2 Chronicles 13:1-22 - Prosperity in Keeping God’s Word

2 Chronicles 13:1-22

Abijah Reigns in Judah (1 Kings 15:1–8)

1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah. 2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.

And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3 Abijah set the battle in order with an army of valiant warriors, four hundred thousand choice men. Jeroboam also drew up in battle formation against him with eight hundred thousand choice men, mighty men of valor.

4 Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the mountains of Ephraim, and said, “Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel: 5 Should you not know that the LORD God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt? 6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord. 7 Then worthless rogues gathered to him, and strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and inexperienced and could not withstand them. 8 And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD, which is in the hand of the sons of David; and you are a great multitude, and with you are the gold calves which Jeroboam made for you as gods. 9 Have you not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests, like the peoples of other lands, so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may be a priest of things that are not gods? 10 But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the priests who minister to the LORD are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites attend to their duties. 11 And they burn to the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense; they also set the showbread in order on the pure gold table, and the lampstand of gold with its lamps to burn every evening; for we keep the command of the LORD our God, but you have forsaken Him. 12 Now look, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with sounding trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper!”

13 But Jeroboam caused an ambush to go around behind them; so they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. 14 And when Judah looked around, to their surprise the battle line was at both front and rear; and they cried out to the LORD, and the priests sounded the trumpets. 15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout; and as the men of Judah shouted, it happened that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hand. 17 Then Abijah and his people struck them with a great slaughter; so five hundred thousand choice men of Israel fell slain. 18 Thus the children of Israel were subdued at that time; and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the LORD God of their fathers.

19 And Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took cities from him: Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephrain with its villages. 20 So Jeroboam did not recover strength again in the days of Abijah; and the LORD struck him, and he died.

21 But Abijah grew mighty, married fourteen wives, and begot twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. 22 Now the rest of the acts of Abijah, his ways, and his sayings are written in the annals of the prophet Iddo.

When Abijah ascended to the throne of Judah, he faced the Israelites who turned away from the LORD and His word and told them they were fighting a losing battle as Jeroboam who had rebelled against Rehoboam the son of Solomon before.  Rehoboam’s son Abijah stood up to Jeroboam who had led Israel into idolatry and reminded him that the LORD had promised a Seed to David at Jerusalem in Judah and could not withstand the kingdom of God who had promised these things.  Abijah said, “But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken Him,” just as faithful Joshua had said (Joshua 24:15) long before.  He implored Israel not to fight against the LORD God of their common fathers because that was a foolish act that would only lead to defeat.  When Israel refused to heed the advice of God, they were routed by the LORD Himself as they surrounded Judah.  They ran away when God struck them down because Judah had not relied on a superior army but on the Almighty whom they served and trusted in.  Judah relied on God alone and experienced His victory in the battle that belongs to Him.  Abijah led the people to this reliance on the LORD and even left a record of his acts, ways, and sayings similar to Solomon yet lost to us now in the writings of Iddo (2 Chronicles 9:29, 12:15) the prophet.  Judah had prospered and had victory over the idolaters by keeping the word of God and not by their military might against a stronger opponent in battle because the battles always belong (Joshua 23:3, 1 Samuel 17:47, 2 Chronicles 20:15) to the LORD.  We only ever find prosperous victory in our Lord Jesus Christ as we keep His word and rely on Him.  That is true prosperity, not in our own riches or power. 

2 Chronicles 12:1-16 - Pride, Disobedience, and Humble Repentance

2 Chronicles 12:1-16

Egypt Attacks Judah (1 Kings 14:25–28)

1 Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel along with him. 2 And it happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD, 3 with twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horsemen, and people without number who came with him out of Egypt—the Lubim and the Sukkiim and the Ethiopians. 4 And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came to Jerusalem.

5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, who were gathered together in Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the LORD: ‘You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak.’”

6 So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, “The LORD is righteous.”

7 Now when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. 8 Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations.”

9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house; he took everything. He also carried away the gold shields which Solomon had made. 10 Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who guarded the doorway of the king’s house. 11 And whenever the king entered the house of the LORD, the guard would go and bring them out; then they would take them back into the guardroom. 12 When he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and things also went well in Judah.

The End of Rehoboam’s Reign (1 Kings 14:21, 22, 29–31)

13 Thus King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. Now Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king; and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. His mother’s name was Naamah, an Ammonitess. 14 And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD.

