OT: The Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 14

2 Chronicles 14:1-15

14:1 Abijah passed away and his son Asa came into power; under Asa's faithful leadership, there was peace for ten years.

14:2 Asa lived to please God. He did not live to please himself or fans or cohorts or anyone else. Such a lifestyle created serenity for the kingdom. Similarly will a lifestyle of faith create serenity in your own life. God, the calmer or storms, defender of the innocent, light of life, will calm, defend and light your life. 

14:3 Asa removed all of the structures built for idol worship. They did not belong. It seems simple, but many people had began to worship there. Asa's actions were bold and contradicted the lifestyle of the people he reigned over. It was not easy, but he did what was right anyway.

From Asa we learn that when we remove the idols from our lives, an arduous but worthy effort, we please God. We please God but we also restore ourselves and our lives. When we remove greed and desire from our lives and replace those things with the humility and servitude of faith, our lives become beautiful. Happy.

When we adopt a life of servitude to God, we are treated by Him as royalty, Luke 9:48. Do not serve an idol. Do not serve your desire or your anger. Do not serve your greed or desperation for popularity. All of those things will only corrupt you, distract you from your goal of happiness and achievement.

14:4-5 Asa called the people of Judah to return back to their Father, our Father, God. Their future as individuals and as a kingdom depended on it.  The quality of our future depends on the quality of our faith. God is our provider; it is by Him that we are nourished in body, mind, heart, character and soul. 

14:6-8 With the time of peace that his faith created, Asa rebuilt and fortified the city. It is symbolic; our service to God strengthens and fortifies our life. "So they built and prospered"; their relationship with God constructed not just a strong city but a body of strong individuals. God's leadership and discipline builds us in character and allows us to prosper, exceed our potential and fulfill more than we hoped. 

Rather than taking their relationship with Him for granted, they took advantage of all the benefits of a relationship with God. They listened to His counsel, followed His instructions, learned from His wisdom, stood by His strength and thus abounded in blessing.

14:9 Eventually, someone tried to break through the defenses of Judah. It happens. But because of their steadfast and obedient faith and trust in God, their defense was impenetrable. 

14:10-11 Asa proved his faith in God in time of peace and in a time of uncertainty. The army against him was fierce (it often is) and had the power to conquer Judah if not for God. If - not - for - God. So much of faith is remembering and accepting that we are imperfect and under-qualified... but God's strength and reinforcement renders our ability and inability irrelevant. His strength becomes our strength, 2 Corinthians 12:9-11,

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Pray as Asa prayed when you need reinforcement from God: 

“Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!”

Asa's prayer was made up of complete trust and obedience to God. Asa relied on God. Asa knew that though the situation seemed impossible for him, it was easy for God. Asa did not lose hope because his hope was God eternal. One of the most important victories we ever have in life is the victory of hope over hopelessness. God will always provide hope, moreover, He will provide the blessing on the other side of it. 

14:12-15 Asa asked, so God placed the burden on His own shoulders. He took the problem into His own hands. He defeated Judah's enemy. He sent them fleeing and unable to recover. We can rely on God to provide us a thorough defeat over our enemies: internal and external. Though their enemy had expected to defeat and plunder them, Judah walked away from the battle the victor and with plenty. 

As a conscientious student of His word and faithful child of His heart, God ensures that you walk away from every lesson and battle with more than you had before you entered it. More wisdom. More strength. More opportunity. More purpose. More faith. 

OT: The Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 13

2 Chronicles 13:1-22

13:1-3 Jeroboam still reigned in Israel. Abijah became king after Rehoboam in Judah and reigned three years. Though the twelve tribes had begun as one people under God, they became a fragmented kingdom with tension between them. Jeroboam and Abijah built up armies against each other. 

13:4-12 Abijah made an arrogant but in-part, truthful, speech to Israel and Jeroboam. The northern tribes of Israel had abandoned God in favor of idol worship. But Abijah seemed not to be so concerned about their faith as much as he was concerned with his own interests: strengthening his power and expanding the borders of it. 

God had allowed Israel and Judah to split. Israel did not belong to Abijah; it was not stolen from his father. Each portion of the former collective body was corrupt in its own way. Israel did not acknowledge or obey God. Judah acknowledged God but did not obey Him and therefore did not have anything to boast about. 

13:13-18 Jeroboam attacked Judah but was made to fail by God. Judah then attacked Jeroboam and was successful (Israel had strayed very far from God and perhaps He felt that a thump from its sibling, Judah, would be more effective than from a foreign nation). 

Judah prevailed because they relied on God. Israel was unsuccessful because they relied on false idols and fake gods. From God only should we derive our instruction, our motive, our confidence and skill. Neither power, fame, nor wealth will provide us the victory we are hoping for in any situation. 

13:19-20 Abijah took cities from Israel and Israel remained weakened for the rest of Jeroboam's reign. Jeroboam "did not recover is strength again" because he never recovered his faith. By God the weak are made strong; Jeroboam never allowed faith to make Him strong. 

13:21-22 Abijah followed the footsteps of his father and married many women (a Deuteronomy 17:17 no-no). He loved to boast to Israel but he did not follow the instruction of God much better than they did. Believing in God is not enough, James 2:14-28; we must also listen to God, follow His instruction and His example. Why? Because He expertly, lovingly teaches us to be better: more productive and generous, secure and purposeful. 

OT: The Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 12

2 Chronicles 12:1-16

12:1 Rehoboam became drunk with his own power and position. He abandoned his faith and obedience to God and began to feel godly himself. He was the king over a strong and fortified nation; he allowed arrogance to convince him that he was responsibility for the success rather than God. 

The tribes of Israel also abandoned God. Their situation became dangerous, though they were not yet aware. When we walk away from God, we walk out of His defenses. When we leave God, we return to vulnerability. The king and people forsook the law of God. God's instruction and life philosophy became irrelevant to them. Their lifestyles turned away from righteousness, justice, humility and compassion. 

12:2-4 Rendered defenseless by their rejection of God, it was easy for another nation to conquer them. Egypt attacked many of the cities Rehoboam had dedicated his life to fortifying. Egypt broke Judah's defenses because it was through God's orchestration that the kingdom had remained safe.

12:5 Man of God, Shemaiah was quick to explain the reason for the attack. A message was delivered directly from God: You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak. Do not allow yourself to be left in anyone else's hands but God's!

12:6 The leaders and king humbled themselves. To their credit, they acknowledge their digression and were remorseful. Remorse is a requirement of forgiveness because it identifies that there is authenticity in the person.

12:7-8 Our God is a father, our father, and He parents us with loving discipline. Even when we are remorseful, we must learn from our actions. God did not allow Egypt to destroy Judah, but he did allow Egypt to rule over it for a time. The reason: the people and king would have personal experience of the difference between the compassionate and competent authority of God compared to another's authority. 

They had taken God for granted. God knew that they would benefit from learning the true beauty of what they had: an honest, merciful, kind, and able authority by Him. Other leaders are not as wise, magnanimous or skillful as God. This is a lesson most (if not all) of us will learn in our own journey of faith. After a period of time away from God, we are quite able to distinguish the difference between life with Him and life without Him. 

The lesson is not meant as a punishment, it is meant to bring us closer to Him! Wiser and more steadfast in faith. And subsequently, it is meant to ensure that we choose the best provision and defense for ourselves.

12:9-12 Shishak, king of Egypt, emptied the king's house of treasures. What the secular world values, the spiritual do not. The real treasure lie in a solid relationship with God. All of those worldly treasures had been (and are!) a distraction from what actually matters.

Through His expert and king parenting, God will have the distractions removed. It might seem like a punishment but it is actually a good father's effort to restore you and free you from the temptation of those things.

12:13-16 Rehoboam reached the end of his life on earth. He reigned for seventeen years in Jerusalem and his son Abijah became king after him. Rehoboam's entire life culimanted in this sentence: he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek God. All of the problems in his life and deficiencies in his character came down to the fact that he did not seek God! 

