II Chronicles 6

Solomon prays to the LORD verse 1- 2

Then said Solomon

The LORD has said that HE would dwell in the thick darkness

BUT I have built an house of habitation for YOU

and a place for YOUR dwelling for ever

Solomon blesses whole congregation verse 3- 6

And the king turned his face

and blessed the whole congregation of Israel

and all the congregation of Israel stood

And he said

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel

WHO has with HIS hands fulfilled that which HE spoke with

HIS mouth to my father David saying

Since the day that I brought forth MY people out of the land of Egypt

I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build a house in

that MY name might be there

Neither chose I any man to be a ruler over MY people Israel

but I have chosen Jerusalem that MY name might be there

and I have chosen David to be over MY people Israel

Solomon is the chosen son to build Temple verse 7- 9

Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the

name of the LORD God of Israel

But the LORD said to David my father

Forasmuch as it was in your heart to build a house for MY name

you did well in that it was in your heart

notwithstanding you shall not build the house

BUT your son which shall come forth out of your loins

he shall build the house for MY name

Solomon comment of fulfilled promises of LORD verse 10- 11

The LORD therefore has performed HIS word that HE has spoken

for I am risen up in the room of David my father

and am set on the throne of Israel

as the LORD PROMISED

and have build the house for the name of the

LORD God of Israel

and in it have I put the ark wherein is the covenant of the LORD

that HE made with the children of Israel

Solomon on scaffold to pray verse 12- 13

And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the

congregation of Israel – and spread forth his hands

For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold – of five cubits long

and five cubits broad – and three cubits high

and had set it in the midst of the court

and on it he stood

and kneeled down on his knees before all the

congregation of Israel – and spread forth

his hands toward HEAVEN

Prayer: Solomon praises LORD for promises verse 14- 15

And said

O LORD God of Israel – there is no God like YOU in the heaven

nor in the earth – which keeps covenant

and shows mercy unto YOUR servants

that walk before YOU with all their hearts

YOU which has kept with YOUR servant David my father

that which YOU have promised him – and spoke with YOUR mouth

and have fulfilled it with YOUR hand as it is this day

Prayer: Solomon asks LORD to fulfill promise verse 16- 17

Now therefore – O LORD God of Israel

keep with YOUR servant David my father that which

YOU have promised him

saying

There shall not fail you a man in MY sight to sit on the

throne of Israel

YET so that your children take heed to their way to walk in

MY law – as you have walked before ME

NOW then – O LORD God of Israel – let YOUR word be verified

which YOU hast spoken unto YOUR servant David

Prayer: Solomon asks LORD to hear prayers verse 18- 21

But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?

