Sunday School Lesson
March 25
Keep My Statutes and Ordinances
Devotional Reading: Isaiah 58:6-12
Background Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:12-22
2 Chronicles 7:12-22
12 And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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 mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;
18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.
19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.
21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house?
22 And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.
Key Verse
If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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.—2 Chronicles 7:14
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
- Summarize the promises of both blessing and discipline that the Lord spoke to Solomon.
- Tell how these promises serve to both encourage and warn Christians today.
- Keep a journal during the coming week in which to record times of blessing and discipline from the Lord, along with lessons learned from these experiences.
Introduction
- Good House “Keeping”
My wife is a big fan of the TV programs that feature homes undergoing a major renovation. Some use the term makeover to describe the sweeping changes made to a house. When the project is complete, the “before and after” contrasts are amazing to see.
The previous two lessons covered the dedication ceremony of the newly completed temple in Jerusalem. Today’s lesson follows with a solemn warning from the Lord to Solomon that disobedience would result in what we might call a reverse makeover to that structure. The “before and after” contrast would be amazing in a bewildering way. How could something so unthinkable happen? A structure dedicated to God meant nothing if the people themselves were not dedicated to being God’s people. What was true in Solomon’s time is no less true today.
- Lesson Background
Between the final verse of last week’s lesson treatment and the first verse of this week’s is the single verse 2 Chronicles 7:11: “Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king’s house: and all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.” Yes, Solomon’s accomplishment was indeed impressive (see the temple dimensions in chapter 3 and the temple furnishings in chapter 4). Further, the people whom he ruled were “glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people” (7:10).
Perhaps the king was tempted to rest on his laurels at that point, satisfied with his record. But God desired far more from Solomon and from the Israelites than the mere construction of a building. God wanted what He has always wanted from His people, be they kings or commoners: obedience. Not even a temple as magnificent as the one Solomon had just completed could substitute for that.
As today’s text opens, the year would have been sometime after 950 BC. Parallel in content to today’s lesson text is 1 Kings 9:1-9.
- Promised Blessings
(2 Chronicles 7:12-18)
- For the Temple (v. 12)
- And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice.
This is the second time the Lord has appeared to Solomon by night. Perhaps God does this deliberately in order to call Solomon’s mind back to the first time, when the Lord said, “Ask what I shall give thee” (2 Chronicles 1:7). In response, Solomon had requested “wisdom and knowledge” for ruling (1:10). The Lord was pleased with this response and promised Solomon that and much more (1:11, 12).
The Lord deems it important to affirm that He has heard Solomon’s prayer (see lesson 2). Even so, the first decision that the Lord says he has made was not in Solomon’s prayer requests: to choose this place (the temple) for a house of sacrifice. Solomon indeed sacrificed many animals during the dedication ceremony (2 Chronicles 7:5) and made many requests in his prayer of dedication (6:12-42). But for the temple to be known as a house of sacrifice was not explicitly one of those requests. God’s declaration calls to mind Moses’ words in Deuteronomy 12:5, 6 regarding a chosen place of sacrifice. Now, some five centuries later, the Lord is announcing that such a chosen site exists, and it is Solomon’s temple.
What Do You Think?
How did an experience of God’s answer to a prayer shape your attitude toward future prayers?
Points for Your Discussion
When the answer was a long time coming
When the answer came quickly
Our Place of Sacrifice
Most religions have their holy places. For Hindus, it’s the Ganges River in India. Japan’s Mount Fuji is sacred to the Shinto and Buddhist religions. Muslims consider the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, a holy site. Jews think of Jerusalem as their holy city, since it’s the place where Solomon dedicated the first temple to God.
Within the wider scope of the Christian faith, there is no consensus. Some think of Jerusalem as a special place, “more holy” than others. Others focus on Rome and the Vatican. Still others think of the church building where they worship each Sunday as a place in which God is especially near. Some even refer to the room where they worship as a “sanctuary.”
We must keep in mind that the New Testament affirms that God does not live in temples made with human hands (Acts 7:48, 49 [quoting Isaiah 66:1, 2]; 17:24). Christians are themselves God’s temple, individually and collectively as the body of Christ—the church. His Spirit lives within us (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 6:19). It’s even fair to say that the “house of sacrifice” of which Solomon was told has transferred in concept to Christians personally. As you read Romans 12:1 in this regard, how will you apply it in the week ahead?
