Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Asa II Chronicles 14

II Chronicles 14:1 "So Abijah slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years."

Refer to I Kings 15:7-8 and I Kings 15:8-10

In the first ten years of Asa's reign there was no war. In the first 35 years there was only one.

v9 "And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopiah with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah."

The Ethiopians had a million man army while Asa had 560,000. v8 The odds seemed not to be in his favor. But Asa trusted the Lord.

It is hard for me to imagine a million and a half men fighting at one time. The bloodshed must have been awful. At least, then they could see the results of war up close so peace must have been precious to them.

v11 "And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power; help us, O LORD our God for we rest on thee and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD thou art our God, let not man prevail against thee."

See II Chronicles 16:8

Asa put the LORD out front. He indicated to the LORD that a defeat of Judah would be the same as a defeat for God since they were trusting in him. We know that there is no defeat for God. So Asa smote the enemy and brought back spoils from the land. For the next years, Asa spent his time fortifying the cities. Then we will see in the next chapter how he handled the next war.

Psalm 1:6 "For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

Asa defeats Ethiopia.

Monday, December 29, 2008

2008 Ending

We are fast approaching the end of 2008. It has been a year like no other. Things have changed so fast in so many areas that it has been hard to keep up. Some of us have lost family members. Some have lost jobs. Some have lost homes. The very face of the world seems to have changed. We have gone from financial stability to the edge of ruin. The weather even seems to be attacking us. Needless to say, these are tough times. We have been shaken from our comfort zones. It is not a time to despair. That is easier to say than to do. Despair is an enemy that we must all fight against. Little ones are looking to us older folks for hope. We may have been battered by life and be looking for a place to 'park it' but these little ones have their life ahead of them. It is our responsibility to seek strength from the LORD so that we can guide them. That strength lies in his word where we find his promises. One I like is where he said 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'

The journey of this Bible Study started back in 2006. It has been hard at times to turn to the next chapter and search for a truth that might help someone. Consistent throughout the scripture is the fact that when God says something will happen, it will happen. We started in Genesis where Adam and Eve sinned against the LORD and he had to shed innocent blood to provide a covering for them. A promise of redemption was made, a nation was born. A great king named David became ruler of that kingdom and through him the promise for redemption continues. I have said that this nation is like a pregnant lady carrying the promise down through the ages. Efforts continue in our studies to destroy that nation but the LORD is faithful. We know from further reading that a remnant did survive and was there when Christ was born of the tribe of David and the promise of redemption was fulfilled. God's promises are reliable.

So another year comes. We must lift up our heads and find strength to point our children to the LORD. His word is stable in times of turmoil. He is faithful.

Abijah II Chronicles 13

II Chronicles 13:4 "And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim which is in mount Ephraim and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;"

Abijah, king of Judah and Jeroboam, king of the ten tribes of Israel, are facing each other ready to do battle. Judah is outnumbered and surrounded. Abijah does some pretty good preaching to Israel. He tells them about their false gods and how they have forsaken the proper worship of the LORD with false priests. He also reminds them how they overcame Rehoboam when he was young and tender. It is as if Abijah is saying: It is not the same now. He reminds Rehoboam that he descended from a servant of Solomon and not from the line of David as he himself does.

v6 "Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up and hath rebelled against his lord."

This statement must have had an effect on the men of Israel, for they knew it was true.

v8 "And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods."

Here is what Jeroboam had going for them: a great multitude, golden calves, false priests and a trap where they had surrounded Judah while Abijah delivered his sermon. Judah had another advantage though.

v12 "And behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you, O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers, for ye shall not prosper."

Abijah looked around and saw the trap. Judah did three things in the face of these odds: v14 They cried unto the LORD, the priests sounded with the trumpets, they gave a shout.

v15"....it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel..."

Being outnumbered and surrounded by the enemy is not hopeless when God is on our side.

Jeroboam was stricken sick and never recovered, neither was Israel (ten tribes) able to become strong against Judah.

v21 "But Abijah waxed mighty,..."

Psalm 18:29 "For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall."

Abijah defeats Jeroboam.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Christmas 2008

I have often told my children when they come to me with a problem: Some things, you just have to let God fix. I can listen but I cannot mend a broken heart but God can. I can weep over lost souls but God can redeem them. I can sorrow over a wasted life but I cannot convince another to turn from a destructive path but God can woe them with his great love. I cannot fill the empty places that life leaves in our life but God can. He is well able to be for us what we need at this time in our life. I have often felt helpless but it is true peace to be able to put my concerns in the strong and loving hands of the LORD. He really does love us.

