2 CHRONICLES LESSON 6


     We will begin this lesson in II Chronicles 6:1 "Then said
Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick
darkness."

     Solomon had to remind these people, that this smoke and darkness
was the presence of the LORD. It had been over 400 years, since the
LORD had led them through the wilderness, in a smoke by day and a fire
by night.

     II Chronicles 6:2 "But I have built an house of habitation for
thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever."

     This was Solomon speaking to the LORD. Solomon's desire was for
the LORD to make His home in the temple in Jerusalem. Solomon saw the
temple as a permanent dwelling, unlike the tabernacle which moved from
place to place.

     II Chronicles 6:3 "And the king turned his face, and blessed the
whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel
stood."

     The dedication of the temple had begun. The people were
assembled.  Solomon spoke a blessing on the entire congregation. The
congregation stood in honor of the LORD.

     II Chronicles 6:4 "And 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,"

     Solomon began by praising the LORD for keeping covenant with
David.  He had promised David that his son, Solomon, would build the
temple.  Now, it was a fact. Solomon was overwhelmed by the LORD who
does exactly what He says He will.

     II Chronicles 6:5 "Since 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:" II Chronicles
6:6 "But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and
have chosen David to be over my people Israel."

     These are the Words and the exact statement that the LORD had
made to David. It is interesting, to me, that after over 400 years of
living in the promised land, the LORD decided to choose a man to lead
His people and a city to dwell in upon the earth. Jerusalem would be
known as the city of God.

     II Chronicles 6:7 "Now it was in the heart of David my father to
build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel."

     It was pleasing to God that David wanted to build Him a house.
David loved the LORD with all of his heart. God did not allow him to
build the house, because he was a bloody king. David loved the LORD so
much, however, that he gathered much of the material to finish the
work with before his death.

     II Chronicles 6:8 "But 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:" II Chronicles 6:9
"Notwithstanding 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."

     The LORD counted it as if David had built the temple, because it
had been the desire of his heart to do this. God judges the heart of
mankind. The temple in the heart of David was built by his son,
Solomon. Solomon did one of the most spectacular things of his time by
the building of the temple, but David got even more credit for the
building of it from God, because it was the desire of his heart.

     II Chronicles 6:10 "The 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." II Chronicles
6:11 "And in it have I put the ark, wherein [is] the covenant of the
LORD, that he made with the children of Israel."

     Solomon could have boasted of all of the finery that had been put
in the temple at his command. His wisdom gave all of the credit for
the building of the temple to his father, David, and even further, to
the LORD who kept His Word. Solomon was aware that he was king,
because God ordained it. The ark symbolized the presence of God. The
ten commandments represented the covenant God had made with His
people.

     II Chronicles 6:12  "And he stood before the altar of the LORD in
the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his
hands:" II Chronicles 6:13 "For 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,"

     This scaffold of brass symbolized judgement. Solomon had bowed on
this scaffold and raised both hands to heaven, as if to say to the
LORD, judge me for our effort of the temple. His bowing, and raising
of his hands, both showed that he had humbled himself before the LORD.
This mighty king was not ashamed to kneel to God before this entire
congregation. In the next few verses, we read one of the most
beautiful prayers in the Bible.

     II Chronicles 6:14 "And 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:"
     This prayer begins as all prayers to God should, by recognizing
the omnipotence of God. He was recognizing God as the self-existent
One, the ONLY TRUE GOD.

     II Chronicles 6:15 "Thou 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."

     This was thanksgiving to God for the things He had done in the
past. This spoke of God keeping His Word always.

     II Chronicles 6:16 "Now 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."

     His prayer to God was that the blessings of the covenant would
not end with David, but would continue on forever. He was asking that
his descendents, as well as David's would sit upon the throne of
Israel as God had promised, if they kept His commandments.

     II Chronicles 6:17 "Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word
be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David."

     This was a request for God to hear and answer the prayers of the
Israelites, just as He had heard and answered David's prayers. Let
them know that you are Truth, as David did.

     II Chronicles 6:18 "But 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!"

     There was a sudden awareness of the omnipresence of God by
Solomon, here. He was suddenly aware of the greatness of God that
could not be contained by the world that was His creation.

     II Chronicles 6:19 "Have 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:"
II Chronicles 6:20 "That 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."

     Solomon believed that God heard David's prayers and answered
them. He, also, knew that God had answered prayers for him in the
past. This was a plea for God to continue hearing his prayers, and the
prayers of His people. They would pray toward the temple, because they
knew the presence of the LORD was there.

     II Chronicles 6:21 "Hearken 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."

     Solomon suddenly was aware that he was what he was, because God
made him that. He knew that prayer was man's way of communicating with
his God. Solomon plead with God to listen to the earnest prayers of
His people. He knew that all sin, so he asked God to forgive His
people and answer their prayers.

     II Chronicles 6:22  "If 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;" II Chronicles 6:23 "Then 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."

