(14) In the heaven nor in the earth.--Abridged from "in the heaven above, and upon the earth beneath" (Kings). Syriac, "Thou art the Lord that sittest in heaven above, and Thy will (pl.) is done on earth beneath;" apparently a curious reminiscence of the Lord's Prayer. The Assyrians also spoke of their gods as "without an equal" (sanina la is-, "a rival he has not").

Which keepest covenant and shewest mercy.--Literally, keeping the covenant and the mercy; i.e., the covenanted mercy. (Comp. Isaiah 55:3.)

With thy servant.--Heb., for; so in 2Chronicles 6:16. (The verse is word for word as in Kings.)

And spakest with thy mouth. . . .--2Chronicles 6:4.

Verse 14. - No God like thee, etc. The quoting of Scripture and the utilizing of language in which the religious feeling of those who have gone before has expressed itself had plainly set in (Exodus 15:11, 12; Deuteronomy 7:9). The prayer which this verso opens occupies twenty-eight verses; it is the longest prayer recorded in Scripture. It consists of two verses (14, 15) of opening; then follow three petitions - first, that God would perpetuate the line of David (ver. 16); next, that he would have regard to the place where his Name is put (vers. 17-20); and thirdly, that he would hear the prayers addressed to him toward this place (ver. 21). Of this last subject, seven different cases are propounded - firstly, the case of the man wronged by his neighbour (vers. 22, 23); secondly, of the people worsted by their enemies (vers. 24, 25); thirdly, of the people suffering from drought (vers. 26, 27); fourthly, of the people visited by death or special calamity (vers. 28-31); fifthly, of the stranger who comes to offer to pray (vers 32, 33); sixthly, of the people going to war by God's permission (vers. 34, 35); seventhly, of the people in captivity (vers. 36-39). Then the prayer closes in vers. 40-42.

6:1-42 Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple. - The order of Solomon's prayer is to be observed. First and chiefly, he prays for repentance and forgiveness, which is the chief blessing, and the only solid foundation of other mercies: he then prays for temporal mercies; thereby teaching us what things to mind and desire most in our prayers. This also Christ hath taught us in his perfect pattern and form of prayer, where there is but one prayer for outward, and all the rest are for spiritual blessings. The temple typified the human nature of Christ, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. The ark typified his obedience and sufferings, by which repenting sinners have access to a reconciled God, and communion with him. Jehovah has made our nature his resting-place for ever, in the person of Emmanuel, and through him he dwells with, and delights in his church of redeemed sinners. May our hearts become his resting-place; may Christ dwell therein by faith, consecrating them as his temples, and shedding abroad his love therein. May the Father look upon us in and through his Anointed; and may he remember and bless us in all things, according to his mercy to sinners, in and through Christ.See Introduction to Chapter 5