2 Chronicles 6

2 Chronicles 6:1

SOLOMON’S MESSAGEThis is a tremendous message that Solomon gives. Now Solomon addresses the people.

2 Chronicles 6:4

David, you see, is the one responsible for the temple.

2 Chronicles 6:5

In God’s sovereign will He chose Jerusalem to be the center and the capital of this earth. It will be that some day. He chose Jerusalem for the place the temple would stand. He chose David to be the king, and now one in David’s line. This is the arbitrary, the absolute will of God in making this choice. Now, my friend, our choices are often quite different from God’s choices. For example, I would not have chosen Jerusalem. I think the most beautiful spot in that land is at Samaria where Ahab and Jezebel lived. Many folk build on a hillside so they have a view of the valley, but in Samaria you can look in every direction. On the west you see the Mediterranean Sea. On the east you see the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee. On the south you see Jerusalem, and when you look to the north you see Mount Hermon. That’s quite a view! I would choose that place for the capital. But God did not consult me or my wishes. God chose Jerusalem. This is the sovereign will of God. God says, “I have chosen Jerusalem.” My friend, God has His will for you and for me. I actually believe that for a child of God He has a certain place, a certain house for you to live in. His will for you involves everything in your life. The great problem for you and me is to get in the will of God. We can stand off and argue all we want to about the free will of man and God’s sovereignty, but it is a fruitless waste of time. I’ll tell you something that is very profitable: it is to get to the placein fact, on the spot that God has marked “X"which He has chosen for you and for me. When you and I get on that spot, we will be in the right place. God’s will is the important thing. God chose Jerusalem; God chose this man David.

2 Chronicles 6:7

Solomon is saying that he has done what David wanted done; he is carrying out his wishes in building the temple.

2 Chronicles 6:10

This is all-important to see.

2 Chronicles 6:12

SOLOMON’S PRAYERNow we have this wonderful prayer of dedication. If you are wondering about the proper posture for prayer, Solomon kneeled down. On your knees is a fitting posture for a creature in the presence of his Creator. Solomon begins with thanksgiving.

2 Chronicles 6:14

He is thanking God because He is the Creator and because of His mercy and His faithfulness. In his grace He had moved into the heart of David, into the nation, and into the heart and life of Solomon. In our day a great many Christians need an experience with God. It seems that they are satisfied to stand off and stiff-arm the Lord. They keep Him at a distance, yet they say, “Yes, I’m a Christian.” My friend, let’s have a close relationship with Him and real fellowship.

2 Chronicles 6:18

This is an important verse, to which I have referred before. Certainly neither Solomon nor the nation Israel had any notion of “boxing God in” when they built a temple for Him. Rather the temple was to be a meeting place between God and man.

2 Chronicles 6:20

You see, this temple was the place where man could meet God.

2 Chronicles 6:21

The temple was to become the very center of the life of the nation Israel.

2 Chronicles 6:24

When they had sinned, they were to come back to that temple.

2 Chronicles 6:26

When there is a drought in the land because of the sin of the people, what are they to do? Come back to God in prayer.

2 Chronicles 6:28

Whatever calamity might come to them, they were to return to the temple and pray to God.

2 Chronicles 6:30

God knows us, my friend. That is the reason we ought to be doing business with Him.

2 Chronicles 6:32

You see, this was a great missionary project. The temple was not only for Israelthe whole world was to come there. If a stranger or foreigner would come from a far countryfrom the end of the earthhe could meet God at the temple.

2 Chronicles 6:36

In the country to which they are taken captive, they are to turn in the direction of the temple and lift their voices to God. This is what Daniel did, you recall. Daniel opened his windows toward Jerusalem (the temple by that time had been destroyed), kneeled, and prayed to God three times a day (Dan_6:10). And God heard his prayer.

2 Chronicles 6:38

The temple was to be the meeting place.

2 Chronicles 6:41

This is a glorious prayer. Notice that he makes it on the basis of the mercy God extended to David. You and I are to pray because Christ has made a mercy seat for us by His shed blood. He made peace for us by the blood of His cross, and God is prepared to extend mercy to us.