We must seek God for expert counseling and instruction. God ensures provision for our bodies but He nourishes our spirits as well. He protects what really matters: our heart, our character, our soul. He gives us righteous direction and compassionate support. Humans have the tendency to make mistakes that only God can thoroughly correct. Through our faith in Him, we are brought into alignment with righteousness and joy, justice and wisdom, peace and love.

There are many things we can spend our lives chasing, but God is the only thing worth chasing.

OT: The Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 11

2 Chronicles 11:1-23

11:1 The twelve tribes of Israel had split into two:

• Judah consisted of: Judah and Benjamin 
• Israel consisted of: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, and Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh)

Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem (headquarters and in the southern territory of Judah) and organized an army with the intention of reclaiming Israel.

11:2-4 However, Rehoboam was thwarted by God. The commanding word of God was given to a faithful man named Shemaiah. Effectively the message was: stand down. God instructed Shemaiah to speak with Rehoboam and tell him to cease operation against Israel. Perhaps God knew that the separation was inevitable and thus allowed it at the onset. We know that God has a plan for all of His children and evidently, Israel and Judah had different futures planned by Him.

11:5-12 Rehoboam strengthened his kingdom by having cities of defense built, by ensuring that those cities were fortified against enemies. He placed captains throughout the region and stored food, oil and wine. He armed every city with shields and spears. Humanity today puts a lot of time and effort into defense. Ironically, if we put that much effort into diplomacy, defense would be irrelevant. 

God must have a sense of humor to deal with our choices! Humans scramble and scrape to defend themselves, living in near constant fear and altercation. When, if we simply choose God as our defense, we could have joy and peace. Rehoboam poured money and labor into a defense plan, was afraid to lose more of the kingdom. He could have kept it all simply through compassion! 

11:13-15 Rehoboam made poor choices in the south, but Jeroboam made worse choices from his territory in the north. Jeroboam dismissed the priests and Levites of God and replaced them with idol worship. God had given Jeroboam the space he was now perverting with false gods.

11:16-17 All of the people faithful to God in the northern tribes left their homes and traveled south to live in Judah. They chose the high taxation and heavy labor of the north in rejection of the God-less south. For three years, the kingdom of Judah did well because for three years, they walked in the way of David. They lived, behaved, interacted with the same obedience to God David had. 

They were faced with two bad options, neither king was competent. But their choice to live where God was still acknowledged (if not entirely obeyed) is an example to us. Always choose to space where God is because that place has hope. 

11:18-19 Rehoboam married a woman named Mahalath of the tribe of Judah. Their children's names were: Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham. 

11:20 Rehoboam then married Maachah. Their children's names were: Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith. 

11:21 Though Rehoboam loved Maachah the most, he acquired many wives and had many children. In Deteronomy 17:17, God instructed men not to marry multiple wives. Rehoboam was an imperfect man and unqualified king but it was his disobedience to God that ruined him. 

We are imperfect. We are unqualified. It is our obedience to God that makes us able. God supplements what we lack with His perfection and absolute qualification.

11:22 Just as Samuel warned a human king would when Israel rejected God's leadership in 1 Samuel 8:10-18, Rehoboam set his family up in positions of power and prosperity around the kingdom. He took wives for his sons. Nepotism pervaded the country: relation to Rehoboam made one powerful rather than quality and ability.

The tribes rejected the prophet Samuel's warning. Will you? Appoint God as the true and full and rightful authority in your life.  Not yourself. Not your desire for power or money or fame. Not another person claiming to be wise and powerful. Only God.

OT: The Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 10

2 Chronicles 10:1-19

10:1 Solomon's son, Rehoboam, traveled to Shechem to be anointed as the new king. As we know from reading the books of Kings, this was the beginning of a split between the northern tribes (Israel) and the southern tribes (Judah). Solomon was not able to inspire the same faith and cohesion as David and neither was his son able.

10:2-4 The people of Israel brought their case of hardship to Rehoboam. They felt their labor was too arduous, the taxation too high. The offered their service to him as king if he would make reforms that supported them.

10:5 Rehoboam asked for three days of deliberation. Although he did not end up making the right choice, Rehoboam did not outright lie or make false promises, either. He wanted to consider the problem and solutions before promising anything to Israel.

10:6 Wisely, Rehoboam consulted the same elders that advised Solomon.

10:7 The elders are honest with Rehoboam and provide simple advice: serve the people and they will loyally serve you, listen to their plight and respond to it as an advocate for their well-being. It sounds simple but so many of us are resistant to a life of service; instead, we want power and fame and wealth. 

10:8 He rejected the advice. Rehoboam was poised to become king: perhaps the authority of the position meant more to him than the service and responsibility required by it. Humanity dreams often of a throne but rarely to be a pillar. We dream of rest, not work. But these blessed positions God places us in require work. It was Rehoboam's responsibility to work for the people, to lighten their financial and physical burden so that they too could do their spiritual work. 

10:9 Rehoboam next consulted the younger men he had grown up with. Rehoboam knew the selfish answer he was looking for, but he was too cowardly to make the decision on his own. He wanted someone else to suggest it, someone to validate his desire to reject the people. He found that support. 

10:10-11 Rehoboam's cohorts suggested that he rule as a harsh dictator. Rehoboam refused to be dictated to by the people (even though it was his responsibility to hear and respond productively to their troubles). How often do people take advantage of their position? It is an ugly and selfish choice and goes directly against God's instruction to serve rather than be served, Matthew 20:28.

10:12-14 The people returned after three days and Rehoboam answered them cruelly. He denied their plea. 

10:15-16 The fissure between the twelve tribes broke apart and as God prophesied, Jeroboam would become king over the other piece of them. Suddenly the northern tribes felt permanently disconnected from Judah, David's line. 

10:17-19 Rehoboam attempted to retain full control of the tribes but Israel stoned his man, Hadoram (collector of revenue). Rehoboam fled back to Jerusalem (effectively leaving Israel's northern territory). Notice how quickly a strong and prosperous kingdom became to crumble when its leaders defected from God. Selfish choices fracture while selfless ones heal.

OT: The Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 9

2 Chronicles 9:1-31

9:1 A prominent queen from a southern nation, queen of Sheba, traveled to meet with Solomon because of all that she had heard about him. The success of Israel and the wisdom of their king spread far and wide; the queen of Sheba traveled with the intention of questioning Solomon and discerning for herself whether his qualities were fact or fiction. 

9:2 Solomon was able to answer all of the queen's questions. God had gifted Solomon wisdom many years before; Solomon had anticipated that it would be a benefit for him to be a wise king, able to lead the people with skill and deal with other nations diplomatically. 

The queen did not, could not deny Solomon's wisdom. We do not know the content of their conversation but considering that the hearts of humans do not change (we always have personal and national existential questions) we can guess that Solomon was able to give her peace by the word of God. After all, Israel's success was due entirely to their adherence to God's instruction. 

The queen traveled to have her questions answered. Similarly do  we travel on a journey of faith. God answers our questions throughout the journey. In the Old Testament, people looked to their kinds for leadership. The New Testament encourages us to look to God's complete leadership. The queen of Sheba had the fortune of a private audience with the wisest man alive; we have the private audience of the creator of the universe! Wisdom Itself. The benefits of such (utilized) access are inevitable as well as undeniable. 

9:3-4 Evidence of God's provision was all around her while she was in the kingdom of Israel: the house that Solomon had built, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel,..etc. Everywhere she looked, she saw an ordered and prosperous nation. Her own personal observation and experience was enough to convince her that Solomon's fame was indeed not fiction and his God was fact. 

When we follow God faithfully, our own lives are a representation of God's care-taking abilities. People may not at first understand our faith or believe in our God but our well-being is undeniable. His light in our lives inspires others to seek out its source. The most effective preaching we can ever do is the manner in which we live our lives. 

Being a christian is more important that proclaiming yourself so. Meaning that, your behavior and interactions have a more profound impact than the religious name you use to identify yourself. In fact, a lot of people are skeptical and even resistant to the mention of religion/spirituality; people might turn away from the name but they are far less likely to turn away from what it represents, being represented by your happy life. 

