Day 169 – Contrite Heart

Proverbs 21:14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe behind the back, strong wrath.

• God’s names:
• YAHWEH/JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal
• Elohiym – Supreme God
• Yeshuwa/Iesous – Jesus
• Theos – Supreme Divinity

• God’s character:
• Sovereign

People dislike confrontation and will do whatever is necessary to avoid it with gifts and bribes. Many places around the world still use bribes to avoid anger.

Solomon was familiar with gifts and bribes to settle arguments. It was part of the culture. Solomon knew the only way to pacify YAHWEH’S anger was not through gifts and bribes, but through prayer. He learned prayer from His father, David, who always sought YAHWEH’S counsel and direction in everything he did. Solomon’s prayer of dedication of the temple to YAHWEH is a good example of his life of obedience to Him.

1 Kings 8:22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of YAHWEH in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven; 23 and he said: “YAHWEH Elohiym of Israel, there is no Elohiym in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. 24 You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. 25 Therefore, YAHWEH Elohiym of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, ‘You will not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk before Me as you have walked before Me.’ 26 And now I pray, O Elohiym of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father. 27 But will Elohiym indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! 28 Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O YAHWEH my Elohiym, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today: 29 that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name will be there,’ that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.

YAHWEH answered Solomon when he finished the prayer of dedication with a condition to all of Solomon’s petitions for his people.

2 Chronicles 7:12 Then YAHWEH appeared to Solomon by night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.

How do you approach Yeshuwa in prayer? Solomon humbled himself before YAHWEH. However, many Christians consider it their right to come before Yeshuwa with a grocery list of wants and needs. Yeshuwa will never honor that kind of prayer. He looks for a changed heart and mind toward Him, a heart that will honor Him in everything they say and do.

A humble and contrite heart is one Yeshuwa listens to and will answer. He will not listen to prayers with conditions anchored to them unless what the petitioner promises is done with a sincere heart. He won’t honor the ‘I’ll do this if You do that’ prayer. You cannot bribe Yeshuwa. He looks for a sincere repentant heart before He answers your prayers.

Isaiah 66:1 Thus says YAHWEH: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? 2 For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says YAHWEH. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.

If your prayers aren’t being answered, what are you praying? He is your Sovereign Theos. He demands respect from you when you pray. Then He will answer you.

Let’s pray: Father, forgive me for expecting answers to my prayers when my heart isn’t sincere and my motives are selfish. Hear me when my heart is turned toward You to honor and glorify You for You alone are my God. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 7 July 2026 by Valerie Routhieaux