BEHOLD – heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot

contain YOU

how much less this house which I have built

Have respect therefore to the PRAYER of YOUR servant

and to his supplication O LORD my God

to hearken unto the cry and the PRAYER which

YOUR servant PRAY before YOU

that YOUR eyes may be open on this house day and night

on the place whereof

YOU have said that YOU would put YOUR name there

to hearken unto the prayer which YOUR servant

prays toward this place

Hearken therefore to the supplications of YOUR servant

and of YOUR people Israel – which they shall make

toward this place hear YOU from YOUR dwelling place

even from HEAVEN – and when YOU hear

FORGIVE

Prayer: Solomon asks LORD to judge verse 22- 23

IF a man sin against his neighbor

and an oath be laid on him to make him swear

and the oath come before YOUR altar in this house

THEN hear YOU from heaven – and do – and judge YOUR servants

be requiting the wicked – by recompensing his way upon

his own head – and by justifying the righteous

by giving him according to his righteousness

Prayer: Solomon asks LORD to forgive verse 24- 25

IF YOUR people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy

BECAUSE they have sinned against YOU

and shall return and confess YOUR name

and pray and make supplication before

YOU in this house

THEN hear YOU from the heavens – and forgive the sin of YOUR

people Israel – and bring them again to the land which

YOU gave to them and to their fathers

Prayer: Solomon asks LORD to train verse 26- 27

When the heaven is shut up – and there is no rain

BECAUSE they have sinned against YOU

YET IF they PRAY toward this place – and confess YOUR name

and turn from their sin – when YOU do AFFLICT them

THEN hear YOU from heaven – and forgive the sin of YOUR servants

and of YOUR people Israel – when YOU have TAUGHT them

the good way wherein they should walk

And send rain upon YOUR land

which YOU have given to YOUR people for an inheritance

Prayer: Solomon asks LORD to keep land verse 28- 31

IF there be dearth in the land – IF there be pestilence – IF there be blasting

or mildew – locust – caterpillars

IF their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land

whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be

THEN what PRAYER or what SUPPLICATION so ever shall be

made of any man – or of all YOUR people Israel

when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief

and shall spread forth his hands in this house

THEN hear YOU from heaven YOUR dwelling place – and forgive

and render unto every man according to all his ways

whose heart YOU know

(for YOU only know the hearts of the children of men)

that they may fear YOU – to walk in YOUR ways

so long as they live in the land which YOU

gave to our fathers

Prayer: Solomon asks LORD to hear foreigners verse 32- 33

Moreover, concerning the stranger – which is not of YOUR people Israel

but is come from a far country for YOUR great name’s sake

and YOUR mighty hand – YOUR stretched out arm

IF they come and PRAY in this house

THEN hear YOU from the heavens – even from YOUR dwelling place

and do according to all that the stranger calls to YOU for

that all people of the earth may know YOUR name

and fear YOU – as does YOUR people Israel

and may know that this house which I have

built is called by YOUR name

Prayer: Solomon asks LORD to give victory verse 34- 35

IF YOUR people go out to war against their enemies by the way that

YOU shall send them – and they PRAY to YOU toward this city

which YOU have chosen – and the house which I have built for

YOUR name

THEN hear YOU from the heavens their PRAYER and their

SUPPLICATION and MAINTAIN their cause

Prayer: Solomon asks LORD regarding return verse 36- 39

IF they sin against YOU – (for there is no man which sins not)

and YOU be angry with them – and deliver them over

before their enemies – and they carry them away captives

to a land far off or near

YET IF they bethink themselves in the land, whither they are carried captive

and turn and PRAY to YOU in the land of their captivity

saying

We have sinned – we have done amiss – and have dealt wickedly

IF they return to YOU with all their heart and with all their soul in the land

of their captivity – whither they have carried them captives

and PRAY toward their land

which YOU gave to their fathers

and toward the city which YOU have chosen

and toward the house which I have built for

YOUR name

THEN hear YOU from the heavens – even from YOUR dwelling place

their PRAYER and their SUPPLICATIONS

and MAINTAIN their cause – and FORGIVE

YOUR people which have sinned against YOU

Prayer: Solomon asks LORD to be attentive verse 40

Now my God – let – I beseech YOU – YOUR eyes be open

and let YOUR ears be attentive unto the PRAYER that is

made in this place

Benediction verse 41- 42

Now therefore arise – O LORD God – into YOUR resting place

YOU – and the ark of YOUR strength – let the priests

O LORD God – be clothed with salvation

and let YOUR saints rejoice in goodness

O LORD God – turn not away the face of YOUR anointed

REMEMBER the mercies of David YOUR servant

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that MY name might be there; and have chosen David to be over MY people Israel. (977 “chosen” [bachar] means to examine, to select for one’s own reasons or purposes from a number of alternatives, to prove, choose, appoint, elect, or decide for)

DEVOTION: Here we have the LORD choosing a place to put HIS Temple. HE has chosen the city of Jerusalem. HE has chosen HIS servant Solomon to build the Temple in Jerusalem. HE has organized the building through both David and Solomon. The Temple is complete and now Solomon is praying for the LORD to bless this location with a special blessing.

The special blessing that Solomon wanted both for him and future generations was that the LORD would listen to the prayers of HIS people when they called out to HIM toward the Temple. He wanted the LORD to allow the people to cry out to HIM from captivity for forgiveness and receive it from the LORD.

Once the LORD has chosen someone to be HIS follower, HE wants his followers to follow properly. If they don’t follow they will need to cry out to HIM in prayer for forgiveness, so that, they can be restored to a place of blessing.

