2 Chron 1 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: 2 Chron 1:1-6

1 Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.

2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel – to the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, to the judges and to all the leaders in Israel, the heads of families – 3 and Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon, for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the Lord’s servant had made in the wilderness. 4 Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5 But the bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the tabernacle of the Lord; so Solomon and the assembly enquired of him there. 6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

A. Find Out:

1. Why was Solomon firmly established? v.1
2. To whom did Solomon speak? v.2
3. Where did they go, and why? v.3
4. But where was the Ark ? v.4
5. But what was before the Tent of Meeting? v.5
6. So what did Solomon do there? v.5,6

B. Think:

1. What was Solomon intending when he called the people?
2. Where did he choose to do this?
3. How did he start doing it?

C. Comment:

        At the end of 1 Chronicles Solomon was made king. Now we see the first thing he did as king. At the outset we are told that he was great and the reason for that was that the Lord had made him so. Solomon was not a great king by natural talent but because God made him so.

       Solomon’s first act as king is to call the leaders together, along with the people, to come with him to Gibeon where the Tabernacle still was. This was considered to be the meeting place with God, so Solomon’s first act is to call the people to seek and meet with God.

       The Ark had been taken from the Tabernacle up to Jerusalem by David, but Solomon’s desire in meeting with God is to first present sacrifices to God. For this reason, they went to Gibeon where there was an altar at the Tabernacle on which they could sacrifice. In all of this there is a sign of humility in Solomon, and a submission to Almighty God. Solomon could have started his reign by making mighty declarations but instead he brings the people to God. There is within him an acknowledgement that he needs God and is willing to come to God in the prescribed way. A good start!

D. Application:

1. Commitment: When we enter into a new role in life, in a new job perhaps, is our first reaction to submit it to God?
2. Weakness: “Without me, you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5c). Do we realise the truth of this in our own lives?

Passage: 2 Chron 1:7-12

7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’

8 Solomon answered God, ‘You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?’

11 God said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honour, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honour, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.’

A. Find Out:

1. What did God say to Solomon, when? v.7
2. To whom did Solomon refer? v.8
3. What did he ask in relation to him? v.9
4. For what did he then ask, and why? v.10
5. What had he not asked for? v.11
6. What did God say He would give him? v.12

B. Think:

1. How does Solomon gain confidence from the past to ask for the present?
2. How is God seen to be concerned with spiritual and material well being?

C. Comment:

     Solomon has been seeking the Lord, but the Lord waits until he is alone in the night to speak to him. God takes the initiative and invites Solomon to ask for whatever he wants. What a test! An opportunity for greatness, an opportunity to rise up by status! But Solomon indicates he is already a recipient of great wisdom. He looks back and is aware that God had greatly blessed his father, David. He remembers that God had promised to David that his son would sit on his throne (1 Chron 17:11 -13) and establish it. Solomon realises that this is a great task, and that he will need great wisdom to achieve it.

     His request for wisdom pleases the Lord. He could have set his heart on riches and fame but instead he asked for that which he needed to make him a good ruler, to enable him to be a blessing to Israel . Because of that he had indicated that he could perhaps also be trusted with great wealth, so God will give him that as well as the wisdom he asked for. God’s giving will not be skimpy, it will be in abundance! Solomon will be known in history for it!

D. Application:

1. The Need of Wisdom: Wisdom is the knowledge of how to do things rightly in the sight of God. Do we have it?
2. Blessing the world: Does my heart look to God for things that will make me a blessing to others around me?

Passage: 2 Chron 1:13- 2:2 

13 Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting. And he reigned over Israel.

14 Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. 16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue – the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. 17 They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.

2:1 Solomon gave orders to build a temple for the Name of the Lord and a royal palace for himself. 2 He conscripted 70,000 men as carriers and 80,000 as stonecutters in the hills and 3,600 as foremen over them.

A. Find Out:

1. From where did Solomon reign over Israel? v.13
2. How many horses or chariots did he have? v.14
3. What signs of wealth were there in Jerusalem? v.15
4. What did they import or export? v.16,17
5. What two buildings did Solomon order to be built? v.1
6. How many men were involved in the building? v.2

B. Think:

1. What was a sign of the magnitude of Solomon’s army?
2. What was a sign of his general wealth?
3. What indication is there of foreign trade in those days?

C. Comment:

      Initially this passage does not seem to convey any great spiritual significance. It tells us that after his encounter with the Lord, Solomon established his rule from Jerusalem and became very rich. He had large numbers of chariots and horses (for his army and as a means of transport), gold and silver were plentiful, and he was able to import the best from abroad.

     However, there are at least two things we need to observe. First, this is all as promised by God (v.12), i.e. this is God’s provision, this material abundance. The second thing therefore follows: God is not against material prosperity! Greek thinking, which sometimes seems to creep into Christianity, denounces material things, yet the material world and all its provisions (oil, precious stones etc.) are from God.

     The problem is not with the provision; the problem is with the way we respond to it. God has provided a material world, and it is good, but we can idolize it and make gaining riches the greatest thing. We can receive the abundance of God’s riches and ignore the needs of others less fortunate than ourselves. God gives in great abundance so that we can pass on His provision and share it around – at least that’s how it is supposed to be!

D. Application:

1. Right Priorities: Have you made “getting” the all-important thing, or do you have a right perspective in respect of the importance of the spiritual side of your life?
2. Stewards: Are you using God’s provision wisely? Think about all you have and how you are using it.