July 17

then may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make—each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple— — 2 Chr 6:29 BSB

Solomon touches on a profound truth when he speaks of knowing one's “own sore” and “own grief.” You might be aware of someone else’s troubles, but that won’t benefit you. You can read about other people’s experiences, enjoy listening to ministers who preach from experience, and avoid those who don’t—but still not know your own sore or your own grief. It’s like a doctor who knows the symptoms of every disease yet has never experienced any of them personally. You can be well-versed in every kind of spiritual condition, yet be untouched by one yourself.

But Solomon’s prayer is for the person who truly knows and feels their own sore and grief, whose heart is a constant source of pain, whose sins deeply trouble them. How painful this sore can be! It can fester day and night, full of infection, sensitive to any probing. Most of the Lord’s people have some sore, a tender spot, perhaps known only to themselves and God, that causes them great grief. It might be a secret sin they’ve committed, a misstep they’ve taken, or an evil they’ve done. They’ve been caught in sin, ensnared and cast down, and this becomes their sore and grief, which they feel deeply before God. For such people, Solomon prays. He directs his prayer to the right spot, saying, “Then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and forgive, and deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart—for you alone know the hearts of all men.” Yes, God alone fully knows the heart and sees it in all its depths.