II Chronicles Chapter 7
Please read: II Chronicles 7 –
This chapter contains the words that have been used in many sermons across our land and have become extremely important in our country with all the divisions and destruction we see. A portion of this chapter was recently read aloud by President Trump for the Museum of the Bible’s event called “America Reads the Bible.” President Trump’s reading of II Chronicles 7:11-22 was recorded at the Oval Office. Contained within the chapter are the very important words that our country needs to heed. “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
These words were written as a promise to God’s people that if they turned to other gods and to wicked ways but confessed their sins, He promised to hear their prayers and to forgive their sins. We know that sadly the people falling away from God was exactly what happened. They desperately needed to humble themselves before a holy God and pray and ask for His forgiveness, much as the people of our nation today need to do so today.
The words contained in this chapter are the most important words that were given to Solomon following the dedication ceremony of the temple. From these words we learn that God allows mankind to operate with a free-will. It is our choice whether we will obey Him and follow after Him with our whole heart. Yes, there would be consequences for turning to sin and wicked ways; but there is always the promise that when we humble ourselves before God and ask Him to forgive us, that He does exactly that.
Let's Reflect
1. What happened as soon as Solomon had finished his prayer to God?
2. In what form did the glory of the LORD manifest upon the new temple?
3. What was the response of the people who saw all this spectacular display of God’s awesomeness?
4. For seven days the people offered up sacrifices to God. What other things did the people participate in during those 7 days?
5. The wording of verse 10 tells us that the people were so enthralled with the worship and celebration of God that they needed to be told to do what?
6. The temple was finished, the sacrifices were made, the feasting was over, and the people left. This is when God chose to speak to Solomon, when it was quiet. What was the first thing God said to Solomon that night?
7. God promised that His eyes and His ears would be attentive to the prayers made at the temple. What further promise did God speak to Solomon about the temple? See verse 16.
8. What did God warn Solomon of if the people turned away from God and served other gods? What would happen to them?
9. God said that people would talk about the destruction that occurred in that place, but there would be others that would know the reason it happened. What would others say would be the reason that destruction came upon Jerusalem?
10. The kingdom of David was passed on down through the ages because that is what God promised David and Solomon. But He also allowed the kingdom to be taken away for a season because He promised He would do that too in response to their sin. Do you think that as Solomon heard God speak this great warning over Israel, that he ever imagined a day when the people of Israel would be ripped away and taken to Babylon?