—C. R. B.
- For His People (vv. 13-16)
- If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people.
By contrast, the language of the three negative situations here are all reflected in the language of Solomon’s dedicatory prayer (2 Chronicles 6:26-28). Solomon has noted the cause for God’s needing to take such action: sin (6:26). The outcomes of famine (due to no rain or locusts) and pestilence are mentioned within the curses pronounced by Moses when he warned the Israelites of how they would be disciplined should they turn away from God (Deuteronomy 11:17; 28:21, 38).
How to Say It
AhabAy-hab.
AssyriansUh-sear-e-unz.
BabyloniansBab-ih-low-nee-unz.
DeuteronomyDue-ter-ahn-uh-me.
ElijahEe-lye-juh.
JerusalemJuh-roo-suh-lem.
MoriahMo-rye-uh.
NinevehNin-uh-vuh.
What Do You Think?
Thinking of a time when God seemed to be disciplining you, how do you know it was not merely natural consequences at work?
Points for Your Discussion
Considering the nature of your actions
Considering the eventual result
Considering scriptural precedent (or lack thereof)
14a. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways.
The conditional if statement here introduces reasons why the deadly conditions of verse 13 need not be permanent. With the Lord there is and will be hope! Again, this reflects the contents of Solomon’s earlier prayer. After describing the withholding of rain because of the people’s sin, Solomon prayed, “If they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them; then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel” (2 Chronicles 6:26, 27). God’s disciplinary action must be recognized as such by His people, and they must respond to it in the way directed by the Lord in the verse before us. The steps of repentance are four in number:
First, the wayward people are to humble themselves. Scripture contains ample warnings and examples about the danger of pride (Proverbs 16:18; Daniel 4:28-33; James 4:6). Humility acknowledges one’s need for God and dependence on Him (2 Chronicles 12:6; Isaiah 57:15; 1 Peter 5:6).
Second is to pray. Prayer is a must, especially when turning away from sin, as is the case here. One may consider David’s earnest prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 and the simple yet heartfelt plea of the publican in Jesus’ parable: “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
To seek the Lord’s face implies a desire for the closest kind of relationship. David expressed such a longing in Psalm 27:8. Jeremiah gave this promise to God’s wayward people: “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
It will do no good to take the first three steps without taking the fourth: sinners must turn from their wicked ways. Words of contrition must be followed up by actions that match. To turn from one’s sinful ways is precisely what the biblical teaching about repentance means: to do an “about face,” reversing the course of one’s conduct. The process embodied by the terms used in this verse indicates a total surrender to God.
What Do You Think?
How should evidence of genuine repentance manifest itself in the twenty-first century?
Points for Your Discussion
In terms of how humility is manifested
In terms of prayers offered
In terms of attitudes toward God
In terms of behaviors abandoned
Other
14b. Then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
God’s response to such determination is total as well. Forgiveness of sin will go hand in hand with healing of the land. This suggests a reversal of whatever conditions have been part of God’s disciplinary action. If rain has been withheld, it will now fall freely. The effects of any locust plague or any pestilence will be replaced by the provision of God’s blessings (compare Exodus 15:26).
- Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
As Solomon neared the end of his dedicatory prayer, he implored, “Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place” (2 Chronicles 6:40). The Lord indicates His intention to do just that!
- For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
The language of this verse indicates the fullness of God’s identification with the temple. The fact that the Lord has sanctified this house (the temple) implies its being set apart for a divine purpose. In further accordance with Solomon’s request, the Lord also promises to attach His name in the temple (2 Chronicles 6:20; compare Deuteronomy 12:11). Although God states that His name, eyes, and heart will be there for ever and perpetually, the promise is not unconditional, as we shall see.
- For Solomon (vv. 17, 18)
- And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments.
Now the Lord’s message transitions from a focus on temple and people to Solomon himself. The message begins with another conditional if-statement that focuses on behavior. That behavior is stated in terms of David’s walk as an example for Solomon to follow. The evidence of a right walk will be seen in obedience to God’s statutes and judgments. Clearly, Solomon’s responsibility before the Lord is not fulfilled simply because the temple is completed!
To walk as David walked does not imply perfection, for David was certainly no perfect man. But the overall direction of his life was pleasing to God, who calls him “a man after mine own heart” (Acts 13:22). When David was confronted about his sinful behavior, he acknowledged his guilt without reservation (2 Samuel 12:13; Psalm 51).
