2 Chronicles 7

2 Chronicles 7:1

7:1-7 As soon as Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The people saw . . . the glory cloud coming down . . . on the temple, and they bowed . . . on the pavement, worshiping and praising the LORD. Solomon then led the people in offering thousands of bulls and sheep as sacrifices to the LORD. The priests took their positions, the Levites played the Lord’s musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the Lord. Opposite the Levites, the priests sounded their trumpets, while all the Israelites stood. The bronze altar was too small for the enormous number of sacrifices and offerings. 7:8-10 The dedication feast lasted for seven days, including the Day of Atonement. This was followed by the Feast of Tabernacles, after which Solomon dismissed the people. 7:11-16 After Solomon had finished the temple and his own palace, the LORD appeared to him at night with promises and warnings. In the event that God sent drought, locusts, or pestilence on the people, they should humble themselves, . . . pray, . . . seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways. Then He would forgive their sin and restore them. Verse 14 may very well be the golden text of this entire book. Though originally addressed to the chosen nation of Israel, it has rightly been applied to those nations which have a biblical heritage. It is the sure road to restoration and revival for all times. If the conditions are met, the promises are sure of fulfillment. J. Barton Payne comments: This great verse, the best known in all Chronicles, expresses as does no other in Scripture God’s requirement for national blessing, whether in Solomon’s land, in Ezra’s, or in our own. Those who believe must forsake their sins, turn from the life that is centered in self, and yield to God’s word and will. Then, and only then, will heaven send revival. 7:17-22 If Solomon would live in obedience before God, He would establish his throne and allow Solomon’s descendants to sit upon it. On the other hand, if Solomon and his people forsook the Lord for other gods, they would be carried into captivity, and God would reject the temple so that it would be an object of derision and a testimony to the nations that Israel had forsaken the LORD. Verse 16 seems to imply that the temple would endure for all time; yet we know that it was destroyed in 586 B.C. The explanation, of course, is that God’s promise was conditioned on Israel’s faithfulness and obedience. Verses 19 and 20 specifically warn that if the people became idolaters, God would reject the temple.