"If My People..." - 2 Chronicles 7
1. Text summary
Fire falls from heaven on the sacrifices, as God confirms the dedication of the temple. He answers Solomon later that night, after the people go home, that He will hear their prayer when they repent. But disobedience will bring exile from the land.
2. Jesus
Jesus offers one perfect sacrifice, better than Solomon's thousands, and it ends the need for any more. He is the reason God answers our prayers of confession.
3. Application
In the past year or so I've been struck by the line right before the famous 2 Chronicles 7:14: "When I... send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name humble themselves..."
As a nation, we have not humbled ourselves or repented to God AT ALL, in response to pestilence. Instead, we have fled to gods of science and "working together," filled far more with fear of death than faith in the true God.
Solomon's Deeds - 2 Chronicles 8
1. Text summary
Solomon rebuilds cities on the edges of Israel,
brings Pharaoh's daughter as wife, but keeps her from the temple,
establishes regular temple worship,
and sends out ships for gold from Ophir.
2. Jesus
Jesus expands His kingdom, too.
He takes no pagan wife.
He establishes true worship in His own name.
The wealth of nations will come to Him.
3. Application
With Pharaoh's daughter, Solomon began a double life, between serving God, and wrongfully partaking of the pleasures of this world.
Yet Christ's kingdom includes tangible things: cities, gold, etc.
The Queen of Sheba Visits - 2 Chronicles 9
1. Text summary
Solomon hosts Sheba's queen, who comes to learn his wisdom. He acquires rare spices and wood, much precious metal and horses, and an ivory throne. Many other kings visit him seeking his wisdom. He dies after reigning for 40 years.
2. Jesus
Jesus owns the cattle on 1,000 hills, and all the rare and precious materials, too.
Kings come to Jesus for wisdom.
3. Application
The wealthy and powerful still seek wisdom where they think they will find it, admitting they do not have it themselves.
Even the richest and most powerful on earth will die and pass away.
Rehoboam's Mistake - 2 Chronicles 10
1. Text summary
God uses the pride of Solomon's young successor to divide the kingdom.
2. Jesus
Jesus' successors in earthly office too often lord it over His people, and cause them to rebel.
3. Application
Rulers should take care not to overly burden people for their own enrichment.
Division is caused by bad leadership, more than by fractious people.
The greatest earthly, civilizational achievements can be undone in one generation.
Rehoboam Wises Up - 2 Chronicles 11
1. Text summary
Rehoboam wants to forcibly reunite Israel to Judah, but God prevents Him.
Israel's priests and Levites move to Judah - Jeroboam kicks them out and replaces them with priests to idols.
Rehoboam plays defense, securing Judah's cities and his own line of succession.
2. Jesus
Jesus' kingdom is divided between wheat and tares. Many professors of His are actually serving idols.
3. Application
The faithful often need to be on defense against attacks from apostates in their midst.
Rehoboam Loses It - 2 Chronicles 12
1. Text summary
Rehoboam forsakes God, and Egypt invades. They take away all the temple treasures (ark included, I assume). But they leave Judah and Rehoboam intact.
Rehoboam reigns 17 years and dies.
2. Jesus
Jesus' kingdom often suffers setbacks like this. Encroachments by the enemy, when we seem vulnerable to their predations.
3. Application
Forsaking God brings real-world consequences.
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