15 The acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. 16 So Rehoboam rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David. Then Abijah his son reigned in his place.

Rehoboam’s arrogance in his pride seemed to think his power and success were from his own efforts instead of God’s grace, and he walked away from obedience to God’s word and led the people he led by example away with him.  This is why our personal relationship with the Lord requires humble obedience to the scriptures and a sober view of our own estate apart from His enabling grace and success.  Rehoboam finally realized this and humbled himself before God after a warning by Shemaiah the prophet.  We also need reminding from brothers and sisters in Christ when we trust ourselves instead of Jesus Christ and His enabling Spirit in us and wander from following the word of God as Rehoboam and many others before us have done.  Repentant hearts and minds should keep us in check with willing obedience to the scriptures, and meeting together with other believers (Hebrews 10:24-25) helps us focus on the goal set before us (Philippians 3:13-14) to run the race to finish s well as we began this new life in Christ.  Some, however, our sin can result in undesired consequences as with God’s people here in serving others for a while and losing things we value, but we possess our (Luke 21:18-19) souls, our lives, in Him through it all as we repent (1 John 1:9) and press on to honor and glorify our Lord and live out His word.  Remembering the pride, disobedience, and humble repentance of Rehoboam and the people under him should give us hope and keep us from straying away from the instructions and examples of His word to lead us safely home through this present (Galatians 1:4) evil age of fallen men and women. 

2 Chronicles 11:1-23 - Do not Fight your Brothers!

2 Chronicles 11:1-23

1 Now when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled from the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 3 “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, 4 ‘Thus says the LORD: “You shall not go up or fight against your brethren! Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.”’” Therefore they obeyed the words of the LORD, and turned back from attacking Jeroboam.

Rehoboam Fortifies the Cities

5 So Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah. 6 And he built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7 Beth Zur, Sochoh, Adullam, 8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and Benjamin, fortified cities. 11 And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine. 12 Also in every city he put shields and spears, and made them very strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

Priests and Levites Move to Judah (1 Kings 14:21–24)

13 And from all their territories the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel took their stand with him. 14 For the Levites left their common-lands and their possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them from serving as priests to the LORD. 15 Then he appointed for himself priests for the high places, for the demons, and the calf idols which he had made. 16 And after the Levites left, those from all the tribes of Israel, such as set their heart to seek the LORD God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD God of their fathers. 17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, because they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.

The Family of Rehoboam

18 Then Rehoboam took for himself as wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliah the son of Jesse. 19 And she bore him children: Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham. 20 After her he took Maachah the granddaughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 Now Rehoboam loved Maachah the granddaughter of Absalom more than all his wives and his concubines; for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and begot twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. 22 And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maachah as chief, to be leader among his brothers; for he intended to make him king. 23 He dealt wisely, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the territories of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city; and he gave them provisions in abundance. He also sought many wives for them.

Rehoboam was ready to attack Israel from Judah out of Jerusalem when the LORD God stopped him.  He imagined that he was restoring the kingdom by reuniting what God had separated as promised to Solomon before (1 Kings 11:31, 40) as a consequence to bring down Israel for their disobedience of idolatry as they turned from God’s word in disobedience.  Since it was God’s will to separate them but not destroy them, He forbade Rehoboam from fighting with his brothers.  That word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God and was delivered to Rehoboam the king of Judah to keep the people of God from fighting and destroying one another.  This is a good lesson for us today to not fight with brothers in Christ who have been kept separate from our own assemblies, for God has purposes for us all as we strive to reach the truth separately until we come together (Ephesians 4:3-4, 5-6, 12-13 ) on the essentials of the understanding and wisdom of His word.  He will correct any errors and bring us together in Christ as we seek His face in grace through our ongoing study of the scriptures and guidance of His Spirit when we listen and avoid infighting, even when we are in the right as Rehoboam was in dealing with the idolatry and accompanying immorality of his brethren.  Rehoboam obeyed the words of the LORD and relented from attacking Jeroboam as God told him and instead fortified his cities (Nahum 2:1) to defend against the real enemies of the pagan peoples surrounding them.  The priests who had left the faith in Israel returned to Jerusalem to take their stand with Rehoboam to once again worship rightly and walked with the LORD there for awhile as they had with king David before him, strengthening the king in Judah.  We can learn from this to seek purity and holiness in personal and corporate worship to honor and be honored by the Lord in seeking peace (Romans 12:18-19, 14:19) as far as we are able to do from our side.  Do not fight your brothers!  Instead, we are called to be valiant for the truth, unlike those who do evil (Jeremiah 9:3) and not the truth, being valiant in word and deed with grace and mercy in holiness with a goal to reconcile and come to a more perfect man as one in Christ. 

