Welcome to Anzac Day. We look at the ministry of Solomon this week as we begin 2 weeks in 2nd Chronicles. Solomon begins his reign by asking for wisdom.
2 Chronicles 1: Solomon Worships at Gibeon
1 Solomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.
2 Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to all the leaders in all Israel, the heads of fathers' houses.
3 And Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness, was there.
4 (But David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.)
5 Moreover, the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the LORD. And Solomon and the assembly sought it out.
6 And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
Solomon Prays for Wisdom
7 In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask what I shall give you."
8 And Solomon said to God, "You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place.
9 O LORD God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.
10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?"
11 God answered Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king,
12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like."
13 So Solomon came from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.
Solomon Given Wealth
14 Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.
15 And the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah.
16 And Solomon's import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king's traders would buy them from Kue for a price.
17 They imported a chariot from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver, and a horse for 150. Likewise through them these were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.
2 Chronicles 2: Preparing to Build the Temple
1 Now Solomon purposed to build a temple for the name of the LORD, and a royal palace for himself.
2 And Solomon assigned 70,000 men to bear burdens and 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 to oversee them.
3 And Solomon sent word to Hiram the king of Tyre: "As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me.
4 Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God and dedicate it to him for the burning of incense of sweet spices before him, and for the regular arrangement of the showbread, and for burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, as ordained forever for Israel.
5 The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.
6 But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?
7 So now send me a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.
8 Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. And my servants will be with your servants,
9 to prepare timber for me in abundance, for the house I am to build will be great and wonderful.
10 I will give for your servants, the woodsmen who cut timber, 20,000 cors of crushed wheat, 20,000 cors of barley, 20,000 baths of wine, and 20,000 baths of oil."
11 Then Hiram the king of Tyre answered in a letter that he sent to Solomon, "Because the LORD loves his people, he has made you king over them."
12 Hiram also said, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.
13 "Now I have sent a skilled man, who has understanding, Huram-abi,
14 the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre. He is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and to do all sorts of engraving and execute any design that may be assigned him, with your craftsmen, the craftsmen of my lord, David your father.
15 Now therefore the wheat and barley, oil and wine, of which my lord has spoken, let him send to his servants.
16 And we will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you in rafts by sea to Joppa, so that you may take it up to Jerusalem."
17 Then Solomon counted all the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, after the census of them that David his father had taken, and there were found 153,600.
18 Seventy thousand of them he assigned to bear burdens, 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 as overseers to make the people work.
Things to think about…
1. Note that the tent of meeting that Moses had made is where Solomon goes to ask the Lord for wisdom, 2 Chr 1:1-6. This tent was at Gibeon. It was where the Lord’s presence had rested, a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. There was no temple at this time and so Solomon seeks the Lord here at the bronze altar that was build by the Lord’s anointed skilled craftsman, Bezalel almost 500 years earlier, Exod 31:1-9. Solomon knew the God of his fathers.
2. Sometimes sons rebel against their fathers and their father’s advice. This was true for Rehoboam, but not so for Solomon – when he was a young king at least. We see him seeking God at Gibeon 2Chr 1:1-6. He then asks for wisdom to lead Israel, 2Chr 1:8-10. For all David’s faults he still allowed his sons the opportunity to know the God of heaven and earth. May all fathers who know Jesus do the same for their children. May godly dad’s lead by both word and action.
3. The Lord gave both wisdom and wealth as blessings for Solomon. One wonders in hindsight whether the blessing of wealth would ultimately be a blessing for Solomon. It caused him to stumble. It did however give him an opportunity to consider it all as vanity as we read from his reflections on worldly wealth, etc, in the book of Ecclesiastes.
4. Here we see the first cracks in Solomon’s ministry. He obtains chariots and horses from Egypt 2Chr1:14-17. The Lord was to be their defence – not horses. In todays money and value for silver. 1 horse at 150 shekels is worth about $50,000. Each Chariot - $200,000. That works out to be for 1400 chariots - $269 Million and for 12,000 horses - $576 Million. Not a small investment. The Law said that Israel was not to trust in chariots or the strength of a horse, Dt 17:16. Wealth, health and earthly strength are never going to protect us in the light of eternity. Christ is the only strength that will see both soul and body last into eternity.
5. Solomon was a master administrator and begins by building the temple 2Chr 2. He hires Hiram king of Tyre to send a skilled man to oversee the work. As the Lord gave Bezalel to Moses so he gives Huram-abi, 2 Chr 2:13, to Solomon to work with Israel’s craftsman to build the temple. Hiram honours God for giving David such a wise son. May we see generational change among our churches in Australia as we show our faith in Christ to our children so they may continue to build Christ’s name in Australia. Pray for the upcoming elections that the Lord bestows upon our leaders a Christ centred wisdom.
6. There were 153,600 foreigners living in Israel. Solomon gives them the burden to carry and to quarry stone 2Chr2:17, 18. Remember we are all servants in the house of God. It is better to be a doorman at the house of the Lord than not to belong to the house at all, Psalm 84:10.
Vision Point for cell groups – Cell groups on break over the school holidays
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell groups on break over School holidays
Prayer Points
1. Pray for people as they settle into life at CBC.
2. Over 400 flood victims in South Africa. These people are in great poverty as well.
3. Pray for peace to cover Ukraine and for Russia to retreat. Pray the gospel reigns in this situation.
4. Upcoming Australian elections
5. Continue to pray for the flood clean-up as well as the money donated to help.
6. Folk sick with Covid – relief and healing.
7. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
8. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Anzac Day and the freedoms we have because of the sacrifice given by those of those the past and present.
2. Visitors to CBC over the weekend – new folk added to the church.
3. God’s word affecting people for Christ
4. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
5. Flood cleanup is restoring communities around Ipswich and Brisbane.
Announcements
1. Anzac Day services near you.
2. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
3. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism question for April...
Q. 2. Where is Christ now? A. In heaven, interceding for sinners and sitting at the right hand of God the Father.
