2 Chronicles 7:1-9:31 Comments by Stephen Ricker
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The Lord in the Temple
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Memory Verse: 7:17-18
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Outline

MAPS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH
A MAP OF THE DIVISION OF CANAAN
A MAP OF DAVID'S ESCAPE FROM SAUL AND BATTLE AT GILBOA
A MAP OF DAVID'S CONQUESTS
A MAP OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF ISRAEL
A MAP OF JERUSALEM AND THE TEMPLE
A LIST OF ISRAEL'S KINGS AND PROPHETS
A TIMELINE OF ISRAEL'S HISTORY
A TIMELINE FROM BABYLON TO ROMAN EMPIRES

I. The Lord Appears to Solomon (7:1-22)

>1. What happened when Solomon finished praying? (1-3)

* 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "He is good; his love endures forever."

* The first three verses of Chronicles 7 is unique to the book. 1 Kings 8:10-11 records the cloud filling the temple when the ark was brought in. Kings, unlike Chronicles does not record fire coming down from heaven consuming the offering.

* "When Solomon finished praying" -Solomon's dedication prayer is in chapter 6.

* "the glory of the LORD filled the temple" -The glory of the Lord is often recorded in the Bible, both Old and New Testament. The glory is a bright light surrounding God.

>When had the Lord revealed himself like this before? (Exodus 19:16-19, 40:34-38, Lev. 9:23-24, Num. 9:15-16, 11:1, 20:6)

* Exodus 19:16-19 "On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him."

* Exodus 40:34-38 "Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out--until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels."

* Leviticus 9:23-24 "Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown."

* Numbers 9:15-16 "On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire."

* Numbers 11:1 "Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp."

* Numbers 20:6 "Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them."

>When was the last recorded time the Israelites had saw glory of the Lord before the temple's dedication? (1 Sam. 4:22)

* 1 Samuel 4:22 "She said, 'The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.'"

* 1 Kings 6 also records Solomon building the temple in Jerusalem. 1 Kings 7 also record the temple furnishings. 1 Kings 8 also records the glory of the Lord filling the temple, Solomon's speach/prayer, and the temple being dedicated.

* The manifestation the Lord God gave Israel to show his acceptance of their dedication ceremony and the temple they built was extraordinary. Fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices (1). Also, the glory of the LORD filled the temple as it had since the start of the dedication ceremony when they brought the ark into the temple (1, 5:14)

The people's response reveals their hearts and attitudes. When they saw all that had happened they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD (2). They had a change of attitude.

I suspect that they are like most people, including me when we go to a worship event. Whether it be a church service, revival, or musical performance and celebration sometimes it is more like a routine, a habit, or perhaps occasionally like a hindrance. On those days and at that time my heart is lukewarm; neither hot nor cold. I bring my body but my heart is not present.

When in that kind of mode and attitude the Lord Jesus may touch my heart or does some extraordinary thing and my demeanor changes. I am consumed by the fire of the Lord. The temple of my soul is filled with the glory of the LORD. My demeanor is transformed. My heart kneels with my face to the ground.

>2. What did Solomon and all the people do? (4-10)

* 2 Chronicles 7:4-10 "Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. 5 And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. 6 The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the LORD's musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the LORD and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, "His love endures forever." Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing. 7 Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the LORD, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions. 8 So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him--a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. 9 On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the LORD had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel."

* "offered sacrifices before the LORD" -Several types of offerings were prescribed by the Lord thru Moses. One of them was a fellowship offering, thus offered here.

* Verse 6 is unique to Chronicles.

* "musical instruments" -Music was always a part of worship from Moses to present day.

* "consecrated" -Consecrated is according the law of Moses a way to make places and people holy, meaning seperated and special from other people and areas. They were made ready for use in religious service.

* "the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the LORD" -The altar was on one side of this courtyard and the shambles (the place where the animals were slaughtered) was on the other side. A new place to to offered sacrifices was created between the two. This was no a regulation of the Mosaic law.

* "the festival at that time... seventh month" -The Feast of Tabernacles is in the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar.

* "Twenty-two thousand... a hundred and twenty thousand... seven days" -Over 845 cattle, sheet, and goats were offered every hour. Over 14 every minute.

