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Dave Burnette's Commentary

2 Chronicles Chapter 9

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: The Queen of Sheba (v 1-31)

2 Chronicles 9 Commentary 

(9:1) The Queen of Sheba - The queen of Sheba had heard about Solomon's wisdom, but she was overwhelmed when she saw for herself the fruits of that wisdom. Although Solomon had married Pharaoh's daughter, he still sincerely tried to follow God at this stage in his life. When people get to know you and ask hard questions, will your responses reflect God? Your life can be a powerful witness; let others see God at work in you.


(9:2-6) God Equips Us for Service - Ruling a nation is an awesome task. Solomon realized this when he exclaimed, "Who can judge this thy people, that is so great?" (1:10). But God had given him this responsibility, and he also gave Solomon the necessary leadership abilities to carry it out. Following Jesus' example also seems like a difficult task, but God has given us "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (2 Peter 13). Never despair when you think you do not have the ability to solve a problem or accept a new challenge. God will give you all you need to fulfill the responsibilities he has given you. Then others--like the queen of Sheba was with Solomon--will be amazed at what they see.


(9:8) Solomon's Leadership was a Testimony of God's Love for His people - The queen of Sheba marveled at Solomon, claiming that God must love his people greatly to give them such a king. Israel greatly prospered during Solomon's reign, a witness to God's power and love for his people. Good times show God's love and faithfulness, but hard times come to believers too. Our perseverance and steadfast hope during those times will demonstrate our love and faithfulness to God. How we live, whether times are good or bad, can help others see our love for Cod


(9:11) The Algum Wood - This algum wood was probably sandalwood, a smooth, red wood that is extremely fragrant and accepts a high polish. This beautiful wood came all the way from India and was very expensive.


(9:13-14) Solomon Follows the Lord - God had promised that Israel would prosper if Solomon followed him as David had done (712-18). As long as Solomon remained loyal to God, God blessed Israel abundantly. God also honors his promises to us, and his Word is the guarantee. But any good guarantee includes certain conditions. God's promises and blessings are guaranteed as long as we keep our agreement with him--we must follow him obediently and keep our relationships with him alive and strong.


(9:29) Solomon Turns Away From the Lord - For the rest of Solomon's story, see 1 Kings 10:26-11:43. In his later years, Solomon turned away from God and led the nation into worshiping idols.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Seeing the Lord in Your Life

 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 9 and we see the visit of the Queen of Sheba, the greatness of Solomon's life, to finally Solomon's death. What catches my eye is how others, like the Queen of Sheba, noticed the Lord working through Solomon. The evidence of a fruitful and faithful life were the blessings of wealth and wisdom in his life. In making application we see that when we serve the Lord others will see the Lord in our lives. This is so important when it comes to witnessing to others and soul winning. The lost are looking for something real in others lives and when they see the Lord in us they understand that the Lord is real. How about you? Do others see the Lord in you life? Let us learn from our text today and the life of Solomon to be reminded that when we serve the Lord that He is reflected in our lives for others to see. 

 

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2 Chronicles 9

2 Chronicles 9

 1And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

 2And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not.

 3And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,

 4And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.

 5And she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom:

 6Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.

 7Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.

 8Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.

 9And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.

 10And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones.

 11And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.

 12And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants.

 13Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;

 14Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.

 15And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.

 16And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

 17Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.

 18And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays:

 19And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.

 20And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon.

 21For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

 22And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

 23And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.

 24And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

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

 26And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.

 27And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the low plains in abundance.

 28And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands.

 29Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?

 30And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

 31And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.