Isaiah 55:4 "Behold I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people."

Isaiah 2:14 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign, Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel."

Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Luke 1:26-31 "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary, And the angel came in unto her and said, Hail thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her Fear not Mary; for thou hast found favour with God. And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. v32 He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the LORD God shall give unto him the throne of his father Davie; v33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob, for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

Luke 2 "And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria,) And all went o be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David;) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 4:14 "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

Luke 23:33 "And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left."

Luke 24:1-7 "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning they came unto the sepulchre bringing the spices which they had prepared and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they wee afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen, remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."

I Peter 1:19-20 "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you."

Jesus does not hold out an empty hand but bears the gift of salvation for you. Won't you Reach out and take His gift of eternal life.


Rehoboam's Apostasy II Chronicles 12

II Chronicles 12:1 "And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD and all Israel with him." I Kings 14:21-24 Also Isaiah chapter 61 is a good read in connection.

We have read it before, Rehoboam was a king who honored the LORD for three years but once he was established in Judah and felt he had fortified the kingdom (Judah), he left doing as the law said. v14 Deuteronomy 31:16.

Jeroboam came up from Egypt upon Solomon's death and the ten tribes of Israel followed him after Reoboam's disastrous speech to them. Now Rehoboam has forsaken the LORD and 'did evil', so he is invaded by Egypt. Along with Egypt, came Lubims, Sukkiims, and Ethiopians. Twelve hundred chariots and 60,000 horsemen came storming into Judah and took the fenced cities.

v6 "Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said The LORD is righteous."

Rehoboam served the LORD then left him, he is protector of Jerusalem where the LORD had chosen to put his name. He cannot get away with leaving the LORD and leading the people to do so. Jeroboam on the other hand never proposed to serve the LORD, yet he served much longer.
I think Rehoboam had it better since the LORD cared enough for him to chasten him.

The LORD spared Jerusalem but did not let them off completely.

v8 "Nevertheless they shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries."

v12 "And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether; and also in Judah things went well."

Rehoboam served from the time he was 41 for seventeen years in Jerusalem. His son Abijah took his place as king.

Isaiah 61:11 "For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations."

Rehoboam turns from the LORD. His punishment.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Rehoboam Ready to Fight II Chronicles 11

II Chronicles 11:1 "And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam." (I Kings 12:21)

In the aftermath of Rehoboam's speech to the people, where he spoke meanly to them, the people separated themselves from him. He now assemblies an army to forcefully bring them back under his rule. It was not to be so.

v2 "But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying v3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying:

v4 "Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house; for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD and returned from going against Jeroboam."

Thus the kingdom is divided. Rehoboam fortified Judah and Jeroboam set up camp in Shechem.

Shechem was therefore the first capitol of the ten tribes that rebelled, now called Israel. So, for now we refer to the ten tribes as Israel and the rest as Judah located in Jerusalem. It is also where Joseph was buried.

Jeroboam cared little for the correct worship (remember he had been in Egypt) so he ordained his own priests to worship images in the high places. The Levites then left their homes and went to Jerusalem.

v14 "For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:"

For a while (three years) Rehoboam followed the LORD, until his kingdom was established. See next chapter. In the mean time he is marrying, a lot. He wanted many wives and had many children. One of this children was Abijah, the son of the wife he loved the most. He made him chief hoping he would be king someday.

v22 "And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren, for he thought to make him king."

In the next chapter, his downfall.

Proverbs 3:1-2 "My son, forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days and long life, and peace shall they add to thee."

Rehoboam reigns over Judah. Jeroboam reigns over the ten tribes.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Rehoboam II Chronicles 10

II Chronicles 10:1 "And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king."

Rehoboam ends up being the king of Judah. He might have been king over all Israel except for the word of the LORD that the kingdom would be divided but not in Solomon's time. So out of Egypt an adversary hears of Solomon's death and comes to claim the throne of Israel.

v2 "And it came to pass when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heart it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.

War almost broke out between the two but a prophet was sent to Rehoboam to tell him it was of God and to not go up to battle. He heeded the word and instead fortified Judah.

v13 "And the king answered them roughly and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, v14 And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying , My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto, my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

In our day we would call that listening to our buddies instead of your elders. It got Rehoboam off on the wrong foot with Israel, so the time was ripe when Jeroboam came on the scene. Israel even renounced having any thing to do with the house of David.

v19 "And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day."

More on this story in the next chapter.

Psalm 35:19 "Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause."

Rehoboam king of Judah.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Solomon and Queen of Sheba II Chronicles 9

II Chronicles 9:5 "And she said to the king. It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom...v...behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me;.."

Often we hear what the Queen of Sheba said and Solomon's great wealth is mentioned. Here we find that it is his wisdom (a gift from God) that she is so amazed about.

Sheba is or was a very fertile country in Arabia which adjoins the Red Sea.

She had a great caravan loaded with treasures to give Solomon as gifts. He in turn gave her gifts. I expect she got more treasure than she brought with her because of this verse.

v12 "And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants."

The key phrase is 'all her desire'. I believe it was his wisdom that she sought most and I picture her listening intently to his every word. Unlike the movies, I believe there was no romance between them. It does say she returned to her own land and from the passage I can see no interval of time where she stayed a long time.

v23 "And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart."

v26 "And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt."

This chapter magnifies Solomon greatly (for he was a great king) but leaves out some of the things he did that are written in a previous book. That is often the case, once mistakes are made and the individual has paid his own price for the mistake, the good things he did are mentioned over and over in scripture.

v30, 31 "And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. And Solomon slept with his fathers and he was buried in the city of David his father; and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead."

Psalm 136:1 "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."

Solomon is visited by the queen of Sheba. Solomon's greatness and his death.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Solomon's Buildings II Chronicles 8

II Chronicles 8:1 "And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house,"

Then follows a listing of the building projects Solomon pursued.

Huram (Hiram) had restored some cities to Solomon and Solomon built them up and put his people in them. v2

He then captured other cities and put his people there. v3, 4, 5, 6.

v7 "As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites which were not of Israel v8 But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day."

Solomon set things up after the commandments of Moses and his father David as far as the offerings and sacrifices and those who praised with song and instruments.

v11 "And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her; for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come."

With the help of Huram, Solomon set up a navy and brought in gold from Ophir. v18.

So Solomon, the builder, has now been king for twenty (20) years. He has been very busy. His kingdom is established. I believe Pharaoh's daughter had a great influence on him in the years to come. Solomon obviously wished to please her as well as his other wives. We shall see how that goes.

Psalm 72:3 "The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness."

Solomon has reigned 20 years and builds more buildings and cities.

Monday, December 15, 2008

God Accepts the Temple II Chronicles 7

II Chronicles 7:1 "Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house."

I mentioned in the last chapter that what if you or I built a house for a loved one and when we showed it to them, they said they didn't like or want it.

That did not happen with the temple Solomon built. The LORD honored the temple and the effort that was put forth. The temple came about when David was sitting with the prophet Nathan in his own house and realized the ark was in a tent. He determined to build a house for the LORD's name but was not allowed to do so because of the blood he had shed. Solomon was allowed to build the temple using the preparations David had made and his own. It is wonderful when you do something for someone and they like it.

v12 "And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice."

Although, we know, Israel departed from the LORD and the temple was destroyed, rebuilt and destroyed again, God has not changed his mind about that place and the temple will be rebuilt once again. That will be a great day. (Many references could be placed here, the temple is a study all its own. Daniel and Revelation would make good reading.)

v15&16 "Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually."

I think of the Lord Jesus Christ walking up and down in Israel and his great disappointment when he found the temple being used for profit instead of its intended use (John 2:13-16). Over in Ezekiel, He declares to the prophet(my own perception of the words) , 'look what they have done to my house'. Ezekiel 8:6.

The chapter also contains a warning of what happens to the temple when Israel forsakes the LORD. It also tells Solomon his choice of following the LORD and being blessed or turning aside and not being blessed.

v17-18 "And as for the, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel."

There is a great desire, in this day, in Israel to rebuild the temple. It is not just a building but rather a mark in time when prophecy will be fulfilled. There are those who do not want it to happen and fight against it, but it will happen when the time is right.

(There were three temples built: by Solomon, by Zerubbabel (see Ezra), by Herod the Great. The last one was destroyed by Titus in AD70 fulfilling Jesus' words of Matt 24:2.)

Psalm 40:17 "But I am poor and needy; yet the LORD thinketh upon me; thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God."

God accepts the temple as a place to put his name.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Temple Dedication II Chronicles 6

II Chronicles 6:1-2 "Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. (Exodus 19:9;20:21) But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever."

That was Solomon's opening statement, then he turned to the people and recited some history about David and the promise the LORD made to him. Solomon later mentions this to the LORD.

v12 "And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:"

It is important to notice the progression of this prayer. He is here standing before the people on a platform he made of brass. Then in the next verse he knelt down and spread forth his hands toward heaven.

After that Solomon seems to cover every instance of how Israel might sin but ask that if they turn back to the LORD and from their wicked ways that he forgive them. We will see the LORD's answer in the next chapter.

v22 "If a man sin against his neighbor..."
v24 "And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy..."
v26 "When the heaven is hut up, and there is no rain..."
v28 "If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence..."
v32 "Moreover concerning the strangers..."
v34 "If thy people go out to war..."
v37 "Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive..."
v38 "If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul..."

v39 "Then hear thou from the heavens...and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee."

Solomon speaks of the various features of the LORD and himself in this chapter:
v3 his face, v4 LORD's mouth, v7 David's heart, v12 his hands, v13 his knees, v15 LORD's mouth, hand, v20 LORD's eyes, v20- LORD's name, Lord's ear and his dwelling place.

Solomon speaks of the elements: lack of rain, war, pestilence. He also speaks of the captivity. But most of all he speaks of sin, turning from sin by the people and forgiveness by the LORD. Solomon well understands the nature of the people he rules.

Psalm 107:28 "Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses."

Solomon dedicates the temple.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Temple Ready II Chronicles 5

II Chronicles 5:1 "Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God."

Imagine for a moment, if you had a loved one and that you built them a very fine house especially for them. Then, they told you they did not want it. Solomon has gone to a lot of effort in building the temple. In this chapter or next, he entreats the LORD to inhabit it, at least in name.

But he was not disappointed for the LORD is faithful.

v13 "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick and praised the LORD, saying For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever; that then the house was filled with a cloud even the house of the LORD; v14 So that the priest could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God."

In the book of Revelation, there is a description of the bride of Christ, New Jerusalem. It is a majestic city with gates made of a single pearl and walls of precious material and a street of gold. It was made in heaven. The temple Solomon built, although great by earth standards could not compare. Yet the LORD honored the effort and came down and entered the temple. He is good to his people.

There was unity on this day in Israel, the sounds were as one.

Revelation 21:23 "And the city had no need of the sun neither of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof."

The ark is brought into the temple.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Articles in Temple II Chronicles 4

II Chronicles 4:1 "Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof."

This was not the typical altar we see in churches these days, at least in most churches in days gone by. This altar was used for animal sacrifices and so had to be rather large. 30 feet by 30 feet by 15 feet. I am not an expert but I think the height (15 feet) was to allow a place for stuff to fall away when the animals were sacrificed.

Many Bibles have a graph of the temple. It was made in the fashion of the tabernacle. The temple was of course more extravagant. It was made like a rectangle inside a rectangle plus the porch. Preparations were made outside the inner court, i.e. the washing and cleaning of ones self. Then the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies where the LORD appeared.

As the priest approached from the outside, the importance of cleanliness became progressively more important as the Holy of Holies was approached. Man cannot be in the presence of God without the blood to compensate for mans sinfulness. That is why the blood of Jesus is so important to us. He sacrificed once for all time and so the rigorous ceremony of the law is not now necessary in Jesus.

Hebrews 2:9 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."

Hebrews 9:12 "Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us."

Then in this chapter we have a listing of the various instruments and what they were made of. Precious metals all but it is said of the gold used that it was perfect gold.

v20-21 "Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold; And the flowers and the lamps and the tongs made he of gold and that perfect gold;"

So great care and great expense went into the building and furnishing of the temple. After all, Solomon had said that he was building a great house for the name of the LORD.

Psalm 138:2 "I will worship toward thy holy temple and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name."

Solomon makes the things to furnish the temple.

Monday, December 08, 2008

Solomon Begans to Build Temple II Chronicles 3

II Chronicles 3:1 "Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite."

Back when David numbered the people against the Lord's will and the angel was destroying the people, it was here where David told the LORD that it was he who sinned and to please spare the people. Here on mount Moriah Solomon began to build the temple. It was to be a magnificent building.

The basic structure was 60 cubits by 20 cubits or 90 by 30 feet. 1 cubit is 18 inches.

In front of this was a porch which was 20 cubits by a height of 120 cubits. Verse 4 does not say how wide (how far out from the front of the basic structure) the porch was. It was overlaid with gold within. So upon entry, the scene was striking.

v7 "And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty and the gold was gold of Parvaim."

Everywhere the house sparkled with gold silver and precious stones. The most holy place was given special attention. Two cherubims stretched for 20 cubits (30 feet) their wings from side to side over the ark with their wings touching in the middle. They faced inward toward the altar.

v14 "And he made the veil of blue and purple and crimson and fine linen and wrought cherubims thereon."

These representing royalty and the blood. (I see nothing else the crimson could represent)

Verse 17 is interesting. The pillars were named after Boaz who married Ruth of Moab who was a stranger in Israel but was married to a Jewish man who was the husband of Naomi. They had gone down to Moab during a drought where all died but Naomi and the daughters-in-law. Ruth refused to leave Naomi and so became the wife of Boaz of whom Jesse and David and Solomon descended, as well as Jesus Christ. Jachin was the head of the twenty-first course of the priests. His name means he shall establish. Boaz means fleetness and strength.

v17 "And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand and the other on the left and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin and the name of that on the left Boaz."

Psalm 97 "Ye that love the LORD, hate evil; he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked."

Solomon starts work on the temple and the beauty is described in this chapter of Chronicles in our Bible Study.

Friday, December 05, 2008

Solomon Prepares to Build II Chronicles 2

II Chronicles 2:1 "And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom."

Solomon needed labor, material and expertise. He got the labor from the people, the strangers in the land. The timber he got from Lebanon and the expertise he got from the king of Tyre in the son of a woman of Dan and a father of Tyre. This one man was cunning in many things.

70,000 were designated to bear burdens
60,000 to hew in the mountains
3600 to oversea the workers

In exchange for the timber that Tyre provided Israel would give great quantities of food.

v10 "And behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber; twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil."

The king of Tyre agreed to the terms and replied with compliments to King Solomon.

v17 "And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father hand numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred."

I can not imagine all the activity that was going on in preparation for the building of the temple, but the awesome number of people working must have been a sight to see. The task of feeding all of the people and the animals would have been a big job.

v5 "And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods."

Psalm 11:3 "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

Bible Study. Solomon gathers people and material to build the temple.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Solomon II Chronicles 1

II Chronicles 1:7 "In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee."

What an amazing question from one who could actually give whatever was asked!

Solomon remembered the words of his earthly father (David) and asked for wisdom and knowledge to lead the people. It impressed the LORD greatly. Not only did Solomon get what he asked for but also all the things the average person might ask for.

v12 "Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee and I will give thee riches and wealth and honour such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like."

That is where Solomon's greatness came from...God himself.

Solomon came down from the mountain and began gathering chariots and horses for his kingdom. He also gathered precious metals for the house of the LORD.

v15 "And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance."

So again we look at the story of Solomon. There may be some new things here and some other details left out that are in our previous study of Solomon. Solomon was not perfect but he did accomplish the work he was ordained to do. He built the temple.

Psalm 87:1-3 "His foundation is in the holy mountain. The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.

Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge to lead the people.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Notes On II Chronicles

"And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly,"

One striking thing about these times (to me) is the reference to the LORD made by other cultures: 'the LORD his God'. I found writers acknowledging the LORD as a persons God or the God of Israel even though they themselves worshipped other gods. An example is in the next book of Ezra with king Cyrus of Persia.

Both books of Chronicles can be considered one book and were probably written during the captivity in Babylon. Some change in language is reflective of the writers picking up terms from the land they live in. One example is the reference to the house of the LORD as a palace. It was called the tabernacle, sanctuary temple but in I Chronicles 29:1 David refers to it as a palace which was probably a word picked up in Babylon.

Isaiah 1-5 gives a summary of the spiritual state of Israel at the time of this writing with exceptions during the reign of certain kings i.e. Asa and Hezekiah and others. Isaiah 1:8 "And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city."

Before I can go into this book, however, I must get my computer repaired. So for my absence I apologize. I'll get back as soon as I can make repairs or get the money to have someone else do it for me. Keep up your studies.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

David Exhorts I Chronicles 29

I Chronicles 29:1 "Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God."

David has grown old and it is time for Solomon to take over the kingdom. We know from reading other passages that David is sick in bed and another of his sons is attempting to take over the kingdom. God has chosen Solomon alone to be king.

I have divided the chapter into sections as I see them: Preaching, giving, thanksgiving, action, reviewing of David's reign.

v3 "Moreover because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house."

David here sets the example on giving. He has already dedicated a lot to the house of God but he now gives of his own property. He calls it his proper good. The people follow suit but the key word is willingly.

v9 Then the people rejoiced for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD; and David the king also rejoiced with great joy."

David now turns to the LORD in prayer. He recognizes that all things belong to God in the first place and they are but giving it back to him.

v14 "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee."

Amid rejoicing, giving, and thanksgiving, Solomon is made king.

v22 "And did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest. I Samuel 10:1, I Kings 1:27-35)

So David dies and Solomon is king and we know of his greatness as well as David's. It seems their greatness was for different reasons but I think it was for one reason and that, that they honored God first.

Psalms5:2 "Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King and my God; for unto thee will I pray.

David addresses the people. Solomon is made king.