Godward Thoughts

The chronicler does not mention Solomon’s apostasy or God’s warning (1 Kings 11–13), but he does record Rehoboam’s folly. You would think younger men would recommend easier lives for the people, for youth is generally a carefree time. But the king’s friends did not have to bear any of the burdens, and their decision made them appear strong. They used the people to advance their authority instead of using their authority to help the people. (See Matthew 23:4; Galatians 6:2).

Some divisions are of God (2 Chronicles 11:4), even though they create problems and cause hurts. For one thing, divisions force people to make decisions, and the decisions they make reveal the kind of people they are. The priests and Levites left Israel and came to Judah because they wanted to serve in the true temple and be ruled by a king from David’s line.

Rehoboam refused to serve the Lord or the people, so he ended up serving Egypt. God wanted him to learn the difference between His easy yoke and the heavy yoke of sin (2 Chronicles 12:8 ; Deuteronomy 28:47–48). Some people must learn the hard way. Are you one of them?

No matter how strong you think you are, your strength becomes weakness if you forsake the Lord. Rehoboam relied on his fortified cities for protection, and the Egyptians took every one of them. His son Abijah would rely on the Lord and win a great victory (2 Chronicles 13:18). Where is your faith today?

Solomon’s treasures became Egypt’s spoils because the king turned away from God. The king and the elders humbled themselves before God, but they could not escape the consequences of their sin. God spared them from wrath, but He permitted them to suffer. Alexander Maclaren stated, “Every sin is a mistake, as well as a wrong; and the epitaph for the sinner is, ‘Thou fool!’”

Prayer went up, fire came down, and glory moved in. Could you ask for more?

David was known for his battles, Solomon for his buildings. It was a time of peace, so the opportunities and resources for building were available.

It is disappointing that Solomon married a foreign woman who could not be identified with the Lord’s throne. God wants each home to be a tabernacle (Isaiah 4:5–6); He wants His children to enjoy His presence (2 Corinthians 6:4–7:1). Apparently in this decision, Solomon was concerned more about politics than about piety.

Solomon was faithful in his public worship despite these inconsistencies in his life, and he continued to increase the wealth of the nation. But the people were not growing in the things of the Lord. Alexander Whyte wrote that “the secret worm . . . was gnawing all the time in the royal staff upon which Solomon leaned.”

The most important part of your life is the part that only God sees. Are you concerned about character—or reputation?

The beautiful temple was empty until God’s throne was put in place (2 Chronicles 5:2–10) and God’s glory filled the house (2 Chronicles 5:13–14). When Moses dedicated the tabernacle, the glory came in when the work was finished (Exodus 40:33–38). It was the song of praise that brought the glory into the temple. When you worship with God’s people, does your praise increase His glory in the assembly?

The tables of the Law were still in the ark (2 Chronicles 5:10), but the pot of manna and Aaron’s rod were no longer there (Hebrews 9:4). Some things God does are temporary, and we must not make permanent institutions out of them.

David had carefully organized the priests and Levites, but that order was forgotten as they led the worship on that holy day (2 Chronicles 5:11). There are times when the Spirit of God ignores our plans and procedures and reveals God’s glory in a new way. Let Him do it! We are not to worship organization; we are to worship God.

In his dedication address and prayer, King Solomon looked in five different directions. He looked back (2 Chronicles 6:1–11). He recalled how God chose him to build the temple. He looked up (2 Chronicles 6:12–21). He asked God to fulfill the covenant promises He had made with David. The covenant included the coming into this world of the Son of David, Jesus Christ, who was born of the house of David.

He looked ahead (2 Chronicles 6:22–31). Solomon asked God to help His people in various trials of life, particularly to forgive them when they sinned. Coming to the temple, or looking toward the temple, and praying to God would bring them forgiveness. In this chapter, there are numerous references to prayer.

He looked around (2 Chronicles 6:32–35). The king called on God to help the Gentiles. The temple was to be “a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7); God’s desire was that Israel bring blessing to all the world (Genesis 12:1–3).

He looked within (2 Chronicles 6:36–40). He ended his prayer by pleading for forgiveness for sinning Israel. His words must have been very meaningful to the Jews taken captive to Babylon four centuries later.

The temple is gone, but the record of that great day of dedication remains to encourage and bless God’s people. Read the chapter again, and note the promises you can claim today. In his closing prayer (2 Chronicles 6:41–42), Solomon asked God to bless everybody present: the priests, the people, and himself as God’s anointed king. But any blessing that came would result from God’s mercy and His promises to David. David could not build the temple or attend the dedication service, but he was there just the same!

Solomon’s hands were filled with sacrifices for the Lord; his ears were open to the word of the Lord; his heart was devoted to the service of the Lord. His great desire was to be capable of serving his people with wisdom, and God granted that desire. Have you asked God for wisdom (James 1:5)?

The plans for both the temple and the tabernacle were given by God; in both projects, the people were permitted to share their gifts. There was one difference: God’s Spirit equipped two Jewish men to make the tabernacle and its furnishings (Exodus 31), but an artisan from outside Israel supervised the construction of the temple. Had God’s Spirit failed to equip anybody for the task? Or was that another one of Solomon’s ways to build strong bonds with his neighbors?

At least his motives were pure: he built the house “for the name of the LORD ” (2 Chronicles 2:1 ). He used the best materials (“pure gold,” “fine gold”), and he laid a good foundation (2 Chronicles 3:3). The apostle Paul surely had Solomon’s temple in mind when he wrote 1 Corinthians 3:10–17.