Today’s chronological reading finishes up the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. Solomon prayed a humble prayer, and God answered with fire coming down from heaven and consuming the sacrifice. God also answers Solomon directly. 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. … 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; 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. (2 Chronicles 7:16, 19–20, KJV) In other words, God accepted the Temple for now. Still, if they disobey and worship other gods, God will destroy it to the astonishment of the world. Wow!
If we jump ahead to the prophet Jeremiah’s day, when Israel chose disobedience and idolatry, notice what the Bible says they were saying. “…But don’t be fooled by those who promise you safety simply because the Lord’s Temple is here. They chant, “The LORD’s Temple is here! The LORD’s Temple is here!” (Jeremiah 7:4, NLT) In other words, Israel thought they were safe from the judgment of God because He would never destroy the Temple. Wow! And yes, God did destroy the Temple.
What a mistake for Israel to think they could defy God with their Temple! What a lesson to show the value of obedience and worship and that there is nothing so precious as to stand in the way of God correcting us when we stray. What a picture of God’s faithfulness to keep His Word.
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from 2 Chronicles 6-7; Psalm 134.