What Do You Think?
Do the requirements for walking before God differ from person to person? Why, or why not?
Points for Your Discussion
In terms of spiritual disciplines (personal Bible study, prayer, etc.)
In terms of personality characteristics (extravert vs. introvert, etc.)
In terms of age
Other
- Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.
We expect an if-statement to be followed by a then-statement, and that is certainly the case here. The promise made to David in 2 Samuel 7:13, 16 can be Solomon’s as well. As David lay dying, he had voiced this same promise, along with the challenge of the previous verse, to Solomon (1 Kings 2:1-4).
- Promised Discipline
(2 Chronicles 7:19-22)
- Against the People (vv. 19, 20a)
- But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them.
The pronouns ye and you in this verse are plural in the Hebrew text. Thus the warnings in the verses that follow apply to “my people” of 2 Chronicles 7:13, 14, above). But Solomon himself must still take these cautions personally; as the leader of God’s people, he is responsible to set the example of observing the Lord’s statutes and commandments.
More specifically, the primary warning given in this segment of the text concerns idolatry—the decision to go and serve other gods, and worship them. This violates the very first of the Ten Commandments. The prohibition against other gods is first because it is foundational to keeping the other nine.
20a. Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them.
The consequences of forsaking the Lord and following other gods will be disastrous. If God’s people reverse their loyalty to Him and turn from Him, then He will reverse His loyalty to them and turn from them.
This eventually happens during the time of the divided monarchy. Israel (the northern kingdom) is conquered by the Assyrians, and later Judah (the southern kingdom) is conquered by the Babylonians (2 Kings 17, 25).
- Against the Temple (vv. 20b-22)
20b. And this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.
Disaster will also befall this house, Solomon’s temple. Instead of the Lord’s eyes being on the temple (2 Chronicles 7:16, above), He promises to cast it out of His sight. This passage clearly shows (as does the entirety of Scripture) the two sides of God’s promises. Yes, He will bless those who turn to Him in sincere repentance (as described earlier in 7:14); but those who turn from Him and reject His commandments will experience His judgment.
We tend to associate the word proverb with the contents of the book of Proverbs. While the word can describe wise, practical advice, it is also used to refer to other kinds of sayings. These include the scornful words to be directed toward the temple once it has been cast out of the Lord’s sight. The Hebrew term translated byword carries the idea of a taunt (compare Deuteronomy 28:37; Jeremiah 24:9). Such terms reflect the complete reversal in status that Solomon’s temple will experience. Instead of being treated with reverence as a sacred place, it will be viewed with abject contempt.
- And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house?
The temple in Jerusalem is intended to be a place where God’s people can joyfully anticipate gathering for worship. This especially includes the annual pilgrimage feasts (see Leviticus 23; Deuteronomy 16; etc.).
But instead of being awestruck at the sight of the renowned temple, passers-by will be stunned to see it lying in ruins. Ancient peoples often think of deity as responsible for the condition of the local temple and of the surrounding territory where the worshippers live. Given that belief, the question Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house? is bound to arise.
- And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.
In the case of Israel, the destruction of the temple will not reflect poorly on the Lord; it will reflect poorly on His people who will have forsaken Him. The reference to the people’s deliverance from bondage in Egypt is important to note; it suggests that they will have forgotten their history, their roots. They will have forgotten that no other people have a history like theirs because no other people have a God who can do the wonders that only He is capable of.
The word evil does not refer to a moral evil, which God does not inflict (James 1:13). Rather, it refers to the physical disaster that eventually befalls both the northern and southern kingdoms as a result of God’s judgment. That will happen because the people will have worshipped and served other gods instead of the God who delivered them from bondage and established His covenant with them. They will have no one but themselves to blame for their sad state.
What Do You Think?
What lessons did you learn from observing someone become a cautionary tale because of disobeying God?
Points for Your Discussion
Regarding the personal impact of sin
Regarding the impact of sin on others
Regarding the character of God
Regarding the response of God’s people
Other
Cause and Effect
We don’t travel very far down the pathway of life before we discover that our actions have consequences. Speaking scientifically, we call this the law of cause and effect. It is the responsibility of parents to see that children learn this lesson with the least possible damage to themselves, others, and the world about them. Failure to learn this lesson can result in lifelong difficulties. For example, a child who is not taught the social grace of being unselfish will find it hard to make lasting friendships. More serious traits can turn into pathological antisocial behavior, causing grief (and worse) to many.
