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?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 4:1-5:1

• Here is the same passage in the CSB which uses Imperial measurements: 2 Chronicles 4:1-5:1

Helpful thoughts:

• In today’s passage, we are presented with many of the specifics and details of the Temple project.
• Great attention to detail and great amounts of wealth were given to the building of this center of worship.
• Huram was the craftsman sent by King Hiram to assist in the project.

Questions to consider:

1. What impresses you concerning the attention to detail and the willingness to spare no expense in building this place of worship of the Lord?
2. What is the household of God in the New Covenant (In the church today)?  What do passages like 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, and 1 Timothy 3:14-15 teach us concerning the “Temple” of God today?
3. Since we (Individual believers and the church gathered together) are the dwelling place of God in this age, what care and attention should we give?  Where should we go for instruction on how to care for God’s dwelling place?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 3:1-17

• Here is the same passage in the Christian Standard Bible: 2 Chronicles 3:1-17
  • The CSB converts the measurements to feet.  This will help you get a better idea of the sizes and dimensions.

Helpful thoughts:

• Mount Mariah is the location of the events of Genesis 22:1-19 (The sacrifice of Isaac) and 2 Samuel 24:18-25 (David building an altar to stay the plague).
• Solomon got to work pretty quickly after he became king.  But it took about 4 years of planning and preparation to start building and 7.5 years to complete the construction.
• The veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple was only accessed once every year to make atonement for the sin of God’s people.  The veil was torn from top to bottom when Christ atoned for our sins once and for all at the cross (Matthew 27:51).

Questions to consider:

1. What surprised you about the size of the Temple?  What it bigger than you thought?  Smaller?  How does the size of the Temple relate to Solomon’s comment to Hiram in 2:5-6?
2. The pillars in verse 17 were not named after men, but were given names themselves!  The name Jachin means, “He will establish” and the name Boaz means, “In Him is strength.”  Why would these names make sense?  To whom are these names truly referring?  What was being pictured there?
3. How could the names of these pillars be compared with what Jesus taught in Matthew 7:24-27?  How did Jesus remove the need for a barrier between us and the presence of God?  How has Jesus and his teaching become our rock and foundation?

Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 2:1-18

Helpful thoughts:

• For the next several chapters, our attention will be given to the building of the Temple.
• Calling God the maker of heaven and earth was a common way to refer to the Lord among the pagan peoples.  Our God is not just a mover of lightning and thunder.  Our God is not just a grower of harvests.  The Lord, He is God!  He alone is the one true God.
  • Solomon decrees this in his request to Hiram, and Hiram responds respectfully.
• The resident aliens could have consisted of descendants of the Canaanites who had been defeated in war or other immigrants who had moved to Israel after it had been established.
  • These people were being given jobs through this project.  Their lives would quite probably have just gotten better with these new responsibilities. (Exodus 22:21)
  • Those who were given the job of “bearing burdens” just means they were responsible to transport the materials to Jerusalem for the construction.

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways did Solomon deal respectfully with King Hiram and also present a good testimony of the Lord?  What did he write about God that represented the Lord well?  What can we learn from those truths about God and about our conversations with the lost concerning Him?
2. How do we see God’s answer to Solomon’s prayer continuing to be fulfilled in this chapter?  What is Hiram’s view of Solomon’s dealing thus far?
3. Once Solomon set his mind to build, what did he do?  Was he content to simply have the idea, or did he spring into action?  What actions are you taking (Or could you take) to continue to work with Christ in building His church?