Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Kings 8:54-61

"And it was so, that, when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto Jehovah, he arose from before the altar of Jehovah, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread forth toward heaven. And he stood, and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying, Blessed be Jehovah, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by Moses his servant. Jehovah our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us; that he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his ordinances, which he commanded our fathers. And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before Jehovah, be nigh unto Jehovah our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel, as every day shall require; that all the peoples of the earth may know that Jehovah, he is God; there is none else. Let your heart therefore be perfect with Jehovah our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day." — 1 Kings 8:54-61 (ASV)

Never was a congregation dismissed with what was more likely to affect them and to abide with them. What Solomon asks for in this prayer is still granted in the intercession of Christ, of which his supplication was a type. We will receive grace sufficient, suitable, and timely, in every time of need.

No human heart is on its own willing to obey the gospel call to repentance, faith, and newness of life, walking in all the commandments of the Lord, yet Solomon exhorts the people to be perfect. This is the scriptural method. It is our duty to obey the command of the law and the call of the gospel, since we have broken the law. When our hearts are inclined to it, feeling our sinfulness and weakness, we pray for Divine assistance; thus we are made able to serve God through Jesus Christ.