2Chronicles 714-15
...if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.
This blog article was inspired as I listened to Gene Baily interview Todd Smith. Here are the links to that interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=454_nj8carw
INTERVIEW PART ONE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KTABHvL4Ec
INTERVIEW PART TWO
Thanks to Todd Smith for noting that it is people, PLURAL, not only Solomon, not only you, or I, to whom the Lord is speaking. God is asking the people to "humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways." And the Lord promises to listen to THEIR prayer "that is made in this place." The place was the Temple that Solomon had built.
2Chronicles 714-15
...if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.
I believe today it is no longer one specific Temple or sanctuary that is important, although the Temple Mount in Jerusalem might be considered. But it is any place where God's PEOPLE, are gathered TOGETHER. We His church are His Temple! I have been encouraged for over 47 years to spend time alone with The Lord in prayer each day. And to send time with His people once each week. And it is right to do both. But what Todd Smith notes most emphatically is that we must come with the preeminent purpose of seeking His face corporately. Then we will experience the manifest presence of God. We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. God desires to come into us, His Temple
both to be loved by us and to love us...
... up close and corporately.
Ch. 6 of Second Chronicles is the record of the prayer for the dedication of the temple Solomon built. Solomon prays to God a very powerful prayer. "...he knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven, and said..."
Let His Temple humble themselves and pray and seek God's face and stop sinning.
Here is a part of Solomon's prayer with notes in bracketed italics:
2Chronicles 6:12-21 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly [a corporate gathering] of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the court, and he stood on it. Then he knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel [showed his attitude toward God to the assembly], and spread out his hands toward heaven, 14 and said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart, 15 who have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day. 16 Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.’ 17 Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David. 18 “But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built! 19 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you, 20 that your eyes may be open day and night toward this house, the place where you have promised to set your name, that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. 21 And listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.
When Solomon finished praying here is what happened:
2Chronicles 7:1-2 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house.
That was the manifest presence of God! And when they were able to continue here is what they did:
2Chronicles 7:4-8 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the LORD. 5 King Solomon offered as a sacrifice 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 The priests stood at their posts; the Levites also, with the instruments for music to the LORD that King David had made for giving thanks to the LORD—for his steadfast love endures forever—whenever David offered praises by their ministry; opposite them the priests sounded trumpets, and all Israel stood. 7 And Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD, for there he offered the burnt offering and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar Solomon had made could not hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat. 8 At that time Solomon held the feast for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt.
Note the massive sacrifices offered. Note that “all Israel [was] with him, a very great assembly.” This was a very special event. It was a “corporate” event a NATIONAL event.
Next:
2Chronicles 7:10-11 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the prosperity that the LORD had granted to David and to Solomon and to Israel his people. 11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king's house. All that Solomon had planned to do in the house of the LORD and in his own house he successfully accomplished.
This great assembly was sent home. And then The Lord appeared to Solomon and spoke to him. But we should back up a bit to notice:
1. The Temple was finished.
2Chronicles 5:1 Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the LORD was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, and stored the silver, the gold, and all the vessels in the treasuries of the house of God.
2. Solomon assembled the people.
2Chronicles 5:2-3 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. 3 And all the men of Israel assembled before the king at the feast that is in the seventh month
3. The Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Holy of Holies.
2Chronicles 5:4-7 And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. 5 And they brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the Levitical priests brought them up. 6 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 7 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.
4 A song of praise was raised.
2Chronicles 5:11-13 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves, without regard to their divisions, 12 and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; 13 and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD), and when the song was raised,
5. The Glory (the Presence) of the Lord filled His house.
2Chronicles 5:13-14 and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,” the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.
I started this article quoting 2Chronicles 714 (and 15). It has been a popularly quoted scripture for decades. I first heard it before I was saved. A ministry known as Up With People begun in 1965 made it famous. It is an important verse. But as I came to see when viewing the interview with Todd Smith on Revival Radio TV {via Youtube) we have not altogether (as ONE NEW MAN; as the ONE church Jesus is building) understood the way of The Lord surrounding this one verse.
One verse is just not enough. I have not been a zealous student of the Lord or his Bible. But around 2001 I discovered computers in the public library. I was astonished at how easily I could electronically search out the few verses that I knew. In too many less than zealous years I did manage to know more verses. To make a long story short I have seen for sometime that one verse of a chapter does not have the same spiritual impact as the whole chapter. Here is someething I am finding more than helpful in understanding the Bible, and in learning from and knowing the Lord Jesus (Mat 11:28-30) : “Context Context Context.” It is very true and important to know what precedes and what follows your favorite verses. There are I fear many, many people preaching insufficiently complete and sometime false ideas that they would abandon if they would study the context of the verses they now misunderstand. I often spoken from only partial knowledge. And I have had completely erroneous ideas about some verses.
Much what we need to understand is actually not very technical. From the building and the “opening” Solomon Temple we can observe some things that we may not have seen as important.
Israel at this time was perhaps as strong as it would be in its past history. Solomon, although he would later fail, was leading well because of his humility.
2Chronicles 1:7-13 In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” 8 And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place. 9 O LORD God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” 11 God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” 13 So Solomon came from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.
God answered his prayer and Solomon had the support of Israel. He was able to command the building of the Temple. He was able to gather all Israel to have it dedicated. He assembled the elders of Israel to bring in “the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent.“
This properly respected the pattern designated by the Mosaic Law. Solomon wanted representatives of the entire kingdom to witness the event, but not at the expense of disobedience to God’s command. ~David Guzik
2Chronicles 5:2-5 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. 3 And all the men of Israel assembled before the king at the feast that is in the seventh month. 4 And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. 5 And they brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the Levitical priests brought them up.
Solomon’s humility and obedience along with the humility and obedience of the whole of Israel resulted in the Lord to powerfully reveal His presence to the whole assembly twice! ~ 2Chronicles 5:14; 2Chronicles 7:1-3
And after this He appears to Solomon !!!
2Chronicles 7:12-16 And Jehovah 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. 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; 14 if my people, who 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 hallowed this house, that my name may be there for ever; and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.
And that is where we want to be yes? In a place, in the House, the community the congregation, a place such as this hallowed Temple, where God's name will be forever and his eyes, and His heart will be there perpetually, a place where we are confident that He will see and hear us.
And now in the Lord Jesus Christ we are a spiritual house built of living stones. Where two or more of these living stones are gathered…
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20
The blessing and the benefit of the two or three must certainly extend to the 10, the 50, the 100… to the entire church, yes? “Thy Kingdom come” is a prayer for ALL Christ’s brethren to pray, yes? It is a prayer for the us to live in the presence of the King. And Jesus is the King.
1John 1:1-10 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life 2 (and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us); 3 that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ: 4 and these things we write, that our joy may be made full. 5 And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
One added note, as I put two verses together last night, and one this morning and they can be joined to this article. It is pretty clear that Solomon's Temple took A LOT of work to build. It took A LOT of work to dedicate. It would take a lot of work to maintain going forward. And all this work was done for the purpose of being in God's presence. But now WE are the Temple.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.
Philippians 2:12-13 So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.
John 6:28-29 They said therefore unto him, What must we do, that we may work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
What must WE do? Believe that WE are God's workmanship. Accept and rejoice in the work WE are called to do. And know that it is not rocket science. We simple believe on, WE have faith in, WE trust God as His PEOPLE, His FAMILY, His FELLOWSHIP.
1Chronicles 16:28-29 Give to the Lord, O you families of the peoples, give to the Lord glory and strength. 29 Give to the Lord the glory due his name; take with you an offering and come before him; give worship to the Lord in holy robes.
