Daily Devotion||每日靈修

This week, we shall begin the study of 2 Chronicles of the Old Testament.

2 Chronicles 1-9

As previously mentioned, 1 & 2 Chronicles formed one unit in the Hebrew Bible. As 1 Chronicles ends with the history of David, 2 Chronicles begins with the history of Solomon in chapters 1-9. If we compare the description of Solomon's reign in 1 Kings 1-11, we will notice that many events during the reign of Solomon have been omitted by the Chronicler, and in particular the following:

– Solomon's succession to the throne as a result of Adonijah's attempted usurpation of the throne (chs. 1-2);

– His marriage to the Egyptian princess; (3:1)

– His wise judgment (3:16-28);

– His public administrators (4:1–34);

– The building of his palace (7:1-12);

– His idolatry and his adversaries (11:1-40).

However, the Chronicler supplements much about the building and consecration of the temple. Therefore, it appears that the Chronicler's focus is on the process of the building and consecration of the temple which might be more relevant to his immediate audience — the returnees from exile — who sought to re-establish a permanent worship in the rebuilt temple, hence the reference in 5:9, "These poles (of the ark) were so long that their ends, extending from the ark could be seen in front of the inner sanctuary…and they were still there today".

1. 1:1 acts a summary heading for the reign of Solomon:
   1. What were the emphases the Chronicler wants us to know about the reign of Solomon?
   2. Why?
2. While 1 Kings 3:4 only mentions that Solomon offered a huge sacrifice on the altar:
   1. According to the Chronicler, what really happened? (v. 2)
   2. While the Chronicler does not spell out what Solomon actually (spoke) to all Israel, how did Solomon's action in offering the huge sacrifice at such a time (quite a few years after he took the reign from David) speak to them?
3. Where did Solomon make his sacrifice to the Lord? Why? (vv. 3-6; see note below)
4. Both here and 1 Kings 3:5 makes it clear that God appeared to Solomon right at the place of the sacrifice (Gibeon)
   1. What did Solomon's action in Gibeon mean to the Lord?
   2. What did the Lord offer Solomon as a result? (v. 7)
   3. Was it really a gift or a test? Or both? Why?
5. God has never asked any king of Israel such a question:
   1. Do you think Solomon expected such an offer by God?
   2. Was his answer something he dreamed up at the time or did it represent his heart's desire? Why?
   3. If you were asked the same question in by the Lord today, what might your answer be?
6. Solomon's answer deserve our further reflection: (vv. 8-10)
   1. How did Solomon look at his kingship? (v. 8)
   2. He asked God to confirm His promise to David: what was the promise he referred to? (see a more detailed account of God's promise to David in 2 Sam. 7:11-16)
   3. Why did Solomon, of all things, ask for wisdom and knowledge only from the Lord? (v. 10)
7. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Note: High places were places of sacrifice and prayer, and were built upon eminences of hills, because men thought they were nearer the Deity there. But Solomon's high places were consecrated to the worship of YHWH, and essentially different from the high places of the Canaanites which were consecrated to Baal. Nevertheless, sacrificing upon these high places was still opposed to the law according to which the place which the Lord Himself had chosen for the revelation of His name was the only place where sacrifices were to be offered (Lev. 17:3ff). However, it was excused here on the ground that no house (temple) has yet been built to the name of the Lord. Note also that the Mosaic Tabernacle was in Gibeon at the time (1 Chr. 16:39; 21:29), but the ark, brought back by David to the City of David, was resting in the tent he built for it in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:16-17).