9:5-8 Most apparent to the queen of Sheba: the happiness within the kingdom. The queen was skeptical of everything she had heard but the sheer abundance of joy within Israel exceeded the hype. It was evident to her that God loved His people. How sweet is it that the love and attention and nourishment God provides us is evident even to others? In your smile, in your life, in your ability hope and persevere people will see that God loves you.  

People in the world want (and think they want) a lot of different things. Various are our aspirations: to be a dancer, a singer, a businessperson, a mother, a husband, an astronaut. But all of those things are wanted to achieve the same thing: happiness. The queen of Sheba found herself in a place where people had happiness regardless of their position in society. God's love supplemented every void they had felt, every desire they thought they needed. They were made happy by Him, and so can we be made. 

God provides blessings; often we do receive the things we want (to be a husband, a dancer, a writer). But the real miracle is that even without those things, His light ensures happiness within us. Happiness during the whole journey of life: career, parenthood, childhood... whatever it is, the creator of the universe is creating happiness in you. 

9:9-12 Solomon and the queen exchange gifts, a custom of diplomacy. But the queen departed with everything she wanted, everything she asked for, and much more than she expected. More than she gave to Solomon. God's children have so much to offer the world! Discipleship makes us strong and wise, brave and patient, tolerant and respectful, observation and meticulous; the skills He gifts us with and grows us with are tools He has given us to change the world.

9:13-28 Solomon was the most prosperous king of his generation and of all the kings before him. The inception of the kingdom exuded God's ability to provide and provide abundantly. Solomon was blessed with wisdom and wealth. This chapter omits what 1 Kings 11 focuses on: Solomon's downfall. Solomon allowed the gifts and opportunities God provided him to take God's place.

To whom much is given, much is expected... if we, like Solomon, pray for wisdom or anything else, we should only do so with the intention of handling the responsibility that will also come with it. A lot of things want desperately to be our master: the desires of our bodies, the desires of our minds, the desires of our hearts. We must shut them all out and allow only the Master of our soul to have authority. Because only He really knows and cares about what you want and need and only He is able to provide it, prepare you for it, sustain it. 

9:29-31 We benefit from our perspective: reading about kings who existed thousands of years before us allows us to see how God's children have constantly fluctuated in faith. They were gathered and rescued and loved and provided for by God... and then they took their blessings for granted. And then they left God. Chaos and desolation ensued, personally and nationally. Then they would repent and repeat the process over and over again. We do not have to be caught in such a cycle anymore. From their example, we learn to have steadfast faith, faith that sustains. 

OT:The Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 8

2 Chronicles 8:1-18

8:1 After a significant portion of his life, Solomon finished the house of God as well as his own house: seven years dedicated to building the house of God and thirteen years for his home. Solomon had become accustomed to a rather materialistically indulgent lifestyle. 

8:2-6 Solomon continued to build the kingdom: he had cities built for the children of Israel to settle within. He took new cities and built within them. He fortified the kingdom with walls and gates and bars. He designated storage cities and military sites. 

8:7-10 Whoever remained in the land the children of Israel claimed became forced laborers (we are able to glean from this more of Solomon's imperfect character, a participant in the then-not uncommon practice of using prisoners as free labor). The children of Israel were not forced to work; their contributions were self-decided. 

8:11 Solomon married an Egyptian woman who did not believe in God. Instead, she believed in false gods and idols. Solomon knew that she could not dwell in holy places without love for God or a relationship with Him. 

Solomon was therefore quite aware of God's instruction in Deuteronomy 7:3-5,

Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the Lord will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly. But thus you shall deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, and break down their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images, and burn their carved images with fire.

The woman was unwilling and uninterested in a relationship with God. Because of his marriage to her, he created a vacuum through which he faith was sucked out. His devotion to an ungodly woman, put him in the presence and temptation of a different lifestyle.

From Solomon we can learn that our faith must be comprehensive! We cannot have elements of our lives in which we live in opposition to the philosophy and word of God. God gives us instruction for our benefit; He knew that this woman's influence would ruin Solomon (and it did). There were elements to Solomon's character which were susceptible to greed and desire, and by marrying an unfaithful women, he gave into those temptations... and worsened from there. 

An element of wisdom is to know to stay away from things and people we know tempt us to do or live in ways we should not. Ironically, Solomon abandoned what he was most known for: wisdom given to him by God. 

8:12-16 Solomon was faithful, and even meticulous, in his behavior elsewhere but his commitment became fractured. Solomon thought that it would be okay if he kept the less/unfaithful elements of his life separate. There is no such thing! All in or all out. 

In Mark 7:7-13, Jesus explained that our heart must be toward God. Solomon did as he was supposed to in many areas of his life but he gave his heart to idolatry and in effect, made the word of God void in his life. 

8:17-18 Solomon had not yet entirely fallen away and the kingdom of Israel still prospered. Solomon visited cities on the seacoast and working with Hiram, commissioned seaports and ships for the kingdom of Israel.

OT: The Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 7

2 Chronicles 7:1-22

7:1-2 By fire, God made His presence known. As His children, we can anticipate and rely on God's presence in all aspects of our lives that we have invited Him into. Solomon and the people of Israel were gathered together in praise of God and in celebration of the completion of the temple. When we dedicate ourselves, and our lives, to construction within the kingdom of God (restoring justice, promoting compassion, stifling greed, battling evil) we can expect the fire, passion and power of God to illuminate our lives. 

7:3 Everyone bowed their faces to the ground for God with this in their heart and on their tongue: He is good, His mercy endures forever.  Humbly keep the perspective of gratitude and awareness that God is both good and merciful. Our God is a creator of the proliferation of life and He cherishes what He has made. He is worthy of our reverence and obedience; there is no greater cause to dedicate our lives to. 

7:4-6 Following David's example, Solomon and the people praise and worship God with sacrifice and music. A spirit of joy in prayer was a precedent David started, 2 Samuel 6. Our submission to God and obedience to His will is a celebration, for to be claimed by God is to become eternal. To be led by God is to step toward eternity. 

The tribes and new king celebrated their covenant with God. They had elected to become fellow-workers with Him (just as we have been invited to become). It is arduous and lifelong work but it is honorable work. It is work that heals and warms and lights and hopes and dreams and fulfills. It is work that strengthens and advocates and delights. 

When we enter into a covenant with God, we elect to become refined, restored... new, in character and ability, purpose and potential. 

7:7 Solomon made an offering to God, a sacrifice. The practice of sacrifice is now defunct, Isaiah 1:11. The element of sacrifice has changed; in Micah 6:6-8 we are taught that God wants for us to love mercy. God now hopes that we will be generous in a new way: as compassionate, merciful individuals.

God offers so much to us that worship is almost a relief, an expression of near-bursting gratitude. Whether through song or fasting or oaths to God, what we offer in the way of worship to Him matters. Our connection with Him is a relationship, capable of depth and intimacy. In Malachi 3:10, God makes it known that what He receives from us, He returns to us tenfold. (Though we must be willing and cheerful givers! Humble and authentically in love with Him). 

7:8-11 Solomon and the people remained assembled and feasted. After an extensive time of thanks and praise, the people returned to their tents. They returned to their tents as nourished souls: joyful and glad in their hearts; grateful and inspired by God's generosity. They were fulfilled; the kingdom had completed the temple and declared all that it represented: their relationship with God. 

When we endeavor to encounter God, we never walk away unchanged. When we enter the sphere of God, we are made new. As the creator of our body and souls, minds and hearts, He knows precisely what we need to be joyful and glad and inspired. Our God is an over-achiever in the best of ways. The light and life and joy He works to pulse into our lives is over-the-top, extraordinary, Psalm 23:5. God ensured that the tribes of Israel were full-to-bursting with joy and He will ensure the same for you, if you invite Him to. 

Through faith we open broad avenues within ourselves and our lives, through which God is able to deliver massive love and blessing. 

7:12-18 God appears to Solomon a second time in Solomon's life. This second appearance has even more depth and love: God has returned to answer a prayer with an emphatic yes. Solomon had asked God to remain with humanity (fickle and unfortunate though we sometimes are) and here God agrees to. God promises to be attentive to those who seek His counsel; He promises to be present with those who seek Him and forsake evil. He promises to forgive our transgressions and heal our hurts. God answered each particular point of Solomon's prayer, evidencing that He is indeed attentive to His children's pleas. 

