Greetings everyone,
I pray this week brings you joy and closer to God. As we get closer to warmer weather we begin to consider the possibilities of what we will be doing outside, shedding the winter clothing, or planning summer vacation. Initially this message was scheduled to cover the week of 3/9/15. However, I allowed time and other issues interupt me and now I am submitting this message to cover two weeks. I pray that this does not happen again and I ask that you pray for me and forgive me if I let you down in any way. Last week, I planned to tell you about our family time after church. I wanted to tell you that we attended a travel convention in DC. What I enjoyed most about the event was being able to discuss with my family all of the places we visited in our lifetime. We all smiled when we saw the booths displaying picturesof Italy, Dominican Republic, Greece, etc. My point was to show how God answers prayer. This week, I wanted to continue on that theme. This past week, we spent time with our son visiting colleges. Again, my wife and I discussed where we are today and how God blessed us to experience such an event. Not only did we have our oldest child attend college, we were on our second child.
I am not sure about what you may have experienced in your life, but I am sure we all can testify to a blessing, or a traumatic situation or two in our lives or those close to us. As part of my 14 day study on King Solomon, I read 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, there is obviously no comparison of the relationship between God and King Solomon, and my life. However, what I did notice was the more I remained faithful to His Word, the more I studied the Word, and the more I prayed; God's plan for my life went into action. Please read the scriptures below and see the comments afterwards.
Book: 2 Chronicles 7:11-22
Author : A post-exilic (after the exile) Jewish scholar compiled material from many historical resources to chronicle the history of his people. This person is not named and remains unknown, though Ezra has been cited as a possible candidate. Whoever “the chronicler” was, he utilized official and unofficial documents to write this historical account. As noted earlier, 2 Chronicles originally was joined with 1 Chronicles as one book, separated into two books since about 200 BC when the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament, was translated.
Time: 971B.C. To 568B.C.
Purpose: The post-exilic Jews needed a reminder of who their God was and how He worked. History provided the best lesson for them. “The author uses the history of Judah to demonstrate that God blesses His people when they remain faithful and joyfully worship the Lord -
See more at: http://www.insight.org/resources/bible/second-chronicles.html#sthash.CsspE24p.dpuf
The Lord Gives Solomon a Promise and a Warning (New English Translation)
11 After Solomon finished building the Lord's temple and the royal palace, and accomplished all his plans for the Lord's temple and his royal palace, 12 the Lord appeared to Solomon at night and said to him:“I have answered your prayer and chosen this place to be my temple where sacrifices are to be made. 13 When I close up the sky so that it doesnt rain, or command locusts to devour the lands vegetation, or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 15 Now I will be attentive and responsive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 Now I have chosen and consecrated this temple by making it my permanent home; I will be constantly present there. 17 You must serve me as your father David did. Do everything I commanded and obey my rules and regulations. 18 Then I will establish your dynasty, just as I promised your father David, You will not fail to have a successor ruling over Israel. 19 “But if you people ever turn away from me, fail to obey the regulations and rules I instructed you to keep, and decide to serve and worship other gods, 20 then I will remove you from my land I have given you, I will abandon this temple I have consecrated with my presence, and I will make you an object of mockery and ridicule e among all the nations. 21 As for this temple, which was once majestic, everyone who passes by it will be shocked and say, Why did the Lord do this to this land and this temple? 22 Others will then answer, Because they abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors, who led them out of Egypt. They embraced other gods whom they worshiped and served. That is why he brought all this disaster down on them. ”
Matthew Henry Commentary :
2 Chronicles 7:1 God gave a gracious answer to Solomon's prayer. The mercies of God to sinners are made known in a manner well suited to impress all who receive them, with his majesty and holiness. The people worshipped and praised God. When he manifests himself as a consuming Fire to sinners, his people can rejoice in him as their Light. Nay, they had reason to say, that God was good in this. It is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, but the sacrifice in our stead, for which we should be very thankful. And whoever beholds with true faith, the Savior agonizing and dying for man's sin, will, by that view, find his godly sorrow enlarged, his hatred of sin increased, his soul made more watchful, and his life more holy. Solomon prosperously effected all he designed, for adorning both God's house and his own. Those who begin with the service of God, are likely to go on successfully in their own affairs. It was Solomon's praise, that what he undertook, he went through with; it was by the grace of God that he prospered in it. Let us then stand in awe, and sin not. Let us fear the Lord's displeasure, hope in his mercy, and walk in his commandments.
As you consider what you just read, compare it to your life today. Even more, if you know Christ and have accepted him as your personal Savior, review the time in between. Has there been any changes in you life. What is odd is that without Christ, it is easy to take personal credit for your success, but the hole in your heart is of your own doing. I had to face the truth and realize that without fully committing to the Lord, you won't gain the wisdom to know the difference. God's promises are true, the scriptures will continue to remain the same, it is up to you to determine where you choose to place your faith.
How many of us can look back at some of our past relationships and choices, I for one am not ashamed to acknowledge that I made many bad choices. I look back at high school, past relationships and mistakes during my military and civil service career. I have been blessed to serve this country for more than 20 years and through my experiences, I have visited over 40 countries without harm. God is truly amazing! In spite of all of my issues and adventures, I am 100% sure, it would not have been possible without God.
I pray that you chose today whom ye will serve. I pray that God is your choice. Remember John 3:16, "16 For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
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