Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 12:1-16

Helpful thoughts:

• The cities Rehoboam had considered “fortified” and “secure” were only ever as safe as the Lord kept them.
  • 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen would stand no chance against the one true God.
• When the princes and the king acknowledged, “The LORD is righteous” they were admitting they were not (Verse 6).  This was a confession of their sinfulness.
• Being a bondservant/slave of the Lord and of righteousness is always better than being in bondage to men. (Romans 6:15-19)

Questions to consider:

1. How might we rephrase verse 1?  What did Rehoboam have when he decided he no longer needed God?  Why did Rehoboam have what he did?  Where did the nation go under his leadership?
2. What would have been safer, fortified cities with thick walls (And no God) or no walls and pop-up tents (With God)?  What things make us feel safe in this world?  What amount of possessions might make us feel secure?  What/Who is our strength and our greatest possession (Matthew 7:24-27, Philippians 4:11-13)?
3. Why did Rehoboam do what was evil (Verse 14)?  Knowing that our salvation and growth are gifts of God’s grace, how does He command us to pursue godliness?  Is godliness something we are simply to stumble upon as we occupy ourselves with other things, or are we to proactively strive for it? (Philippians 3:12-16)

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 11:1-23

Helpful thoughts:

• Rehoboam amasses an army to fight to retain his reign over all Israel.  God stops him.
• The priests and Levites from all over Israel who were unwilling to serve in Jeroboam’s new idolatry relocated in order to serve the Lord.
  • Jeroboam saw loyalty to the Lord and worship at the Temple in Jerusalem as a path to loyalty to Rehoboam.
  • Others from the ten tribes who seceded followed the priests and Levites to remain loyal to the Lord.
• Rehoboam dealt wisely in the way he distributed his sons throughout his kingdom.  He did not deal wisely in continuing the practice of polygamy.

Questions to consider:

1. Why did Rehoboam listen today after not listening to the counsel of the elders before (End of verse 4)?  Whose will was accomplished in both instances? (Proverbs 21:1)
2. Why was Rehoboam’s reign strengthened for those first three years? Whose influence blessed the kingdom of Judah? (Verses 16-17)  What heart and actions brought about that influence?
3. Having good laws and justice is a good thing (1 Peter 2:14), but how can Christians be a good influence even when the laws aren’t good?  How can a nation be positively influenced by the church today even if the laws are contrary to Scripture?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 10:1-18

Helpful thoughts:

• The rest of 2 Chronicles will cover the Judean kings starting with the secession of the rest of Israel after Rehoboam, son of Solomon, becomes king.
  • The people were asking for relief, Rehoboam decided to threaten greater struggle instead.
• The prophecy to Jeroboam (Verse 15) is recorded in 1 Kings 11:26-40 .  Ironically, Jeroboam had formerly been one of the managers of forced labor under King Solomon.
• For the most part, all the tribes except for much of Benjamin and Judah left and retained the name, “Israel.”  Those from the tribe of Benjamin and Judah became “Judah.”  There were people from different tribes who did not follow suit with the rest of their tribes though.

Questions to consider:

1. Rehoboam sent the man in charge of forced labor to the Israelites to show that his words were no empty threat.  What did the people of Israel do to him (Verse 18)?
2. What reason did Israel give for their revolt (Verse 16)?  What reason did God give for the revolt (1 Kings 11:33)?
3. If you were told that God was taking the kingdom away from Rehoboam because of idolatry, what might you try to make sure doesn’t happen in the nation afterward?  What did Jeroboam do (1 Kings 12:25-28)?  Is good logic enough to bring a person to salvation and humble obedience?  What must occur for a person to become one who fears the Lord (John 3:3-8)?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 9:1-31

Helpful thoughts:

• Sheba was a nation located in the southwestern part of the Arabian peninsula.  There has been speculation concerning Sheba being in parts of Africa around the areas of Sudan and Ethiopia.
• The queen’s comments were her perspective after being left breathless at all the wealth and wisdom God had given to Solomon.
• The state of the kingdom and the successes of Solomon are emphasized in this passage, perhaps for the benefit of those returning from the exile as they were reminded of who they had been as a nation.  However, content such as 1 Kings 11:1-8, which had much to do with the beginnings of why the nation was later exiled, are not mentioned.

Questions to consider:

1. How should we perceive the words of the Queen of Sheba?  Was Solomon blessed of God and Israel to be established forever because the Queen of Sheba said so or was this simply an account of her kind words as she articulated all she saw?  How does this help us to read narrative rightly in the Bible?
2. How might an exiled Israelite think about the condition of their nation after reading this chapter in 2 Chronicles?  How would the queen’s words have served as a caution concerning God’s promise to Solomon in 7:17-18?  How might it also have served as a temptation, receiving plaudits from all of these foreign rulers?
3. Knowing what was to come even in the next generation of the throne in Jerusalem (Which we will read tomorrow), how could the wealth Solomon and Israel possessed have served as a false sense of security for the people?  Where are our true and greatest riches found (Philippians 3:8)?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 8:1-18

Helpful thoughts:

• After 20 years of his reign, Solomon begins to reinforce the strength and expand the size of the kingdom (Both geographically and fiscally).
• Solomon carefully and sacrificially ensured the worship of the Temple was carried on as it had been commanded.  He was paying attention and being proactive.
• Solomon’s dealings with his wife, the daughter of Pharaoh, show that he was fully aware of her spiritual condition.
  • Solomon did not bring his wife (wives) to the Lord, they brought their gods to him.