The quality of our lives is quite related to the quality of our communication of God. Our lives are heard and healed and forgiven by Him but they are also lead and propelled and protected by Him when we also become receptive, attentive to what He communicates back to us. 

Listen to Him, in scripture and nature and in the soft way He inhabits your soul. Talk to Him, invite Him into your hopes and hurts and decisions. God is invested in your life; He loves you deeply Luke 12:7; it is His great pleasure to help you and advocate for you, Luke 12:32.

7:16-18 It is helpful to keep the foundation of God's advice at heart: life your life as David lived his: full of praise and trust and faith and humility; follow God's instructions; keep His statues and judgement (they were all made for your benefit, not restriction, after all).  And if we are able to listen to Him and follow Him, He establishes us. He gives us peace and purpose and potential. Impact and security and good character. God eliminates the uncertainty in our life and replaces it with God-divined-and-orchestrated surety of joy.

7:19-20 Conversely, adherence to wickedness and opposition to righteousness results in an uprooting. The opposite of establishment: destruction, elimination, irrelevance. All these can injustice, greed, and evil expect. 

7:21-22 God's intention was always to reach all of humanity. The righteous kingdom of Israel (when it was righteous) was meant to serve as an example of how God can transform a person, a people, a nation, the world. The Bible is the story of God proffering blessing and order, a relationship with Him, to humanity.

As His children, we are living testimonies of His goodness. Even without preaching a word of scripture, the righteous manner in which we live our lives will inspire others to seek their own relationship with Him. Because a righteous child is always blessed by God; the quality of life of a child of God illuminates, inspires and comforts. 

In Deuteronomy 7:7, God explained that the tribes of Israel were chosen because they were small and weak. They were made great because they were willing to listen, because they allowed greatness, God Himself, into their lives. Their transformation of small to large, weak to strong was due in all part to God; they served as an amazing example of His mercy and power. Let your life be transformed in such a way that serves as an example to your own generation. 

OT: The Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 6

2 Chronicles 6:1-42

6:1-2 Solomon opened his speech with a statement made my God, "Then Solomon spoke: The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud." Solomon referred to Exodus 19:9 in which God reassured Moses that He would travel with the tribes of Israel in order that the people would hear and trust. 

Hearing and trust are two elements on which our faith is dependent. As individuals and nations, we have to be receptive to the philosophy of God, that is, the wisdom, instruction and promises of God. Blessing can only engage with us when we engage with it. And without the trust to hold on, that which God has expertly projected toward us will have nothing to hold onto. 

In the wilderness, the presence of God was represented by a dense cloud of protection. Once established as a kingdom, Solomon proclaims the completion of the exalted house, the temple of God dedicated to God. More than a structure, it was an invitation. The temple was Israel's way of serving as host to the Spirit of God and all His principles. Eternally. 

6:3-7 Solomon's speech continued with an emphasis on fulfillment. God had been faithful to the tribes of Israel, the descendants of Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham. With precision, persistence and generosity, He fulfilled each promise He had made. God had promised to claim them and declare them separate from the rest of the world. 

The New Testament opened God's promise to all who would receive Him, John 1:12. As His children, we are separate. Our souls have divested themselves of the systems of the world and have been adopted into the kingdom of God. Different rules and laws apply to us: the law of God, the rule of righteousness. We are made holy by Him because of our adoption into a life of compassionate servitude. The children of Israel elected to become obedient to justice and mercy, compassion and righteousness.  

God will fulfill that promise, as He had for Solomon and the fledgling, (not yet so named) Christian nation. 

6:8-11 But we also have our part in fulfillment. As fellow-workers with God, 1 Corinthians 3:9, there is much for us to accomplish as well. As His children, we accept the blessed responsibility of constructing His kingdom on earth. David wanted so to be the one to build the temple but was redirected by God; David's purpose and potential were directed elsewhere by God. Our portion of fulfillment is to live obedient to the direction of God: trusting consistently that He leads and plants us in the specific place we need to be, to do specifically what needs to be done, by us specifically.

David was a soldier for Israel. His God-divined defense allowed Israel to establish the kingdom. Solomon was born in peaceful times and that allowed him time to contemplate the wisdom of God and simultaneously build a temple. Each individual's purpose is different, though rests on the same foundation. Building the temple now, in our time, is done by building relationships and opportunities, by promoting justice and defending the meek. There are many positions in our societies from which to do such work: as teachers and doctors, siblings and parents, friends and coworkers, artists and writers, preachers and animal-lovers... there are so many mediums through which to serve obediently. To make direct impact with your individual life. 

God appointed Solomon for the construction of the temple and Solomon fulfilled that purpose (often we have more than one). It is a blessing to be planted by God, to be provided for and protected by God. With that establishment, provision and protection, we take the torch and fulfill our half. 

6:12-13 On his knees in reverence and love for God, with his hands spread wide, Solomon humbled himself before God and the kingdom of Israel: a servant king; a servant son. The greatest in the Bible prostrated themselves before God; Jesus Himself came as a servant rather than a king, even though He had every ability and authority to reign, Matthew 20:28.

Solomon's declaration of himself as a servant of God and the kingdom was a strong message to the people. We are not always conscious of the ways in which we influence others, but if each day, in heart and spirit we are humbled before God, we send a strong message. Our ascription to God's principles influences what we do. What we do is seen by others, and so naturally, subsequently, our behavior becomes beneficially influential. 

Before the assembly of people, Solomon declared and reminded of God's faithfulness and fulfillment of promises. It makes such a difference in our day and home and life and nation to simply have the word and fulfillment of God declared and reminded. 

6:14-17 Solomon's reminder that God had been good, was great for morale that God would continue to be good. If Solomon and the kingdom would remain faithful to Him, they could count on continued freedom and prosperity.

Remember that the books of Chronicles were intended to boost the morale of Israel and Judah as they came out of captivity once again. They were not faithful to God; He was faithful, they were not. They walked out of His protection and directly back into slavery. They became slaves to their greed and impulses and anger and forfeited the freedom their mercy and humility had afforded them.

Such is a cycle individuals and nations both face. From the example of the Old Testament, might we learn to declare, remember and remain in our covenant with God?

6:18 Like his father (and perhaps many of us), Solomon was overwhelmed by the generosity of our immense God. It was an honor to be a nation that hosted God... an honor that felt undeserved. Our imperfect juxtaposed His perfection is astounding. In Psalm 8, David speaks:

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

Our relationship with God is a blessing, an opportunity, a responsibility but most of all, it is an honor. That God would find significance in us speaks of the magnitude of His tender heart. 

Solomon was aware of his deficiency. The best he could do for God, as a king or as a man, was not very much at all. The temple, no matter how grand and massive, could not contain the creator of the universe. The only thing we can built that will house God is a compassionate heart. A just life. A faithful soul. When we utilize our life experiences to build the temple of God within us, 1 Corinthians 6:19, we have... incredibly, contained a piece of God. A piece designated expressly for us. 

6:19-20 In effect, Solomon asked God: even though I am inadequate, will You regard me anyway? Solomon asks to matter to God, to be heard and seen and loved by Him. This is an innocent, humble and sincere prayer we can each make to God. We all have our list of reasons why others do not like us or why we do not like ourselves or an aspect of our lives... it's all a big heap we thump onto the doorstep of God. We indicate at our heap and with weariness, doubtfulness and we ask Him: will You regard me anyway? Despite all of this, do I matter to You?

And every time. Every. Time. God says: Yes.

6:21 Solomon requests the forgiveness of God (and he ended up really needing it); but we all do, which is why it is prudent not only to ask for magnanimity from God but also to be grateful for it in all seasons of our lives. 