Today we cry out to the LORD toward heaven and ask forgiveness for our sins just like the children of Israel needed to do in the Old Testament. Sin breaks our fellowship with the LORD and HE has given us a way to restore our fellowship just like HE did for the children of Israel in the Old Testament.

Confession of sin is necessary to keep the blessings of the LORD coming toward HIS people. If we say that we have not sinned, we are called liars because all humans sin from the day they are born until the day they die. It is what they do with their sin that makes the difference.

God’s chosen people need to pray to HIM through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in Jesus name and HE will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and restore them to proper fellowship with HIM. The first prayer HE hears is the one for salvation and all those after it are for restoration of fellowship.

CHALLENGE: Are we honoring the LORD as HIS chosen people? HE chose us before the foundation of the world to serve HIM properly.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 10 The LORD therefore has performed HIS word that HE had spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. (6965 “performed” [quwm] means to rise, arise, to get up, stand up, to come to fruition, to put in effect, established, to cause to arise, set up, erect, build, or bring on the scene)

DEVOTION: When the LORD says something is going to happen It will happen. Here we find that David wanted to build a Temple to the LORD but because he was a man of war the LORD told him that his son was going to build the Temple.

Now we have Solomon standing up and speaking to the children of Israel after the Temple was built stating that the LORD kept HIS promise to David. They were standing before the Temple that was built in Solomon’s reign with the realization that David had gathered much of the material for the Temple during his reign as king.

So it was easy for Solomon to build the Temple of the LORD with the material his father had gathered and the arrangements that his father had made with other nations to provide the material necessary for the building.

God had a plan and both David and Solomon were part of it. HE still has a plan but today it is for the building of HIS church in our world. HE has given the message of the gospel to the disciples and they have spread it across the Roman Empire.

We live in a time period that all of the world has heard the message of salvation through those who are followers of Jesus Christ. The gospel or good news is going out to all the world, so that, when judgment day comes no one will have an excuse for not becoming a believer.

Those that reject the good news of salvation will not be able to stand on the Day of Judgment and say they never had a chance to become a follower of Jesus Christ. There will be no excuses accepted.

Our responsibility to is to spread the Gospel to all of those in our area. This is one of the reasons why we have church. Our church building should be a lighthouse to all those around. Our message should be spread through the testimonies of those in attendance to their neighbors.

Those who reject the message of salvation through Jesus Christ will stand before the Great White Throne Judgement with no excuse for their actions of rejection of the message of salvation.

Those who are believers will be judged for their actions regarding their neighbors. Many will have their works burned up because they were not the witnesses they should have been.

Here we have Solomon standing up before Israel and stating that the LORD is the provider of salvation for the nation. They have a responsibility to live for the LORD and today we have that same responsibility.

CHALLENGE: How do we stand up to this challenge? How is the church reaching their world for the LORD? Today is the day of Salvation for our neighbors and friends.

____________________________________________________________

: 13 For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and on it he stood, and kneeled down on his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven. (1288 “kneeled down” [barak] means to rest one’s weight on one’s knees, often as a sign of reverence, submission or shame, to invoke God or to ask for a blessing)

DEVOTION: A cubit is between 18 and 21 inches long. So as we look at the measurements of this platform it was built to be high above the people, so that, all could see what King Solomon was doing before the LORD.

He knelt down before all the people to show respect for the LORD. HE raised his hands toward heaven to show that he knew that the LORD was above him and the nation.

He prayed for the LORD to bless the Temple but also to bless the people of his generation and the next. He wanted the people to hear his prayer, so that, they understand the conditions of forgiveness from the LORD. He wanted the people to understand that they would need forgiveness both now and in the future. He was not naive enough to think that he or the children of Israel would not sin from this point on. He knew that he would sin and need to confess and he wanted the people to know that they would face judgment in the future for their sins and come to the realization that only the LORD could deliver them from their situation.

The children of Israel would wait until after judgment of the LORD before they would turn to the LORD for forgiveness. They would wait too long just like sometimes we wait too long to go to the LORD and ask forgiveness.

God is still judging sin today. HE wants HIS followers to establish a close walk with HIM to the point that when they sin they come to HIM immediately and ask for forgiveness. We need to keep short accounts with the LORD.