Questions to consider:

1. What great characteristics and successes do we see in the life and reign of Solomon in this chapter?  What cause for concern is wedged right into the middle of the chapter?  With all of the care Solomon took to ensure the strength and success of Israel and the worship of the Lord, where was his great weakness?
2. If Solomon had hoped that his wives would ensure peace and good relations with foreign lands, where did he go wrong?  Who was Israel’s strength and safety?  How many wives did Solomon need and whom should they have worshiped, being “one flesh” with Solomon? (Deuteronomy 17:17)
3. How can Romans 11:36-12:2 encourage us in our lives today?  How much of our lives are under the authority and protection of God?  Is there an area of your life that you have regarded as your own?  How might you need to surrender and repent to the glory of God and for your own good and joy?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 7:1-22

Helpful thoughts:

• What a sight!  As soon as Solomon finished praying, all Israel saw the glory of the Lord come down.  They didn’t need to light any fires for their sacrifices that day!
  • When Israel knew God’s presence was there they fell to their faces down on the ground and worshiped.
• After the celebration ended and all the people went home, God reassured Solomon of His promises.
  • God’s eyes and heart would be with the Temple.  He would answer the prayers of His people.
  • All of this was assured to Solomon…IF the king of Israel remained faithful.

Questions to consider:

1. How is God’s sovereignty put on display in verses 12-14?  Was God simply there to help out in times of trouble or did He have more control than that?  What would have been the purpose of the droughts, pestilences, etc.?  What does God do for those whom He loves (Hebrews 12:6)?
2. What did Solomon and the kings of Israel do later on (1 Kings 11:1-8)?  Was this the only temple Solomon built? What was the eventual result (Ezekiel 10:18, 2 Kings 25:8-17, Ezra 3:12)?
3. This chapter was super exciting until we got to see the conditional aspect of God’s promise…and only because we know the rest of the story.  But, what came next?  Even though this great time came to an end, what promise do we hold onto that will never be broken (Romans 8:28-39, John 10:27-30)?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 6:12-42

Helpful thoughts:

• After addressing the people, Solomon prays to the Lord publicly at the dedication of the Temple.
• The king of Israel showed humility in publicly dropping to his knees and acknowledging the gracious condescension of God to be present in a building made by the hands of men.
• Solomon appeals to God’s promises and asks God to bless the ministry of the Temple.  The primary ministry Solomon’s prayer focuses on is the Lord’s hearing and answering the prayers of His people.

Questions to consider:

1. What aspects of prayer is Solomon specifically asking about in his petition?  What needs, concerns and issues did he anticipate?  How was his God-given wisdom shown in these requests?  How many of his requests would actually come to pass?
2. What does Solomon also acknowledge in verse 36?  Did Temple worship display the righteousness of man or was it a place for sinners to remember to cry out to God for forgiveness and reconciliation?  Was the Temple a place to make men proud or was it a place for humbled people to rejoice in their merciful, gracious God?
3. Why don’t we have to pray toward Jerusalem and the Temple?  Where is God and where has he promised to be for His people?  What are some passages that come to mind?  (Here are a few examples: Matthew 18:20, Matthew 28:20, 1 Corinthians 3:16)

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 6:1-11

Helpful thoughts:

• The theme of today’s passage is this, God fulfills His promises.
• Solomon acknowledges the Lord’s presence in the “thick darkness” that had descended.  Solomon and Israel see and know that God has manifested His presence with them.  What an amazing moment in the history of Israel!
• Solomon built a house that he hoped the Lord would dwell in forever.  God’s promise to dwell in that place was contingent on the faithfulness and humble repentance of the people (2 Chronicles 7:19-20).

Questions to consider:

1. How charged up and excited would this assembly have been seeing the glory and presence of God being manifested in the cloud given the fact that they had never seen anything like it, nor had several previous generations?
2. What fruits should recounting the faithfulness of God produce in our lives?  Because God has been and always will be faithful to His promises made to us, how then should we live?
3. How is God’s mercy and grace put on display in these promises and the covenants?  God knows better than we do that no man could be completely faithful as He is (Romans 3:10).  In God’s covenant with Israel, in calling them to return to Him in repentance continually, what was He already offering to them in abundance?  How does this offer bring Him glory and why must it result in praise? (Psalm 32:1-5)

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 5:2-14

Helpful thoughts:

• The Ark of the Covenant was placed in the Holy of Holies and the glory of the Lord came down as He did in Exodus 40:34-38.
• The Ark of the Covenant contained the written covenant, the written word of God.
• In his study Bible notes, John MacArthur gives these five reasons for emphasis of the Temple in the OT:
  • It was the center of worship that called people to correct belief through the generations.
  • It was the symbol of God’s presence with His people.
  • It was the symbol of forgiveness and grace, reminding the people of the seriousness of sin and the availability of mercy.
  • It prepared the people for the true Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who would take away sin.
  • It was a place of prayer.

Questions to consider:

1. In what way was the priests’ inability to continue ministering a poignant moment of worship compared to all the work they had done prior to God’s glory coming down?  What would have been going through their minds?  How was God praised uniquely in their silence and reverence, and also in their previous singing and sacrifices?
2. How could the fact that God’s written word is the only thing contained in the Ark a reminder to us of the significance of God’s written word?  How precious is the word of God?  What do we see and who is revealed to us when we read it’s words?
3. What Gospel truths do we see in the few lyrics of the song in verse 13?  God is good.  What are we?  What is mercy?  How has God exercised His mercy toward us in Christ?  How long will that mercy endure to all who place their faith in Christ?