Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“And when Solomon finished praying, then fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of Yahweh filled the house. And the priests were not able to go into the house of Yahweh, for the glory of Yahweh had filled the house. When all the Israelites saw the fire come down and the glory of Yahweh upon the house, they knelt down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loyal love is everlasting.” (2 Chronicles 7:1-3)

Chapter seven finishes Solomon’s dedication to the Temple and the consecration of all of it for use to the Lord. Then the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time. He acknowledged Solomon’s prayers and what He did with the Temple and pledged to be their God and pay attention to what went in there. He also re-iterated the covenant He had with David and told Solomon that if he kept to it, worshipping God first and seeking Him all his life, all would go well for him and his throne would continue. But if the people turned away from Him, even the wonderful Temple would lie desolate because they abandoned Him.

Chapter eight tells us that it took Solomon twenty years to build the Temple. He also built up the kingdom and repaired cities that had wasted away. He fortified towns and secured the country. Those descendants of the people the Israelites had not kicked out of the Land (Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites) were rounded up and used as forced labour. Solomon also married and made a palace for the daughter of Pharaoh. He kept the proscribed festivals and made sacrifices as was proper. They all kept the Law.

Chapter nine records the visit of the Queen of Sheba (from the southern reaches of Saudi Arabia) and how impressed she was with the richness of the kingdom. Not only Solomon, but his servants, his people, his cities, and the wisdom that God had given to him. The chapter also records Solomon’s wealth and the great throne that he made for himself. He reigned in splendour and in peace for forty years, and then he died. His son Rehoboam took the throne after him.

Summary

Key Players: God, Solomon, Huram, the Jews.

Key Verse(s): 2 Chronicles 7:12-22; 8:12-18; 9:22-28