Solomon’s prayer needs to be studied because he gives many different situations where God’s people need to come to HIM for forgiveness. He doesn’t cover them all but he gives us a good idea of what needs to be done when we face judgment.

CHALLENGE: When was the last time you or I have been on our knees praying to the LORD for blessing for ourselves and for those that we minister to on a regular basis?

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men) (3824 “heart” [lebab] means inner man, will, mind, inclination, determination of will, conscience, soul or understanding)

DEVOTION: One of the attributes of God is omniscience. HE knows every one of us. HE knows from the time we are born until the time we die. HE controls our breath. HE knows when our heart is going to stop beating.

David was a man after God’s own heart. He had a heart for God. He was not sinless. He did things we would have judged as unforgiveable. Yet, the LORD used him for HIS glory.

This verse is not talking about our heart that pumps blood but our inner person. The LORD wants us to develop a relationship with HIM in our inner person.

Too often religion emphasizes the outer man. Too often we run across people who look good in church and talk good around other Christians and act right when they are with other Christians but their inner life is far from the LORD.

Solomon, in his prayer, was asking the LORD to forgive those whose inner man was right with the LORD. The LORD always knows what our relationship with HIM is. We can fool those around us but not the LORD. HE knows the hidden things of our inner man.

IF we want HIS blessing on our life, we need to act according to HIS word daily. We need to be a people who our friends see that our hearts are after the presence of God in our life.

We are supposed to not only have the LORD in our heart but we are to server HIM with our WHOLE heart. We are not to be half-hearted in our service to HIM. We are to put HIM first in our life.

How does this play out in our lives? First, we have a daily time with HIM. Second, we represent HIM before our family. Third we represent HIM in our work place. Fourth, we represent HIM in our extended family, friends and neighbors. Finally, we represent HIM in our use of our spiritual gift in the local church.

We know the motives behind all of our actions. In our inner being we know if we are serving the LORD or serving ourselves. God is more concerned with our inner life. It needs to be renewed each day.

CHALLENGE: Solomon’s prayer covered all the bases regarding relationship to the LORD. Do our prayers cover all the bases in our service to the LORD? Are we LOVING the LORD our GOD with all of our heart, mind and soul? Do we love our neighbor? Do others see it in us?

____________________________________________________________

: 35 Then hear you from heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. (4291 “maintain”) means to preside rule)

DEVOTION: The one we should depend on to help us in any situation we are in is the LORD. HE is the one who can preside over our circumstances. He is the one who gives us the knowledge to work through anything HE sends our way to help us to move forward in our growth in HIM. HE is the one who can give us victory over whatever HE sends our way.

CHALLENGE: WE need to trust HIM not to send more than we can take at any time. Also, we need to praise during everything we face in this life. He always knows what we need and will never give us more than we can handle.

___________________________________________________________

: 41 Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength: let your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in goodness. (8055 “rejoice” [samach] means glad, joyful, merry, feel happiness, cheerful countenance, delight in, be elated, or gladden)

DEVOTION: The Temple is built!. The dedication prayer has been stated by Solomon in front of all the children of Israel. Everyone is in a festive mood.

Solomon is asking the LORD to come into the Temple as HIS resting place with HIS people. He wants the priests to be clothed with deliverance from all their sins and desires that all the people delight in the goodness of the LORD.

This is a happy occasion for the king, the priests and the people. It is a time of standing before the LORD in a joyful mood. The Temple is finished and it is time to celebrate a large project being completed. Everyone involved has something to praise the LORD about on this day.

This should be true today also when we get together after finishing a project in our local church. During the summer many churches have Bible School for the children of the neighborhood to teach them about Jesus. Many times, new families attend this event and even some of those who come become followers of Jesus Christ. It is a good time for the church to celebrate reaching new people for the LORD and seeing some come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Celebration should be involved after such an event in the church. There are many other events where we can celebrate today such as our Christmas season and our Easter season when we remember what Jesus has done for us and for the rest of those who will come to know HIM as their Savior.

Too often we don’t celebrate enough of the good events the LORD allows into the local church calendar. The children of Israel knew how to celebrate and we need to make sure we know how to celebrate in the presence of the LORD on a regular basis.

