Dave Burnette's Commentary

2 Chronicles Chapter 6

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Ezra
Date Penned: (430 BC)
Overview: A History of God's Chosen People (c 1-36)
Theme: The Reign of Solomon (c 1-42)
Message: Solomon's Blessing (v 1-17)

2 Chronicles 6 Commentary 

(6:1-3) Solomon Worships the Lord -  As the people received Solomon's blessing, they stood; as Solomon prayed, he knelt (6:13). Both standing and kneeling are acts of reverence. Acts of reverence make us feel more worshipful, and they let others see that we are honoring God. When you stand or kneel in church or at prayer, make these actions more than mere forms prescribed by tradition. Let them indicate your love and respect for God.


(6:12-13) Solomon Humbles Himself Before the Lord -  It would have been very unusual for a king to kneel before someone else in front of his own people; kneeling meant submitting to a higher authority. Solomon demonstrated his great love and respect for God by kneeling before him. His action showed that he acknowledged God as the ultimate King and authority, and it encouraged the people to do the same.


(6:18) A Place of Worship  - The temple was a place where the people could worship God. God did not need a temple to live in, because not even the highest heaven could contain him (2:6). But at the temple God was present in a focused and intentional way among his people. While it is true that we can praise God and pray anywhere and anytime, gathering with others for singing and praise enhances our worship. It also strengthens our resolve to follow God.


(6:18) God's Power on Display - Solomon marveled that the temple could contain the power of God and that God would be willing to live on earth among sinful people. We marvel that God, through his Son, Jesus, lived among us in human form to reveal his eternal plan to us (John 1:14). In doing so, God was reaching out to us in love. God wants us to reach out to him in return in order to know him and to love him with all our hearts. Don't simply marvel at his power; take time to get to know him


(6:19-42) Solomon Leads the People in Prayer - As Solomon led the people in prayer, he asked God to hear their prayers concerning a variety of situations: (1) crime (6:22-23); (2) enemy attacks (6:24-25); (3) drought (6:26-27); (4) famine (6:28-31); (5) the influx of foreigners (6:32-33); (6) war (6:34-35); and (7) sin (6:36-39). God is concerned with whatever we face, even the difficult consequences we bring upon ourselves. He wants us to turn to him in prayer. When you pray, remember that God hears you. Don't let your suffering or lack of resources cause you to doubt his care for you.


(6:26) Solomon Prepares for Drought - Why would Solomon assume that drought would come as a result of sin? Sin is not necessarily the direct cause of natural disasters today, but this was a special case. God had made a specific covenant (or agreement) with the Israelites, and drought was named as a consequence they should expect if they were to turn away from him (Deuteronomy 28:20-24).


(6:30) Solomon Reminds the People that God Answers Prayer - Have you ever felt far from God, separated by feelings of failure, bitter regret, or unrealized hopes? In his prayer, Solomon underscored the fact that God stands ready to hear his people, to forgive their sins, and to restore their relationship with him. God is waiting and listening for our confessions of guilt and our recommitment to serve him. He hears us when we pour out our needs and problems to him and is ready to forgive us and restore us to fellowship with him. Don't wait to experience his loving forgiveness.


(6:36) When We Sin We Should Quickly Repent - The Bible makes it clear that no one is exempt from sin, not even God's appointed kings. Sin is a condition we all share, and we all should acknowledge it as Solomon did. When we realize we have sinned, we should quickly ask God for forgiveness and restoration. Knowing we have a tendency to sin should keep us close to God, seeking his guidance and strength. This truth is also mentioned in Psalm 14:3; Ecclesiastes 7:20; and Romans 3:23.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

A House of Prayer

 

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of 2 Chronicles with Chapter 6 and we see the Temple dedicated with Solomon's Prayer. In this prayer he prayed for those effected by crime, enemy attacks, drought, famine, the influx of foreigners, war, and sin. Solomon communicated the needs of the people to our God of which this Temple was constructed to Glorify. In making application we see a major purpose for the House of God. It should be a House of Prayer. A gathering place for the people of God to Worship God lifting their hearts and voices in unity. How about you? Do you regularly attend Church for Worship and Prayer? Let us learn from our text today, the life of Solomon, and the dedication of the Temple to be reminded that we need Church, and it should be a House of Prayer. 

 

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2 Chronicles 6

2 Chronicles 6

 1Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

 2But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever.

 3And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.

 4And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my father David, saying,

 5Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:

 6But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

 7Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.

 8But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:

 9Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.

 10The LORD therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.

 11And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel.

 12And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:

 13For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven.

 14And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts:

 15Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.

 16Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.

 17Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.

 18But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!

 19Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:

 20That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.

 21Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.

 22If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house;

 23Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.

 24And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;

 25Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.

 26When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;

 27Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.

 28If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:

 29Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:

 30Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)

 31That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

 32Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house;

 33Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.

 34If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;

 35Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

 36If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;

 37Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;

 38If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:

 39Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.

 40Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

 41Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.

 42O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.