Societies and nations can also suffer from a failure to learn the law of cause and effect. America still feels the damaging societal effects of enslaving human beings as lessons of equal treatment are learned, forgotten, relearned, forgotten again, etc.
God repeatedly warned the Israelites that their actions would have consequences. In the excitement of dedicating the temple, the people reaffirmed their allegiance to God (2 Chronicles 7:3-6. But euphoria has a tendency to be fleeting, and the God’s warnings were eventually forgotten.
Even so, God was patient. He withheld His judgment for centuries. But His promise to destroy the temple because of the people’s idolatry eventually became reality.
It’s been said that there are two ways to learn: (1) by wisdom (which is learning from the mistakes of others) and (2) by experience (which is learning from our own mistakes). Which way will you choose? See 1 Corinthians 10:1-13.
—C. R. B.
Conclusion
- Words for Today?
The words of 2 Chronicles 7:14 include a very special promise from God to Solomon following the completion and dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. The verse reads, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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.”
Over the years many Christians, particularly in the United States, have quoted this verse in appealing for nationwide repentance and revival. Critics claim that such a view is taking the verse out of its original context since the term “my people” refers to Old Testament Israel, with which God had a special covenant relationship. No nation today, the critics claim, has the right to quote and apply this verse. Some say that it is a bit arrogant for any nation to claim to be “God’s people.”
While it is true that the words of this verse are addressed specifically to Old Testament Israel, does that mean it’s wrong to apply the principle and the promise of the verse to any other nation in history? One of the foundational teachings of Scripture is that God is willing to forgive any individual or nation turning to Him in true repentance (compare Luke 24:47; Revelation 21:24; etc.).
One of the lessons Jeremiah learned from his visit to the potter’s house was that God blesses or disciplines a nation or kingdom (implying any nation or kingdom) because of the choices its people make (Jeremiah 18:1-10). Jonah’s experience in Nineveh revealed that non-Israelites would be shown mercy if they demonstrated genuine repentance—and they did.
Rather than focus too closely on trying to identify “my people,” it is probably preferable to focus on bringing as many individuals as possible to the place where they can address the Lord as “my God.” That place is the forgiveness available only in Jesus.
- Prayer
Father, we recognize that what You challenged Your people to do in Solomon’s day is what You challenge us to do now: humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face, and turn from evil ways. Help us to give heed to both Your warning and Your promise of blessing. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
- Thought to Remember
God’s law of harvest has not been revoked: we still reap what we sow.
Kid’s Corner
Devastating Disobedience
March 25, 2018 2
Chronicles 7:11-22
2 Chronicles 7:11-22
(2 Chronicles 7:11) Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king’s palace, and successfully completed all that he had planned on doing in the house of the LORD and in his palace.
After King Solomon met his own needs for a palace, and after he completed and dedicated the temple that his father, King David, wanted him to build, he could turn to doing the LORD’s will for the benefit of the LORD’s people and the foreigners who came to the temple to pray. Regarding the foreigner and their coming to know the LORD, Solomon prayed: “Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name” (2 Chronicles 6:33). In 2 Chronicles 6:14-42, his prayer indicated that King Solomon knew right from wrong and some of the different ways the LORD can punish sin; therefore, he prayed that when the Israelites sinned, confessed their sins, repented, and prayed toward the temple that the LORD would forgive them.
(2 Chronicles 7:12) Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
After King Solomon prayed and dedicated the temple to the LORD, the LORD answered his prayer by visibly filling the temple before the assembled people. Later, the LORD appeared to King Solomon at night and affirmed that He would accept the sacrifices offered at the temple at the place He had chosen. Up to this point, King Solomon had done well and prayed well. In speaking to King Solomon, the LORD told him how to lead His people as well as educate them in the ways of the LORD. The LORD also expected King Solomon to serve as an example for the people to follow as one of the LORD’s faithful servants, even as King David had faithfully served the LORD before him. We can learn some of the truths King Solomon taught in Proverbs, in the Song of Solomon, and (according to rabbinic tradition) in Ecclesiastes. Despite all his knowledge and wisdom, King Solomon began building temples for idols and became a slave of sin.