2 Chronicles 10:1-19 - Rejecting Wise Advice

2 Chronicles 10:1-19

The Revolt Against Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:1–19)

1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. 2 So it happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), that Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3 Then they sent for him and called him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”

5 So he said to them, “Come back to me after three days.” And the people departed.

6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, saying, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”

7 And they spoke to him, saying, “If you are kind to these people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

8 But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. 9 And he said to them, “What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”

10 Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to the people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist! 11 And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’”

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had directed, saying, “Come back to me the third day.” 13 Then the king answered them roughly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders, 14 and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!” 15 So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from God, that the LORD might fulfill His word, which He had spoken by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying:

“What share have we in David?
We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.
Every man to your tents, O Israel!
Now see to your own house, O David!”

So all Israel departed to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.

18 Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was in charge of revenue; but the children of Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. Therefore King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

King Rehoboam of Israel was to be made king and rejected good advice from the elders, listening instead to the inexperienced and rash young men of his age.  The elders had stood in the presence of his father Solomon and no doubt gained much wisdom from the wisest man next to Jesus, yet Rehoboam chose to ignore their wise and good advice to be kind and speak kindly to the ones wanting change, but instead he chose to hear the bad advice of his childhood mates who rashly told him to instead speak with threats and ill-will as failed diplomacy.  Rehoboam therefore answered Jeroboam and the people roughly, hard hearted and cruelly, with threats as he ignored the people and fulfilled the word of the LORD who had predicted (1 Kings 11:31, 40) this adverse turn of events to bring down Israel for their disobedience of idolatry and accompanying immortality as they turned from God’s word in disobedience.  Israel split from Judah as promised by God after Solomon’s death just as Jeroboam had told them.  Rehoboam remained in Judah after they all left and the rest of Israel remained in rebellion from that time forward.  This is on one hand the predicted result of (1 Kings 11:33) of their apostasy and on the other hand a warning to not take advice from those not experienced in the wisdom coming from walking with the Lord (1 Timothy 3:6-7) for a long time, the young in Him who are neophytes, not spiritually mature enough to render sound advice to lead or follow.  May we therefore listen to sound advice of those walking with the Lord according to His word and not just our old friends who may not be able to render good judgment to follow in making decisions for God’s people.  The warning is not to reject wise advice as we read here. 

2 Chronicles 9:13-31 - Riches and Wisdom of Solomon

2 Chronicles 9:13-31

Solomon’s Great Wealth (1 Kings 10:14–29; 2 Chronicles 1:14–17)

13 The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, 14 besides what the traveling merchants and traders brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15 And King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of hammered gold went into each shield. 16 He also made three hundred shields of hammered gold; three hundred shekels of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

17 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. 18 The throne had six steps, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne; there were armrests on either side of the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the armrests. 19 Twelve lions stood there, one on each side of the six steps; nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.

20 All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Not one was silver, for this was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon. 21 For the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the merchant ships came, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.

22 So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. 24 Each man brought his present: articles of silver and gold, garments, armor, spices, horses, and mules, at a set rate year by year.

25 Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.

26 So he reigned over all the kings from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. 27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar trees as abundant as the sycamores which are in the lowland. 28 And they brought horses to Solomon from Egypt and from all lands.

Death of Solomon (1 Kings 11:41–43)

29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat? 30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 Then Solomon rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

A greater than Solomon has come (Luke 11:31), Jesus Christ the Son of God!  We are told to listen to His wisdom and find true and lasting riches (Luke 16:13, Romans 11:33, Ephesians 1:18) in Christ alone and not in pursuing the wealth of the world as was given by grace to Solomon.  In Him are found true riches and lasting wisdom of the ages as only hinted at in Solomon as a blessing and not a demand or pursuit.  The pursuit of knowledge and wisdom through the word of God is the ultimate goal (Philippians 3:14) to know Christ and the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10-11) to preach and teach those things (Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:2) to others who come to us as to Solomon for guidance and wisdom but with the fullness of understanding in Christ who has now come as the Seed of David’s lineage.  The riches and wisdom of Solomon exceeded all others of his time; how much more riches and wisdom we possess who have the mind of Christ and understanding by His Spirit from the written word to us now! 

