2 CHRONICLES LESSON 7


     We will begin this lesson in II Chronicles 7:1 "Now 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."

     It appears, the offerings had been made and were on the altar of
sacrifice. This fire coming down from heaven and consuming the
offerings was a manifestation of the presence of God. This was very
similar to the fire that descended when Elijah offered on Mount
Carmel. This left no doubt in anyone's mind who God was. This dramatic
happening would leave no room for doubt. It would make an everlasting
impression on those who saw it. This glory of the LORD was not just in
the most holy place, but filled the entire temple.

     II Chronicles 7:2 "And the priests could not enter into the house
of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S
house."

     The priests could not stand in front of such great presence of
God. Everyone, who saw this, fell prostrate to the floor in total
worship of God. The LORD was saying in this, I accept this house and
will meet with my people here.

     II Chronicles 7:3 "And 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."

     This dramatic appearance of the presence of the LORD brought
adoration from the people who saw it. Their statement, for He is good;
His mercy endureth forever was spontaneous.

     II Chronicles 7:4  "Then the king and all the people offered
sacrifices before the LORD."

     These were in addition to the ones they had already offered, that
the fire from heaven devoured. These were peace offerings, which would
be eaten by the priests and the people.

     II Chronicles 7:5 "And 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."

     This would have fed hundreds of thousands of people, so this was
a tremendous gathering of people to dedicate the temple.

     II Chronicles 7:6 "And the priests waited on their offices: the
Levites also with instruments of music 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."

     This was a tremendous gathering of the people. There was singing
and playing of instruments by the people David had set aside for that
purpose. This was a very festive celebration. Each of the Levites
served in the capacity David had assigned to them in advance. The
priests took care of the sacrifices. The singers sang and the
musicians played. The trumpets were blown in proclamation of this
happening.

     II Chronicles 7:7 "Moreover 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."

     The thousands of animals being sacrificed were more than could be
handled in the usual manner, so they sacrificed in the middle of the
court, also.

     II Chronicles 7:8  "Also 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."

     This dedication of the temple, and the sacrificial feast that
went along with it lasted 7 days. Not all of the sacrifices were made
on one day. Some sacrifices were made each day.

     II Chronicles 7:9 "And in the eighth day they made a solemn
assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and
the feast seven days."

     The tone of the solemn assembly changed from a festive occasion
to a more serious tone. The feasting stopped and this was a more holy
day. It was the beginning of the services in the temple for years to
come. "Eight" means new beginnings, and symbolized the new day that
would begin.

     II Chronicles 7:10 "And 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."

     After the solemn assembly, Solomon sent the people home to their
own tents. The people who had seen the presence of God in the temple
would have been very happy. There was no doubt in their hearts left,
for they had experienced the presence of the One True God. A people
are never satisfied, until they are established in fellowship with
their God. The temple worship had done just that for them.

     II Chronicles 7:11 "Thus 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."
     The temple was built long before the house of Solomon. This verse
above, seems to be a summation, that Solomon could have whatever he
desired for the temple, or for his own house.

     II Chronicles 7:12  "And 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."

     We are not told whether this is a dream, or a night vision. We do
know that the LORD let Solomon know that He accepted the temple, and
that Solomon's request in the prayer would be answered, as well. God
had chosen this place for the temple, before the death of David.

     II Chronicles 7:13 "If 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;"

     Notice, these things come from God to cause people to repent of
their sins.

     II Chronicles 7:14 "If 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."

     Solomon had asked God to hear their prayers and forgive them, and
this was the answer. Notice the big "if". The blessings of God are
conditional. The people must repent and turn from their wicked ways,
and then the LORD will hear, and will answer their prayers. Our
country needs to heed this very Scripture today.

     II Chronicles 7:15 "Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears
attent unto the prayer [that is made] in this place." II Chronicles
7:16 "For 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."

     God wanted to hear and answer their prayers. He is holy and they
must live up to the conditions He had set for that. They must keep His
commandments. The effectual fervent prayer of a {righteous man}
availeth much. We must stay in right standing with God. They were His
children. He wanted to help them. He wanted to be their God, and them
to be His people.

     II Chronicles 7:17 "And 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;"
II Chronicles 7:18 "Then 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."

     At the time God spoke this to Solomon, he was a man after God's
own heart. He was observing the statutes of God. God wanted to bless
Solomon, and He did bless Solomon until, Solomon sinned with his
foreign wives.

     II Chronicles 7:19 "But 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;"  II Chronicles 7:20 "Then 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."

     God blesses those who are faithful, and curses those who do not
keep His commandments. To worship false gods was committing spiritual
adultery. This very thing did happen to the temple that God loved so
much. Actually God did not immediately destroy the temple and
Jerusalem, until all of the people, themselves, committed spiritual
adultery, also. The temple burned during the war with the Babylonians
when those of Judah fell to Babylon.

     II Chronicles 7:21 "And 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?"

     This, too, happened. Those passing by could not believe the ruin
that had come to so magnificent a temple. They did hiss as they passed
by.

     II Chronicles 7:22 "And 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."

     Israel's and Judah's disobedience to God brought the wrath of God
down upon their heads. He did not destroy them, until they had
forsaken Him. Our God is a Jealous God. He would not share His people
with false gods.



















                      2 Chronicles 7 Questions


1.  When Solomon had made an end of praying, what happened?
2.  What other Biblical event did this remind the author of?
3.  Where was the glory of the Lord?
4.  What did everyone do that saw the glory of God?
5.  What two statements did the people make about God?
6.  What did the king do, after the appearance of the presence of the
    LORD?
7.  How did they begin to praise the LORD?
8.  Why were trumpets blown?
9.  Where did Solomon hallow to offer sacrifices, besides the usual
    places?
10. What kind of offerings were these?
11. How long did they keep the feast?
12. What did he do on the eighth day?
13. How did this differ from the feast?
14. What day of the month did he send the people to their own tents?
15. How were they feeling?
16. A people are never satisfied, until what happens?
17. The _________ was built long before the house of Solomon.
18. How did the LORD appear to Solomon?
19. What did He tell him?
20. Who sends the pestilence in verse 13?
21. Quote 2 Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14.
22. What is the Word, in verse 14, that is so significant?
23. How do we know God wants to hear them?
24. What was the condition, if Solomon is to be blessed?
25. What did God say would happen, if Solomon turned away to other
    gods?
26. To worship a false god was __________ __________.
27. When did these things really happen?