The Bible informs us that the joy of the LORD gives us strength and we need strength to face all the challenges the world sends our way on a regular basis. We should apply the strength of the LORD to those events.

CHALLENGE: We need to find regular events and special events where we can celebrate with the LORD for HIS blessings.

__________________________________________________________________

DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Spread forth his hands verse 12, 13, 29

Stood on a brazen scaffold verse 13

Kneeled down verse 13

Solomon prays for children of Israel verse 14-42

Prayer verse 19, 20, 24, 26, 29, 32, 34, 35, 37- 40

Supplication verse 19, 21, 24, 29, 35, 39

Cry verse 19

Hear from heaven verse 23

Pray toward Jerusalem verse 34, 37, 38

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

House of habitation verse 2

House for HIS name verse 10, 32, 38

Ark verse 11

Altar of the LORD verse 12

Ark of YOUR strength verse 41

Priests verse 41

Clothed with salvation

_______________________________________________________________

DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Covenant of the LORD verse 11, 14

Law verse 16

Word verified verse 17

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

LORD – Jehovah

(Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 4, 7, 8, 10- 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 41, 42

Dwell in the think darkness verse 1

God – Elohim (Creator) verse 4, 7, 14, 16- 19, 40- 42

LORD God of Israel verse 4, 7, 10, 14, 16, 17

Performed what HE said verse 10

Promised verse 10, 16

Covenant of the LORD verse 11

No other God verse 14

Mercy verse 14

Heaven of heavens cannot contain God verse 18

O LORD my God verse 19

Eyes verse 20, 40

Judge verse 23

Hears prayers verse 24, 27

Dwelling place: Heaven verse 30, 33

Knows the heart verse 30

Great name verse 32

Mighty hand verse 32

Anger verse 36

LORD God verse 41, 42

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Egypt verse 5

Enemy verse 24, 28, 34, 36

Stranger verse 32, 33

No man sins not verse 36

Land of captivity verse 37

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Sin verse 22, 24- 27, 36, 37, 39

Wicked verse 23, 37

Sinned verse 24, 26, 37, 39

Done amiss verse 37

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Blessed verse 3

Promises verse 4, 10, 15, 16

Chosen verse 5, 6, 34, 38

Heart toward the LORD verse 7, 8, 30, 38

Covenant verse 11, 14

Mercy verse 14, 42

Servant verse 14, 15, 19- 21, 23, 27

Walk before the LORD with all their heart verse 14, 16, 27

Fulfilled promises verse 15

Walk in God’s law verse 16, 31

Prayer verse 19, 20, 24, 26, 29, 32, 35, 37- 40

Supplication verse 19, 21, 24, 29, 35, 39

Cry verse 19

Forgive verse 21, 25, 27, 30, 39

Oath verse 22

Justify verse 23

Righteous verse 23

Confess verse 24, 26

Turn/Return to the LORD verse 26, 38

Affliction verse 26

Taught the good way verse 27

Inheritance verse 27, 31

Fear the LORD verse 31, 33

Maintain cause verse 35, 39

Deliverance verse 36

Clothed with salvation verse 41

Saints verse 41

Rejoice verse 41

Goodness verse 41

Saints rejoice in goodness verse 41

Anointed verse 42

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Solomon verse 1- 42

Blessed the whole congregation

Brasen scaffold

Kneeled down

Spread forth his hands toward heaven

Prayer

God’s anointed

David verse 4, 6- 10, 15- 17, 42

Heart of David to build

Throne of Israel

Mercies of David

God’s servant

Jerusalem verse 6, 34

Chosen

Israel verse 6, 10- 13, 21, 29, 32

Neighbor verse 22

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

_________________________________________________________________

DONATIONS:

Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org Also if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.

