Month: April 2020

2Chronicles 10, unwise advice!

2Ch 10:3-4, … And Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, “YOUR FATHER MADE OUR YOKE HEAVY; NOW THEREFORE, LIGHTEN THE BURDENSOME SERVICE OF YOUR FATHER AND HIS HEAVY YOKE WHICH HE PUT ON US, AND WE WILL SERVE YOU.”

Solomon son Rehoboam became king over Israel and the people wanted some relief from all the burdens placed on them by Solomon!

2Ch 10:6, Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon …, “How do you advise me to answer these people? …”If you are kind to these people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.” 

Pro 15:1, A soft answer turns away wrath, BUT A HARSH WORD STIRS UP ANGER. 

2Ch 10:8, BUT HE REJECTED THE ADVICE WHICH THE ELDERS HAD GIVEN HIM, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. 

2Ch 10:15, So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from God… 

Rehoboam took unwise advice from the young men, and with that the kingdom was divided! YET, THE LORD WAS IN FULL CONTROL OF THIS SITUATION!

Isa 30:1, “Woe to the rebellious children,” says the LORD, “WHO TAKE COUNSEL, BUT NOT OF ME, AND WHO DEVISE PLANS, BUT NOT OF MY SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY ADD SIN TO SIN; 

Pro 2:6, For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; 

TRUE WISDOM COMES FROM THE LORD THAT’S WHY WE SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK HIS FACE AND TAKE COUNSEL OF HIM FROM HIS WORD!

2Chronicles 9, Solomon’s wisdom!

2Ch 9:1-2, When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with HARD QUESTIONS. … she talked with him about everything she had on her mind. SOLOMON HAD ANSWERS FOR ALL HER QUESTIONS; NOTHING WAS TOO HARD FOR HIM TO EXPLAIN TO HER.

Solomon was blessed by GOD with great wisdom to answer hard questions! We may not have the wisdom given to Solomon, but we need to study HIS word in order to answer the hard questions asked of HIS word!

1Pe 3:15, But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and ALWAYS BE READY TO GIVE A DEFENSE TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 

SOLOMON ASKED THE LORD FOR WISDOM AND HE GOT IT!

Jas 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Mat 12:42, The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, FOR SHE CAME FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH TO HEAR THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON; AND INDEED A GREATER THAN SOLOMON IS HERE. 

Solomon was indeed wise, yet one greater that Solomon is our LORD JESUS! The queen of Sheba traveled hundreds of miles to hear the wisdom of Solomon, YET WE HAVE HIS WORD IN OUR VERY HOME BUT FAIL TO READ IT DAILY!

Psa 119:11, YOUR WORD I HAVE HIDDEN IN MY HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU. 

THE WISDOM OF OUR LORD JESUS IS BETTER THAN THAT OF SOLOMON; FOR HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE!

2Chronicles 8, slowly falling away!

2Ch 8:6, also Baalath and all the storage cities that Solomon had, AND ALL THE CHARIOT CITIES AND THE CITIES OF THE CAVALRY, …

Deu 17:16, BUT HE SHALL NOT MULTIPLY HORSES FOR HIMSELF, NOR CAUSE THE PEOPLE TO RETURN TO EGYPT TO MULTIPLY HORSES…

It’s not that Solomon didn’t know GOD’s command, but that he didn’t take it seriously! Chariots is a symbol of military strength; something to trust in case of war! David, Solomon’s father wrote the following!

Psa 20:7, SOME TRUST IN CHARIOTS, AND SOME IN HORSES; BUT WE WILL REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD. 

Solomon later wrote proverbs 21!

Pro 21:31, The horse is prepared for the day of battle, BUT DELIVERANCE IS OF THE LORD. 

True strength only comes from the LORD! What good is a strong military in a Plague or pestilence?

2Ch 8:11, … “My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, BECAUSE THE PLACES TO WHICH THE ARK OF THE LORD HAS COME ARE HOLY.” 

It’s always sad when a husband or wife doesn’t share the same faith. Solomon married the daughter of Pharaoh for political reasons, but this is the beginning of his downfall!

Deu 17:17, Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. 

Solomon’s heart was turned away from the LORD because of the multiple women in his life! TRUST IN THE LORD FOR HE KNOWS BEST! IF IT’S WRITTEN IN HIS WORD THEN OBEY FOR THE LORD KNOWS THE HEART OF MEN!

2Chronicles 7, IF my people “IF”

2Ch 7:12, Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I HAVE HEARD YOUR PRAYER, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.

GOD heard Solomon’s prayer 2Chr 6:12-42

2Ch 7:13-14, When I shut up heaven and there is NO RAIN, or command the LOCUSTS TO DEVOUR THE LAND, or send PESTILENCE among My people, IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN, AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND HEAL THEIR LAND.