     Now, we see specific prayer requests. This was also a recognition
that only God, Himself, knows who is right in such a situation.
Solomon asked God to punish the guilty, Himself.

     II Chronicles 6:24  "And 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;" II Chronicles 6:25 "Then 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."

     We see a recognition by Solomon of why Israel would lose a war.
Their sin would bring defeat upon them. We, also, see the only
solution to this problem was to repent and return to God. Solomon
asked God to never weary in forgiving His people, when they repented
and asked for forgiveness. We know from these Bible studies, that God
did answer this prayer, and is even today still answering this prayer.
They have sinned and been scattered many times. God had forgiven them,
when they repented and gave them back their land.

     II Chronicles 6:26  "When 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;" II Chronicles 6:27 "Then 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."

     Solomon knew these people were a rebellious people. He, also,
knew that drougths came many times to punish the sins of God's people.
God would withhold the rain to cause them to repent. Solomon asked God
to forgive them when they prayed for forgiveness, and let it rain
again.

     II Chronicles 6:28  "If there be dearth in the land, if there be
pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillars;
if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever
sore or whatsoever sickness [there be]:" II Chronicles 6:29  "[Then]
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:"
II Chronicles 6:30 "Then 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:)"

     We should know from this prayer, that many problems that come on
a land and its people are sent by God, Himself. Much of the trouble in
our land today is a punishment from God, to cause people to repent.
The sin is not the important thing. The repenting is what is
important. "Repent" means not only to confess our sins and get
forgiveness, but to walk in the opposite direction than the way that
caused the sin.

     II Chronicles 6:31 "That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways,
so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers."

     The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. We should walk
in the ways of the LORD to please God. These Israelites were not
always in the way of the LORD. Solomon prayed that they would walk in
the ways of the LORD.

     II Chronicles 6:32  "Moreover 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;" II Chronicles 6:33 "Then 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."

     This is almost prophetic that God would send His Son that all who
believed might be saved. This is a very strange thing for a Hebrew, to
recognize other nations as being under God, as well. Solomon was
requesting that God would hear the prayers of the heathen people, as
well as Israel.

     II Chronicles 6:34 "If 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;" II Chronicles 6:35 "Then hear thou from the
heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their
cause."

     This is a prayer request for God to be with them in battles
against their enemies, when they pray for His help.

     II Chronicles 6:36 "If 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;" II Chronicles 6:37 "Yet [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;" II Chronicles 6:38 "If
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:" II Chronicles 6:39 "Then 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."

     This really did happen and God's people did pray toward the
location of the temple and God did forgive them and brought them back
into the land. The Babylonian captivity of Judah was a prime example
of this.

     II Chronicles 6:40 "Now, 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."

     This was a plea for God to pay special attention to His own
people when they prayed in the temple Solomon had built for God to
dwell in.

     II Chronicles 6:41 "Now 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."

     The smoke of the LORD had completely filled the temple. Solomon
knew that the presence of the LORD would be ever present in the most
holy place in the temple. It would be terrible to have a priest who
was not saved. The prayer was that all of those who ministered
salvation to others would be saved themselves. The joy of the LORD is
the strength of the believer {saint}.

     II Chronicles 6:42 "O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine
anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant."

     There were many whom God had anointed. This was, possibly,
Solomon speaking of himself. He wanted to remain as faithful to God as
he was this day. It could, also, be a prophetic statement about the
Lord Jesus Christ. It is His act of mercy to all mankind that makes
salvation available to all who will. In Jesus Christ is fulfilled the
everlasting throne of David.









                      2 Chronicles 6 Questions


1.  The LORD had said that He would dwell in the ________ _________.
2.  How long had it been, since the LORD had led them through the
    wilderness?
3.  Who had built a habitation for the LORD?
4.  How would the temple differ from the tabernacle?
5.  What did the congregation do, when Solomon spoke a blessing on
    them?
6.  How did Solomon begin?
7.  What city did God choose to dwell in with His people?
8.  Who did God say He had chosen to rule His people Israel?
9.  Jerusalem would be known as the city of ______.
10. Who had it in his heart, to build a house for name of the LORD God
    of Israel?
11. Why did God not allow him to build the house?
12. How did God grant David's wish for the temple to be built?
13. The ______ symbolized the presence of God.
14. What did Solomon stand on before he prayed.
15. What did he do when he prayed?
16. Quote 2 Chronicles chapter 6 verse 14.
17. How should all prayers begin?
18. What promise to David does Solomon ask God to keep?
19. In verse 18, we find that the _______ of _______ could not contain
    God.
20. The people pray toward the __________.
21. Why do they pray toward that?
22. Where did Solomon say was God's dwelling place?
23. Who is the only one who knows the truth in certain situations?
24. Why would Israel lose a war?
25. What are some of the things God would do to cause His people to
    repent?
26. The ______ of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
27. What was strange about a Hebrew recognizing other people?
28. Who sins against God?
29. What special plea did Solomon make to God about His people?
30. Where would the presence of the LORD be in the temple?