March 26, 2011 (2 Chronicles 2-7, I Kings 5-8, Psalm 136)

Today's reading encompassed the building of the Temple and Solomon's residence. I was struck by the fact that it took 7 years to build the Temple and 13 years to build his residence. Why so much longer to build his residence? Because it was almost twice as big. It also talks about him building a living quarter for Pharaoh's daughter, one of his wives. It seemed to me that even back then, in the midst of doing something good, his heart was 'conflicted'. But God honored the building of His temple by consuming all the sacrifices offered and consuming it with His presence.

2 Chronicles 7 has one of the verses that I've heard and memorized:

¹⁴Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 

I also was reminded in this reading about how God is in control of everything - to include the rain.  Here were Solomon's words concerning this in his prayer:

³⁵ “If the skies are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and if they pray toward this Temple and acknowledge your name and turn from their sins because you have punished them, ³⁶ then hear from heaven and forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them to follow the right path, and send rain on your land that you have given to your people as their special possession.

The 'funny' part is that these days it's not attributed to sin, but to changes in weather patterns, global warming and the like. God, please be merciful to us and forgive us for losing sight of You in so many areas.

In God's answer to Solomon and his offerings, because He knows the beginning and the end, He knew that Solomon's heart was not 'perfect' towards Him and that his many wives would lead him astray. Here was God's 'prediction' as to what would take place.

^{2 Chronicles 7:19} “But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the decrees and commands I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, ²⁰ then I will uproot the people from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make it an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations.²¹ And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’
 ²² “And the answer will be, ‘Because his people abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead and bowed down to them. That is why he has brought all these disasters on them.’”

You would think this would have 'awakened' Solomon, but are we any different? God has warned us over and over again in His word and yet we still do those things that we know are sin.