__________________________________________________________________

QUOTES regarding passage

6:12–21. After blessing the people, Solomon offered a dedicatory prayer (vv. 14–42). Kneeling on a specially constructed bronze platform … in the center of the outer court (vv. 12–13), he extolled the Lord for His covenant-keeping faithfulness (vv. 14–15). Love translates ḥeseḏ, meaning God’s loyal love (cf. 5:13; 7:3, 6; 20:21). The king then implored the Lord to continue His favor on David’s dynasty as the people continued to serve Him according to the Law (6:16–17). In one of the finest statements of divine transcendence found in the Scriptures, Solomon acknowledged the insufficiency of a mere temple, no matter how grand and commodious, to contain the Lord of the heavens (v. 18). Yet Solomon was persuaded of God’s interest in human affairs. He besought the Lord to recognize the temple as a focal point of His communion with Israel (hear occurs five times in vv. 19–21) and to respond from heaven (cf. vv. 23, 25, 27, 30, 33, 35, 39), His true dwelling place (cf. vv. 30, 33, 39; 30:27). Because Solomon spoke of the Israelites praying toward this place (6:21; cf. vv. 34, 38), centuries later Daniel faced Jerusalem as he prayed (Dan. 6:10). (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 2 Chronicles. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 625). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

__________________________________________________________

6:12–21 The prayer of approach. The beginning of Solomon’s prayer is full of this incomparable God (14), repeats to him many of the things the last section has said about him, adds that he requires obedience (16), and makes plain how Solomon understands him to be dwelling on earth with men (18): in line with the picture of his hands and mouth (4, 15), we now have his eyes and ears always open to his people’s prayers (19–21). This explains why the chief purpose of the temple is both the housing of the ark (God’s covenant-promises of grace, 11) and the burning of incense (which stands for prayer; compare vs 18–21 with 2:6 rsv). (Wilcock, M. J. (1994). 1 and 2 Chronicles. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 404). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.)

___________________________________________________________

6:12–40 See note on 1Ki 8:22–53. As Solomon led his people in prayer, he asked God to help them in many situations: 1) crime (vv. 22, 23); 2) enemy attacks (vv. 24, 25); 3) drought (vv. 26, 27); 4) famine (vv. 28–31); 5) foreigners (vv. 32, 33); 6) war (vv. 34, 35); and 7) sin (vv. 36–39).

6:13 knelt. Solomon, in an unusually humbling act for a king, acknowledged God’s sovereignty. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (2 Ch 6:12–13). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

___________________________________________________________

The first attribute of God Solomon mentions is his covenant faithfulness (6:14–17). Once again, the covenant of love (Heb. ḥēsēd) is tied in with God’s faithfulness. This faithfulness is what makes God unique. (Bowling, A. C. (1995). 1-2 Chronicles. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 280). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.)

____________________________________________________________

The prayer is nearly the same as in Kings (1 Kings 8:22–50). However, 1 Kings 8:51–61 is omitted and a few additional verses are added. The opening words of his great prayer are an acknowledgment of the greatness of Jehovah and the fulfillment of what God had promised to David, that is, the promise as it relates to him as David’s son and the building of the house. He asks next that his prayers and the prayers of God’s people may be heard as they ascend from the place where His Name is honored. Sin is acknowledged in connection with this request. “And when Thou hearest, forgive.” In what follows, the different troubles are mentioned and Jehovah is implored to hear and to forgive. It is the model prayer for Israel. Confession of sin and prayer for forgiveness is linked with all petitions. Sin is acknowledged as the one cause of all troubles and disaster. Israel was thus taught in the prayer of Solomon to cast itself with supplication and repentance for sin upon Jehovah, and to find that the Lord heareth and delivereth His people. The subsequent history of Judah gives numerous instances of answered prayer. Note the omissions from the prayer report in 1 Kings 8 and the different closing of the prayer in the account in Chronicles. It is explained by the prophetic character of Kings and the priestly character of Chronicles. Psalm 132:8–10 is touched upon in Verses 41–42. (Gaebelein, A. C. (2009). The annotated Bible: Joshua to Second Chronicles (Vol. 2, p. 426). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

_______________________________________________________________

FROM MY READING:

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

________________________________________________________________________

On Thursday, the Supreme Court issued a much-anticipated ruling in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia. In 2018, the city of Philadelphia barred Catholic Social Services (CSS) from placing foster children, as it had been doing for over 200 years, unless it changed its policy on same-sex households. Rather than compromise Church teaching, CSS challenged the city’s action in court. They lost at the Third Circuit, but in a 9-0 decision, CSS and religious freedom won the day at the Supreme Court.