6:22-23 Solomon welcomed the discipline of God. Solomon felt that, if we approach God with dishonesty or insincerity, we should be prepared to be approached by Him with reproach and retribution. Favoritism should not ever be what we seek from God. We should love that God will call us out for foolish behavior. We should celebrate that He is adhered to righteous principles. His rules of justice are rigid and it is a blessing that, with a firm hand, He will insist that we remain in alignment or we will not remain at all. 

God offers a pure and potent love. Not one watered down by leniency that would allow us to flounder. His compassionate heart sees great potential in each of us and because of that, He holds us to high, personal standards. Celebrate the fact He will not settle for a lesser version of yourself. His discipline is love and direction and encouragement.  

6:24-25 Perhaps unknowingly, in this prayer Solomon foresaw that the tribes would require the forgiveness of God and would need to be led back into their land:

“Or if Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to them and their fathers.

And yet, it is not so surprising that Solomon would ask for God's forgiveness in advance: the tribes of Israel did fall away (this very book is a testament to that). As humans, we can expect imperfection from ourselves. It is not an excuse but it is a reality. Effectively, Solomon asked: if, when we realize our mistake, we call out to return to You, will You answer? Will you lead us back home to You?

Fortunately, the answer is another definite yes from God. 

6:26-27 When we create a drought for ourselves, will You send rain? Will You still hear us when we are surrounded by the noise of chaos we have created? Will you forgive us? Will you teach us? Thousands of years later, we are still asking God the same questions. We are so blessed that in all that time, God has not changed. He still rescues us out of slavery and out of desert wildernesses. 

6:28-31 Sincerity is a key ingredient of activating God's strength on our behalf. Solomon's request was that God would exact His power over pain, plague and pestilence (literal and figurative) for any child who prostrated himself before God with sincerity. 

6:32-33 Solomon prayed that even the people outside of Israel would have the ear and love of God if they came to Him. From the beginning, it has always been God's intention to reach out to all of humanity. Anyone who will undertake the journey of faith will reach the destination of God. Anyone who will reach out to God will be plucked up and embraced by Him. Solomon was ahead of his time in this aspect; in the New Testament, "outsiders" were regarded as less until the apostles opened up the gospels to the whole of humanity.

6:34-35 The next request of Solomon, the king made sage by God: will You go into battle with us? If we are following the leadership of God in life and scripture, we can be reassured that God will indeed go into battle with us. Will provide us with the best armor Ephesians 6:10-20. Will win the battle for us. God is our defense and our offense; shield and blade; border and army.

God is all of that for us when we pray for Him to be!

6:36-39 When we pray, repent and return with all of our heart and soul to God, we will be received by Him. Only God provides such assurance, such forgiveness. A restored relationship with Him is never irretrievable.

6:40-41 In the conclusion of his prayer, Solomon invites the Spirit of God to dwell in the space that has been created in the kingdom of Israel and in the hearts of the Israelites. Let us be clothed in You, surrounded by You, submerged in You. Let us rejoice in your mercy. 

6:42 The final plea: for our God to never turn Himself or His mercy away. 

OT: The Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 5

2 Chronicles 5:1-14

5:1 Unlike the construction of Solomon's temple, our work on earth (on the spiritual temple within and around us) is never quite finished. God ensures that each individual is apportioned purpose and potential for the duration of their lives. There will always be opportunities and materials to grow ourselves, and to grow justice and mercy in our homes, nation and planet.

We are significant to God and impactful to humanity each day we breathe here. Through prayer and discipleship we build a relationship with God. Through a relationship with God we discover personal purpose and potential, how to initiate it and endure with it.

5:2-10 All of the tribes and elders and King Solomon gathered and sacrificed to God in celebration of the completion of the temple. Celebration is such an important element of our faith. We, and God with us, weather so much of life together. An emphasis on trust in moments of sorrow and weakness establish and strengthen our relationship with God. An emphasis love in moments of joy and reverence reaffirm and refresh our relationship with God. 

Celebrate what you have built (and are building) with God! It matters and you matter so much to Him. Celebrate along the journey and at each moment of achievement. Your purpose and potential are doing important work on earth; your relationship with God changes the planet. 

5:11-14 The praise and worship continued with this core statement of faith: 

For He is good,
For His mercy endures forever

Everything we do in faith is based on the premise that God is good. God is righteous and just and merciful. His compassionate nature is the reason we have life and a beautiful planet on which to have it. The tribes of Israel remember to praise the God whose mercy endures forever. His love cannot be reduced and does not expire. God invites, even encourages, us to utilize His strengths and abilities for our own good. How generous! How worthy is He of our love and adoration.

OT: The Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 4

2 Chronicles 4:1-22

4:1-22 Written are details of the furnishings of the temple. The temple of God was, in a way, David, Solomon and the tribes of Israel's way of worshiping God. While their actions were kindly received by God, it is pertinent for us to remember that what God truly hopes for from us is our love. Our love for Him and for humanity. 

The Old Testament temple of God is a foreshadowing of the spiritual temple we are called to built in the New Testament. The temple of God is within us, 1 Corinthians 6:9. By listening to and growing from the wisdom and instruction of God, we continue construction on the temple... because we are the temple. Our actions are the security of its walls. Our weaknesses are reinforced by God to ensure the kingdom is perfect and everlasting. 

The gold and intricate carvings we now decorate the temple with are the friendships and relationships we build and maintain. The kindness we show, the patience and mercy and laughter we share with the people in our lives: family, friend, stranger, cohort, acquaintance, coworker. We actively worship God, like our predecessors by building the temple... in a new and dynamic way. We actively worship God but activating the scripture in our lives. 

Solomon ensured that no detail was overlooked. God wants us to ensure that no person is overlooked. We could study and recreate the temple with the details and measurements we are given but to do that, we would miss the point. The Old Testament temple of God was a symbolic blueprint for the actual, spiritual temple we were called to build by Jesus. 

OT: The Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 3

2 Chronicles 3:1-17

3:1-2 Construction of the house of the Lord began in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah. This mountainous region was a site of significance for the faith and covenant with God. This was not only the place of David's redemption, it was also the place where Isaac was led to be (but was not actually) sacrificed. These two events represented God's patience and magnanimity and His self-sacrifice and mercy on our behalf.

The particular spot was the perfect place to remind God's children that they were always welcomed home when they turned and walked back in the direction of it (God). It also symbolized that God would go to extreme lengths to save His children, but would never sacrifice any us to do it. Jesus sacrificed Himself; He was the innocent lamb who came, despite certain rejection and death, to deliver us the most important message of our lives. 

3:3-7 Solomon used the best material Israel had to make this temple ornate: precious stone, gold, intricate carvings, cypress. Remember, however, that Jesus taught from the house of the Lord on boats, by seas and on mountains. Impressive architecture and elaborate decoration do not make a place holy. David's love for God made this temple special. God's presence with the tribes of Israel make the kingdom and temple holy. In Matthew 23, Jesus says, woe to the people who do work to impress men. 

The most intricate and elaborate work we can do for the temple of God is the work we do for others' well-being.

3:8-16 Specific details of the measurements of the carvings and walls and rooms are given. Pomegranates are mentioned as part of the decoration. Pomegranates were a highly regarded fruit and they symbolized fruitfulness (because of their many seeds). God has sent us out to be fruitful, He even helps us to be so. We are taught by Jesus how to yield good fruit and how to identify those who do not, Matthew 7:17. The purpose of the house of God was to represent the fruitful nature of the righteous kingdom on earth God was establishing.

3:17 Solomon named the pillars in front of the temple: Jachin, God will establish; and Boaz: strength is within him. God had indeed established the Israelites just as He establishes His children now when they seek Him. Strength is both from and within God and within those who have God in their hearts. 

OT: The Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 2

2 Chronicles 2:1-18

2:1 Solomon determined to build a temple to represent God.

By the world's standards, perhaps it is not unreasonable that Solomon also commissioned a royal house for himself. But with what we know about Solomon's downfall, it is important to consider whether this was the beginning of what would end his faith. After all, David had not needed a royal house to establish or retain authority... neither had Moses or Abraham. Even Jesus came to earth as an essentially nomadic servant. 

