Sermon - Audio2 Chronicles 6-7 & Psalm 136 - Audio
2 Chronicles 6-7 & Psalm 136 - Reading
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2 Chronicles 6-7
Context - Solomon had gathered the entire assembly of Israel in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant. He made a sacrifice so big that no one could count the sheep and cattle on the altar! The temple was complete, and the people had gathered for worship. Trumpets and voices proclaim, “GOD IS GOOD! HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!”
6:3-11 – Solomon explains to Israel the two divine promises that give reason for the building of the temple and the ark’s place in it. The promises were that David was God’s appointed king, but Solomon would build the temple. To see the language of the promise, see 1 Chronicles 17:11-14.
6:12-42 – Solomon’s prayer remembers the history of Israel and offers a dedication for the temple. The temple reflects the relationship that God has with the people of Israel – God’s presence met by the community in this physical place. Solomon prays the consecration prayer, by which it was made a figure of Christ, the Mediator, through whom we are to offer all our prayers, and through whom we experience the grace of God.
v. 41 – Solomon invites God to move in to the temple. The priests are ready to pass on the promises of restoration, and the faithful ones are ready to rejoice. The word in Hebrew to say “faithful ones” comes from the same root as the word used to describe God’s love (hesed). The faithful ones can also be translated: the ones who are faithful to the covenant are ready to rejoice. God’s enduring love might also be translated: His covenantly faithful love endures forever. The covenant is recognized by both parties. After looking at the history, God’s faithfulness is incredible and Israel’s faithfulness is, well, lacking. The prayer wraps up in a promise of both parties to be faithful.
7:1-3 – In response, the whole assembly once again raise voices in concert – “GOD IS GOOD! HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!” Society was honoring God, making a place – a most holy place for their glorious and gracious sustainer. The prayer and God’s response to his people are framed by worship that sings the faithfulness of God. God’s covenant faithfulness and love have sustained the covenant community through generations, and God puts an exclamation point on that history by coming on the fire.
v. 12-22 – God comes to Solomon and speaks his covenant with the people of Israel. God’s glory will dwell with the people, but God wants a promise of faithfulness from Solomon and the people.
Psalm 136
God’s never-ending and covenant love (hesed) endures forever! This is a call and response Psalm, probably where the whole assembly of Israel responded by singing or shouting, “His love endures forever.” The first three verses are structured as a call to praise, and verses 4-25 give the reason why they are praising God – a history as in the passage from 2 Chronicles for today. God created, God sustained, and God will continue to sustain in his covenant love. The last verse of the Psalm gives instruction to the covenant community that they are to give thanks for this covenant love of God. Thanks and praise are appropriate responses to the love God has shown to us throughout history!
Henry, M. (1996, c1991). Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible : Complete and unabridged in one volume (2 Ch 6-7). Peabody: Hendrickson.
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (1:890). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
3 comments:
In 2 Chronicles 7:22 is talks about how God brought all this disaster on the people because they turned their backs on God. Do you think that God still does this? Look at all the disasters (earthquakes, wildfires, tsunamis, mudslides etc.) in the world and where they are happening. All the sin and corruption in those places. I know that any place on earth could have this happen to it, including west MI. Just a thought and I was wondering what your thoughts are on this.
God is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow. These events do bear "biblical" similarities. They at the very least bear consideration as such.
Rich is right in pointing out that God does not change. The danger in speaking of disasters as God's punishment on people is that we might be tempted to declare something as punishment when it is not. There are at least two other possible reasons for disasters in the Bible. The first is as a sign of the end of the age. Jesus says in Matthew 24, 3 "As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains."
The second is that creation is under bondage due to sin (Romans 8) and part of the bondage and fallenness of creation is the disasters that occur.
Too often Christians declare something to be God's punishment (let's face it, you can always find sin to blame a disaster on, we are after all, sinners) when we really have no idea which category the disaster falls into. Rather than being concerned about the origins of the disaster, which only God knows, we need to be people who respond to such disasters with the mercy and love of Christ.
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