>What event does this event foreshadow? (Matt. 26:64)

* Matthew 26:64 ""Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

* When Jesus was transformed on the mount James, John, and Peter saw the Jesus' appearance change. The glory of the Lord is around Jesus. The book of Revelation also has John witnessing the glory of the Lord around Jesus.

* Jesus declared that he will come in glory again. I believe this is soon.

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>3. After Solomon finishing his construction projects what did the Lord do? (11-12)

* 2 Chronicles 7:11-12 "When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, 12 the LORD appeared to him at night and said: "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices."

* 1 Kings 9:1-9 also records the Lord appearing to Solomon after the temple was dedicated.

* The Lord's opening words to Solomon (11-12) is much shorter in 2 Chronicles 7 compared to 1 Kings 9.

* The books of Chronicles and Kings records the history of Israel and Judah. They differ in some areas, not that they counterdict each other. Rather their emphasis is different. This is especially true with Solomon's reign. 2 Chronicles chapter 2 is about Solomon preporations for building the temple. 1 Chronicles 3 and 4 are about Solomon building the temple. 1 Chronicles 5 is about the ark being brought into the temple. 1 Chronicles 6 records the temple dedication and Solomon's prayer. 1 Chronicles 7 also records the Lord appearing to Solomon after the temple was dedicated. 1 Chronicles 8 records Solomon's achievments. Kings do not record much in these chapters.

Though it hurts to do so God the Father disciplines his people. We think bad things are happening. God knows that these things will end in good. God does send drought, locusts infestations, and plague among his people (13). But only as a last resort.

* "the temple of the Lord" -The temple took 7 years to built, this not including the preparation work of David.

* "the LORD" -LORD in English is also known in modern times to be the Hebrew YHWH pronounced "Yahweh", the proper name of the God of Israel. The NIV uses all capitals for LORD when it's Yahweh.

* 1 Kings 9:3 "The LORD said to him: "I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there."

* "I... have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices." -1 Kings 9 goes into more detail as to what this means. First, it says, "by putting my Name there forever". This promise came with exceptions based on the Israelites heart attitude and dedication towards the LORD. The Lord's name being associated with the temple in Jerusalem did not mean that the Lord was confined to the temple as if to imprison him. Rather, people could and would refer to it as the temple of the Lord much as temples were built for idols. Second Kings says, "My eyes and my heart will always be there". The Lord promised to pay close attention to everyone who came there to worship, pray, and offer sacrifices. This does not mean that the Lord would not watch anyone outside of the temple and it's courtyards. Rather it would be a place where people would go. The Lord had told Moses about a time coming when such a place would be needed and acceptable.

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>What did he tell him about the temple? (13-16; 1 Kings 9:3)

* 2 Chronicles 7:13-16 "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will 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. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there."

* Verses 13-15 is not recorded in 1 Kings 9.

* Some Christians will have problems in accepting the words the Lord God told Solomon after the dedication in 2 Chronicles 7:13-15. The Lord God told Solomon that he causes drought, locusts infestations, and plague among his people (13). Some believe that God does not bring nor cause bad things to happen. They are correct. The fact of the matter is these things are not bad from God's perspective. Many times they are the best means in helping his people from sinning. Often they are the last resort that will turn his people from sinful habits and impulses.

A good parent who loves their children wants the best for them. They do whatever is wise and best for their children. They sacrifice themselves for their children.

Children are born with human nature; the potential to do extraordinary good and bad. Doing good is righteousness. Doing bad is sin. The truth of human nature is that we tend to sin so easily and quickly.

A good parent recognizes the power of human nature in the children they hold so dear. They know the means to help their children succeed in life by showing and giving them life tools. The tools give their beloved ones the desire to do right and the longing to resist doing wrong. Tools include boundaries, rewards, and punishment (14).

The Lord God is an excellent parent. Therefore he is a great example. God does not remove the tool of punishment from his means to lovingly help his children. He is always looking to see if a wayward child has turned from their wicked way (14).

Though it hurts to do so God the Father disciplines his people. We think bad things are happening. God knows that these things will end in good. God does send drought, locusts infestations, and plague among his people (13). But only as a last resort.