(2 Chronicles 7:13) “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people,
The LORD told King Solomon some of the consequences for disobeying the LORD’s commands and laws. The consequences listed here could have an effect on all the people in the land. The consequences could result from a large number of the LORD’s people rebelling against Him and turning to idolatry. God can bring environmental change to discipline His people. God can bring a drought (or a flood) to influence the people who are suffering from His discipline to come back to obeying Him. The LORD can use insects or animals to destroy the food supply of His people until they repent. The LORD can send disease to afflict His people directly until they confess their sins, pray to Him and begin to obey His commands and laws once again. When these afflictions came upon the LORD’s people, they needed to pray and reflect to discover if these afflictions were the LORD’s discipline or just a cycle of nature to be expected in a fallen world. Not all droughts, famines, plagues of locusts, and diseases are God’s punishments for personal or national sins, because we live in a fallen world unlike the LORD’s original design, but these afflictions can give cause for reflection, repentance where required, and most certainly prayer for God’s help in times of trouble.
(2 Chronicles 7:14) and 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, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
The LORD told King Sol0mon some of the punishments that He might send upon His people for their unrepentant behavior, and He told King Solomon the solution when His people came to themselves and acknowledged their sinful behavior. To save His people from their sins and disaster, the LORD expected King Solomon serve as a good example and teach His people everything He told him. Those “called by His Name” were the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When they came to realize that they were being punished by the LORD for their sins, they would need to humble themselves before the LORD and acknowledge the LORD as the King of kings and their rightful King in particular. They would need to stop being self-centered and become God-centered; which is a way of humbling oneself before the LORD. They would need to pray with their faces toward the LORD, rather than keeping their backs to the LORD and continue walking away from the LORD to do whatever they wanted to do as they prayed. They would also need to humbly pray for the LORD to turn His face toward them in a way that would indicate the LORD was listening to their prayers and acknowledging their humble repentant hearts. They would need to show or convince the LORD that they had turned from their wicked ways. Only by doing these things would the LORD answer their prayers, forgive their sins, and stop the form of punishment they were suffering (which might not cease immediately, but in God’s perfect timing). God did not promise to remove His punishments from a land or nation where most of the people were living in godless rebellion against Him, but He will watch over and care for His people who are living and praying in the midst of a godless generation or nation.
(2 Chronicles 7:15) “Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.
The LORD promised that if His people prayed at or toward the temple from wherever they were that He would be looking to see them pray and hear them pray. He would turn His face toward them. The LORD gave them the assurance that by doing what He commanded, He would give attention to their prayers.
(2 Chronicles 7:16) “For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
King Solomon dedicated the temple to the LORD, and the LORD consecrated or made the temple holy, a place where the LORD who is holy could dwell in the Holy of Holies and listen to the prayers of those who came for worship. Since the temple could not contain the LORD, for the LORD dwells in heaven, His presence described as “my Name” would be there to hear the prayers of His people and look upon them. From the LORD’s perspective, if His people met the conditions He set for them; then, His Name (or presence) would be at the temple forever. The LORD loved His temple because His people could worship Him there and He could look upon them with favor and pour out His blessings upon them when they prayed. But, as Israel’s history shows, they became stubborn and unrepentant in their sins; therefore, the LORD had to destroy the temple as punishment and remain separated from them until the time of the coming of Jesus Christ. We have no indication that the LORD was ever present or returned to indwell the second temple or the temple built by Herod the Great.
(2 Chronicles 7:17) “As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, even to do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep My statutes and My ordinances,
As the leader of His people, the LORD spoke to directly to King Solomon, who would teach God’s law and set the example for his people. King David had walked faithfully before the LORD, but not perfectly. When King David was confronted with his sins, he humbled himself, repented, and returned to obedience (as described in 2 Chronicles 7:14). In this sense, David was faithful; he sought to know the LORD’s will in order to do it because he loved the LORD. The LORD told King Solomon that He expected him to faithfully obey Him and rule as he had learned from King David, his father. Previously, the LORD had given King Solomon wisdom, so King Solomon had all the knowledge he needed to walk faithfully before the LORD as his father had done. At Solomon’s request for wisdom: “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore” (1 Kings 4:29).
(2 Chronicles 7:18) then I will establish your royal throne as I covenanted with your father David, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to be ruler in Israel.’