2 Chronicles 9:1-12 - Godly Wisdom Answers Hard Questions

2 Chronicles 9:1-12

The Queen of Sheba’s Praise of Solomon (1 Kings 10:1–13)

1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with hard questions, having a very great retinue, camels that bore spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. 2 So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for Solomon that he could not explain it to her. 3 And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 4 the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers and their apparel, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her.

5 Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. 6 However I did not believe their words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You exceed the fame of which I heard. 7 Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! 8 Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you, setting you on His throne to be king for the LORD your God! Because your God has loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.”

9 And she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones; there never were any spices such as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

10 Also, the servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum wood and precious stones. 11 And the king made walkways of the algum wood for the house of the LORD and for the king’s house, also harps and stringed instruments for singers; and there were none such as these seen before in the land of Judah.

12 Now King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, much more than she had brought to the king. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

Solomon demonstrated how hard questions are answered by godly wisdom, wisdom given by God to him to answer the Queen of Sheba who prepared to find out how much he knew or to prove otherwise.  The LORD God who gave him the wisdom and understanding to rule God’s people still gives wise understanding to we who are in Christ through His Spirit who lives in us (1 Corinthians 2:10, 12-13, 16) and speaks through us to provide His answers of truth according to the scriptures.  Solomon showed the wisdom given him along with the great wealth which God had given as the leader of Israel to demonstrate His grace because Solomon had not asked for any wealth, just the wisdom and understanding of God and His word to teach and lead his flock.  This is the pattern for Christian leaders today, to speak from the imparted understanding and wisdom in Christ by His Spirit to exposit the bible and apply it to life through (Colossians 1:28-29) instruction and exhortation.  It also applies to all who are in Christ who are given such spiritual knowledge and wisdom to build each other (Ephesians 4:11-12, 13, 15-16) up in Christ as His people and the temple of His worship and praise.  Just as king Solomon gave instruction and gifts to the Queen of Sheba, we are to teach and give generously to meet the urgent needs (Colossians 1:9-10, Titus 3:8, 14) of our brethren and to those around us to demonstrate His wisdom and grace.  Remember that God-given wisdom can answer hard questions as He uses us to speak to others to know our Savior and deepen that knowledge into wisdom to live by.  He does teach us absolute truths and keeps us humble with the things left unrevealed for the present time.  May we speak with authority in humility of the things we have learned (2 Timothy 1:13-14, 3:14, Titus 1:9) and been convinced of. 

2 Chronicles 8:1-18 - Completion and Holy Separation

2 Chronicles 8:1-18

Solomon’s Additional Achievements (1 Kings 9:10–28)

1 It came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the house of the LORD and his own house, 2 that the cities which Hiram had given to Solomon, Solomon built them; and he settled the children of Israel there. 3 And Solomon went to Hamath Zobah and seized it. 4 He also built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the storage cities which he built in Hamath. 5 He built Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars, 6 also Baalath and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities and the cities of the cavalry, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.

7 All the people who were left of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not of Israel— 8 that is, their descendants who were left in the land after them, whom the children of Israel did not destroy—from these Solomon raised forced labor, as it is to this day. 9 But Solomon did not make the children of Israel servants for his work. Some were men of war, captains of his officers, captains of his chariots, and his cavalry. 10 And others were chiefs of the officials of King Solomon: two hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people.

11 Now Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh up from the City of David to the house he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy.”

12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of the LORD which he had built before the vestibule, 13 according to the daily rate, offering according to the commandment of Moses, for the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the three appointed yearly feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. 14 And, according to the order of David his father, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, the Levites for their duties (to praise and serve before the priests) as the duty of each day required, and the gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate; for so David the man of God had commanded. 15 They did not depart from the command of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter or concerning the treasuries.

16 Now all the work of Solomon was well-ordered from the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was completed.

17 Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and Elath on the seacoast, in the land of Edom. 18 And Hiram sent him ships by the hand of his servants, and servants who knew the sea. They went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and acquired four hundred and fifty talents of gold from there, and brought it to King Solomon.