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>How is Jesus' promise to us similar? (John 14:20-23)

* John 14:20-23 "On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

* 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple."

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The Queen of Sheba

* See a wood engraving by unknown author to the right depicting the Queen of Sheba. The engraving appeared in Bibles.

>4. What is integrity of heart and uprightness and what do they bring? (17-18)

* 2 Chronicles 7:17-18 "As for you, if you walk before me as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, 18 I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man to rule over Israel.'"

* 1 Kings 9:1-9 also record the Lord appearing to Solomon.

* After the Lord spoke to Solomon about choosing and consecrating the temple Solomon built so that the LORD's Name may be there forever he talked directly to Solomon. The Lord reminded Solomon about the covenant he had made with his father David (18). The Lord now made the same covenant with Solomon (17,18).

The covenant with David and Solomon was a two-sided covenant. Solomon was to walk before the Lord, do all the Lord commanded, and observe the Lord's decrees and laws (17). If Solomon did this the Lord would establish Solomon's throne.

Solomon had a choice. He could turn away and forsake the Lord's decrees and commands and serve other gods and worshiped them too (19). If he did then the Lord send the Israelites into exile and reject the temple Solomon made (20). The Lord's Name would not be diminished for everyone would know that the Israelite's disaster came because Solomon and the Lord's people failed to keep their end of the covenant (21,22).

Jesus established a new covenant with his people. The basis of the covenant of the blood of the lamb can be found in the gospels. I have accepted the covenant. The new covenant is similar to the covenant with Israel with important differences.

The new covenant is two-sided too. I am to have faith in the Lord as Abraham did. The Lord Jesus' side is to be my God through eternity. He would free me from sin, judgment, and death. He is my friend, lover, and master. When he speaks I trust and obey in faith.

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>What happens when people reject God and his promises? (19-22)

* 2 Chronicles 7:19-22 "But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 And though this temple is now so imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' 22 People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them--that is why he brought all this disaster on them.'"

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>What is the Lord sure to make known to the nations if his people reject him?

* 1 Kings 9:8-9 "And though this temple is now imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them--that is why the LORD brought all this disaster on them.'"

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>Is this true to this day? (Matt. 13:40-43, 47-50, 22:11-14, 24:48-51, 25:28-30)

* Matthew 13:40-43 "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear."

* Matthew 13:47-50 "Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

* Matthew 22:11-14 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "For many are invited, but few are chosen."

* Matthew 24:48-51 "But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

* Matthew 25:28-30 "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

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II. Solomon's Reign (8:1-18)

>5. What did Solomon rebuild? (1-6)

* 2 Chronicles 8:1-6 "At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built the temple of the LORD and his own palace, 2 Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram had given him, and settled Israelites in them. 3 Solomon then went to Hamath Zobah and captured it. 4 He also built up Tadmor in the desert and all the store cities he had built in Hamath. 5 He rebuilt Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon as fortified cities, with walls and with gates and bars, 6 as well as Baalath and all his store cities, and all the cities for his chariots and for his horses--whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled." (1-6)

* "the villages" -Comparisons with 1 Kings 9:10-14, 1 Kings 5:1-12 and these verses suggests that during Solomon's 20 years of building activity he became more indebted to Hiram that anticipated in their original agreement, which had provided for payment for labor and wood. From 1 Kings 9:11 and 14 it is evident that in addition to wood and labor Solomon had also acquired great quantities of gold from Hiram. It appears that Solomon gave Hiram the 20 towns in the Phoenician-Galilee border area as a surety for repayment of the gold. The Chronicler(s) indicate that at some later date when Solomon's gold reserves were increased, perhaps after the return of the expedition to Ophir (1 Kings 9:26-28, 10:11) or the visit of the queen of Sheba, he settled his debt with Hiram and recovered the 20 towns held as collateral. (NIV Study Bible)

* Chronicles record Solomon's successes and achievements. These verses are of great building projects; the temple, his palace, new villages in Lebanon, and other areas of Israel. Solomon also built a palace for his Egyptian wife (11).