The Messiah would be a son or descendant of David and Solomon, as shown in Jesus’ genealogy (see Matthew 1:6). But because of King Solomon’s rebellion against the LORD, and because he created temples for the idols of his foreign wives on the mountain tops around Jerusalem instead of leading them to faith in the LORD, he failed to have successors always rule over Israel. Many of the kings and people following him worshiped the idols of his foreign wives; therefore, after Solomon’s death Israel divided into two kingdoms and both kingdoms were eventually destroyed along with the temple in Jerusalem.
(2 Chronicles 7:19) “But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them,
King Solomon did exactly what the LORD told him not to do. He followed his emotions and desires instead of his reason, wisdom, and the commands of the LORD. He served other gods and worshiped them when he built temples for them and his wives as places for pagan sacrifices.
(2 Chronicles 7:20) then I will uproot you from My land which I have given you, and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
The LORD used the Assyrians and punished the Kingdom of Israel (the northern kingdom) in 722 BC when He destroyed the nation and dispersed the ten tribes (now “the ten lost tribes of Israel”) among the nations. The LORD used the Babylonians and punished the Kingdom of Judah (composed of the tribes of Benjamin and Judah) in 587 BC and destroyed the temple. The LORD sent the Judean exiles to Babylon for seventy years of discipline. These twelve tribes were punished for their own sins, but King Solomon sowed the seeds of their destruction when he rebelled against the LORD and built temples to idols around Jerusalem. His descendants followed his ungodly example and faithlessness. When the LORD caused the Babylonians to destroy the temple, He caused them to do so thoroughly. The destroyed temple became a “byword”: “a person, event, or thing that has become a notorious or an infamous example or embodiment of the consequences of doing evil or rebelling against God.” For example, the name of Judas became a “byword” as the disciple who betrayed the Lord Jesus. So, someone might call someone who betrayed them a “Judas!” Or, someone might warn, assuming they knew about the event, “Remember Sodom and Gomorrah!” When Israel’s neighbors saw the destroyed temple, they ridiculed the LORD and the remnant of Judeans in Jerusalem who were not taken into exile. God could only reverse this ridicule when He returned the Judeans from exile and they rebuilt the temple.
(2 Chronicles 7:21) “As for this house, which was exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’
What the LORD warned would happen as a consequence of King Solomon’s disobedience happened: Solomon misled the LORD’s people and his own children into sinful rebellion against the LORD. Because the land and temple became a “byword,” what the LORD once did in the Kingdom of Judah still serves as a warning to all the nations of the earth that rebel against the LORD. Eventually, the LORD punished the nations around Israel who saw what the LORD had done to Israel because they did not repent after they saw what the LORD would do to nations that rejected God.
(2 Chronicles 7:22) “And they will say, ‘Because they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers who brought them from the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this adversity on them.’”
The LORD warned King Solomon that if he rebelled against the LORD disaster would come upon the Kingdom, but even that solemn warning did not deter King Solomon from following his feelings. Those who saw and asked why the temple was a rubble were told the truth and given the right answer. In some sense, Solomon has become a “byword” for the person who thinks he is so smart that he can rebel against the LORD and not suffer the consequences or have his children suffer the consequences. Solomon has become a “byword” for the leader who thinks he is so wise that his rebellion against the LORD cannot cause the eventual destruction of his own family and nation.
Devastating Disobedience
March 25, 2018 2
Chronicles 7:11-22
“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, 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” (2 Chronicles 7:19-20). The LORD gave King Solomon a choice between two options. After he made his choice, he would receive the results God promised him. His choice would not only have an effect on him, but also on all his descendants and the nation of Israel. On the one hand, the LORD promised Solomon that if he faithfully walked before God as David his father had and did all God commanded; then, one of his successors would rule over Israel forever. On the other hand, if he turned away and disobeyed the LORD and began serving other gods; then, Israel would be uprooted from the LORD’s land. Solomon chose the second option: he built pagan temples and set up idols in the hills around Jerusalem for his foreign wives to serve and worship. By his disobedience, Solomon sowed the seeds that quickly destroyed the Kingdom of Israel that his father had united from the twelve tribes of Israel. Following Solomon’s bad example, most of the kings who succeeded him and almost all the people worshiped the idols of his wives and refused to repent and obey the LORD. Almost immediately after Solomon’s death, Israel split into two parts: The Kingdom of Israel was destroyed and never restored; The Kingdom of Judah suffered seventy years of exile and never completely recovered. Only a future Messiah could save the people.
