Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Kings 8:36

36 Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.

That their Sin being Pardoned, and thou being Reconciled unto them, mayest vouchsafe to Teach them. Or rather, as our Translators render the very same Words, 2 Chron. 6. 27. When thou shalt teach, or hast taught them, not onely by thy Word, for that was done before; but by their Afflictions, which is one of God's Schools; and especially, by thy Spirit, enlightning their Minds, and enclining their Hearts, that they may learn, and profit both by the Word, and by their Afflictions. And this is here fitly added, to shew, that he could not expect, and did not desire from God the Pardon of their Sins, but upon God's Terms, to wit, upon their True Repentance.

i. e. The way, or Will of God; or the way of their Duty, as the following words explain it, which is most rightly called the good way here, and 1 Sam. 12. 23. because it is both Just and Holy and therefore good in it self; and good, both Delightful and Profitable to those that walk in it. The meaning is, When thou hast effectually taught them, and they have throughly learned how to please and serve thee acceptably, and to walk before thee in the way which thou hast prescribed them.

The order of Solomon's Prayer is very observable; first and chiefly, he prays for their Repentance and Forgiveness, which is the chief Blessing, and the onely solid Foundation of all other Mercies: and then he prays for the Temporal Mercy; thereby teaching us what to mind and desire principally in our Prayers; which also Christ hath taught us in his Perfect Pattern and Form of Prayer; wherein there is but one Prayer for outward, and all the rest are for Spiritual Blessings.