:32 ►
And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your great name and Your mighty hand and outstretched arm--when he comes and prays toward this temple,
Study Bible
As for the foreigner
The term "foreigner" in Hebrew is "נָכְרִי" (nokri), referring to someone who is not an Israelite by birth. This highlights the inclusivity of God's covenant, extending beyond ethnic Israel. Historically, Israel was to be a light to the nations, and this verse underscores the openness of God's house to all who seek Him, regardless of their origin.

who is not of Your people Israel
This phrase emphasizes the distinction between the Israelites and other nations. However, it also points to the universal scope of God's plan. Theologically, it foreshadows the New Testament revelation that salvation through Christ is available to all, Jew and Gentile alike.

but has come from a distant land
The phrase "distant land" suggests a journey motivated by faith and reverence. In ancient times, travel was arduous and dangerous, indicating the foreigner's deep commitment and recognition of God's power and presence. This reflects the magnetic nature of God's glory, drawing people from afar.

because of Your great name
The "great name" of God signifies His reputation, character, and deeds known throughout the earth. In the ancient Near East, a name was more than a label; it represented one's essence and authority. God's name, therefore, is a testament to His holiness, power, and faithfulness.

and Your mighty hand and outstretched arm
These expressions are anthropomorphic, describing God's intervention in human history, particularly in delivering Israel from Egypt. The "mighty hand" and "outstretched arm" symbolize God's strength and active involvement in the world, reassuring believers of His ability to save and protect.

when he comes and prays toward this house
The act of praying "toward this house" refers to the temple in Jerusalem, the designated place of God's presence. This directionality in prayer signifies acknowledgment of God's chosen dwelling and submission to His sovereignty. It also prefigures the concept of approaching God through a mediator, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
The king of Israel who built the temple in Jerusalem and is offering this prayer of dedication.

2. Foreigner
A non-Israelite who recognizes the power and majesty of the God of Israel and comes to pray at the temple.

3. Temple in Jerusalem
The central place of worship for the Israelites, symbolizing God's presence among His people.

4. Israel
The chosen people of God, through whom He intended to reveal Himself to the nations.

5. Distant Land
Represents the far reaches of the earth, indicating the universal scope of God's influence and the reach of His name.
Teaching Points
God's Universal Invitation
God's invitation extends beyond Israel to all nations. His name and power are recognized by those outside the covenant community, showing His desire for all to know Him.

The Role of the Temple
The temple serves as a focal point for worship and prayer, not just for Israel but for all who seek God. It symbolizes God's openness to hear the prayers of anyone who comes in faith.

Inclusivity in Worship
The passage highlights the inclusivity of God's kingdom. Believers are called to welcome and embrace those from different backgrounds who seek the Lord.

Prayer and God's Presence
The act of praying toward the temple signifies seeking God's presence. Today, believers can approach God directly through Christ, who is the ultimate temple.

Witness to the Nations
The recognition of God's name by foreigners underscores the importance of living as a witness to God's greatness, so others may be drawn to Him.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Solomon's prayer for the foreigner reflect God's heart for all nations, and how can we apply this in our own communities?

2. In what ways does the temple in Jerusalem serve as a precursor to the role of Jesus Christ in the New Testament?

3. How can we, as believers, ensure that our places of worship are welcoming to those who are seeking God, regardless of their background?

4. What are some practical ways we can live as witnesses to God's greatness in our daily lives, drawing others to Him?

5. How does the inclusion of the foreigner in Solomon's prayer challenge our understanding of God's plan for salvation and the scope of the Great Commission?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 56:6-7
This passage speaks of foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, emphasizing that God's house will be a house of prayer for all nations.

Acts 10:34-35
Peter's realization that God shows no favoritism but accepts those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.

Matthew 28:19
The Great Commission, where Jesus commands His disciples to make disciples of all nations, reflecting the inclusivity of God's plan.

Ephesians 2:11-13
Paul speaks of the inclusion of Gentiles into the family of God, breaking down the dividing wall of hostility.
Sermons
The Sevenfold IllustrationT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 6:22-39
God and the NationW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 6:24-28, 34, 35
People
David, Solomon
Places
Egypt, Holy Place, Jerusalem
Topics
Afar, Arm, Belong, Distant, Foreigner, Glory, Likewise, Mighty, Moreover, Name's, Outstretched, Out-stretched, Prayed, Prayer, Prays, Sake, Strange, Stranger, Stretched, Stretched-out, Strong, Temple, Towards, Turning
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 6:32

     1060   God, greatness of
     1265   hand of God
     5126   arm

2 Chronicles 6:32-33

     7949   mission, of Israel
     8636   asking

Library
December the Eighth Judged by Our Aspirations
"Thou didst well, it was in thine heart." --2 CHRONICLES vi. 1-15. And this was a purpose which the man was not permitted to realize. It was a temple built in the substance of dreams, but never established in wood and stone. And God took the shadowy structure and esteemed it as a perfected pile. The sacred intention was regarded as a finished work. The will to build a temple was regarded as a temple built. And hence I discern the preciousness of all hallowed purpose and desire, even though it …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

"If So be that the Spirit of God Dwell in You. Now if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ, He is None of His. "
Rom. viii. 9.--"If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." "But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?" 2 Chron. vi. 18. It was the wonder of one of the wisest of men, and indeed, considering his infinite highness above the height of heavens, his immense and incomprehensible greatness, that the heaven of heavens cannot contain him, and then the baseness, emptiness, and worthlessness of man, it may be a wonder to the …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Eleventh Lesson. Believe that Ye have Received;'
Believe that ye have received;' Or, The Faith that Takes. Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye have received them, and ye shall have them.'--Mark xi. 24 WHAT a promise! so large, so Divine, that our little hearts cannot take it in, and in every possible way seek to limit it to what we think safe or probable; instead of allowing it, in its quickening power and energy, just as He gave it, to enter in, and to enlarge our hearts to the measure of what …
Andrew Murray—With Christ in the School of Prayer

Sanctification.
VI. Objections answered. I will consider those passages of scripture which are by some supposed to contradict the doctrine we have been considering. 1 Kings viii. 46: "If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near," etc. On this passage, I remark:-- 1. That this sentiment in nearly the same language, is repeated in 2 Chron. vi. 26, and in Eccl. …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
or, Gospel Light Fetched out of the Temple at Jerusalem, to Let us More Easily into the Glory of New Testament Truths. 'Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Isreal;--shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out hereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof.'--Ezekiel 43:10, 11 London: Printed for, and sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgate, …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Entire Sanctification
By Dr. Adam Clarke The word "sanctify" has two meanings. 1. It signifies to consecrate, to separate from earth and common use, and to devote or dedicate to God and his service. 2. It signifies to make holy or pure. Many talk much, and indeed well, of what Christ has done for us: but how little is spoken of what he is to do in us! and yet all that he has done for us is in reference to what he is to do in us. He was incarnated, suffered, died, and rose again from the dead; ascended to heaven, and there …
Adam Clarke—Entire Sanctification

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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