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In today’s reading, we see Rehoboam on the brink of war. He wasn’t just contemplating war. The Chronicler tells us that he rounded up 180,000 men to go to war against Israel in hopes of expanding his own kingdom (v. 1). But something interesting happens next: a prophet named Shemaiah, who is described as “a man of God”, is given a message by God to deliver to Rehoboam. God doesn’t want them to go fight against their fellow Israelites. Maybe Rehoboam was trying to do the faithful thing. Maybe he simply got cold feet. Whatever the reason, Rehoboam listened to what Shemaiah said and they turned around. 

We then see how Rehoboam starts to fortify Judah in order to preserve and protect his kingdom (v. 5-12). Then something really interesting happens: the priests and the Levites (who were living in the northern kingdom) abandoned their land and moved south to be part of Judah (v. 13). Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom, had constructed idols to worship and led the charge on what was essentially state-sponsored idolatry. The Levites couldn’t reconcile being part of such an unfaithful kingdom and were deeply insulted by Jeroboam’s actions, so they abandoned their homes and their lands in order to move south. 

By choosing to do so, we see a shift in the culture of Rehoboam’s reign. This influx of godly men and women into the Kingdom of Judah “strengthened the kingdom of Judah” (v. 17). It wasn’t just the Levites that left; there were people from “every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord” (v. 16)! While the strengthening of the kingdom was short-lived, that was more likely a result of Rehoboam’s bent towards ungodliness that was prevalent throughout his reign.

What we can take away from this passage is the impact godly men and women can have on a place and a group of people when they have the courage to do the right thing. When fellow believers resolve to not simply follow the culture, but instead live with their hearts set on seeking the Lord, the outside world takes notice. They live differently. They don’t prioritize the things of this world, but instead the things of God. That’s how culture changes: one faithful group of people at a time.

Today’s reading is a cautionary tale of how, when we follow our own plans and avoid listening to God’s plans, we always end up finding destruction and hardship.

Rehoboam is the only son of Solomon that we truly know by name. As we know, Solomon had over a thousand wives and concubines. The only son we know of from the wives and concubines is Rehoboam, and he lives foolishly. This chapter shows us that sin always has consequences. Solomon was the wisest and richest man to ever live, but he started trusting in his own wisdom and not God’s. This led him down a path of lustful pursuits that led to terrible leadership in Rehoboam and ultimately to the writing of the book of Ecclesiastes, which puts on full display how all of Solomon’s worldly pursuits are utterly meaningless.

The Israelites were warned by God in 1 Samuel 8 that they would have a king that takes from them constantly. Solomon was a good king, but he still took a large amount of taxes and hard service from his people. Even after this, the people wanted another king. This king, Rehoboam, decided to double down on the “taking” part of Solomon’s reign and ignore the good parts. Again, Israel chose to forsake God’s plans and pursue their own desires for a king. Clearly this did not go well.

Next, we see that Rehoboam made a smart choice by speaking with his older, wiser advisors first. They share with Rehoboam that if he is a giving king instead of a taking king, that his people will adore him forever. God was clearly speaking through these advisors to Rehoboam. As we know, Jesus is the greatest servant leader in all of history. However, instead of abiding by God’s plans, Rehoboam seeks input from younger individuals that he had grown up with, even though they were unwise. They tell him to double down on being a taking king. This fed Rehoboam’s ego and was exactly what he wanted to hear. So, he went with this option.

In verses 16 and 17, we see what happens when we forsake God’s plans and pursue our own: chaos and destruction. The twelve tribes divide, Israel rebels against the entire house of David, and a tax collector is murdered. Division, rebellion, and murder. All of this could have been avoided.

It is easy to read this historical account and think “Rehoboam, what are you doing? Just listen!” However, if someone was writing a story of our life, would the future readers say the same thing about you? Are you listening to wise counsel? Are you pursuing God’s Truth instead of what the world says to be true? Are you actively rejecting what you want to hear in order to hear Truth from the Creator of all things?

