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1 Chronicles Chapter 7
Fire from Heaven
This is what amazes me about God. God
must have known of the future time when Israel would fall away and
start the worship of idols but yet, we see God caring about
individuals at this time. He accepted their offering. He honored
their worship. No doubt the ones here that died before the falling
away; we will meet them in heaven some day. God cares about nations
yes, but He also cares about each and every one of us who believes
in Him now and forever. Awesome to think about.
- 2Chronicles 7:2 And
the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because
the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.
- 3 And when all the
children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of
the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces
to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the
LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
Yes, God's mercy and love endures
forever. Thousands saw this fire come down from Heaven, not to
judge, destroy or kill but to accept their sacrifices. God sees our
motives and our hearts. This was worship in the first love. God has
not changed. He will accept our worship also if we accept His
sacrifice to us. Jesus His Son willingly offered up Himself as a
final sacrifice to all who would believe. Faith in Jesus grants us
eternal life and to be part of His kingdom forever.
The Dedication of the Temple
- 2Chronicles 7:4 Then
the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
- 5 And king Solomon
offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an
hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the
people dedicated the house of God.
We may not understand this in our day
and age but this was before the first coming of Jesus. Jesus changed
the priesthood and changed all things so that just faith in Him
alone is enough to save, not only Israelis but all Gentiles also who
simply receive Him into their lives.
-
2 Chronicles 7:6 And the
priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with
instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made
to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when
David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded
trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
This part did not change. We still
stand in worship with songs, musical instruments and praise to the
Lord when we meet together to worship our God.
- 2Chronicles 7:7
Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was
before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt
offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the
brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the
burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.
- 8 Also at the same
time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him,
a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto
the river of Egypt.
This great feast and time of worship 14
seven days. The congregation was very large. Feast of dedication and
the feast of tabernacles.
- 2Chronicles 7:9 And
in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the
dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
- 10 And on the three
and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away
into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that
the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel
his people.
So the feast days ended and the people
were sent to the tents rejoicing and basking in the love of God.
Reminds me of times I left to go home after and powerful meeting of
rejoicing in the Lord. I really didn't want to even speak to anyone,
just mediate and enjoy the presence of God as we drove home from
church.
If My People Pray
- 2Chronicles 7:11
Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's
house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the
house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously
effected.
- 12 And the LORD
appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard
thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of
sacrifice.
- 13 If I shut up
heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to
devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
- 14 If my people,
which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray,
and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I
hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal
their land.
- 15 Now mine eyes
shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made
in this place.
- 16 For now have I
chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for
ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
- 17 And as for thee,
if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do
according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe
my statutes and my judgments;
- 18 Then will I
stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have
covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail
thee a man to be ruler in Israel.
- 19 But if ye turn
away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have
set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship
them;
- 20 Then will I pluck
them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and
this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out
of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among
all nations.
- 21 And this house,
which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that
passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus
unto this land, and unto this house?
- 22 And it shall be
answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers,
which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold
on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore
hath he brought all this evil upon them.
God know ahead of time the future and
made a provision for them. He knew that not all will choose the
right way to live. Not all will be
faithful but some will. The ones like Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah,
Ezekiel, Zechariah and many more will not fall away but many will.
Yet even if they fail there is a way out.
-
2Chronicles 7:14 If my
people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves,
and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and
will heal their land.
When the nation of Israel does this, they
will be restored and delivered. After the time of Jacob's trouble in
the latter days which may be getting very close, Jesus returns to
save them from the armies of nations that hate them and destroy the
AntiChrist or man of sin that is out to devour them. Israel will
then recognize the king of kings and the lord of Lords, Jesus, the
Messiah, the Son of the everlasting living God.
1 Chronicles
Chapter 8
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