IF, MY PEOPLE!  Not only the Jewish nation, but also believers of the MOST HGH GOD! Solomon included the foreigner in his prayer (2Chr 6:32-33), “concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel”

Will HUMBLE themselves, PRAY and SEEK MY FACE and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS

Jesus has given us an example to follow! FOR HE, BEING GOD, HUMBLED HIMSELF AS AN EXAMPLE FOR US. HE PRAYED IN THE GARDEN AND SOUGHT HIS FATHERS FACE! THAT WE MAY TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS AND FOLLOW HIM!

Php 2:7, BUT MADE HIMSELF of no reputation, TAKING THE FORM OF A BONDSERVANT, AND COMING IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN. 

2Ch 7:15, Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. 

SEEK THE LORD AND PRAY; FOR HE IS ALWAYS LISTENING TO THE PRAYERS OF HIS SAINTS! NOT THAT WE DESERVE IT, BUT THAT HE HAS FORGIVEN US BECAUSE OF HIS SON!

2Chronicles 6, HE is the way!

2Ch 6:12-13, Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD … and spread out his hands 

… he stood on it, knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven; 

Solomon’s knelt down with his hand spread out before the Altar of GOD and prayed!

2Ch 6:14, and he said: “LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, THERE IS NO GOD IN HEAVEN OR ON EARTH LIKE YOU, WHO KEEP YOUR COVENANT AND MERCY WITH YOUR SERVANTS WHO WALK BEFORE YOU WITH ALL THEIR HEARTS. 

Psa 89:8, O LORD God of hosts, WHO IS MIGHTY LIKE YOU, O LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. 

There is no one like our GOD for HE is the creator of all that is in Heaven and Earth; And HE is faithful to HIS Promises! 

2Ch 6:24,26, “Or if Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy BECAUSE THEY HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU…  “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain BECAUSE THEY HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, AND TURN FROM THEIR SIN BECAUSE YOU AFFLICT THEM,

Psa 32:8, I WILL INSTRUCT YOU AND TEACH YOU IN THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO; I WILL GUIDE YOU WITH MY EYE. 

2Ch 6:27, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, THAT YOU MAY TEACH THEM THE GOOD WAY IN WHICH THEY SHOULD WALK; …

The Father is always guiding HIS Children in the way that they should walk! HIS SON JESUS IS THE WAY! FOLLOW HIM AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATH!

2Chronicles 5, the presence of GOD!

2Ch 5:1, So all the work that Solomon had done for the house of the LORD was finished..

1Ki 6:37-38, In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid… And in the eleventh year, … the house was finished in all its details and according to all its plans. SO HE WAS SEVEN YEARS IN BUILDING IT.

Seven is the number of completeness or perfection for GOD rested on the Seventh day!

Gen 2:3, Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. 

2Ch 5:13  INDEED IT CAME TO PASS, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and WHEN THEY LIFTED UP THEIR VOICE WITH THE TRUMPETS AND CYMBALS AND INSTRUMENTS OF MUSIC, AND PRAISED THE LORD, saying: “FOR HE IS GOOD, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER,” THAT THE HOUSE, THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, WAS FILLED WITH A CLOUD, 

THE PEOPLE WERE PRAISING THEIR GOD AND THE LORD SHOWED UP FILLING THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD!

Psa 150:6, Let everything that has breath PRAISE THE LORD. PRAISE THE LORD! 

2Ch 5:14, … FOR THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE HOUSE OF GOD.

THIS IS THE SKEKINAH GLORY OF GOD IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS PEOPLE! HE IS WORTHY TO BE PRIASED; FOR HE IS HOLY, HOLY, HOLY! SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE STILL CAN BE FOUND! TIME IS SHORT!

2Chronicles 4, The furnishings of God!

2Ch 4:1, Moreover he made A BRONZE ALTAR: twenty cubits was its length, twenty cubits its width, and ten cubits its height. 

Just as in the tabernacle, the altar was the first thing we see as we enter the temple! Before we can enter the Temple GOD dealt with our sins through HIS SON on the cross of calvary!

Heb 13:10, 13, WE HAVE AN ALTAR FROM WHICH THOSE WHO SERVE THE TABERNACLE … Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

2Ch 4:2,4  Then he made the Sea of cast bronze…IT STOOD ON TWELVE OXEN: three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; the Sea was set upon them, and all their back parts pointed inward.

The Sea of cast bronze was a place for PRIEST to wash before entering the temple of GOD and it was set on twelve oxen!  OUR TWELVE OXEN ARE THE TWELVE APOSTLES, WHO WENT OUT OF JERUSALEM SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS THAT CLEANSES THE PEOPLE! JESUS

1Peter 2:9, But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…

Heb 8:5, who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “SEE THAT YOU MAKE ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.

There is a reason that GOD told Moses to make everything according to the pattern! BECAUSE ALL OF IT POINTS DIRECTLY TO HIS SON JESUS! HE IS THE WAY!

2Chronicles 3, Provide HIMSELF!

