2 Chronicles 7-8

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Temple Dedication Continues; Solomon's Successes Listed

BACKGROUND NOTES

How did God show His approval and acceptance of the sacrifices at the Temple dedication?
What type of offerings were most of the sacrifices in verse 5?
Summarize the Lord's message from His second appearance to Solomon (verses 12-22).
Who became the labor force for Solomon's building projects?
Explain how Solomon was "playing with fire" in 2 Chronicles 8:11.

He sent fire from heaven that consumed the sacrifices (verse 1), just as He had done at the dedication of the Tabernacle.
We know from the parallel passage in 1 Kings 8:63 that most of the 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep were peace offerings. That meant that a portion of these sacrifices could be used as food for both the priests and the many people gathered in Jerusalem for this great time of worship and celebration.
God would bless His people in every way if they followed Him, but would have to discipline His people if they forsook Him - even to the point of removing them from the land that He had given them.
Israel failed to eliminate all the foreigners in the Land at the time of the conquest. So God provided these people to Solomon for his labor force (8:7-10).
Solomon knew from God's law that God's people should not intermarry with foreign pagans. But he played with fire and married Pharaoh's daughter, to strengthen political ties.

2 Chronicles 7:14 is probably the best known verse in this book. In the context it is given to Israel, but in application, based on the rest of Scripture, this is the key to blessing for any nation - to seek the Lord and turn from evil. Discuss how this truth and its inverse have been true in our nation's history.
The Lord blessed Solomon in the beginning of his reign because of his firm determination to carry out all the directions that David had given him, which was the will of God. You may not be a king, but the principle holds true: God will bless the leader that seeks the Lord. In what sphere of influence are you a leader? Discuss how you can seek the Lord in that leadership position.

Solomon played with fire and 1 Kings 11 shows that he got burned - his foreign wives turned his heart away from the Lord. You don't walk into sin blindly. So don't play with fire.

"Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king's house; and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the LORD and in his own house." 2 Chronicles 7:11
"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 will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14