I want to write that the Lord gave Solomon success because he built the temple. I also want to say that the Lord kept his promise to Solomon. When Solomon asked for wisdom, the Lord said he would also give him wealth, riches, and honor such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have (2 Chron. 1:12).

I wrote these truths, but my heart is not in it this Friday morning. I am sleepy, too sleepy to think about someone else's success. Too tired to look for understanding and direction. I will seek the Lord in meditation and prayer in my easy chair.

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> Why might this have happened? (1 Kings 9:10-14)

* 1 Kings 9:10-14 records that Hiram give these towns to Solomon. Perhaps as part of his effort to idealize Solomon, the Chronicler does not record the fact that Hiram found these cities unacceptable payments. He mentions only that sequel to the story, the retun of the cities to Solomon and their subsequent improvement. They may also have served as a kind of collateral against the monies owed Hiram, who returned them when the debt was satisfied. The Chronicler also says nothing aout Pharoah's gift of Gezer to Solomon (1 Kings 9:16). (NIV Study Bible)

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>Was this a good thing? (Luke 6:38; Matt. 6:3-4)

* Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

* Matthew 6:3-4 "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

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>6. What is slavery (conscripted) labor? (7-8)

* 2 Chronicles 8:7-8 "All the people left from the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites (these peoples were not Israelites), 8 that is, their descendants remaining in the land, whom the Israelites had not destroyed--these Solomon conscripted for his slave labor force, as it is to this day.

* 1 Kings 9:15-21 also records Solomon's actions to the remaining Canaanites.

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>Who were Solomon's forced labor? What did he make them do?

* "the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites (these peoples were not Israelites)"

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>Who were the Israelites? (9)

* 2 Chronicles 8:9-10 "But Solomon did not make slaves of the Israelites for his work; they were his fighting men, commanders of his captains, and commanders of his chariots and charioteers. 10 They were also King Solomon's chief officials--two hundred and fifty officials supervising the men." (7-10)

* 1 Samuel 8:11-18 "He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day."

* 1 Kings 9:22-23 also records Solomon not making slaves of the Israelites.

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>What would this eventually lead to? (1 Kings 12:12-15)

* 1 Kings 12:12-15 "Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, "Come back to me in three days." The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, he followed the advice of the young men and said, "My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions." So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word the LORD had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite."

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Solomon Egyptian Wife

* See a wood engraving by unknown author to the right depicting Solomon leading his Egyptian wife to her newly constructed palace. Trumpets are sounding. The couple is lead by young madens carrying incense. Young madens are tending to her long gown. People are seen on roof tops in the far right as wells as the tops of soldier spears. The engraving appeared in Bibles.

>7. Who was Solomon's wife? (11)

* 2 Chronicles 8:11-18 "Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, "My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the LORD has entered are holy."

* 1 Kings 9:24 also mentions that Pharoah's daughter was his wife.

* Song of Songs (Solomon) and Psalm 45 were written for the engagement and marriage of Solomon and Pharoah's daughter.

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>What did Solomon continue to do? (12-15)

* 2 Chronicles 8:12-18 "On the altar of the LORD that he had built in front of the portico, Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings to the LORD, 13 according to the daily requirement for offerings commanded by Moses for Sabbaths, New Moons and the three annual feasts--the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. 14 In keeping with the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their duties, and the Levites to lead the praise and to assist the priests according to each day's requirement. He also appointed the gatekeepers by divisions for the various gates, because this was what David the man of God had ordered. 15 They did not deviate from the king's commands to the priests or to the Levites in any matter, including that of the treasuries. 16 All Solomon's work was carried out, from the day the foundation of the temple of the LORD was laid until its completion. So the temple of the LORD was finished. 17 Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and Elath on the coast of Edom. 18 And Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own officers, men who knew the sea. These, with Solomon's men, sailed to Ophir and brought back four hundred and fifty talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon."

* The Chronicler(s) omits the accounts of Solomon's wives and the rebellions at the end of his reign (1 Kings 11:1-14), both of which would detract from his uniformly positive portrayal of Solomon.

* 1 Kings 9:25 also briefly mentions Solomon's offerings. The Chronicler(s) goes into greater detail.