It is not wrong for us to want a home while on earth, but we should be careful not to live ostentatiously. God wants us to have a joyful and rested soul while we work; we are not here to luxuriate in self-indulgence. Ultimately, God is our home, provision and abundance.  Solomon's own home will require years and years to be built; that kind of determination would have been better served building God's temple (and not just in the physical sense). 

2:2 Solomon chose thousands of people to manage and labor to construct the temple and the royal house. When we are positions of leadership, the work we delegate to others' matters - and we are all leaders in some aspect: parents, elder siblings, classmates, acquaintances with influence...in many ways what we do impacts others. As king, Solomon chose the direction of his people. He chose what their national focus would be. Right from the start, Solomon created a divide: work on the royal house and work on God's house. The former represented self-pride and wealth, the latter faith and obedience. 

2:3-4 Still, Solomon was still committed to God. None of his predecessors were without flaw and therefore this slight deviance was tolerated by God. Solomon requested cedars with which to build the temple from another king, Hiram. 

2:5-6 Solomon was excited about the construction of the temple; he wanted it to represent God's goodness as best as earthly material and human labor could. It is possible that part of the reason God himself did not command the construction of a temple was because He knew it might, ironically, take attention away from Himself. Humans are so impressed with architecture and jewels. Faith is best represented not by grandiose buildings but by humble and compassionate actions. By expressions of generosity, love and peace and joy.

2:7-10 But the building of the temple was built with good intentions and that is what mattered most. Solomon wanted elaborate details  and high quality materials to express Israel's intimate relationship and gratitude to God. So much of Israel's resources were dedicated to the building of this temple that it was like a sacrifice of trust in Him. Instead of burnt offerings, they offered the best of their labor and money and determination. 

2:11-16 King Hiram of Tyre responded peaceably and generosity to Solomon's request. Sent by Hiram, a man of the tribe of Dan (whose father was of Tyre) would craft the temple. Hiram's response makes evident his own awe and belief in God. It is fitting that others, outside of Israel, had contributed to the building of the temple. The spiritual kingdom of God is built by souls from all around the earth.  God proffers His kingdom as a home to all who are willing to walk through the door (and produce the work which upholds it)!

2:17-18 153,600 laborers from outside of Israel contributed to the construction of the temple! With so much focus on the tribes of Israel and Judah in the Old Testament, do not forget that it was with them that God began. God claimed this small group in order to encourage and gather all of humanity. 

OT: The Second Book of Chronicles, Chapter 1

2 Chronicles 1:1-17

1:1 Solomon inherited the responsibility of a blessed, prosperous kingdom. So do we step into life with purpose and responsibility. If that overwhelms you, it overwhelmed Solomon, too. This chapter outlines how he responded.

1:2-6 Solomon makes a special sacrifice to God at the high place in Gibeon. This location represented the longevity of God's relationship with this people. It was a reminder of Moses' leadership of the tribes out of slavery in Egypt. Solomon had the same hopes Moses had: to lead these tribes, now a kingdom, into deliverance by God's direction. (How mind-blowing that the same God leads us now!)

1:7 That night, God presented Himself to Solomon and asked Solomon what He could do for him. God wants to help His children succeed; throughout the Bible, He reminds us that He has the capability (not just the willingness) to do so. For instance, James 4:2-3 and John 16:24 which respectively say:

Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

And

Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Therefore ask Him! God's children's hopes and dreams are in alignment with righteousness and with His will. If what your heart hopes for grows you, assists others, promotes justice, or contributes at all to your well-being and humanity, the answer is yes. We should never underestimate the power of simply asking God...and not just for things or people or opportunities, but for His counsel, presence and will. 

1:8 Early in his reign, Solomon still marveled at the wonder of the kingdom and the impossibility of it becoming his to shepherd. In the beginning of his answer to God, he simply takes time to marvel at God's generosity in positioning him as king.

1:9 A comprehensive prayer takes into consideration the past, and present, not only the future. Where we want to be is more readily achieved when we are conscious of the steps we have taken in obedience to God and the steps we are currently taking. Solomon took stock of his situation, but also of his father's situation. Despite inexperience, David somehow grew a nation and Solomon recognized that that somehow was God. First and foremost in his request, Solomon requests God's presence (and the direction, propulsion and provision that come with it). 

1:10 The heart of Solomon's request is for the wisdom and knowledge to handle such a responsibility. This was the most humble and raw moment of Solomon's life: he acknowledged his inadequacy juxtaposed the blessed responsibility of his purpose. The kingdom of Israel belonged very much to God. His presence and authority within and over it was evident. Solomon considered the contrast between such a mighty power and himself, a humble man.

Much of the beauty of our relationship with God is our ability to be honest with Him and ourselves about our deficiencies (and yet feel wholeheartedly loved not only despite them but because of them). Paul states that when we are at our weakest point, we are actually at our strongest, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. We are strongest in these moments of honest weakness because in those moments, we make a genuine request to God to supplement what we never could. We ask Him to do His incredible work in impossible situations; Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

1:11 God was fascinated with Solomon's request because of the depth of its selflessness. It is wise for us to make the same request to God with our own lives: to ask not for anything necessarily additional, but to ask for the wisdom and resourcefulness to use what He has already provided us to do a purpose He has already anointed us for.

1:12 That night, Solomon's request was immediately granted by God. It is God's pleasure to bless His children, Luke 12:32. Jesus explained to us in Matthew 6:33 that when our full focus and intention is on the kingdom of God (i.e making selfless requests for the benefit of the people around us) all things shall be added to us. Solomon did not ask for anything additional and yet God added onto his request! 

God delights in surprising us with abundance; but that element of surprise can only happen when we are fully focused on His kingdom. Think about this in the context of your own life: it is so much more fulfilling (for both giver and receiver) to give to someone who does not expect anything and already appreciates what they have. God wants us to have the best equipment we need to do specialized-righteous work here on earth; but we do not need that equipment until we undergo the work. 

1:13 The sentence is simple but the work was not: Solomon reigned over Israel. Solomon underwent his God-given work and purpose. He accepted and absorbed and took ownership of a massive responsibility! God trusts us with His children. Although He has every reason to be dubious about our ability, He trusts us to take care of what matters most to Him. 

He is like a parent leaving their beloved young child with a first-time babysitter; the parent provides everything the babysitter and child will need to not only survive but to enjoy their night. Pizza money. Movie rental money. A schedule. Tips and tricks to help the child sleep or eat or be soothed. Whatever we need, He has already thought to provide it*. Solomon stepped into the kingdom like the babysitter steps into the house: nervous but willing to work hard, inexperienced but willing to learn and with the best intentions.

Our work on earth is supplemented by God as if we were climbing a mountain. He provides the gear we need to be safe and successful. But you do not need that gear if you have not begun to climb the mountain! We are going to observe so much during that hike (during our journey on earth) and He helps us to log it, analyze it, learn and grow from it. He helps us to reach the top because there is perspective there that we have never had before.

* Much of God's advice to us is written throughout the Bible. Through story and metaphor and parable, simile and example and history, God has provided instruction. The Bible hosts a wealth of information but is not merely a reference guide. We are meant to delve deeply into scripture, to dive into it so much that we are covered in the dust of the dried and parted red sea; so much that our cheeks are wet with David's tears of relief; so much that we are marked by Jesus' wounds; so much that we burst with joy at Hannah's prayer answered in the birth Samuel; so much that we feel overcome by the relief of Jesus rising. Scripture is alive and dynamic; it molds itself to the individual and the specific season said individual is presently in. 

We also have a personal connection with the Holy Spirit, John 14:26, which dwells within us. This is a quiet and intimate voice, emphatically nudging us toward blessing and holding us back from fear. Knowing the Bible gives God ample material to reach us with; and that in combination with a personal relationship, tethers us nearer and nearer to God and the comfort and instruction we need to enjoy life.

The nutrition profile of a mother's breast milk is specific to the needs of the infant and even changes in response to the dynamic requirements of her growing baby as he adapts to his environment. Similarly are we nourished spiritually by scripture. It is inexplicable, incredible and yet can be experienced and realized personally when one endeavors to dive deeply into scripture and remain there. Our creator is detail-oriented! If we are reading and listening carefully, God meticulously ensures that we extract precisely what we need (from life and scripture) to handle what we are responsible for and even thrive. 

