2 Chronicles 7.12-22

2 Chronicles 7.12-22 (1 Kings 9.1-9)

The most quoted portion of 2 Chronicles is found in these verses. It is also the most commonly misquoted portion of 2 Chronicles. 1 Kings does not contain verses 14-16 because it is looking forward and 2 Chronicles is looking back. The writer’s audience in 2 Chronicles is the post-exilic nation.

The gist of verses 12-18 is when sin happens, repentance must follow. It is also implicit that God is faithful to His Word, even when we are not faithful to follow. The promises of God are both conditional (blessings, etc) and unconditional (salvation, etc). Here God presents both promises. The success of Israel is based on their turning from sin and turning toward God. It is not enough to say that sin is wrong, they need to define it and turn from it and turn to God. The promise of the coming Messiah is unconditional.

What we can do with this passage is realize that God is calling us to do three things: humble ourselves, repent, and turn to Him. He, then, will do three things for us: hear our prayers, forgive our sins in restoring fellowship, and heal the land. The last one is debatable outside of Israel (see McGee, 1997). However, if God’s people today, the church, were to turn back to Him, the land would be healed. Not from pestilence, drought, etc. but from the socialism and other ungodly pursuits she has undertaken. This would be due to the character change of God’s people producing a change where the live. This truth is evident in James 4.7-10.

A good read on the evils of America is Dennis Prager’s Still the Best Hope.

1 Kings 8

1 Kings 8 (Cf. 2 Chronicles 5.1-7.11)

1-13-The Ark of the Covenant is brought into the Temple as are the two stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments. Verses 10-12 present the glory of God coming into the Temple. The glory of God has been with the Israelites since God called them in Exodus. He went before them in the Wilderness, visited them at Sinai, and would dwell with them until Ezekiel 10.18-19. He will pay a brief visit in the flesh (John 1.14), dwell within man (John 14.16-17), and will come again in the Kingdom (Revelation 21.2-3).

14-21-Solomon reminds the people of God’s faithfulness to His promise, covenant, with David and with all Israel.

22-53-Solomon constantly reminds Israel through this prayer that God dwells in Heaven, though He dwells in the Temple. He is also reminding Israel that all they have is still God’s and they are merely stewards or managers of what He has given. These two principles are necessary for our understanding of accomplishing God’s task. God is greater than we can imagine (Ephesians 3.20-21, cf. with verse 56). Although He indwells us through the Holy Spirit, we should never make Him commonplace as much of the current theology attempts to do when they describe Him as a friend who is hugging and kissing us. If you would like further discussion on this topic, please respond to this post. We are the managers of what God has given us. He owns it all, we are to take care of it and do as He would with it. When we get this mentality, our perspective on giving and life changes dramatically.

Verse 46 is a great reminder that we all sin and that we all need God to help us overcome our sin. What is your sin that causes you to stumble and fall (Galatians 6.1-3 and Hebrews 12.1-2)?

54-61-Solomon then blesses Israel with a reminder that God is with them.

62-66-The dedication ends with a joyful celebration; dare I say party?

When you read this long chapter, do you see elements of this in your personal daily worship and weekly corporate worship? If so, celebrate; if not, try to incorporate aspects of it this week.

A thought to ponder: though Solomon’s Temple was magnificent and beautiful, it was merely another building until God came. Our lives are just another life, our churches are just another church, until God comes in. It is at this point when these ordinary things become super-ordinary not because of what they are but because of Who chose them.

Another thought: Trace “heart” through this chapter and you will notice that we know what is in our heart (38), though we attempt to conceal it from others. God knows our heart (39), we cannot conceal anything from Him. In order to come to Him, it must be with all our heart (48). When we do, God gives us the ability to obey His Word (58). All this because this is a goal of God for our lives (61).

An example of prayer from Solomon

  • Praise and worship (22-25)
  • Revelation of self in God’s presence (26-30)
  • Requests for forgiveness sins (31-40)
  • Requests for the Lord to be merciful to those who seek Him (41-43)
  • Prays for victory (44-45)
  • Restoration when they sin (46-53)

2 Chronicles 4

2 Chronicles 4 (Cf. 1 Kings 6 and 1 Kings 7)

This chapter is similar to 1 Kings 6 and 7. However, verse one introduces an altar of bronze. It is huge (see photo). The increased size was due to the increased sacrifices being offered.

This passage and the one in 1 Kings 7.23 both describe π quite precisely. Chuck Missler, among others, have commented on this passage. I refer the reader to his article “The Value of Pi.”

