Bible in one year 7/5/2022 2Chronicles Chapter 17-20 Jehoshaphat's victory By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible in one year 7/5/2022 2Chronicles Chapter 17-20 King of Judah Jehoshaphat's victory

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce                                                                                                            Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 20 Jehoshaphat’s victory over Moab and Ammon

            The Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. (vv.1-4).

            Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said,

            “ O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friends? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name saying, “If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.” But now here are men and Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”(vv.5-12).  

            All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levited and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. He said: “ Listen, king Jehoshaphet and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘ Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.(v.15). Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.(v.16). You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; Do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you.’”(v.17).

            Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.

            Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “ Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in His prophets and you will be successful.”(v.20). After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.”(v.21).

            As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.(vv.22-23).

            When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground, no one had escaped. So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praise the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Beracah to this day.(vv.24-26).

            Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lutes and trumpets. The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the Lord had fought against he enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had give him rest on every side. (vv.27-29).

            Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah in Jerusalem twenty-five years when he was thirty-five years old. He walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them, he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.(vv.32-33).

            Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who was guilty of wickedness. He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships. After these were built at Ezion Geber. Eliezer prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “ because you have made an alliance with Abaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade.(vv.35-37). Then Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. And Jehoram his son succeeded him as king.

 

Bibliography,

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986 

 

 

Bible in one year 7/4/2022 2Chronicle Chapter 14-17 King of Judah Asa's strength and weakness By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible in one year 7/4/2022 2Chronicle Chapter 14-17 King of Judah Asa's strength and weakness

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce                                                                                                            Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

Theme : In the thirty-fifty year Asa’s reign, his heart was fully committed to the Lord, and followed the Lord wholeheartedly. He did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. Asa removed the foreign altars, the high places, cut down the Asherah poles…called to the Lord and relied on the Lord, the Lord struck down the Cushites and Libyans before Asa and Judah. The Lord gave them rest on every side. There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

In the thirty-sixth tear in Asa’s reign, the king of Israel Baasha attacked against Judah. Asa made a wrong decision to seek king of Aram Ben-Hadad’s help and made a treaty with him in order to defeat Baasha king of Israel.  The seer Hanani came to Asa and reminded that he had failed to trust God, relied on the king of Aram rather than the Lord his God. In the thirty-ninth year Asa’s reign, he was afflicted with a disease in his feet, though his disease was severe, even in his illness he didn’t seek help from the Lord but only from the physicians. Again Asa failed to seek the Lord regarding his problem. In the forty-first year of his reign Asa died.  

 

Chapter 14 Asa early reforms (911-870;1Kings 15:9-24)

            Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. Asa his son succeeded him as king, and in his days the country was at peace for ten year. Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to obey his laws and commands. (vv.1-4). He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the Lord gave him rest.(vv.5-6)

            Asa said to Judah, “ Let us build up these towns…Because we have sought the Lord our God, we sought him and he has given us rest on every side” so they built towns, put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars .and prospered (v.7).

War with Ethiopians –

  Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with a vast army. Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said,

            “ Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you.”(v.11).

            The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, and Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. Such a great number of Cushites fell that they counld not recover; they were crushed before the Lord and his forces. The men of Judah carried off a large amont of plunder. They also attached the camps of the herdsmen and carried off droves of sheep and goats and camels .then they returned to Jerusalem. (vv.12-15)

  

Chapter 15 Asa’s heart fully committed to the Lord 35 years rest on every side

          The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “ Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake him, He will forsake you.(v.1-2). For al ong time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them.(vv.3-4). In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress.(vv.5-6). But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”(v.7).

           When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the portico of the Lord’s temple. Then he assembled all Judah and Benjamin and the people from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who had settled among them, for large numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.(vv.8-9).

            They assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. At that time they sacrificed to the Lord seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats from the plunder they had brought back. They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul.(v.12). All who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. They took an oath to the Lord with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. (v.14). All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. (v.15). They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the Lord gave them rest on every side. (v.16).

King Asa also deposed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive Asherah pole. Asa cut the pole down, broke it up and burned it in the Kidron Valley. Although he did not move the high places from Israel, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life. There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

 

Chapter 16 War with Baasha of Israel, Asa made wrong decision  

 In the thirty –six year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.

Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. He said, “Let there be a treaty between me and you.” As there was between my father to your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”(vv.2-3).

King of Aram Ben-Hadad agree with King of Judah Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against Baasha king of Israel and the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work. Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away form Ramah the stones and tember Baasha had been using. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah.(vv.5-6).

At the time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him:

“Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escapted from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, He delievered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”(vv.7-9).

Asa was angry with the seer because of this, he was so enraged that he put him in prison. At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people.(v.10).

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but one from the physicians. Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his fathers. They buried him in the tomb that he had cut out for himself in the City of David.(vv.12-14).