Solomon completed the house of the LORD and his own houses over a per of twenty years.  He had built in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion and used the people who Israel had not driven out of the promised land as commanded, the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, for forced labor instead of employing the children of God for the manual labor.  This was a holy separation of duties just as he separated his Egyptian wife (who was not a believer in the LORD) from the holy city in a house outside of Jerusalem.  He said plainly that the places where the Ark of God’s covenant came were holy and implied she was not by this separation from his house in Jerusalem where it had passed through to the Holy of Holies in the temple he had built for God’s presence to be met on its mercy seat.  He honored the holiness of the LORD by offering the required sacrifices in abundance at the proper times and appointed priests to serve God in His house as his father David had designated by the word of God.  We read how all the work that Solomon did was “well-ordered from the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD until it was finished,” a tribute to his obedient dedication to honor the sovereign holiness of their God.  May we learn from his example to complete the work given us (Colossians 1:28, Hebrews 13:21) in His enabling power and honor the holiness of the Lord Jesus Christ by our lives so loved to be holy as He is (1 Peter 1:15-16) as we build our individual houses (1 Corinthians 6:19) and the church of God corporately (1 Peter 2:4-5) as holy stones in its construction, separated for God’s work (2 Corinthians 6:14, 17, Ephesians 5:11, 15-16, 1 Peter 2:9) in all we do as we live the motto, (Exodus 28:36, Psalm 29:2) “holiness to the Lord,” as all as priests do to serve Him.  May we complete the work given us together in our holy separation of dedication to Him.

2 Chronicles 7:12-22 - Answered Prayers to Honor God

2 Chronicles 7:12-22

God’s Second Appearance to Solomon (1 Kings 9:1–9)

12 Then the LORD 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. 17 As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, 18 then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, You shall not fail to have a man as ruler in Israel.’

19 “But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, 20 then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.

21 “And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, Why has the LORD done thus to this land and this house?’ 22 Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this calamity on them.’”

God came to Solomon for the second time at night in a dream; the first time He had asked Solomon what He should give him (1 Kings 3:5), this second time the LORD told him he heard his prayer for the temple and His people.  The first time Solomon had answered with a request to be given wisdom to lead the people of God with a humble heart and a desire to know good and evil (1 Kings 3:9) and discovered that he was given great wisdom and opulence to match that he did not ask for.  We sometimes are given material gifts as well as wisdom when our hearts sincerely seek to serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but this is never a demand for wealth as some erroneously believe and teach today.  We do well to echo Solomon in asking for wisdom to serve and guidance to learn good from evil as He instructs us (Hebrews 5:14) along the way of sanctification while we are being conformed to the image (Romans 8:29, 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 4:13, Colossians 3:10) of Christ and the knowledge of good and evil lost (Genesis 3:4-5) in Eden’s Garden.  We are likewise to imitate the example of Solomon in the beginning where he heeded the call to turn from evil and run after (Psalm 119:32) His commandments to be pleasing children with changing hearts of willing obedience.  This is to exalt these houses of God, namely our bodies where He now lives, to worship as we ought in holiness and singleness of heart and mind as we turn away from other idols of this present (Galatians 1:4) evil age.  As we remember the good beginning of Solomon and how later these idols and wealth overran his God-given wisdom, it should humble us to face failure but energize us to stay the course according to scripture and run the race of faith in worship of living to honor our Lord who has bought us at such a price (1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23) of His Son!  Our gifts are given to serve God, not enrich ourselves, and our prayers are answered to honor Him in the beauty of holiness in these temples housing (1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 John 3:24) His very presence as Solomon’s temple foreshadowed. 

2 Chronicles 7:1-11 - Glory of God in the Temple

2 Chronicles 7:1-11

Solomon Dedicates the Temple (1 Kings 8:62–66)

1 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’s house. 3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying:

“For He is good,
For His mercy endures forever.”

4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. 5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 And the priests attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of the LORD, which King David had made to praise the LORD, saying, “For His mercy endures forever,” whenever David offered praise by their ministry. The priests sounded trumpets opposite them, while all Israel stood.

7 Furthermore Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the LORD; for there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat.

8 At that time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt. 9 And on the eighth day they held a sacred assembly, for they observed the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the good that the LORD had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel. 11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king’s house; and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the LORD and in his own house.