As we read about the glory, fame, honor, and power of King Solomon, we must recall how all of this came about. A few chapters prior to this, in 2 Chronicles 1, the author wrote about how God came to Solomon in a way we have never seen God approach any other man in the scriptures. We’ve all heard of the statement “God is not a genie in the sky,” but this part of the story is an instance where it seems like He was willing to be genie-like. One night, as the king was worshiping God, God came to Solomon and said, “Ask of me and I will give it to you.” Whoa! Think about it: what would you ask for? 

Solomon, without hesitation, asks for wisdom and knowledge to govern God’s people of Israel. God not only gave him enough wisdom to be the wisest man on earth, but also all of the material possessions and wealth one could ever want. With this context in mind, we can now understand with greater understanding truly how great and magnificent God allowed his servant Solomon to be.

The truth is, God is the giver of all gifts (James 1:17). We have all been entrusted with different gifts. Why? To bring God glory. We have been created in the image of God which means we have been created to reflect Him. As image bearers, we are ultimately glory spreaders. We are created to reflect God’s glory unto the world for all to see His goodness and majesty. As Solomon’s gifts of wisdom, power, wealth, and fame brought the pagan Queen of Sheba to come and see for herself, it says she was “overwhelmed” and began praising the God of Israel. She says in verse 8, “Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the LORD your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them, to maintain justice and righteousness.”

Our job is usually not in choosing the gifts God gives us, rather in stewarding them. Your gift could be hospitality, your intelligence, your leadership, your communication ability, your wealth, your passion, the ability to serve others with supernatural joy, or even fame. Whatever it may be, He has entrusted it to you. Whether you work at a restaurant, a factory, in corporate America, ministry, or any other field, God has given you specific gifts to use for His glory. And our job is to steward them for His name. As we see Solomon in this chapter steward what God has given Him for His glory, we must use our gifts to draw others to see the God behind the gift!

Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Let your light shine! Don’t be afraid or ashamed of your gift; rather let it shine. In that, people will see and give glory to your heavenly Father. As Solomon’s story continues, we see sad moments Solomon’s heart drifts from what God intended. We are just as prone to stray. We must never allow the gifts of God to become greater than the Giver. We did nothing to receive the gift, so we must use it freely for any and every occasion to bring glory to God. Be encouraged, you never know when your “Queen of Sheba” may come to see if what they have heard is true. Hopefully it will result in them praising God and giving Him ultimate glory!

As we well know, Solomon was the wisest person to ever live and also a successful builder. During a twenty-year span, he built a magnificent temple for the Lord and a glorious palace for himself. He spent seven years building this first temple in Jerusalem, certainly a significant achievement of King Solomon’s reign. Approximately 400 years later, however, the Babylonians destroyed the temple. And even though a second temple would be built years later and then remodeled and enlarged during King Herod’s rule, it would again be destroyed; this time by the Romans. 

Solomon’s construction of the temple fulfilled a desire of his father King David, who was the one who initially planned to build the Lord’s temple. God allowed King David’s son, Solomon, to build the temple instead. The construction and eventual destruction of the temple serves as a good reminder that while a physical temple for God is not everlasting, our bodies offered as a living temple are. For all who place their trust and faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior allow their bodies to serve as the living temple of God’s Holy Spirit, forever. 

After completing the first temple to honor God, Solomon spent thirteen years building a new palace for himself. It is interesting to note that the construction time almost doubled for his personal palace. The extravagant palace helped Solomon attract Pharaoh’s daughter to marry him. Over time, Solomon would have many, many more wives. In fact, the numerous marriages that followed eventually led Solomon to look towards other gods and away from the one true God (1 Kings 11:3-4).

Solomon’s choice to take countless wives and concubines was a direct disobedience to God. God laid out His will, gave Solomon wisdom (again, he was the wisest person to ever live), and still Solomon made the choice to disobey. The consequences of his choices would later impact Solomon’s life. We are invited to devote ourselves fully to God and invite His Spirit to indwell in us, a living temple. We are also given the choice to obey or disobey. It is a daily choice: live today for God or for our flesh. What is your choice today?