 

Bibliography,

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986 

 

 

 

 

 

Bible in one year 7/3/2022 2Chronicle Chapter 11-13 King of Judah Rehoboam, Abijah By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year 7/3/2022 2Chronicle Chapter 11-13 Rehoboam, Abijah and Jeroboam 

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce                                                                                                            Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

Theme :  King of Judah Rehoboam humbled before the Lord, so the Lord didn't destroy him totally. Rehoboam's son, (King Solomon's grandson) Abijah relied on the Lord, raised the battle cry, then gained the victory over Jeroboam (king of Israel) who made golden calves to be gods, fled before Judah and the Lord struck him down and he died. 

Chapter 11 Rehoboam follows the Lord as king of Judah

            When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered the house of Judah and Benjamin – a hundred and eighty thousand fighting men to make war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehobaom. But This word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God: “ Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all the Israelites in Judah and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin, ‘ This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.” (v.4). So they obeyed the words of the Lord and turned back from marching against Jeroboam (king of Israel).Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up towns for defense in Judah: Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Zorah, Aijalong and Hebron. These were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. (v.5).

 The priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel sided with him. The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the Lord. And he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat and calf idols he had made.(v.13-15). Those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their fathers. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, walking in the way of David and Solomon during this time.(vv.16-17).

 Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliah. She bore him sons:Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham. Then he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith. Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than any of his other wives and concubines. Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah to be the chief prince among his brothers, in order to make him king.(v.22).

Chapter 12 Rehoboam abandons the Lord, but humble himself before the Lord, the Lord’s anger turned from him, and didn’t destroy him totally.

            After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord. Because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam. (vv.1-2). With twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen and the innumerable troops of Libyans, Sukkites and Cushites that came with him from Egypt, he captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.(vv.3-4).                                                                                              

              Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he said to them, “ This is what the Lord says, ‘ You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandoned you to Shishak.’” (v.5). The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is just”. (v.6). When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “ Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. They will however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands.(vv. 7-8).                                                                                                                                                                        

            When Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem, he carried off the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything. Including the gold shields Solomon had made.(v.9). So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. Whenever the king went to the Lord’s temple, the guards went with him, bearing the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom.(vv.10-11) Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah.(v.12). King Rehoboam established himself firmly in Jerusalem and continued as king. He was forty one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen out of al the tribes of Israel in which to put his Name. His mother’s name was Naanah; she was an Ammonite. He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord. (vv.13-14).

 Chapter 13 Abijah (Abijam 913-911; 1Kings 15:1-8)

            In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem, and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maacah, a daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. (vv.1-2). There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam (king of Israel). Abijah into battle with a force of four hundred thousand able fighting men, and Jeroboam drew up a battle line against him with eight hundred thousand able troops. (v.3). Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, in the hill country of Ephraim, and said,

“Jeroboam and all Israel, listen to me! Don’t you know that the Lord, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt? Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, an official of Solomon son son of David, rebelled against his master. Some worthless scoundrels gathered around him and opposed Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young and indecisive and not strong enough to resist them. (vv.4-7).

And now you plan to resist the kingdom of the Lord, which is in the hands of David’s descendants. You are indeed a vast army and have with you golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods. But didn’t you drive out the priests of the Lord, the son of Aaron, and the Levites, and make priests of your own as the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may become a priest of what are not gods.(vv.8-9)

As for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him. The priests who serve the Lord are sons of Aaron, and the Levites assist them. Every morning and evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the Lord. They set out the bread on the ceremonially clean table and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening. We are observing the requirements of the Lord our God. But you have forsaken him. God is with us; He is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you. Men of Israel, do not fight  against the Lord, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”(vv.10-12).

Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah the ambush was behind them. (v.13).

Judah turned and saw that they were being attacked at both front and rear. Then they cried out to the Lord. The priests blew their trumpets and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. At the sound of their battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah, and God delivered them into their hands. The Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hands. (vv.14-16). The men of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their fathers.(v.18).

Jeroboam did not regain power during the time of Abijah. And the Lord struck him down and he died.(v.20). But Abijah grew in strength. God apparently intervened in some supernatural way to give Judah victory. The death of half a million soldiers severely crippled the Northern Kingdom (vv.17,20).  

Bibliography,

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986 

 

Bible in one year 7/2/2022 2Chronicle Chapter 8- 10 Solomon's wisdom & Queen of Sheba By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year 7/2/2022 2Chronicle Chapter 8- 10 Solomon's wisdom & Queen of Sheba

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

2Chronicles Chapter 8 Solomon’s Fame, organization, navy

            At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built the temple of the Lord and his own palace, Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram had given him, and settled Israelites in them. (vv.1-2), He also built up Tadmor in the desert and all the store cities he had built in Hamath. He rebuilt Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon as fortified cities, with walls and with gates and bars. As well as Baalath and all his store cities, and all the cities for his chariots an for his horses whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled.(vv.3-6). All the people left from the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites (these peoples were not Israelites), that is, their descendants remaining in the land, whom the Israelites had not destroyed- these Solomon conscripted for his slave labor force, as it is to this day. But Solomon did not make slaves of the Israelites for his work; they were his fighting men, commanders of his captains, and commanders of his chariots and charioteers. (vv.7-9).

            Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, “ My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the Lord has entered are holy.”(v.11). In keeping with the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their duties, and the Levites to lead the praise and to assist the priests according to each day’s requirement. He also appointed the gate keepers by divisions for the various gates, because this was what David the men of God had ordered. (vv.14).Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and Elath on the coast of Edom. And Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own officers, men who knew the sea. These, with Solomon’s men, sailed to Ophir and brought back four hundred and fifty talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon. (vv.17-18).

Chapter 9 Queen of Sheba’s visiting 

            When  the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her. When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, as well as the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, the cupbearers in their robes and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.(vv.1-4).

 And she said to the king, “ The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard. How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the Lord of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them, to maintain justice and righteousness.”(vv.5-8).

Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. (v.10). the king Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.(v.12).

King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift articles of silver and gold, and robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules. (vv.22-24). He ruled over all the kings from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.(v.26) Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. Then he rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.(v.30).

 

Chapter 10 The kings of Judah Rehoboam (931-913: 1Kings 14:21-31)

            This chapter describes the division of the kingdom of Judah from the majority of Israel. Because the northern division (Israel) was apostate from the beginning , the chronicler does not mention Jeroboam’s being made king (1Kings 12:20).          

 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all the Israelites had gone there to make him king. When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King of Solomon), he returned from Egypt. So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him. “ Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”(vv.1-4).

  Rehoboam son of Solomon consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. They replied, “ if you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”(v.7). But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him, “ Tell the people who have said to you, your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter’- tell them, ‘ My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”(vv.8-11). Rehoboam followed the advice of the young men and replied harshly to Israel “ My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.”(v.14). So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.(v.15).

When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: ‘ What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, O Israel! Look after your own house, O David!” (v.16). So all the Israelites went home. But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Solomon’s song Rehoboam still ruled over them. King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death.(v.18) King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.(v.19).

 

 

 Bibliography,

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986 

 

 

 

Bible in one year 7/1/2022 2Chronicle Chapter 4-7 Solomon prayer and Lord’s answer By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible in one year 7/1/2022 2Chronicle Chapter 4-7 Solomon prayer and Lord’s answer

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

2 Chronicle Chapter 4 Construction of the Temple

            Solomon made a bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high. He made the Sea of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim and five cubits high. It took a line of thirty cubits to measure around it. Below the rim, figures of bulls encircled it-ten to a cubit. The bulls were cast in two rows in one piece with the Sea.(vv.1-3).

            He made ten gold lampstands according to the specifications for them and placed them in the temple, five on the South side and five on the north.(v.7). He made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the North. He also made a hundred gold sprinkling bowls.(v.8). He also made the pots and shovels and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished the work he had undertaken for King Solomon, in the temple of God: the two pillars; the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars; the two sets of network decorating the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars; the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network, decorating the bowl shaped capitals on top of the pillars).(vv.11-13). All the objects that Huram-Abi made for King Solomon for the temple of the Lord were of polished bronze.(v.16).

2Chronicle Chapter 5 Dedication of the Temple

Installing the Ark 5:1-14  When all the work Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated –the silver and gold and all the furnishings and he placed them in the treasuries of God’s temple.(v.1). Then Solomon summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. And all the men of Israel came together to the king at the time of the festival in the seventh month. (vv.2-3). Zion. A name for Jerusalem or, as here, the portion of it located in the SE part (2Sam.5:6-7).Moriah, where the Temple was, is N. of this area. The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its carrying poles.(vv.7-8)(1Kings8:7-8). The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. All the Levites who were musicians -Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives-stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:

“He is good; His love endures forever”

Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God. (vv.13-14).

Chapter 6 Solomon speaks to the people and pray to God 6:1-11

            Then Solomon said, “ The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; I have built a magnificent temple for you, palace for you to dwell forever.” While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. and pray to God,

“ O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth-you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your month you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it –as it is today. Now Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, “ you shall never fail to have a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your son are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law, as you have done.” And now, O Lord, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.”(vv.14-17).

            But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens even the highest heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the praying in your presence. May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.(vv.18-21).

            Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. Now arise, O Lord God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, may your saints rejoice in your goodness. O Lord God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember the great love promised to David your servant.(6:40-42)

 

2Chronicles 7 God’s glory and the Lord answered Solomon

             When Solomon 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 priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it.(vv.1-2). When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “ He is good, His love endures forever.” (v.3). The Lord appeared to Solomon at nigh and said,

 “ I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people.(vv.12-13). If my people, who are called by my name, will 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.” (v.14). Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.(vv.15-16).

            As for you, If you walk before me as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, “you shall never fail to have a man to rule over Israel.” (vv.17-18).

            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.(vv.19-20).

 And though this temple is now so imposing, all peoples who pass by will be appalled and say, “ Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple? People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’”(vv.21-22).

            The Lord’s answer to Solomon states God’s requirements for blessing : humility, prayer, devotion, repentance and do not turn away and forsake the decrees and commands, and go off to serve other gods and worship them. Solomon’s final stage was strayed from the Lord, and wasn’t devoted to the Lord wholeheartedly, because he had so many foreign wives who worshiped other gods. Therefore, the Lord uproot Israel from His land in his son’s generation after Solomon died.     

Bibliography,

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986