2Ch 3:1, NOW SOLOMON BEGAN TO BUILD THE HOUSE OF THE LORD AT JERUSALEM ON MOUNT MORIAH, …

On a different spot on that same hill, Mount Moriah, Isaac was offered, as a type of CHRIST, Gen 22:2, Then the LORD Jesus was offered up on that same hill!

Gen 22:8 KJV, And Abraham said, MY SON, GOD WILL PROVIDE HIMSELF A LAMB FOR A BURNT OFFERING…

Abraham, speaking as the Father, said “MY SON, GOD WILL PROVIDE HIMSELF” GOD THE SON PROVIDED HIMSELF AS A BURNT OFFERING BECAUSE OF OUR SINS!

Heb 1:8, But to the SON HE SAYS: “YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER; A SCEPTER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE SCEPTER OF YOUR KINGDOM. 

OUR SINS WHERE GREAT, BUT HIS LOVE FOR US WAS GREATER THAN OUR SINS!

2Ch 3:17, Then he set up the pillars before the temple, … HE CALLED THE NAME OF THE ONE ON THE RIGHT HAND JACHIN, AND THE NAME OF THE ONE ON THE LEFT BOAZ. 

Jachin means “HE SHALL ESTABLISH” AND Boaz means “IN HIM IS STRENGTH”! The house of GOD was established by GOD and built by the strength of GOD!

1Pe 2:5, YOU ALSO, AS LIVING STONES, ARE BEING BUILT UP A SPIRITUAL HOUSE, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  The Father is building HIS temple, the church, on the ROCK, HIS SON JESUS! INDEED, JESUS HAS ESTABLISHED IN HIS STRENGTH THE WAY FOR US TO FOLLOW! TRUST IN HIM, HE IS COMING BACK FOR HIS BRIDE! SOON!!

2Chronicles 2, who is the LORD!

2Ch 2:5, And the temple which I build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. 

There are no gods like our GOD, and all others are the work of men’s hands and imagination!

Psa 86:8-9, Among the gods THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU, O LORD; Nor are there any works like Your works. All nations whom You have made Shall come and worship before You, O Lord, AND SHALL GLORIFY YOUR NAME.

2Ch 2:6, But who is able to build Him a temple, SINCE HEAVEN AND THE HEAVEN OF HEAVENS CANNOT CONTAIN HIM? Who am I then, that I should build Him a temple..

Not even the vastness of time and space can contain the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY for HE inhabits eternity! Even this earth is just a footstool for HIM!

Isa 66:1, Thus says the LORD: “HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND EARTH IS MY FOOTSTOOL. WHERE IS THE HOUSE THAT YOU WILL BUILD ME? AND WHERE IS THE PLACE OF MY REST?  

Solomon said “who am I then, that I should build HIM a temple”? His father David said it differently in Psalm 8:4!

Psa 8:4, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 

It’s not about David, Solomon, or us, IT’S ABOUT THE LORD ON HIGH!

Job 25:6, How much less man, who is a maggot, And a son of man, who is a worm?” 

Psa 47:2, FOR THE LORD MOST HIGH IS AWESOME; HE IS A GREAT KING OVER ALL THE EARTH. 

WE MUST KNOW THAT WE SERVE AN AWESOME GOD WHO IS PRESENT EVERYWHERE AND KNOWS ALL! WE ARE GIVEN THE HONOR OF BEING AT HIS FEET DAILY! BLESSED BE HIS NAME!

2Chronicles 1, What shall I give you?

2Ch 1:1, Now Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, AND THE LORD HIS GOD WAS WITH HIM AND EXALTED HIM EXCEEDINGLY. 

IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? (Rom 8:31) HE IS WITH US, YET HOW MANY TRULY SEEK HIS STRENGTH, HIS GUIDANCE? 

2Ch 1:6-7, And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. ON THAT NIGHT GOD APPEARED TO SOLOMON, AND SAID TO HIM, “ASK! WHAT SHALL I GIVE YOU?”

We have the same promise of GOD!

Joh 15:7, IF YOU ABIDE IN ME, AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, YOU WILL ASK WHAT YOU DESIRE, AND IT SHALL BE DONE FOR YOU.

IF YOU ABIDE IN ME! What is the condition of our heart? Do we seek for HIS glory or ours?

2Ch 1:10, NOW GIVE ME WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE, THAT I MAY GO OUT AND COME IN BEFORE THIS PEOPLE; for who can judge this great people of Yours?” 

Solomon asked for wisdom to guide the LORD’s people in the proper manner!  What would you have asked for? Riches, honor, glory; For your glory or HIS?

Jas 4:3, YOU ASK AND DO NOT RECEIVE, BECAUSE YOU ASK AMISS, THAT YOU MAY SPEND IT ON YOUR PLEASURES. 

2Ch 1:12, WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE ARE GRANTED TO YOU…

THE LORD GAVE SOLOMON MUCH MORE THAN HE COULD HAVE EVER ASKED FOR! SEEK HIS FACE, HIS HONOR FOR HIS GLORY AND HE WILL LIFT YOU UP!