2 Chronicles 7

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Dave Burnette's Commentary

2 Chronicles Chapter 7

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 1-9)

Message: God's Glory Fills the Temple (v 1-22)

2 Chronicles 7 Commentary

(7:1-2) A Fire from Heaven - God sent fire from heaven to consume the offering and to begin the fire that was to burn continuously under the altar of burnt offering (see Leviticus 6:8-13). This perpetual fire symbolized God's presence. God also sent fire when inaugurating the use of the tabernacle (Leviticus 9:22-24). This was the real dedication of the temple because only God's purifying power can make something holy.

(7:4-5) The Temple is Dedicated - The temple was dedicated to God, and Solomon and the people prepared to worship him. Dedication is setting apart a place, an object, or a person for an exclusive purpose. The purpose of this dedication was to set apart the temple as a place to worship God. Today, we are God's temple (2 Corinthians 6:16). Just as Solomon dedicated the temple, we should dedicate ourselves to carrying out God's special purpose (Ephesians 1:11-12).

(7:12) An Answer to Prayer - Months--maybe years -had passed since Solomon's prayer of dedication (2 Chronicles 6). Several other building projects had been completed after the temple (7:11; 8:1). Then after all this time, God told Solomon that he had heard Solomon's prayer. How often do we look for immediate answers to our prayers and, when nothing happens right away, wonder if God has heard us? God does hear, and he will provide for us. Even when we feel bogged down in our situations or feel like we aren't making any spiritual progress, we must trust that God will answer us at the proper time.

(7:14) Solomon Asked God for the People's Forgiveness - In 2 Chronicles 6, Solomon asked God to make provisions for the people when they sinned. God answered with four conditions for forgiveness: God's people should (1) humble themselves by admitting their sins; (2) pray, asking for forgiveness; (3) seek God continually; and (4) turn from sinful behavior. True repentance means more than talk-it requires us to change our attitudes and behavior. Whether we sin individually, as a group, or as a nation, following these steps will lead to forgiveness. God will answer our earnest prayers

(7:17-22) Following the Lord - God plainly set forth certain conditions for Solomon to meet if he wanted the kingdom to continue. If Solomon followed God, he and his descendants would prosper; if he did not, he and the nation would be destroyed. In Deuteronomy 27 and 28, these conditions were outlined before all the people. But sin is deceptively attractive, and Solomon eventually turned away from God. As a result, his son and heir lost most of the kingdom. Following God brings benefits and rewards (which are not necessarily material). Turning away from God brings suffering, punishment, and ultimately, destruction. Today, God's conditions are just as clear as they were in Solomon's day. Choose to obey God no matter what happens, knowing that God will honor your efforts.

(7:21-22) The Temple is Ransacked - Soon after Solomon's reign, the temple was ransacked (12:9). It is difficult for us to imagine that such a great and wise king could become corrupted by idols- symbols of power, prosperity, and sexuality. These were not neutral pursuits or optional lifestyle choices. They were dangerous enticements that could corrupt even the most wise and godly leaders. Today these idols still lure us into their traps. When we allow any desire to rival God's place, we have taken the first step toward moral and spiritual decay.

Dave Burnette's Life Application
Repentance

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 7 and we see the Glory of God filling the temple as fire comes down and consumes the sacrifice. We also see God speaking to Solomon telling him he heard his prayer and gives us a precept for prayer in verse 14 that if we humble ourselves, pray, seek Him, and repent, then will God hear our prayers and heal our land. In making application we see the word that has left many of our Churches, Repentance. We must turn from our sin for the Lord to hear us. It is essential for our Prayers being answered and our Salvation. How about you? Have you Repented of your sin to have your Prayers heard and ultimately answered? Let us learn from our text today as God gives us examples of His Glory and How our Prayers will be heard and Answered through our Repentance.

2 Chronicles 7

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2 Chronicles 7

¹Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

²And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.

³And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

⁴Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.

⁵And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

⁶And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.

⁷Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.

⁸Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.

⁹And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.

¹⁰And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.

¹¹Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.

¹²And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.

¹³If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

¹⁴If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

¹⁵Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

¹⁶For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

¹⁷And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;

¹⁸Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.

¹⁹But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;

²⁰Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

²¹And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?

²²And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.

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