Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. II. I have heard thy prayer. Every redeemed human being should give all glory to Jesus for salvation and every benefit it brings. The priests could not enter the house of the LORD: This repeats the occasion first described in 2 Chronicles 5:14. c. They bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD: The people responded with a combination of reverence and worship. God will forgive. Johannine Writings [Note: Tremper Longman III and Raymond B. Dillard, An Introduction to the Old Testament, p. 2. He knew their proneness to backslide into that sin. It has been estimated that more than 5 million people were brought to Christ within two years in 1904-05. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP) As we approach July 4th, many pastors preach about Christians in America repenting of sin and turning back to the Lord so that He will bless His churches. And I'm sure Solomon in his heart was saying, "Oh God, I could never forsake You. Proverbs 14:34 Nations obliged to do right. 13), as well as the God of grace, who can hear prayer, forgive sin, and heal not only land, but souls (ver. Verse 1. We must never grudge the time that we spend in the worship of God and communion with him, nor think it long, or grow weary of it. Now the Lord is warning Solomon about forsaking Him.I have learned to heed every warning God gives, because I have found that I have never fallen but what I wasn't warned of God beforehand. [If] My people who are called by My name humble themselves. It is always good for Christians to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). (2 Chronicles 7:17-22) Gods warning to Solomon. "Though they have taken deep root, and taken root long, in this good land, yet I will pluck them up by the roots, extirpate the whole nation, pluck them up as men pluck up weeds out of their garden, which are thrown to the dunghill." GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point The gracious answer which God immediately made to Solomon's prayer: The fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, v. 1. In Gods mercy, he stunted the production in order to draw his wayward and adulterous people back to himself. You're going to be cut off and these calamities are going to come. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Pray for the king, and all in authority. God would establish Solomons kingdom if he fully obeyed Gods Word (2 Chronicles 7:17-18). What was the significance of the altar King Ahaz built. But if they responded by humbling themselves, praying, seeking Gods face and turning from their wicked ways, God would hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land. ii. He knew their proneness to backslide into that sin. He promised to perpetuate Solomon's kingdom, upon condition that he persevered in his duty, v. 17, 18. (1.) God responded to Solomon's prayer with a special revelation. Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness. And here is Solomon now still fresh with this glorious experience of the power of God demonstrated. Their unity is expressed in geographical terms as well as by a unity of spirit Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt indicates the widest possible extent of Israels occupation of the Promised Land. (Selman). For I have chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually. Romans 14:5 We are to be in subjection for two reasons. The apostle Peter, speaking to a group of first-century Christians, said this: For you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God (1 Peter 2:10 NASB). He promised to answer the prayers of his people that should at any time be made in that place, 2 Chronicles 7:13-15; 2 Chronicles 7:13-15. The Whole Bible Here God was providing for their eventual return, assuming that the human heart is prone to wander and cannot help but stray. Absolutely. Humble themselves.Leviticus 26:41, in a similar context. How suitable for all Christians in America, and in any other nation, to humble ourselves, pray, seek the Lords face and turn from our wicked ways, asking Him to graciously hear from heaven, forgive our sin and bring spiritual healing to the ailing, impotent churches in our land. God still had to be honored through blood sacrifice, both for atonement and as a demonstration of fellowship with God. The New Testament d. For He is good, for His mercy endures forever: This familiar refrain is connected with Psalms 136 and 118, and with 2 Chronicles 5:13. Prophets In context, 2 Chronicles 7:14 is a promise to ancient Israel (and perhaps even modern-day Israel) that, if they will repent and return to the Lord, He will rescue them. C. National judgments are here supposed (v. 13), famine, and pestilence, and perhaps war, for by the locusts devouring the land meant enemies as greedy as locusts, and laying all waste. However it be, yet God is good. 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; 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. d. Will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. everyone who passes by it will be astonished: Under the Old Covenant, God promised to use Israel to exalt Himself among the nations one way or another. God promised something special to Israel when they did humble themselves and did pray and seek Gods face. The very thing that God warned him about was the very thing that he did. The glory of God filling the house, the cloud of God and all of this glorious experience and God is saying, "Now, Solomon, don't forsake Me." 19:2. 3. 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 brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meal offerings, and the fat ( 2 Chronicles 7:6-7 ). Verses 1-22. Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). It would be the ruin of their state, v. 20. No. b. Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart: It was the end of a well-done job, a job that began with Solomons father David. Seeing all they could of Gods great works, they could not help having this strong emphasis on the goodness and mercy of God. (2 Chronicles 7:1-3) The temple is dedicated by God with fire from heaven. Jesus said that the humble tax collector, rather than the arrogant and self-righteous Pharisee went home justified. This fact, and other small details, make it plain that 1 Kings describes the habitation of God and the intimate fellowship of God with His people. III. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point Those that begin with the service of God are likely to go on successfully in their own affairs. THE PARTIES. '"Now many times when God warns us of something, possible danger, we say, "Oh, come, that's all right. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Johannine Writings They must be humble themselves under his hand, must pray for the removal of the judgment, must seek the face and favour of God; and yet all this will not do unless they turn from their wicked ways, and return to the God from whom they have revolted. 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; 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. Johannine Writings He forsook the Lord and began to worship and serve other gods. When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. It's a reminder of the dedication of the tabernacle in the wilderness where the fire of God came down and kindled the coals upon the altar and consumed the sacrifices. It seems that his palace was even more spectacular than the temple, based on the number of years it took him to build it. One might think that consuming fire from heaven might make them more aware of the power and judgment of God. 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. A plain and faithful reproof given to Asa by a prophet of the Lord, for making this league with Baasha. 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 showed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people. Four avenues of repentance are mentioned that will lead God to forgive and restore. 14); the God of providence, who can pluck up nations by the roots, and scatter them abroad upon the face of . GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point 2. All rights reserved. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB), All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. The word Scripture in this text referred to Old Testament Scripture. And the priests attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of the LORD, which King David had made to praise the LORD, saying, For His mercy endures forever, whenever David offered praise by their ministry. Note: MLA no longer requires the URL as part of their citation standard. This passage shows how to avoid the consequences of disobedience: submit to God, pray, and repent (i.e., change direction, not just feeling; 2 Chronicles 7:14). As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, You shall not fail to have a man as ruler in Israel. But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. "But what happened to Solomon? #2 will humble themselves and pray and seek my face God knows that we will fall sometimes. When I think of it that way, I dont know of a verse in the Bible that serves as a better guide for praying for revival than 2 Chronicles 7:14. The pure theism of that prayerits acknowledgment of the unity of God as well as of His moral perfections in providence and grace, came from the same divine source as the miraculous fire. This fire intimated that God was, (1.) Their awe-filled praise glorified the goodness and mercy of God. I. But he set before him death as well as life, the curse as well as the blessing. 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. (1-6) The blessedness of the reign of King Asa. Did not our hearts burn within us? He promised to grant the petitions of the people, as Solomon had requested, if they manifested a true heart for Him ( 2 Chronicles 7:12-14 ). Can Christians in America find any appropriate application from this text? 3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the When God said "If my people who are called by my name," He was pointing the Israelites back to the covenant He made with Abraham. (2 Chronicles 7:4-5) The temple is dedicated by man with a multitude of sacrifices. The word unwholesome is the Greek word sapros, meaning rotten. Here it refers to speech that is likened to garbage or trash. Frankly, there is too much trash-talk on social media. When he manifests himself as a consuming fire to sinners, his people can rejoice in him as their light. If my people shall humble themselves, and pray, &c. Thus national repentance and reformation are required. Please see Blue Letter Bible's Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. (12) By night. National judgments are here supposed (2 Chronicles 7:13; 2 Chronicles 7:13), famine, and pestilence, and perhaps war, for by the locusts devouring the land meant enemies as greedy as locusts, and laying all waste. God blessed the temple and filled it with the glory of His presence, but He would cast it out of His sight if the kings of Israel forsook the LORD. And if I shut up heaven that there is no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 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 ( 2 Chronicles 7:12-14 ). And on the twenty-third 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 showed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people ( 2 Chronicles 7:8-10 ). Then Asa his son reigned in his place. God has not promised specifically to heal the land of other believers who obey His will for them. He supposed it possible that though they had this temple built to the honour of God, yet they might be drawn aside to worship other gods, 2 Chronicles 7:19; 2 Chronicles 7:19. 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. (2 Chronicles 7:6-10) The days of praise and feasting for the dedication of the temple. 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. 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