* 1 Kings 9:26-28 and 10:11-12 also records the ships from Hiram. The two accounts have slight differences.

* Three subject matters are addressed; Solomon's Egyptian wife, sacrificed burnt offerings, and entrepreneurial entourage.

Men and women have many issues and matters that we believe and feel are important and so implore our attention. Some have to do with honor and pride, while others have to do with interdependence and society. While these need to be incorporated into my life the three universal human subjects that Solomon centered his attention to at the beginning of his reign are spouse and family (11), God and spiritual life (12-16), and self-sustained finance (17-18).

Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter shortly after he became king before he started to build the temple (1 Kings 3:1). Although the Bible does not record their son, Rehoboam succeeded Solomon as king it is understood he was. Twenty years after they married Solomon was still concerned about the well-being of his wife. However, Solomon considered one thing more important than his spouse at this time in his life, the holiness of the Lord his God (11). The solution was to build her a new palace, one adjacent to his and the temple.

Solomon's relationship to the Lord God, the spiritual well-being of his nation, and religious ceremony were also important to Solomon. Solomon followed the laws and decrees the Lord established through Moses and David (12-16).

Solomon supported himself and his family through trade with other nations. He formed a political and financial relationship with Hiram (Huram), the king of Tyre on the Phoenician coast who were maritime experts. Solomon took a risk. Yet the Lord granted him success as he had promised.

Solomon kept his priorities right during the first twenty years of his reign. Life was good and all were happy. When Solomon ignored all three of these in the second half of his reign his life, his family, and the nation slid into meaningless anxiety and anguish. He records this in his book, "Ecclesiastes" shortly before his death. His conclusion is, "Fear God and keep his commandment, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." (Eccl. 12:13-14) Judgment is not only afterlife but during life as well. My decisions have consequences for me, my family, and my society. I need to keep my priorities wise and clear.

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III. The Queen of Sheba Visit's Solomon (9:1-31)

>8. Who was the queen of Sheba and what compelled her to visit Solomon? (1)

* 2 Chronicles 9:1 "When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. Arriving with a very great caravan--with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones--she came to Solomon and talked with him about all she had on her mind."

* 1 Kings 10:1-13 also records the queen of Sheba visiting Solomon. There is some slight differences in the two accounts.

* "the queen of Sheba"

* "the fame of Solomon"

* "his relation to the name of the LORD"

* "she came to test him with hard questions"

* "talked with him about all that she had on her mind"

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Solomon Receiving the Queen of Sheba

* See a wood engraving by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) to the right depicting the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon in his throne room. Dore's drawings were in Bibles that are now in public domain. This one was scanned in by creationism.org.

>How did Solomon receive her? (2)

* 2 Chronicles 9:2 "Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her."

* "Solomon answered all her questions"

* "nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her."

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>What did she discover? (3-4)

* 2 Chronicles 9:3-7 "When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, as well as the palace he had built, 4 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, the cupbearers in their robes and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed."

* "saw all the wisdom of Solomon"

* "the palace he had built"

* "the food on his table"

* "the seating of his officials"

* "the attending servants in their robes"

* "the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the LORD"

* "she was overwhelmed"

* The Queen of Sheba had tough questions for Solomon to answer (2). She had a lot on her mind (1). Being queen she must have been tempted by shyness, pride, and fear to try to solve problems on her own. Yet she overcame these and set out to get answers.

The location of Sheba has several competing possibilities. Some believe it was in either south-west Arabia or modern-day Sudan on the north-east coast of Africa. Either place made the trip hard and dangerous. The Queen of Sheba exhibited grandeur by risking the trip to improve her life and country.

Seeking out advice and advancing education is good and wise. I need not shy away from asking questions. With the worse answers only being either wrong, a "NO", or an "I DON'T KNOW" and the best only being a wealth of information to improve my existence only a fool would succumb to shiness, fear, and pride. Of course some sources of information will be lies, propaganda, or misinformation.

Solomon supplied the Queen of Sheba with all the answers and information she needed (2). She was exuberant and overwhelmed (4). Both she and Solomon was blessed by the occasion. Jesus said of her, "The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here." (Matt. 12:42; Luke 11:31) Seeking out advice from a man of God could lead to eternal life.