This win was expected, but many had hoped the justices would use this case to overturn Employment Division v. Smith, a 1990 ruling which held that state and local law could restrict religious freedom, if it did so in a way that applies equally to everyone.

It is because of Smith that so many religious freedom cases are argued on the grounds of either free speech or (as was the ruling of the Masterpiece Cakeshop case) that a law wasn’t applied equally. Consistent with the aversion of the Roberts Court to issue sweeping rulings, the c ourt didn’t use this case to overturn Employment Division. Instead, all nine justices agreed that Philadelphia didn’t apply its ant-discrimination laws equally, thus rendering Employment Division inapplicable.

Philadelphia’s anti-discrimination provision “permits exceptions [its requirements] at the ‘sole discretion’ of the [Human Services] Commissioner.” According to the court, a law that “invites the government to consider the particular reasons for a person’s conduct by creating a mechanism for individualized exemptions,” cannot, by definition, be called “generally applicable.”

What’s more, once exceptions are permitted for other reasons, exceptions in cases of “religious hardship” cannot be dismissed “without a compelling reason” In the unanimous opinion of the Court, the city didn’t “have a compelling interest in refusing to contract with CSS.”

Chief Justice Roberts, who wrote the court’s opinion, put it like this, “CSS seeks only an accommodation that will allow it to continue serving the children of Philadelphia in a manner consistent with its religious beliefs; it does not seek to impose those beliefs on anyone else.” So, the court ruled that Philadelphia did not have a basis for its actions against CSS and, further, “violate[d] the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.”

Immediately, media headlines attempted to spin the outcome as the court privileging religious freedom over LGBTQ rights. It wasn’t. No LGBTQ “rights” were in any way diminished by this decision whatsoever. The media outlet Vox chided the court for failing to settle the significant issues raised by the case (which is true), claiming that “an epic showdown between religion and LGBTQ rights ended with a whimper.” That’s only true if you consider a decisive victory for religious institutions over forces that would force them to choose between their beliefs and their mission to be “a whimper.”

(Break Point)

__________________________________________________________________

2 Kings 7
Israel is delivered from Aram.
INSIGHT

While we must be careful about “spiritualizing” what we read in the Old Testament and making it say something it doesn’t, there is at least an excellent illustration in the defeat of the Aramean army relating to the message of the Gospel today. The lepers are lost and starving and come upon abundance adequate for their own welfare as well as the welfare of all others. They realize it is wrong to keep it to themselves, and they go out to tell others. The same is true of the Gospel of Christ. Those of us who have had our needs met by Him cannot be satisfied keeping it to ourselves — we must tell others. (Quiet Walk)

___________________________________________________________________

THE PRAYER FOR POWER

Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.”
Exodus 33:13-15
In Moses’ prayer he prayed for power. God said to Moses, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give you rest.” And Moses said to God, “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.
This prayer for power is always in evidence in the history of the church prior to revival. This is the end of which the intercessors always become most conscious, and there are many reasons for this. [Moses’ prayer included] the Israelites’ awareness of the magnitude of the problem confronting them, the strength of the enemy that they were going to meet, the powerful nations in the land of promise—the Amalekites and others—and the tremendous task of occupying a land. Here they were, just a kind of nomadic people traveling along like this, and they were going to settle a land and conquer it and make their homes there. And suddenly they became aware of the immensity of the problem.
I have to emphasize this because to me there is nothing so tragic about our position today as the obvious failure of so many people to realize the magnitude of the problem that confronts us. If we only realized the magnitude of the problem, there would be no need to urge prayer for revival. But our eyes seem to be shut. “Everything is going well,” we say. “Look at the reports. Marvelous. Look at the activities. Is all not well?”
A Thought to Ponder: Prayer for power is always in evidence in the history of the church prior to revival. (From Revival, p.180, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

_________________________________________________________________

Samach usually refers to a spontaneous emotion or extreme happiness which is expressed in some visible and/or external manner. It does not normally represent an abiding state of wellbeing or feeling. This emotion arises at festivals, circumcision feasts, wedding feasts, harvest feasts, the overthrow of one’s enemies, and other such events. The men of Jabesh broke out joyously when they were told that they would be delivered from the Philistines (1 Sam. 11:9).

