II Chronicles 7 Commentary
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.
And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house.
And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord.
And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.
Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.
And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.
Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king’s house: and all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.
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.
If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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.
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.
And as for thee, 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.
But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.
And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house?
And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.
II Chronicles 7 chronicles pivotal moments in Israel's history, from the dedication of Solomon's Temple to God's solemn warnings about obedience and the consequences of turning away from Him. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder of God's presence, the importance of prayer, and the enduring principles that govern His relationship with His people. Let's delve into the richness of this chapter.
The Consuming Fire and God's Glory (7:1-3)
The conclusion of Solomon’s dedicatory prayer was immediately followed by a breathtaking display of divine power. Fire descended from heaven, consuming the burnt offering and sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple (II Chronicles 7:1). This wasn't just a symbolic gesture; it was a tangible manifestation of God's acceptance and approval. The sheer magnitude of God’s presence was overwhelming. The Israelites, witnessing this spectacle, bowed down with their faces to the ground, worshiping and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, "He is good; his love endures forever" (II Chronicles 7:3). Their posture reflected awe, reverence, and a profound sense of God's holiness.
This powerful scene is a reminder of both God's awesome power and His gracious presence. Just as God responded to Solomon's prayer with fire and glory, He desires to manifest His presence in our lives and communities today.
It's important to note that while God's glory filled the temple then, the prophet Ezekiel later witnessed its tragic departure during a time of Judah's apostasy (Ezekiel 10:18). However, Ezekiel also foresaw the return of God's glory to a new temple (Ezekiel 43:4-5), offering hope for restoration and renewal.
The Significance for Today's Believers
The arrival and departure of God's glory from His house hold a crucial lesson for contemporary Christians. In ancient Israel, the spiritual health of the temple directly influenced the well-being of society. When God's presence waned in the temple, problems surfaced in the nation. Conversely, when God's manifest presence returned, healing and restoration followed.
This principle remains relevant today. Our primary concern should be the condition of God's church. Often, we fixate on political events without adequately considering the spiritual state of the church. If God is not pleased with His church, political solutions will ultimately fall short. Both judgment and healing begin within the household of God. The cultural decline we observe is fundamentally spiritual, and therefore, the remedy must also be spiritual. Pursuing a right relationship with God is the key to personal and societal transformation.
Sacrifices and Celebration (7:4-11)
Solomon’s dedication was marked by lavish sacrifices. So many animals were offered that the bronze altar was insufficient, and part of the courtyard had to be consecrated to accommodate them (II Chronicles 7:4-7). This abundance underscores the depth of Solomon’s devotion and the nation’s commitment to honoring God.
Following the dedication, a joyous celebration ensued. For seven days, the people celebrated the dedication of the altar, followed by another seven days of observing the Feast of Tabernacles (II Chronicles 7:8-9). Finally, Solomon dismissed the people to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the good things the LORD had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel (II Chronicles 7:10). The chapter emphasizes the successful completion of Solomon's vision: "Solomon completed everything he had set out to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace" (II Chronicles 7:11).
God's Covenant and the Power of Prayer (7:12-16)
The LORD appeared to Solomon at night and affirmed that He had heard Solomon’s prayer and had chosen the temple as a place of sacrifice (II Chronicles 7:12). This divine response highlights the effectiveness of heartfelt prayer and God's attentiveness to the cries of His people.
God then delivers a powerful promise, a cornerstone passage on prayer and national healing: "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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (II Chronicles 7:14).
This verse encapsulates the essence of effective prayer:
- "My people, who are called by my name": This refers to God's covenant people, those in relationship with Him. Today, this includes those who have entered into a new covenant relationship through Jesus Christ.
- "Humble themselves": Humility is essential. It acknowledges our dependence on God and renounces pride, which hinders our connection with Him. Prayer itself is an admission of our weakness and need.
- "Pray and seek my face": This goes beyond routine prayers. It involves earnestly seeking God's forgiveness, favor, and presence. It's about recognizing that sin separates us from God and approaching Him on His terms.
- "Turn from their wicked ways": Repentance is crucial. It means turning away from actions and attitudes that displease God and embracing those that align with His will.
Prayer is a powerful tool, an earthly request for heavenly intervention. It is humanity’s relational communication with God.
The Consequences of Obedience and Disobedience (7:17-22)
The chapter concludes with a clear warning: blessings will follow obedience to God's commands, but severe consequences will result from turning away from Him (II Chronicles 7:17-20). God promises Solomon that if he remains faithful, his throne will be established. However, if he or his descendants turn away and worship other gods, God will forsake the temple and the land, making them a proverb and a byword among all nations (II Chronicles 7:19-20).
The fulfillment of this warning came to pass when Jerusalem was destroyed and the people were exiled to Babylon. The people questioned how such a calamity could befall them, God's chosen people. The answer was clear: they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and clung to other gods (II Chronicles 7:22).
II Chronicles 7 serves as a timeless reminder that our relationship with God is based on covenant. He desires our wholehearted devotion, and He responds to our prayers when we approach Him with humility, repentance, and a desire to seek His face. The blessings of obedience are immeasurable, but the consequences of disobedience are severe. May we heed the lessons of this chapter and strive to live in faithful obedience to God's Word.