As soon as Solomon finished praising and thanking the LORD in his public prayer, the glory of God came down like fire to consume the offering and fill the temple with His glorious presence.  Imagine being present when this happened!  Then imagine being present years later in Jerusalem when God’s Spirit came down on those who had heard the gospel and were then filled (Acts 2:2-3, 4) with the glory of the presence of God in their bodies, the temples of the Lord.  Now imagine further that ever since then we in these temples (Ephesians 1:13-14, 1 Corinthians 6:19) have this same presence (1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 1:22, Colossians 1:27) of the glory of God in us, accepting the living sacrifice of our lives!  We likewise should react as Solomon and the people of God did then, bowing to Him and worshipping in praise for this wondrous gift of God very presence in these temples now.  He is good and His mercy truly endures forever!  Our sacrifices now are a humbled spirit, a willing mind and soul given to live for Him (Psalm 51:17, Micah 6:8, Matthew 9:13, Mark 12:33) as we count ourselves crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20) that we might offer lasting sacrifices instead of transitory and incomplete ones like bulls and such the Israelites did then.  Jesus offered Himself as the sacrifice to replace those (Hebrews 10:6-7, 10) that we might please Him in return with our lives lived (Romans 12:1) for His glory revealed in us to the world as places of His presence of glory.  Let us vow to be like Solomon who, having worshipped in this way, afterwards knew he had accomplished all in his heart to honor the LORD God in word and deed for God’s house and his own. 

2 Chronicles 6:18-42 - Will God Indeed Dwell with Man on Earth?

2 Chronicles 6:18-42

18 “But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! 19 Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You: 20 that Your eyes may be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your name, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place. 21 And may You hear the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive.

22 “If anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple, 23 then hear from heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, bringing retribution on the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

24 “Or if Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this temple, 25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to them and their fathers.

26 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, 27 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

28 “When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is; 29 whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows his own burden and his own grief, and spreads out his hands to this temple: 30 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men), 31 that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.

32 “Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for the sake of Your great name and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray in this temple; 33 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.

34 “When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

36 “When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to a land far or near; 37 yet when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, and have committed wickedness’; 38 and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been carried captive, and pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and toward the temple which I have built for Your name: 39 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You. 40 Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place.

41 “Now therefore,

Arise, O LORD God, to Your resting place,
You and the ark of Your strength.

Let Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation,
And let Your saints rejoice in goodness.

42 “O LORD God, do not turn away the face of Your Anointed;
Remember the mercies of Your servant David.”

Solomon asked the wise question when dwelling on the LORD God coming to meet the high priest as He did with Moses long before, “will God indeed dwell with men on the earth?”  He knew God lived in heaven far above the earth and His creation, outside even the visible heavens in His magnificence and infinite glory.  So why should the Holy One come to earth to meet with man in this temple of brick and precious metals that he had constructed to worship and honor the Creator and Master of all things?  Solomon was as infinitely humbled as God was infinitely great as he considered these things.  He then boldly asked that God would look upon man as he came with sacrifice in his heart to this place to hear and attend to their supplications for mercy and help in time of need as we do now before the (Hebrews 4:16) throne of grace.  God put His name there to be available to hear His people pray and receive their worship beyond outward sacrifices (Hosea 6:6, 1 Samuel 15:22, Matthew 9:13), showing mercy to one another and obeying His word in light of the grace of His atonement from the mercy seat.  He asked for forgiveness and deliverance from enemies (Luke 11:4, 2 Corinthians 1:10, Galatians 1:4) when they approached that place, and accountability answered for as well when repentance was lacking.  When repentance was found, Solomon prayed that the LORD would hear when they returned to Him with all their heart and with all their soul that they might fear and follow Him according to His word in the light of their deliverance as we do now in Christ, humbly and thankfully trusting and obeying in repentance and faith with our lives as living sac of worship demonstrated with willing obedience for His merciful grace.  Then the place to look was this temple where God dwelt; now it is to the place of our hearts where He has taken up permanent residence as we build up these temples in holiness to honor and worship Him here.  We are also to be clothed with salvation from our consequences of sin under God’s just wrath and rejoice in doing and being good to please Him who promises not to turn His face away anymore from we His servants bought at such a price of His son who sacrificed Himself on the cross of our curse and to whom we approach boldly in repentance for ongoing sins for reconciling forgiveness and mercy in grace.  Will God indeed dwell with man on earth?  Yes, God will dwell with man on earth, just as He promised with the down payment of His Spirit now and in His presence, face to face forever in the New Jerusalem when He will bring down a piece of heaven to earth (Revelation 21:10) where He will dwell (John 14:23, Revelation 21:3, 22:3-4) with us on the new earth forevermore!