II Chronicles Chapter 6
Please read: II Chronicles 6 –
Reading through this chapter we learn that Solomon understood many things about the character of God. Solomon knew that it was God who had built the temple, that he and David his father had only carried out what God had planned. He understood that the thick cloud they were experiencing was only a small part of all of the essence of God. He understood that God dwells in heaven and that their request for Him to dwell in the temple they had just completed was not a place that could contain all of what God is. It was merely a place where they might have a visible sign, a reassurance that God was with them and that He is God.
Solomon understood that God desired to make Himself known to His people. And he understood that His near presence could only be felt when the people chose to live according to God’s laws and commandments. And one of the most beautiful things that he understood was that the people, no matter where they were and no matter what circumstances they were in, they could pray and speak to God and He would hear their prayers. More importantly they could pray and ask for God’s forgiveness, and He would hear their prayers. The animal sacrifices were a step of faith, recognizing that their sin could only be redeemed through the substitutionary shedding of blood.
Let's Reflect
1. According to verse 6, why was Jerusalem the place where the temple was built?
2. Solomon was standing on a raised platform as he spoke these words of dedication and prayer, allowing all the people gathered to be able to see and hear him. In the hearing of all the people who did the king of Israel give credit to for the building and completion of the temple?
3. What did Solomon remind the people of, that the ark contained, the ark they had just placed inside the temple?
4. What did King Solomon do in front of all the people before beginning his prayer of dedication?
5. Verse 18 clearly shows that Solomon understood what great truth about God?
6. Solomon clearly understood that all men are sinners in need of forgiveness. In his prayer what did He ask God to do from heaven when He heard the prayers that he prayed or that the people prayed asking for forgiveness?
7. Solomon prayed for God’s intervention when they might experience famine or pestilence or war. According to verse 30 what did Solomon understand about God’s relationship with people?
8. Solomon even prayed for the foreigner who might come to Israel because he or she heard about the greatness of the God of Israel. Why did Solomon ask God to answer the prayers of a foreigner who might come to the temple to pray?
9. The words of his prayer in verses 36-39 would be comforting to the ears of the people who the chronicler was writing to since at the time of his writing they had just been released from their captivity in Babylon. And so, these words that Solomon prayed were in a sense prophetic words. What encouragement can any person find in these words no matter what period of history they live in?
10. In the final verses of this chapter, Solomon’s prayer of dedication alluded to the temple as being a place for God to do what? This was a reference to Moses and the Ark of the Covenant that had been moved from place to place in their wilderness wanderings.
Numbers 10:33-36 So they set out from the mount of the LORD three days’ journey. And the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them. And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day, whenever they set out from the camp.
And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” And when it rested, he said, “Return, O LORD, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”