1:14-17 Solomon is not yet finished as an example to us. As wealth increased around him, his faith decreased. The New Testament cautioned us: we cannot serve both God and money, Luke 16:13. We are either servant of God or a slave to desire. Choose God as your master and adhere to His words, Solomon stepped away... incrementally, and wandered very far from God's path and presence.* As our lives increase with abundance, so must our faith increase with marvel and gratitude to God. We must remain conscious of the nature of the character that led us into blessing in order to keep blessing in us.

* Solomon began his reign with the intention of serving God. Eventually, he began to serve his desires instead. Desire commanded that he acquire horses and wives and jewels (all of which corrupted his goodness and humble nature). Previously, selflessness encouraged his obedience to God and led him to take care of God's children (and Solomon was in turn taken care of).

God tells us not to serve our desire because desire does not have our best interest at heart. Desire is a bottomless, insatiable and merciless void. It strips us of our good character and turns us into a desperate and unsatisfied shell. Desires rips perspective from our minds and understanding from our hearts. Desire mutes our ability to empathize and act on compassion. God's "No's" are rigid and emphatic with reason: He can see the desolation at the end of desire's path, and it pains Him to see us in the midst of it, starving for the breath He once breathed into our lungs.

Obedience to God is not a master-slave relationship, it is a Father-son/daughter relationship. Our service to Him initiates His service to us.

OT: The First Book of Chronicles, Chapter 29

1 Chronicles 29:1-30

29:1 David reminded the assembly of people that the work of building the temple was great (and yet, in a sense we are so small). Solomon was young and inexperienced; while God's philosophy of righteousness and compassion is simple, there is a lot to be done (even for us) and without Him we are incapable. Our work is the same as Solomon's was: building the temple of God. Solomon built a physical temple, we built a spiritual one within us and our connections with others. Compared to God, we are young and inexperienced. Through a steadfast relationship with God, we are made able. 

29:2-5 David did all that was in his power to ensure that the kingdom could continue after him. That is all we can do: our part in giving the kingdom life while we are here. The friends and family and influence we make here are pillars. David gave all that he had, the best of himself and his possessions, to the construction of the temple. The temple of God now is a spiritual kingdom we create within ourselves and among humanity. In order for it to thrive, we are invited and encouraged by God to give our best to it. 

29:6-9 The leaders of the tribes of Israel offered willingly, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. It is in the spirit of cheerful giving that God hopes we will do all things in His name. God delights in wholehearted participation. The leaders of Israel established the physical temple of God out of a place of love and gratitude for God, rather than obligation. They rejoiced as they offered willingly to God; once we have built a relationship with God, it is our great joy to worship Him from a place of awe and thanks. 

29:10 David's praise of God begins with the statement that God is our eternal Father. As children of the earth and humanity and universe, it is immeasurable beneficial for us to have an eternal parent; a powerful force that supersedes earth, humanity and universe. The magnitude of our relationship with God is rooted in the fact that we will always have Him and that He has always been with us. He is both pillar and foundation, our support and home during our respiration on earth and beyond earth in spirit. 

29:11 The vibrancy and virility of David's faith stemmed from his fascination for who God is. David was constantly in awe of God's power and glory, victory and majesty. Truly God's presence is amazing, commanding without an effort on His part. God just is that miraculous and good. In large and small moments during our life journey and faith journey, we perceive glimpses of that power and majesty - glimpses that illuminate our souls and give us life like we have never experienced before.

God's goodness comes from two main elements: His power and His mercy. He balances the two perfectly. He is both defender and rescuer, authority and magnanimity. We love Him not because He dominates but because of how He dominates. It is His nature that we have fallen into faith and love with. 

29:12 God encourages His children to be generous; and He is our living example. God uses all of the tools in His divine arsenal to be generous. He does not do anything selfishly; His thoughts and actions are all directed toward justice and compassion for His children. How blessed are we to have a mighty God who uses His power for us instead of on or against us. He gives us strength; so many corrupt leaders on the earth have retained their power by keeping their people weak. God helps us to reach our highest potential, fulfill our purpose, and to grow in strength and character.

29:13 Therefore, professed David: we thank You and praise Your glorious name. In times of joy and difficulty, it is so helpful to simply but powerfully worship our glorious God. Worship nourishes our soul and reminds us on a spiritual level who He is and what He has promised on our behalf. Worship opens access to a level of God that the world and circumstance has shut out. Worship reminds our soul of the nature of its maker: hope, understanding and acceptance pours in like light.

David thanked God because he had many examples of God's help in his life. David had great perspective, he was conscious of all the way and times God helped him out of distress. Sometimes we are not where David was in faith; sometimes discouragement overshadows the spark of light of our faith. Worship will ignite that spark into a flame and then a wildfire. Thank God, even when you do not know what you are thanking Him for. Thank Him for His promises, thank Him for what He will do. Thank Him for the work He does behind the scenes working situations into your favor. Thank Him for feeling what you are feeling with you; just knowing our emotions are felt viscerally by Him is an enormous comfort. Worship will open the connection with Him you need to be nourished by Him.

29:14 Humble character reminded David of how baffling and generous it was that God would care so much about a people so small. It is just not our experience in the world for the meek and small to be loved and magnified. How many of us pick up an insect an devote our entire lives and energy to loving and protecting it? God's compassion is that perfectly selfless and focused. (And not a particularly charming insect either: an insect with enemies and flaws and dreams and family, a stinger and maybe even a bad attitude). Even if we make an annoying buzzing noise, or cause Him to itch with our foibles, God still delights to see us fly. 

29:15 It is only because of God's empathetic heart that we matter. David pointed out that we are (without Him) temporary beings and foreigners to the kingdom of God. We are weary travelers on earth. But because of His love, we are beloved children. Infinite. Made by Him, bright enough to bust the shadows of defeat and death and desolation. 

29:16 David had amassed a huge amount of materials to built the temple. Yet David was conscious of that fact that everything he had gathered had been provided by God. God provided the land in which it gathered as well as the materials themselves. God provided the safety of the kingdom, the opportunity to build. Except for love, there is nothing we can give God that He has not already created. And even our love is inspired by His own. 

29:17 God knows the intricacies of your mind and soul. David knew that God is a heart-tester and heart-knower. That gave David joy rather than fear. David's relationship with God was intimate enough to show God the best and worst of himself. He knew that God would discipline and work with him to make the ugly beautiful. David knew that ultimately, all God wants is our genuine effort and full-intent on living righteously. We are not perfect in our execution of righteousness (we have the tendency to be grumpy and selfish or even mean and arrogant), but if we are perfect in our intention, that is more than good enough for God. To be perfect in intention is to learn from our ugliness, and turn back toward the right(eous) direction every time we've turned off.

29:18-19 David asks God for three things: 

1. Keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of your people: David was aware of our flaws and knew that we need God to keep us focused. We need God to help us to keep our thoughts kind and selfless and just. The world does not inculcate into us such values, we need Him to remind us of His nature. 
2. Fix their heart toward You: with God pinned as our destination, we more easily remain on track. With God as our destination, we can assess our situation from the perspective of where we have placed Him (if at all) in it. 
3. Give my son a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and Your testimonies and Your statutes, to do all these things and to build the temple: if we have lived righteously, it is our hope that our posterity continue to carry faith into the generations of earth we will not live. David cared about humanity; it was important to him that this kingdom of God lasted beyond just his lifespan. Some kings (ahem, Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20:19) did not care what happened after they were gone. David wanted humanity to flourish in faith. David wanted the temple to continue to be built upon (spiritual) throughout eternal generations. 

29:20 It is imperative for us, as God's children, to take up a position of obedience and reverence for Him. When we bow our heads or our bodies to God, it is a reminder that He is the one who lifts us up. It is a reminder that He is the power who breathed life into our longs. It is a reminder of our humility and dependence on Him. 

