Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20070211.htm

1 AND 2 CHRONICLES: GAINING DIRECTION OUT OF THE AIMLESSNESS OF APOSTASY
Part III: Gaining Direction From God's Work In The Reign Of Solomon, 2 Chronicles 1-9
E. Learning To Remain Vigilant For The Status Of Our Spiritual Walk
(2 Chronicles 7:4-22 with 5:13-14 and 6:12-7:3)
  1. Introduction
    1. 1 Corinthians 10:12 in view of its 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 context warns us not to think we are above the sinful failure of Israel in her wilderness wanderings, but to watch lest we also similarly fall into sin!
    2. This admonition appeared in 2 Chronicles 7:12-22 when Solomon could be tempted to think he had risen to such heights in fellowship with God that he might not thus fall, so we view it for our edification:
  2. Learning To Remain Vigilant For The Status Of Our Spiritual Walk, 2 Chron. 7:4-22 et al.
    1. At the dedication of the temple, Solomon offered 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep as sacrifices to the Lord in order to provide enough food for the nation that had gathered to feast for two week before God, 2 Chronicles 7:4-5, 8; Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978 ed., ftn. to 2 Chronicles 7:5 in citing 1 Kings 8:63.
    2. To make such massive sacrifice activity feasible, more than just the regular altar was needed, so Solomon used the temple courtyard to accomodate the many additional sacrifices, 2 Chronicles 7:7.
    3. This celebration was accompanied by much worship fanfare, complete with music and interaction from the gathered congregation, 2 Chronicles 7:6, 9.
    4. This dedication occurred at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, and lasted for two weeks of celebration instead of the usual eight days of the regular annual feast, cf. 2 Chron. 5:3; Ibid., ftn.; 2 Chron. 7:9-10.
    5. The encouraging impact of this grand celebration was enormous as the people went back to their homes rejoicing over the goodness God had shown unto David, his son Solomon and to them, 2 Chron. 7:10-11.
    6. Besides all this, God had shown great, encouraging approval of Solomon and Israel by filling the temple with His thick cloud (2 Chron. 5:13-14) and bright glory (2 Chron. 7:1c-3) and sending fire down from heaven to ignite the burnt offering to the awe and responding worship of the nation, 2 Chron. 7:1a,b, 3!
    7. Such blessed, visible, public divine approval of Solomon and Israel had come following Solomon's humble prayer for God's blessing and honor that he gave on the platform he built and upon which he had knelt before the entire gathered nation, 2 Chronicles 6:12-14; 7:1a.
    8. However, regardless of all of these spiritually LOFTY events, God solemnly REPEATED to Solomon the NEED he and Israel had for GUARDING their spiritual WALK before Him:
      1. The Lord again appeared to Solomon at night when he was all alone without the watching nation, a setting when Solomon would be most vulnerable to God, 2 Chronicles 7:12a with 2 Chronicles 1:7a.
      2. Though we might expect God to say only positive things to Solomon at this time due to his great and long list of positive spiritual experiences with the temple construction and its great dedication, God had a conditional message to share that closed with a profound warning for Solomon, 2 Chron. 7:12b-22:
        1. On the one hand, God said He had answered Solomon's request to make the temple a place where He would perpetually meet with Israel as a house of worship, 2 Chronicles 7:12b with 6:19-21.
        2. Accordingly, if Israel sinned and lost God's blessing, all she needed to do was to repent when she prayed and sought Him in the sacrificial system at that temple, and He would deliver Israel, 7:13-16.
        3. God also promised to bless Solomon, to establish his line as He had the line of his father David were Solomon to continue to obey the Lord, 2 Chronicles 7:17-18.
        4. However, God then warned Solomon that if he and the people of Israel turned away from Him and His Word and followed after idols, He would uproot Israel, letting her people be taken captive, and would reject and allow the destruction of the grand, beautiful temple to the astonishment of even Israel's Gentile neighbors, 2 Chronicles 7:19-22!
Lesson: Regardless of the great devotion and dedication in Solomon and Israel that was seen at the dedication of the temple, God knew that they could STILL FALL into APOSTASY; accordingly, He promised them great blessing for FUTURE obedience and great discipline for FUTURE disobedience as a CALL for spiritual VIGILANCE REGARDLESS of their CURRENT spiritual BLESSINGS!

Application: Our potential for SIN is ALWAYS a THREAT to enjoying God's blessings, so, regardless what current BLESSING we enjoy in God, may we WATCH our SPIRITUAL WALK, Proverbs 4:23!