In this chapter, God answers and publicly responds to Solomon’s prayer. Verse one sets the scene. God accepts Solomon’s prayer and dedication of the temple: “fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” God displays His acceptance when He fills the temple with His glory so all can see and experience the glory of the Lord.  

There are two responses for us to notice: the people’s response to God’s glory and God’s response to true and proper prayer. Notice how the people react to God’s glory in verses 2 and 3: 

The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.” 

In multiple references throughout the Old Testament (1 Kings 18:38-39, Leviticus 9:24), God shows up in a consuming fire. When His glory is revealed, the people fall to their knees trembling and shouting, “He is good!” Wholehearted worship and joyful expressions of God’s goodness are people’s natural responses to experiencing God’s glory. 

After God’s public display of acceptance and the people’s response to God’s presence, God also responds privately to Solomon at night. In verse 12, He says to Solomon, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.” God showed up to Solomon at night when he was alone and spoke to him personally! When God responds to our prayers, He doesn’t follow a formula. Solomon’s encounter with God shows us He is able to respond to us not only with public signs and wonders but also in a personal and intimate manner. 

When God shows up to Solomon privately, He encourages him with the words, “if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (v. 14). 

This powerful verse spoken in private is still important for us to understand and meditate on today. Our world is full of sin, violence, malice, ungodliness, pain, and loss. It is tempting to become discouraged, outraged, confused, and frustrated, but God encourages us with these words to cling to, not only for ourselves, but for our world. God tells Solomon about the kind of relationship He wants with His people. He wants us to pray in faith with humility, seeking Him, and repenting from sin. God wants to listen to our voices and forgive and heal us. God calls us to turn our hearts to Him and away from what is not of Him. 

What if we took this prayer quite literally? What if we, His people, His very own children, called by His name, humbled ourselves, prayed, and sought His face with all of our heart? What if we repented? Imagine the faith space we create for God to move not only in our own lives, but in our city, in our nation, and in our world. This chapter shows us what honors God and what does not and how to avoid the consequences of disobedience: submit to God, pray, and repent. The lesson is as applicable today as it was then.

After finishing the detailed instructions on how the temple would be built for the past couple of chapters, this chapter might seem daunting because of its length! However, as we read we see that it’s actually a celebration prayer and speech packed with encouragement for the Israelites. The first thing Solomon does is bless God. He acknowledges that it is not by his own work or his father David’s work that the temple is built, but simply because God has faithfully fulfilled His prophecy. He begins his prayer kneeling, with arms stretched to represent surrender and ready reception which was the common posture of prayer in the Old Testament. Solomon humbled himself, glorified God and boldly asked Him to dwell in the temple and honor His people. 

Then Solomon did something unique: He prayed for the future prayers that would be lifted within the temple. He asked that God would hear the oaths taken there and preserve justice and that God would hear when the Israelites are defeated or crying out from captivity or when there are times of plague and famine. He even asked that when foreigners find themselves near the temple praying that God would listen and they would come to fear Him. Solomon knew that even after this celebration, the world would still be broken and hardship is promised, but God dwelt with them and heard their prayers. 

Now, we get to celebrate even more abundantly! Because the veil of the temple has been torn, through Jesus’s body being broken, the Holy Spirit now dwells within us. So even though we don’t have the temple or the Ark of the Covenant, we have the security that God not only hears our prayers, but listens. So, how often do we take advantage of this gift that hasn’t always been available? 

We have the ability to commune with God in our quiet times as well as at work, in our cars, getting coffee, or while doing the dishes. When we shift our mindset from encountering God for thirty minutes in the morning to all throughout our day, we can grow exponentially in our relationship with Him.

Finally the day has come. The temple has been finished according to God’s design. Seven years of hard work and excellent craftsmanship have culminated into a work of art. But, even after all that, the temple isn’t complete until the ark of the covenant makes its way into the Temple. All the beautiful details are meaningless without the presence of God, symbolized by the ark of the covenant.