The emotion expressed in the verb samach usually finds a visible expression. In Jer. 50:11 the Babylonians are denounced as being glad and “jubilant” over the pillage of Israel. Their emotion is expressed externally by their skipping about like a threshing heifer and neighing like stallions. The emotion represented in the verb (and concretized in the noun simchah) is sometimes accompanied by dancing, singing, and playing musical instruments. This was the sense when David was heralded by the women of Jerusalem as he returned victorious over the Philistines (1 Sam. 18:6). This emotion is usually described as the product of some external situation, circumstance, or experience, such as found in the first biblical appearance of samach: God told Moses that Aaron was coming to meet him and “when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart” (Exod. 4:14). This passage speaks of inner feeling which is visibly expressed. When Aaron saw Moses, he was overcome with joy and kissed him (v. 27).

Therefore, the verb samach suggests three elements: (1) a spontaneous, unsustained feeling of jubilance, (2) a feeling so strong that it finds expression in some external act, and (3) a feeling prompted by some external and unsustained stimulus. (Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.)

_____________________________________________________________

FAITH AND REASON

Unto you therefore which believe he is precious. 1 Peter 2:7
What is the relationship between faith and reason? The best answer I can give is that faith is not a matter of reason. Some people teach that it is. They say that if only men and women would use their minds, they would be bound to become Christians; they can reason themselves into Christianity. But that is thoroughly unscriptural. They cannot because the natural man’s or woman’s reason is also fallen. Not only that, there are supernatural and miraculous elements in faith to which reason cannot attain. So true faith is not entirely a matter of reason. Indeed, I would quote to you the statement of the great Blaise Pascal, perhaps the greatest mathematician that the world has ever known and who had an evangelical conversion. He said that the supreme achievement of reason is to teach us that there is an end to reason.
So what about faith and reason? Well, faith is not mere reason, but on the other hand, neither is it contrary to reason. It is not unreasonable; it is not irrational. That is the charge that is brought against us.
“Ah,” people say, “but what you’re teaching is a kind of irrationality. You say that faith isn’t a matter of reason. Well then, is it opposed to reason?”
No, it is not. It is not reason; neither is it contrary to reason. What is it then? It is supra-reason. It means that our reason brings us to the point where we realize that reason is not enough, and at that point we have nothing to do but submit ourselves to revelation. And that is faith. Faith is accepting this revelation.
More and more I like to think of it like this: Faith means that I deliberately shut myself down to this Book, the Bible. I refuse to philosophize. I refuse to ask certain questions. People are always asking them. They want to understand the doctrine of the Trinity. You cannot. You will never understand it. It is too great. So you accept it; and you stop asking questions.
A Thought to Ponder: Reason brings us to the point where we realize that reason is not enough,
and at that point we submit ourselves to revelation. (From God the Holy Spirit, pp. 147-148, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

____________________________________________________________

The Bland Illusion

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. JOHN 10:10

Bill Bright used to tell the story of a man who carefully saved his money until he was finally able to travel on a beautiful cruise ship. It was all he could do just to save enough to buy his ticket. Thinking he wouldn’t have enough money to buy meals in the ship’s fine dining room, he decided to take along some cheese and crackers for food.

For several days he sat in his cabin, watching the stewards go by with carts full of luscious lobster, prime rib, fresh fruits and vegetables. Finally, he couldn’t stand it any longer. He reached out and grabbed one of the stewards by the arm and begged him for a plate of food. “Please, help me. I’ll go to work; I’ll scrub the deck. I’ll do anything to get something to eat. My cheese and crackers are turning stale, and I’m starving to death.”

“But, sir,” the steward replied, “don’t you know? Your food comes with your ticket.”

Many Christians live the way this passenger did on the cruise ship. They are “cheese and crackers” believers, living off rations when they could be dining on steak and baked potatoes. They don’t allow the Holy Spirit to take control of their lives and produce the luscious fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Instead they live in spiritual poverty. I’ve been a “cheese and crackers” Christian on more than one occasion. I’ve been satisfied at times with the bare bones of salvation, figuring that is all I should really expect. But my spiritual hunger finally got the best of me, and I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. Nothing can satisfy like Him. (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)

_______________________________________________________________

We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.