Thinking Further
Devastating Disobedience
March 25, 2018 2
Chronicles 7:11-22
Name ___________________________
- Name three ways the LORD can punish a nation when the people turn from Him (see 2 Chronicles 7:13). From your Bible study, can you think of additional ways?
- What do those called by the LORD’s Name need to do when He disciplines them?
- Why was the LORD’s presence not at King Solomon’s temple forever?
- What did the LORD require of King Solomon (see 2 Chronicles 7:17)?
- Think about human history around the world for the past 100 years, can you think of any people or events that have become “a byword” or an example of evil choices to avoid?
. Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further
- Name three ways the LORD can punish a nation when the people turn from Him (see 2 Chronicles 7:13). From your Bible study, can you think of additional ways? The LORD can change the climate: create a drought by refusing to send rain. He can send insects or animals to devastate crops. He can send disease or prevent healing from a disease. The LORD sent His people into exile after sending the Babylonians to make war with Israel to destroy their city, Jerusalem, and their temple. The LORD can create a situation where people will ridicule those the LORD is punishing.
- What do those called by the LORD’s Name need to do when He disciplines them? They need to humble themselves and stop being selfish and self-centered. The need to pray and face the LORD, rather than turning their backs to Him to do what they wanted to do. They need to turn from their wicked ways.
- Why was the LORD’s presence not at King Solomon’s temple forever? King Solomon disobeyed the Law of God and misled his descendants and subjects into idolatry; therefore, the Israelites did not fulfill the conditions for God to maintain His presence among them in the temple in Jerusalem.
- What did the LORD require of King Solomon (see 2 Chronicles 7:17)? The LORD required King Solomon to walk before Him faithfully as David his father did, and do all the LORD commanded, and observe His decrees and laws.
- Think about human history around the world for the past 100 years, can you think of any people or events that have become “a byword” or an example of evil choices to avoid? Recently, “Hitler” has become a byword again, especially for the millions of Jews he murdered in prison camps.
Word Search
Devastating Disobedience
March 25, 2018 2
Chronicles 7:11-22
Name ___________________________
S P X J M K D Y M S U N S V D
B E V I G R O F E L B B U R E
J Y C M C Q I J E N I N L X R
E K T D J M C K L M A Z I Q A
Q C V H E A L V P X P Q F G E
S J A U S G Q D M S Z U Z Y P
U T Q L W N H S E L K H B T P
S S S K A X R Q T U A Y Q X A
E Y O U G P J U B J W Y N J Y
J U P L C X K V T O C M O D V
T N R I O O N E R G Q D Z R N
P W A P N M L D E M E R H D I
L U Y D J X O Q G S Y O E N G
E O E H E A Y N I Z G L X C H
M F R O N H C O F U T R H B T
Solomon
Temple
Royal
Palace
Night
LORD
Appeared
Prayer
Locusts
Seek
Turn
Forgive
Heal
Byword
Rubble
True and False Test
Devastating Disobedience
March 25, 2018 2
Chronicles 7:11-22
Name ___________________________
Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.
- After King Solomon prayed and dedicated the temple to the LORD, the LORD appeared to him and spoke to him at night. True or False
- The LORD promised King Solomon that locusts would never devour the land and He would heal all their diseases. True or False
- The LORD told King Solomon that if people would just pray to Him then He would forgive their sin and heal their land. True or False
- The Israelites refused to practice the wicked ways that the LORD condemned. True or False
- The LORD said He would hear the prayers offered at the temple. True or False
- The LORD chose the temple and King Solomon consecrated it to make it holy for the LORD. True or False
- The LORD commanded King Solomon to walk before Him as faithfully as David his father did and observe His decrees and laws. True or False
- The LORD warned King Solomon not to go off to serve other gods and worship them. True or False
- King Solomon obeyed all the LORD’s decrees and laws and refused to allow the worship of any idols in the whole land of Israel. True or False
- The LORD promised King Solomon that the temple would never become a heap of rubble, because then it could become an object of ridicule. True or False
True and False Test Answers
2 Chronicles 7:11-22
- True
- False
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- True
- False
- False
Prayer
Father, we recognize that what You challenged Your people to do in Solomon’s day is what You challenge us to do now: humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face, and turn from evil ways. Help us to give heed to both Your warning and Your promise of blessing. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.