29:21-25 After a massive sacrifice of thanks to God, Solomon was anointed king. God established Solomon and the kingdom as a powerful and prosperous nation. History and much of the Old Testament is the story of the rise and fall of kingdoms. There is only one everlasting kingdom and it is the Kingdom of God. Corrupt people and corrupt kings have caused the physical representations of God's kingdom to crumble. But the temple and kingdom of God is alive in His faithful and righteous children. 

Side note: In some ways, the kingdom of Israel was like the garden of Eden. God explained that a broad and pure channel of faith would ensure His provisions could come consistently and abundantly. If, through faith and righteousness, the tribes had obeyed God, the kingdom would indeed have lasted forever. Intrusion and destruction was a subsequent result of their refusal to continue to be defended and provided for by God. That applies to our individual lives: God as our defender* and provider must push out all other (inadequate) sources. Anger and fear will not defend us. Vanity and desire will not provide for us. Only God can perfectly perform those jobs. 

In Matthew 26:53, Jesus reminded His disciples that He had access to more than twelve legions of angel armies! Jesus explained that He could receive their help through prayer and so can you! What better defense has ever, could ever, exist? 

29:26-30 David's reign and the first book of Chronicles comes to a close. David lived a good, long life of service to God. David reigned for forty years over God's fledgling nation and even before that, he helped it come about through obedience to God's will. David is our example that by submitting ourselves to God's will, God dedicates Himself to the task of providing us with blessings of joy and fulfillment.

David: shepherd, soldier, king, servant-child of God. Allow God to establish you as all of these things too, in the context of your life. 

OT: The First Book of Chronicles, Chapter 28

1 Chronicles 28:1-21

28:1 King David gathered all of the officers and leaders of the kingdom; the kingdom was about to undergo a transition, the anointing of (one of) David's son. In addition, the kingdom was about the undertake a massive project: the building of God's temple. David recognized that it would be beneficial to have everyone on the same page: aware of everything that was about to change and focused on everything that absolutely should not.

28:2-3 What could not change was Israel's obedience to God's will. David revealed that God had chosen Solomon to reign. To them, it might have seemed as though Solomon was an unlikely choice; he was not the firstborn and his birth was shrouded in drama. David's obedience enabled Solomon to become king without resistance. The elders of the kingdom were made aware of God's choice, establishing Solomon as the rightful king, should any disagreement occur after David's death.

28:4-6 David was obedient to both God's "No's" and "Yes'"; David accepted that though his heart longed to, he would not be the one to build the house of God. At the same time, God established the tribe of Judah, through David, as the king-line.

28:7 The peace and prosperity of Israel was provided by God, and would continue to be, if they would keep their covenant with God. We cannot expect provision if we cut ourselves off from the source. Our connection with God is our source of nourishment. God offers an eternal covenant with humanity and with each individual, if we are willing to be faithful to it, it is ours without end.

28:8 Faith is effort; David speaks of the way we can ensure that we remain committed to our covenant with God: in the hearing of our God, be careful to seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land, and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever. David acknowledges that faith is a moment-by-moment process: what we say, do and think on a moment-by-moment basis either builds the temple of God within us or destroys it.

28:9-10 David's commanding advice for Solomon is as relevant to us today as it was to him then: 

• Serve God with a loyal heart: as David points out, God searches our hearts. He knows when we are sincere and when we are not. God is not ashamed of our weakness or meanness or foible; He wants us to acknowledge it, own it, and allow Him to work with you on all of those things intimately. David's mention of loyalty is a reminder that our minds and bodies sometimes are tempted away from God; we sometimes want to serve our desires before or instead of God. David tells Solomon (and us) to choose God and to be loyal to the relationship.
• Seek Him and be found by Him: This is the most beautiful equation to ever exist. God promises to be with you. Jeremiah 29:13 points out that our wholehearted search for God guarantees our discovery of Him. A lifelong search for God means that we try to find Him in everything and every place, every emotion. By asking ourselves how God would respond to a situation, we are forced to consider an alternate way. Whenever we look for Him, He will appear there in that space.
• Forsake Him and be cast off: Conversely, if we hide ourselves from God with opposition and wickedness, we can expect that He will be very far from us. We are never irretrievable by God; but only a repentant and honest heart signals ours SOS.
• Consider now: Decide and make the decision final. All in or all out. On the cusp of taking the throne, David tells his son to choose. Similarly, we must choose the destination and motivation of ourselves. Those two factors are going to determine the path and condition of the journey.
• Chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary: Solomon was chosen to build a physical temple and that is an impressive honor, for sure. But eventually, Solomon's temple was destroyed. In the New Testament, God has invited each of us to be living, breathing, moving temples. He has chosen us to be hosts for His spirit, and no greater honor exists. Recognize that God has chosen you for something mighty, eternal.
• Be strong: This strength that David speaks of is a strength of soul and spirit. Be stronger than desire. Be stronger than selfishness. Be stronger than vengeance. Stronger than forgiveness. Our bodies are weak, dependent on earthly needs: literally and metaphysically. David encourages Solomon (and us) to let our spirit prevail over those needs, to allow God to provide what we truly need rather than what we think we want. We must also be strong enough to trust God. Strong enough to hear His quiet voice when fear tells us He is absent. 
• Do it: Finally, once committed, we must act. Do. God chose you; you've accepted; do it. Get to work. James 2:14-26 tells us that faith without works is dead. It's not enough to hear God's offer and to accept. True acceptance is the act of accepting the challenge day after day, moment after moment of living righteously, compassionately and obediently to God's will.

28:11-19 Along with the assignment and motivation for it, David provided Solomon the blueprint (the plans) and provisions. God provided you no less than that! Matthew 25:14-30 is a parable through which Jesus tells us that God has apportioned provision to each individual. What we have and how much we have varies (1 Corinthians 12:12-27), but each of us has been given what we need to complete the purpose God gave us on the earth. We must strive to reach the potential God saw in us at the time of our apportioning. 

In being chosen to be a temple for God (1 Corinthians 6:19), we are proffered the blessed opportunity to be a sanctuary for others. 

Solomon received gold and lumber and iron. God provides you with the gregarious spirit to befriend the lonely or the ability to teach or learn to heal. The ability to make someone laugh, the strength to help a weak one, the money perhaps to feed the poor, a parent's heart to love an orphan. An artists' mind to inspire the desolate. A fence to rescue a pet. The mettle to rescue or protect. A soldiers heart to defend an innocent. What He has given us is different for each of us, but the importance of our purpose and size of the impact is the same.

You may not be able to reach the world. Or even a large population. Perhaps you only reach one person. To God, that one person is everything, Luke 15:1-7. The joy of His whole kingdom is focused on each individual who wants to reach it, reaching it. 

As so, Solomon was handed the materials and the direction, the reason and motivation and so are you. It takes time and work but God ensures a effort-full, faithful journey is filled with His spirit: joy and peace and breakthrough, hope and achievement and love accompanied every one of God's sojourners. 

28:20 God is in it, in life, with you for the long haul. Until your purpose and potential is reached on earth, you will have Him with you. After that, He will have you with Him.

David repeated to Solomon: “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." Solomon was not just constructing a building. The construction of the temple of God was a statement to the world, eternally. It was a proclamation of God, hosted by a kingdom whose lifestyle represented His ways. What you are doing with your life is not just anything either. David reminds us to never be afraid or hopeless; he reminds us to allow the comfort of God's promised presence to keep us pushing on. To keep us brave. You may be a weak little thing but an army of angels surrounds you and God is their commander. Your enemies may not see God's defense around you, even you might forget that it is there, but doubt does not diminish the strength of your God. Doubt does not weaken His reinforcement. Your God-appointed defenders are strong and vigilant in every moment and circumstance of your life. In full spiritual armor, a host of heaven surrounds you, Psalm 34:7. With that in mind, be brave enough to obey God and nothing else, especially not fear.

28:21 Know that God will place all around you, all along your life's journey, the people you will need to help you continue on. Whatever you need in a specific season of life, God will provide. Though Solomon would spearhead the project, God provided for all of reasons or weaknesses or inadequacies he had. God has ensured that you are never alone.