2 Chronicles 7
...and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (verse 14)
Message: The Temple Celebration
Time: 2 Chronicles, like 1 Chronicles has a mystery writer and was separated into 2 books in 200 BC when the Septuagint was translated. This book focuses on Judah from 971-586 BC. The chronicler focused on the blessings God bestowed when leaders were faithful to His law. It covers Solomon's ascension to the throne to Judah finally carried into exile in Babylon.
What the Lord is Saying: I was really moved by Solomon's prayer of dedication in 2 Chronicles 6. In that prayer Solomon addresses God and also teaches people that the Temple is a place for the people to come to God, seek forgiveness for their sins and recognize their wrongful actions are an offense to a Holy God. Solomon also pleads to God to minister to those in need - like foreigners and those in battle. (The same prayer is recorded in 1 Kings 8:22-61.)
One difference with I Kings is a benediction or a challenge he communicates to the people in verses 56-61, " “Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.” What a wonderful closing thought that can be repeated by me and others. God has given us rest. He has not failed. May He never leave us. May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience and keep the commands. May God uphold the cause of His servant and His people Israel daily with the purpose of all people knowing Him. May we be fully committed. To know God and to make Him known.
Chapter 7, verse 1 says "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 house." If one thing stands out here it is the importance of praying. In the aftermath of praying is God giving a blessing and validating the offerings of his people. The Lord loves and wants to hear from his people. And we are thankful for this as there were in this time "praise to the Lord, saying, 'Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting.' " We pray. God confirms himself to us. He sends love and we are blessed and go back to praising His name.
I am thankful for a church that acknowledges this and continues to praise God and His name always. In verse 4, "King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen, and 120,000 sheep." Oxen represents hard work and sheep represent God's people, the Israelites. I wonder if these #'s are more metaphorical than actual. That is a lot of animals and maybe in a way this is saying that the Israelites numbered that many people at the time and were communicating to God we are here to offer our entire life to God. And the numbers speak of the significance of that commitment.
"They held a solemn assembly, for the dedication..." - they continue to dedicate the temple and its uses and their future sacrifices to God. "Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king's palace."
The next section of this chapter is 12-22 with the heading, "The Lord Confirms the Covenant." The Lord is the name used in the Bible out of reference for the Hebrew letter YHWH. "The Lord appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer" which is good because Solomon has been praying (2 Chronicles 6). God listens to our prayers. The Lord also states that "this place (the temple) is a house of sacrifice."
He explains then in verse 13 a conditional statement - if He were to control the weather in such a way to stop rain which means agriculture can't receive the water they need for plants to grow and then also sends locusts to devour the crops already established and pestilence and plague to confirm his withholding of what they value as important - if God were to do all of this and then His people respond by turning from their wicked ways then He will forgive their sin and heal their land. I think this communicates that God is active. He does not simply wind a clock (of history) and let it run. He is present in life. And any time a weather issue comes, it should drive us to our knees and thank Him. Weather problems are increasing. Science wants to only give credit to climate change for the reason, but perhaps God is growing displeased. And hoping to wake people up.
This is verse 14 -- "My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and heal their land." Pray - seek God - turn or repent - God hears- forgives and heals our land.
In verse 17 and 18 God continues: "walk before Me....do according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances." And then God "will establish your royal throne." We are to walk in God's ways, in the ways He has instructed us. And we are to keep His statutes and ordinances.
I am a little perplexed as to ordinances. It seems every denomination and every non-denomination has a different definition of what is included in ordinances. I think what concerns me about making sure we do them is the piety or boastful feeling that may result. Maybe also the feeling that doing them makes you special or feeling set apart from those that don't. It seems we do them out of a response for God's love for us. In essence, his words here should not be alarming anyone that follows God. Seek God, turn from wicked ways, keep doing what He says we need to do - simply show my allegiance to Him. But perhaps in this passage we have examples. Prayer, repentance, turn from sin, have feasts, gather together to commit His provision to Him, be humble. These are ordinances or practices we need to continue to do.
The idea of God "will establish your royal throne" to me is similar to Paul's words in Romans 8:28-39 - "Nothing can separate us from the love of God." I think with the royal throne God is saying I will never leave you. You will always be My people. God will always be there to take care of us.
Likewise in verse 19 - "if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments...and go and serve other gods...I will cast (you) out of My sight." It seems we can't be surprised then when things don't go our way.
This is a really good chapter. I admit, I have taken my time getting through it. But, it is a great chapter and full of lots of great ideas and acts of obedience and evidence of God's love for us.
Summary: After Solomon prayer of dedication, God makes a covenant with His people as they walk in obedience, pray, humble, obey, and turn from their wicked ways.
Promise: From Tabletalk, "When God’s people go astray, He will restore them if they return to Him."
Prayer: God, you bless your people. You prepare a place for them and in response we are obedient and you bless us, but as people turn from you, you deal with their obstinance and their sin. The order of things is simple. Live in obedience and expect good things. Help me to remember this passage. Take me back to it and let it remind me of your commitment to me. Be praised.
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