1 Kings 7

1 Kings 7

The dimensions of the compound Solomon built (7.2) is comparable to that of the Temple (1 Kings 6) although a bit larger. It was not merely his house but included the House of the Forest of Lebanon, the Hall of Pillars, the Hall fo the Throne, the Hall of Judgment, his own house, and the house for Pharaoh’s daughter (1 Kings 3.1). The remainder of the chapter, 7.13-51, is a description of what Hiram contributed to the effort from the largest detail to the smallest, in order of size.

A point of interest is the naming of the two pillars in 7.21. Jachin means “God will establish” and Boaz means “in it is strength.” Placing these in the Temple presents us with the truth that what God establishes will not fail. Apply this to your salvation. It is established in Christ and He will not fail.

1 Kings 6

1 Kings 6

Verse one, if taken literally, which I do, tells us the Exodus from Egypt began in 1447 B.C. Doing the math, this verse states in the four-hundred eightieth year after the Israelites left Egypt, which is the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, the Temple was started. Dating the split of the kingdom as 931 B.C., we go back forty years to the beginning of Solomon’s reign (2 Kings 11.42), we have 971 B.C. Since this was in the fourth year, it would be 967 B.C. Adding the 480 years to 967 B.C. we have 1447 B.C. as the date for the Exodus.

Matthew Henry adds:

The time when it began to be built is exactly set down. 1. It was just 480 years after the bringing of the children of Israel out of Egypt. Allowing forty years to Moses, seventeen to Joshua, 299 to the Judges, forty to Eli, forty to Samuel and Saul, forty to David, and four to Solomon before he began the work, we have just the sum of 480.

 When evaluating the dimensions given for the Temple, we surmise it is twice the size of the Tabernacle. The Temple was ninety feet long, thirty feet wide, and forty-five feet tall. It was divided into two rooms, the sanctuary (the Holy Place) and the inner sanctuary (the Most Holy Place or Holy of Holies). The first was two-thirds of the Temple and the latter was the remaining one-third. Built into the Temple on the north, west, and south were threes stories specifically for the priests to use.

The entire purpose of the building of the Temple is explained in verse 13, and it is so God could dwell among His people. John 1 explains this concept in regard to Jesus. Jesus dwelt among us. The word is tabernacled. Later, Jesus would identify His body as being the Temple (John 2.13-21).

The details of this chapter are amazing and would explain why the building of it took such a long time. The Temple was completed, according to verse 38, in the fall of 959 B.C.

If God indwells His Temple so His presence can be with people, what does it mean that we are the Temple of God?

1 Kings 5

Do you see the plans God has made for you and the direction He is taking you by the experiences you have had and the preparation others have made for you?

1 Kings 5

This chapter introduces one of the main reasons for the dividing of the kingdom after Solomon’s death. The reason is found in verse thirteen. It is corvée, which is the mandatory service of Israelites to build the great architectural wonders Solomon developed during his reign. It is the forced enslavement of citizens not outsiders that make this act more heinous than slavery as was found in Egypt or the United States. More on this concept below.

We see ancient near eastern customs in sending delegates to show support for a new regime after the passing of the previous leader in verse one. David did this earlier in 2 Samuel 10. Solomon used this alliance with Hiram to enable him to build the Temple and other buildings. God had this planned before Solomon was even born. Without Hiram of Lebanon there would be no wood to build what God had designed. God will provide what we need to complete the task to which He has called. When we live life with this faith we begin to understand why with God nothing is impossible (Mark 10.27).

The desire of David to build the Temple (2 Samuel 7.13) was finally realized in his son. Although he did not get to see the Temple, much like Moses did not get to walk the Promised Land, like Moses prepared Israel to enter, David did prepare his son to build as he purchased the area (2 Samuel 24) and provided the plans for the Temple and its usage that he received from God (1 Chronicles 28 and 29).

One desire of parents is for their children to claim the God of the Bible as their own. In verses four and five, Solomon does this. He maintains that the God of his father is also his God.

Solomon, in applying the wisdom God gave him (1 Kings 3), agreed to pay Hiram for the material and labor he is supplying for twenty-years (1 Kings 9.10-11). His annual payment is 125,000 bushels of wheat and 115,000 gallons of pure olive oil.

Verse thirteen introduces corvée. Samuel warned the Israelites this would come if they sought a king other than God (1 Samuel 8.11-17) and would become the bane for the northern kingdom (1 Kings 12.4). These workers worked for one month for Solomon in the quarries or in Lebanon and two months at home. This alternated for at least seven years, the amount of time it took to build the Temple. Solomon also had a large group of slave laborers helping with these projects.

For a detailed account on corvée labor, see “Labor Pains: The Relationship between David’s Census and Corvée Labor” by Kyle R. Greenwood.

Do you see the plans God has made for you and the direction He is taking you by the experiences you have had and the preparation others have made for you?