Solomon Blesses the People

 

2 Chronicles 6: 1-11

 

May 20, 2023

 

Solomon Blesses the People

Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.  But I have built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever.”  Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood.  And he said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying,  ‘Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there, and I chose no man as prince over my people Israel;  but I have chosen Jerusalem that my name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’  Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.  But the Lord said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.  Nevertheless, it is not you who shall build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.’  Now the Lord has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and I have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.  

 

What can we learn about Solomon’s blessing of the people, first God chose Jerusalem to build a house for His name.  Not one thing has changed, the people are still His chosen, and Jerusalem is still very special to our Lord.

 

The people of Israel are a stiff-neck people, putting many things before God, and we also who are in Christ, not members of a denomination but have by grace and faith enter into Christ Jesus are not that much different.  Yes, if by God's grace and God's faith that has been given to you, you are a special people, 1 Peter 2:9-10, give us clarity on that truth.  “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

 

What if people who are followers of Christ live as Jesus did, and put the will of the Father before self, would this world look different?

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice