365 Reflections

Solomon has come to the completion of his work to establish both the Temple of God and his own palace in 2 Chronicles 8. The text makes clear that Solomon was well established by the Lord and his kingdom, as promised, was strong and blessed. 2 Chronicles 8:1–2, 6 (ESV) At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of the LORD and his own house, 2 Solomon rebuilt the cities that Hiram had given to him, and settled the people of Israel in them... 6b ... and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. But later in the passage, there's a hint of impending compromise in Solomon's life. An interesting notation occurs in verse 11: 2 Chronicles 8:11 (ESV) Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy.” Solomon's kingdom ...

The pinnacle of Solomon's reign is a beautiful picture of success as well as an impending disaster. He finishes the Temple, the Ark is transported inside, the priests worship and the glory of God fills the Temple.  2 Chronicles 7:1–2 (ESV) 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. If we remember that this book is written to returning exiles being instructed on how to be God's people once again we should take note that at this time in the text, the pinnacle of their history is coordinated around the glory of God in the Temple. They were learning where to put their hope. Not in the king or palaces but in the presence of the Lord who dwelt among them. 2 Chronicles 7:11–12 (ESV) Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king’s house. All th...

What is our hope in sin? The world is full of sin and we are all guilty. Humans hurt and demean one another. We objectify and use one another. Consequently, the world is full of pain, full of war and full of evil.  Have you ever watched the news and thought, "What is wrong with the world?" The answer is simple: We are. It doesn't take a graduate degree in sociology to see that we have a propensity to damage the planet and the occupants of it. That's the problem. The problem is human sin. So what's the solution? Better education? More money? A valiant call to unity? More rights? Some even suggest fewer people.  But that is not the picture we have in scripture.   At the final convocation of the Temple Solomon builds, there is a wonderful picture of Solomon praying before the people in their presence and on their behalf. Solomon is king and yet note the posture of humility and hunger for God. Would that we had more national leaders like this: 2 Chronicles 6:12–15 (ES...

Are we satisfied with our church meetings? A few songs, a nice "sermon" and a couple of handshakes? Do we really think that's the point of the Church?  In 2 Chronicles 5, the glory of God fills the Temple at the pinnacle of its completion. Solomon has built the outer casing of the Temple, he has consigned work to be done on the instruments to fill the Temple, and now in this chapter, the process to complete the Temple occurs as the Levites make their way into the Temple with the Ark to worship and serve the Lord. 2 Chronicles 5:2 (ESV) 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. 2 Chronicles 5:4 (ESV) And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. Solomon is careful not to make the same mistake as David when transporting the Ark. He has the Levites which w...

As we continue to explore the Temple Solomon built we are given further pictures of what the Lord will build in the Church. Every object of importance and value, set aside from normal use for the special service to usher people into the presence of God. 2 Chronicles 4:1–2 (ESV) He made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high. 2 Then he made the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference. It is interesting to remember that the "he" in this chapter is NOT referring to Solomon but rather to the man Hiram sent to Solomon with the skills he needed to fashion the articles of the Temple together. Remember from 2 Chronicles 2, Hiram king of Tyre reports to Solomon: 2 Chronicles 2:13–14 (ESV) “Now I have sent a skilled man, who has understanding, Huram - abi , 14 the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre . He is t...

2 Chronicles 3:1 (ESV) Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. The main event has come to Solomon's life. This is what God called him to do - build the Temple. And as he builds the temple as a place for God to dwell among the people, there are images we are given in the details to help us understand what the presence of God is all about.  What's clear is that Solomon invests heavily in the beauty of the Temple.  2 Chronicles 3:6–7 (ESV) He adorned the house with settings of precious stones. The gold was gold of Parvaim. 7 So he lined the house with gold—its beams, its thresholds, its walls, and its doors—and he carved cherubim on the walls. Gold and precious stones covered the Temple. The presence of God is a place of value. But something else is as well: 2 Chronicles 3:10–13 (ESV) In the Most Holy Place...

Sometimes I don't' understand Solomon at all. He goes from these incredible moments with the Lord where he worships extravagantly, experiences God's presence, and seeks God's wisdom in humility to moments where he's breaking the law, building his army contrary to scripture and falling into worldly ways.  Note these two passages: 2 Chronicles 1:14 (ESV) Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen , whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem . Deuteronomy 17:16 (ESV) Only he (Israel's king) must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses , since the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ Not only does Solomon suffer from wavering faith. But in the second chapter of 2 Chronicles, the man God specifically selected to succeed David and build the temple is feeling a bit ill-equipped for the job. How do I...