1 Kings 8:46-50
46 “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, 47 yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ 48 if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, 49 then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause 50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them.
In this passage Solomon is praying that God would forgive His people if they repent. Solomon starts by acknowledging that all will sin (verse 46), and thus will have to face the consequences of God's wrath. But if they admit their sin (verse 47) and repent (verse 48) then God can forgive them (verse 50). The key for Israel, and us, is to admit when we sin and repent of it. If we don't, we'll be stuck in captivity (verse 46). Steps 5 through 7 of the 12 steps are about this same idea of repentance: admit we are wrong (step 5), be willing to let God change us (step 6), and ask God to change us (step 7). If we do this, God will "forgive your people who have sinned" (verse 50).
Lord, I admit my sins and repent of them. I need You to help me change.
46 “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, 47 yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ 48 if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, 49 then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause 50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them.
In this passage Solomon is praying that God would forgive His people if they repent. Solomon starts by acknowledging that all will sin (verse 46), and thus will have to face the consequences of God's wrath. But if they admit their sin (verse 47) and repent (verse 48) then God can forgive them (verse 50). The key for Israel, and us, is to admit when we sin and repent of it. If we don't, we'll be stuck in captivity (verse 46). Steps 5 through 7 of the 12 steps are about this same idea of repentance: admit we are wrong (step 5), be willing to let God change us (step 6), and ask God to change us (step 7). If we do this, God will "forgive your people who have sinned" (verse 50).
Lord, I admit my sins and repent of them. I need You to help me change.