Solomon knows this and so this day is marked by celebration, sacrifice, and praise. The text tells us that there were so many sheep and cattle sacrificed to God that they couldn’t even be counted. A huge festival marked the occasion, and all the Israelites came together to worship. Once the ark was placed in the Holy Place, the priests and musicians “joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord.” As they praised God, the temple became so full of the glory of the Lord that the priests couldn’t even do their jobs. Five hundred years after God commanded the Israelites to build the ark of the covenant, the day had finally come to move that ark into the Temple. God’s presence was permanently with them. What a celebration it was!

The crazy thing is, because of Jesus, we no longer must only access God through a Temple and a priest. The very presence of God that filled the Temple that day lives within us as believers. As Paul reminded the church in Corinth: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”(1 Corinthians 3:16) Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. We house God’s presence within us; we have access to His power and presence all the time.

The Israelites threw a massive festival just to celebrate God’s presence nearer to them through the Temple, even though they couldn’t have direct access to God themselves. We walk around housing His Spirit in our bodies and yet don’t think twice about it. We spend most days completely unaware of God’s presence within us. We take the gift of His nearness for granted. But, what would today look like if we were aware of God’s presence throughout each moment? What could God do through us if we were fully alert to His presence? Friends, let’s not miss it. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to guide, direct, and help us every moment today.

This chapter continues on with the detailed narrative of how the temple was constructed, down to specific dimensions and the furniture that was built specifically for the temple. Solomon was building according to the plan that had been passed down by God to his father (King David) and, as we read in previous chapters, no expense was spared. The temple was so much more than a building to be half heartedly cobbled together. It was a place of worship–a place where people could worship and experience God (both individually and collectively). 

Imagine the blood, sweat, and tears that went into the construction of such a place. It is thought that the temple took seven years to build! Everything had been thought through and meticulously built, from the bronze altar (34 feet long, 34 feet wide, and 17 feet high) down to the golden wick trimmers. What makes such labor intensive, grueling work worth doing? At the end of the day, it all comes down to the motivation and the heart behind why you do what you do. The construction of the temple had an important purpose. People would encounter God there! Solomon understood that. A theme throughout the scriptures is the importance of diligence (and the dangers of laziness). God calls us to work (and work well) and when we do, He is ultimately glorified in that.

While the temple was the place to meet God back then, we know that things are different now for believers in Jesus. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we have the Spirit of God living inside of us. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6, even describes our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit. We are no longer limited to a finite space full of elaborate bronze and gold furnishings, but instead we have the Spirit living inside of us. As we go about our days today, ask God to use you (through the Spirit inside you) as a way for people to encounter Him today.

In this chapter, King Solomon begins the temple project that his father (King David) prepared for him to accomplish. First Chronicles 28:19 states, “All this, David said, I have in writing as a result of the Lords’ hand on me, and He enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.” The construction of the temple has long been awaited by the people of Israel. This magnificent structure would represent the presence of God in their midst. 

Solomon’s efforts to construct the house of God spared no expense in decorating every section of it with extravagant materials. The design included nothing but the finest of materials that would be used to build and decorate the house of God. This temple would represent the heavenly King’s earthly palace, displaying His holiness and glory. 

There are so many details described in the building of the temple that point us to Jesus. The location of the temple is significant. Not only was it the place where the Lord had appeared to David, but it is also the place where Abraham offered Isaac, and the Lord provided a ram instead. (Genesis 22) It is also believed by scholars to be near, if not on the set of hills where Jesus’ cross was placed. 

Another detail is that the Most Holy Place was separated by a heavy veil. Only the High Priest could enter once a year to offer atonement (payment) for the sins of the people of God. At Jesus’ death, the temple veil was torn from top to bottom, forever representing our access to God through Jesus’ sacrifice of His life. Hebrews 9 describes Jesus, as our high priest, entering once for all by His blood, securing our eternal redemption.

Now there is no need for an ornate temple to represent God’s presence. As believers in Jesus, we are God’s temple and His Spirit dwells in us. However, pondering the holiness, beauty, perfection, and excellence of God may deepen our desire to reflect His character. Our response to His presence in our lives may prompt awe, worship, praise, and surrender.  He alone is holy, holy, holy, and worthy.