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>How did she describe a country lead by wisdom given by the Lord?

* 2 Chronicles 9:5-7 "She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 6 But I did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard. 7 How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!"

* "The report I heard in my own country"

* "I did not believe what they said"

* "How happy your..."

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>Who did she praise? (8)

* 2 Chronicles 9:8 "Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the LORD your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them, to maintain justice and righteousness."

* "Praise be to the LORD your God"

* "to rule for the LORD your God"

* "the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever"

* "to maintain justice and righteousness"

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>Why might she give a gift to Solomon? (9)

* 2 Chronicles 9:9 "Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon."

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Queen of Sheba

* The engraving to the right is depicting the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon.

>How did he respond in kind? (10-12)

* 2 Chronicles 9:9-12 "(The men of Hiram and the men of Solomon brought gold from Ophir; they also brought algumwood and precious stones. 11 The king used the algumwood to make steps for the temple of the LORD and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Nothing like them had ever been seen in Judah.) 12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country."

* 1 Kings 9:26-28 and 10:11-12 also records the ships from Hiram. The two accounts have slight differences.

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>9. How did the Lord bless Solomon when he sought to obey the Lord and worship him? (13-14)

* 2 Chronicles 9:13-15 "The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents, 14 not including the revenues brought in by merchants and traders. Also all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred bekas of hammered gold went into each shield."

* 1 Kings 10:14-29 is a similar passage.

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>What did Jesus have to say about this? (Matt. 6:25-34)

* Matthew 6:25-34 ""Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and a these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

* Solomon was given by the Lord great riches and splendor beyond what his father had even dreamed of when he wandered in the desert trying to keep one step ahead of Saul's spear. David longed for a glass of water from Bethlehem while his son's annual intake of gold was man's number, 666 talents (that's about 25 tons). What makes one person wealthy and another with few possessions or even no possessions and hungry?

Could it merely be a person that works hard, saves, and invests will be wealthy, healthy, and wise? This may have been true for some as it was for Solomon, but it is not a universal truth. What about children who are born in privilege, do little, and remain wealthy because their ancestors became so wealthy? This may have been true for some as it was for Solomon, but it is not a universal truth.

The truth is each person's life is different. We cannot predict what will happen next; pandemics, war, natural disasters, and health problems have depleted many a fortune in hours and minutes. While others suddenly find themselves is comfort and easy with little work of their own.

"Everyone wants more" is a universal truth. The person who says they do not want more stays that way until they desire and then acquire something new.

Two more universal truths are common to all societies in history. An abundance of opulence does not guarantee happiness and contentment. Just as counter-culture is that poverty is not merely made of those in misery and depression.

Another truth is that wealth is usually defined as someone having more than peers in their family, friends, and neighbors.

One final thought, just because I want someone else's wealth does not justify me taking from them, lusting after their possessions, and institutionalizing a distribution of others' hard-earned and/or God-given gifts to myself and others. The opposite is true. Just because I have wealth does not justify me keeping it to myself, lusting after more, and institutionalizing keeping others from earning properly in proportion to what they work for.

Jesus and the apostles did not even have a place to sleep and ate poverty grain from the fields. Solomon made silver common to the point of being worthless (20). Be grateful for either.

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Queen of Sheba

* The painting to the right is depicting the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon.

>Review all that Solomon had and did as recorded in verses 16-19. What stands out?

* 2 Chronicles 9:16-28 "He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold, with three hundred bekas of gold in each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. 17 Then the king made a great throne inlaid with ivory and overlaid with pure gold. 18 The throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them. 19 Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom. 20 All King Solomon's goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon's day. 21 The king had a fleet of trading ships manned by Hiram's men. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons. 22 King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. 23 All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 24 Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift--articles of silver and gold, and robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules. 25 Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 26 He ruled over all the kings from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. 27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. 28 Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and from all other countries."

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>10. Where else was Solomon's life recorded? How long did he reign in Jerusalem?

* 2 Chronicles 9:29-31 "As for the other events of Solomon's reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the records of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat? 30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 Then he rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king." (29-31)

* 1 Kings 11:41-43 also records Solomon's death.

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