2 Chronicles 7:1-3
What an incredible sight this must have been as God responded to Solomon's prayer. Solomon certainly didn't have to wonder if God heard his prayer. This display wasn't just for Solomon but for all the people as the nation was represented there. God confirmed His acceptance of the sacrifice and the temple when He filled it with His glory. The news must have traveled fast that God had arrived at the temple and He was pleased. The people were moved to offer praise and thanks.
2 Chronicles 7:4-10
All the people made offered their sacrifice; this was a normal part of their worship of the Lord. Solomon's sacrifice alone is hard to imagine; this was a tremendous amount of work for many people to slaughter and prepare all these animals. Then we have to consider those that kept the fire burning along with those that cleaned up the mess and dealt with the carcass. It certainly gives evidence of how serious of an event this was to them.
The temple was official put into service; this was service of the Lord and the people. David had prepared the Levites for this day in making assignments of responsibility in accord with what the Lord laid out for the Levites.
The temple dedication happened in conjuction with the Feast of Booths; which was the seven days of feasting. The eighth day was a sacred assembly. was apparently a final gathering before sending them away.
2 Chronicles 7:11-22
The Lord once again (2nd time) appears to Solomon to reaffirm the covenant. The Lord confirmed the purpose of the temple as a place of sacrifice. It seems to be a foregone conclusion that the Lord would stop the rain, bring locusts or send pestilence; He said "when" these things happen. These things might be punishments, tests or God's way of warning His people; they may simply be tools to bring people to repentance. In the light of any life event, God called His people to humility, prayer, seeking His face and turning from sin. God's promise is that He would respond by hearing, forgiveness and healing of the land. The temple because a place for men to seek this forgiveness and healing; it was a place to worship and seek God's presence.
This verse is often taken out of context and used for our nation, our time and for Christians. Yet, it really doesn't apply. We actually have a better promise in our new covenant. We become this sanctified house; the Holy Spirit is in us. The work of forgiveness has been done once and for all. We can live in the presence of God and He in us. We are a living sacrifice, our life offered up to Him as a right response for what was done on our behalf. The very thought of Christ dying for our sins moves us to humility, in prayer have communion with God; we repent for our failures and wrong response as we receive the forgiveness that's already been established. What a glorious gift.
God reminds Solomon of the promise He gave David; the trone and kingdom was before him and his descendants if they were obedient to the ways of the Lord. However, the serving and worship of other gods would bring judgment. In Solomon's disobedience, the nation would be judged. I can only wonder if Solomon thought he would never make this mistake; maybe even thought he wasn't capable. It was subtle and slow; but the fall came. We could all learn from Solomon; it can happen to us, any of us. We must all be guarded and keep our eyes on Him.
Why has the Lord done this? Have we not all asked that question or something similar at some point in our life? If we have our eyes on the Lord, living in obedience to Him, I believe the Lord will make it clear why? But this can only happen in humility and when we are truly seeking the Lord. Our response is often just in an effor to stop the pain, not to find out how we might have offended God. We could capture the heart of the humble, repentance, prayerful and forgiven by looking at the beatitudes (Matthew 5).
©2017 Doug Ford
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