This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of
Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just
mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
2CHRONICLES
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.
2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.
3 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.
When Solomon ended his prayer, God provided evidence that He had heard and would answer. He sent FIRE down to consume the sacrifice.
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
10 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.
11 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.
Everyone followed Solomon's example and offered sacrifices to God.
Then Solomon sent the people home with memories of this very special occasion.
12 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.
13 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;
14 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.
Solomon has prayed; he has sacrificed; he has praised God. All the people have done the same.
God promised that to HIS people who are called by HIS NAME!
15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16 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.
17 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;
18 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.
19 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;
20 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.
21 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?
22 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.
God promises provision, protection and blessings if HIS people will willingly follow Him. He also promises trials, pain and destruction if HIS people turn away from Him.
REMEMBER, Please continue in Bible Study with us.
CHAPTER 7
The Shekinah Glory Cloud still filled the temple, and the people responded with praise to God.
They bowed down and worshipped. And they praised God with this statement: "For He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever."
When people show genuine respect toward God, He answers with power!
The priests and the Levites praised God doudly with instruments and singing.
The people STOOD to praise God.
The people offered so many sacrifices tht the altar wasn't large enough.
They held a feast for seven days, and on the eighth day they had a "solemn assembly."
This assembly was a once-a-year ceremonial gathering in genuine sincerity and humility to praise and seek God.
Then God appeared to Solomoon in the evening. God said He had chosen this place for a special house where He would RECEIVE sacrifices and prayers.
God also made a very special promise in verse 14.
His promise was that if people will do 4 things, He will do 3 things:
1) Be HUMBLE before God,
2) PRAY to God,
3) SEEK closenss with God,
4) REPENT from wickedness (turn away from it);
Then God will:
1) HEAR - he will LISTEN,
2) FORGIVE - pardon sin,
3) and HEAL the LAND!
EVERYONE in a nation doesn't have to get saved for God to heal a land! If HIS PEOPLE will humbly pray, seek His closeness, and repent from sin, then God will HEAR, FORGIVE, and HEAL the land!
If one does even minor research on Israel's history, one will find these two things:
1) When the people SOUGHT God, He helped and blessed them,
2) And when the people LEFT God, He chastised called them back to Him.
But Israel soon left the Lord and He ultimately destroyed their kingddom - AND the worship place.
God NEVER changes! He is the SAME throughout all ages!