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.
And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house.
And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord.
And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.
Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.
And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.
Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king’s house: and all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.
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.
If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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.
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.
And as for thee, 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.
But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.
And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house?
And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.
II Chronicles 7 chronicles pivotal moments in Israel's history, from the dedication of Solomon's Temple to God's solemn warnings about obedience and the consequences of turning away from Him. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder of God's presence, the importance of prayer, and the enduring principles that govern His relationship with His people. Let's delve into the richness of this chapter.
The Consuming Fire and God's Glory (7:1-3)
The conclusion of Solomon’s dedicatory prayer was immediately followed by a breathtaking display of divine power. Fire descended from heaven, consuming the burnt offering and sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple (II Chronicles 7:1). This wasn't just a symbolic gesture; it was a tangible manifestation of God's acceptance and approval. The sheer magnitude of God’s presence was overwhelming. The Israelites, witnessing this spectacle, bowed down with their faces to the ground, worshiping and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, "He is good; his love endures forever" (II Chronicles 7:3). Their posture reflected awe, reverence, and a profound sense of God's holiness.
This powerful scene is a reminder of both God's awesome power and His gracious presence. Just as God responded to Solomon's prayer with fire and glory, He desires to manifest His presence in our lives and communities today.
It's important to note that while God's glory filled the temple then, the prophet Ezekiel later witnessed its tragic departure during a time of Judah's apostasy (Ezekiel 10:18). However, Ezekiel also foresaw the return of God's glory to a new temple (Ezekiel 43:4-5), offering hope for restoration and renewal.
The Significance for Today's Believers
The arrival and departure of God's glory from His house hold a crucial lesson for contemporary Christians. In ancient Israel, the spiritual health of the temple directly influenced the well-being of society. When God's presence waned in the temple, problems surfaced in the nation. Conversely, when God's manifest presence returned, healing and restoration followed.
This principle remains relevant today. Our primary concern should be the condition of God's church. Often, we fixate on political events without adequately considering the spiritual state of the church. If God is not pleased with His church, political solutions will ultimately fall short. Both judgment and healing begin within the household of God. The cultural decline we observe is fundamentally spiritual, and therefore, the remedy must also be spiritual. Pursuing a right relationship with God is the key to personal and societal transformation.
Sacrifices and Celebration (7:4-11)
Solomon’s dedication was marked by lavish sacrifices. So many animals were offered that the bronze altar was insufficient, and part of the courtyard had to be consecrated to accommodate them (II Chronicles 7:4-7). This abundance underscores the depth of Solomon’s devotion and the nation’s commitment to honoring God.
Following the dedication, a joyous celebration ensued. For seven days, the people celebrated the dedication of the altar, followed by another seven days of observing the Feast of Tabernacles (II Chronicles 7:8-9). Finally, Solomon dismissed the people to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the good things the LORD had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel (II Chronicles 7:10). The chapter emphasizes the successful completion of Solomon's vision: "Solomon completed everything he had set out to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace" (II Chronicles 7:11).
God's Covenant and the Power of Prayer (7:12-16)
The LORD appeared to Solomon at night and affirmed that He had heard Solomon’s prayer and had chosen the temple as a place of sacrifice (II Chronicles 7:12). This divine response highlights the effectiveness of heartfelt prayer and God's attentiveness to the cries of His people.
God then delivers a powerful promise, a cornerstone passage on prayer and national healing: "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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (II Chronicles 7:14).
This verse encapsulates the essence of effective prayer:
- "My people, who are called by my name": This refers to God's covenant people, those in relationship with Him. Today, this includes those who have entered into a new covenant relationship through Jesus Christ.
- "Humble themselves": Humility is essential. It acknowledges our dependence on God and renounces pride, which hinders our connection with Him. Prayer itself is an admission of our weakness and need.
- "Pray and seek my face": This goes beyond routine prayers. It involves earnestly seeking God's forgiveness, favor, and presence. It's about recognizing that sin separates us from God and approaching Him on His terms.
- "Turn from their wicked ways": Repentance is crucial. It means turning away from actions and attitudes that displease God and embracing those that align with His will.
Prayer is a powerful tool, an earthly request for heavenly intervention. It is humanity’s relational communication with God.
The Consequences of Obedience and Disobedience (7:17-22)
The chapter concludes with a clear warning: blessings will follow obedience to God's commands, but severe consequences will result from turning away from Him (II Chronicles 7:17-20). God promises Solomon that if he remains faithful, his throne will be established. However, if he or his descendants turn away and worship other gods, God will forsake the temple and the land, making them a proverb and a byword among all nations (II Chronicles 7:19-20).
The fulfillment of this warning came to pass when Jerusalem was destroyed and the people were exiled to Babylon. The people questioned how such a calamity could befall them, God's chosen people. The answer was clear: they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and clung to other gods (II Chronicles 7:22).
II Chronicles 7 serves as a timeless reminder that our relationship with God is based on covenant. He desires our wholehearted devotion, and He responds to our prayers when we approach Him with humility, repentance, and a desire to seek His face. The blessings of obedience are immeasurable, but the consequences of disobedience are severe. May we heed the lessons of this chapter and strive to live in faithful obedience to God's Word.