![The Politics of Temples—1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43 (Peter Leithart)](https://politicaltheology.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/16-05-29-Solomon_Dedicates_the_Temple_at_Jerusalem1-600x600.jpg)
According to 1 Kings 8, prayer is what Israel is supposed to do in times of helpless hopelessness. The temple is where they turn when there is nowhere to turn. Israel as a whole was invited to appeal to the High King for help in times of trial, and the text leads us to wonder if every polity directs its hopes toward a temple.