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Overview of the book of II Chronicles
1st – Who wrote the book of II Chronicles
The name Chronicles was given to these books by the 5th century scholar Jerome…
The name literally means – ‘The events of the days’ – from the Hebrew – Divrei Hayyamim
The author is unknown – but it has been traditionally accredited to Ezra or Nehemiah…
Written after the Babylonian captivity – 586 B.C. – when the people returned to Judah
2nd – The 6th of the 6 books of the Kings of Israel – I Samuel through II Chronicles…
The Latin Vulgate labels the books – the I / II / III / and IV book of Kings
The Hebrew Bible – Tanak – labels the books – The Kings / and The Chronicles…
I Samuel – concluded the time of the prophets / began the reign of the Kings – King Saul…
II Samuel – the life of King David – from his coronation to his death…
I Kings – the reign of Solomon in the first 11 chapters…
The rest of I Kings and II Kings – follow the divided Kingdom…
3rd – There are 4 major sections to the books of I and II Chronicles…
I Chronicles 1-9 – the genealogy of of Israel – from Adam to the Captivity…
Genealogies were very important to the Jewish people – proving their heritage…
But they become important for us – because it becomes the line of Jesus Christ!
I Chronicles 10 – II Chronicles 9 – the United Kingdom
1050 B.C – Saul – the first King of Israel began his 40-year reign over Israel…
1010 B.C. – David – the second King of Israel began his 40-year reign…
970 B.C. – Solomon – the third King of Israel began his 40-year reign…
II Chronicles 10-28 – the divided Kingdom…
930 B.C. – After the death of Solomon the Kingdom of Israel was split in two…
The Northern 10 tribes – called Israel – ruled at first by Jeroboam…
Judah and Benjamin – called Judah – ruled at first by Rehoboam…
Israel would not be reunited as one nation until 1948 – Ezekiel 37:21-22
40 Kings would rule over the two kingdoms – 20 in Israel / 20 in Judah…
It is one of the most important / yet unknown parts of the history of Israel…
All of the prophets from Isaiah-Malachi prophesied during the Divided Kingdom!
The period end with the Diaspora – 722 B.C. – the northern Kingdom falls…
586 B.C. – the southern Kingdom is taken captive to Babylon for 70 years!
II Chronicles 29-36 – the post exile Kingdom…
The captives returned to Judah in waves – Ezra / Zerubbabel / Nehemiah…
515 B.C. – the Jews returned to the Land – Fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah 29:10!
The reign of Solomon… (4 things)
- 1st – Wisdom from the Lord… vs. 1-17 Read: II Chronicles 1:1-12
- 1st – As we pick up the story – King David has died – Solomon is the 3rd King of Israel… vs. 1-6
- God was with Solomon – and exalted him exceedingly…
- Solomon gathered all the leaders of Israel to Gibeon to offer a sacrifice to God…
- The Ark of the Covenant had been brought to Jerusalem – II Samuel 6:17
- David built a ‘new Tabernacle’ for the Ark there in the City of David…
- But the original Tabernacle made by Moses stayed in Gibeon…
- Solomon offered 1000 burnt offerings there – and that night God spoke in a dream!
- Solomon came to hear from the Lord – and he got an answer…
- Not because of how many animals he sacrificed / or because of where he was…
- He got an answer because he was sincerely seeking the Lord!
- People think if they give enough God will answer them – but God cannot be bribed!
- Or if they come to a ‘holy place’ God will hear them – but God is everywhere!
- If we are truly looking to find God – He is always willing to answer…
- Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
- God was with Solomon – and exalted him exceedingly…
- 2nd – God offered to give Solomon ANYTHING… vs. 7-10
- Solomon answered – God showed mercy to David – making him King of Israel…
- And now the Lord had made Solomon King in his place…
- But Solomon felt like a lost little child – ruling a nation to numerous (like dust) to count!
- So – he asked for wisdom – so he would be able to rule Israel well!
- We have all felt the helplessness that comes from being overwhelmed in life…
- Feeling like a lost little child – not knowing what decision to make…
- Looking for someone to guide us – needed wisdom so we do not make a mistake!
- Wisdom comes to those who ask for it from the Lord…
- The wisdom of God is not the same thing as knowledge we learn in the world…
- If you want knowledge you go to school – and you will be taught…
- But even the most educated people – often lack wisdom in their lives!
- Because wisdom is not learned – it is a gift of the Spirit – I Corinthians 12:8…
- Knowing the best choices to make in life – having Godly understanding…
- And the way to get wisdom – is simply to come to the Lord and ask for it!
- James 1:5 – “If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do-ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.”
- Solomon answered – God showed mercy to David – making him King of Israel…
- 4th – God was VERY pleased with Solomon’s request… vs. 11-12
- Since Solomon did not ask for money / or long life / or revenge on his enemies…
- God would make him the wisest man who ever lived – or would EVER live!
- God would also give to Solomon what he did not ask for – great riches!
- God granted the request of Solomon – because is was a self-less request…
- If your child asked you for $20 to buy school supplies – you would not hesitate…
- If your child asked you for $20 to buy candy and sweats – you would not give it!
- In the same way if we ask God for selfish things – silence will be His only reply…
- James 4:3 – “When you ask, you do not get it because your whole motive is wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”
- As we abide in Jesus – we can ask for anything and God will give it – John 15:7…
- Because we are going to be asking for the things that God wants!
- God does not just want to give us what we need…
- If your child asks you for ice cream – do you just give them a spoon full…
- No we want to give them LOTS of ice cream – tell them to get a BIG bowl!
- God does not just want to provide for our daily needs – He has a far greater plan!
- He wants to give us His whole kingdom – bless us beyond imagination – Luke 12:33
- The only reason He would not give us something is He knows its not good for us!
- Since Solomon did not ask for money / or long life / or revenge on his enemies…
- 5th – Solomon returned to Jerusalem – and strengthened his army… vs. 13-17
- Now this was an odd move – because all Solomon reigned during a time of peace…
- He added 1,400 chariots – and 12,000 horsemen – stationing them all over Israel…
- He bought them from Egypt – and even began to sell them to the Hittites and Syria!
- But God had said kings were not to add horses – Deuteronomy 17:16…
- The concern was he would trust in his military might rather than the Lord…
- Psalms 20:7 – “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
- It seemed a small compromise for the King – it was his first but not his last…
- Solomon would end up walking away from the Lord – because of compromise!
- We need to constantly be on guard – watching even for little compromises in life…
- Because we do not just wake up one day and decide to go and sin…
- We are slowly pulled away from the Lord – by the little choices we make!
- Now this was an odd move – because all Solomon reigned during a time of peace…
- 1st – As we pick up the story – King David has died – Solomon is the 3rd King of Israel… vs. 1-6
They key to having effective faith – is putting our trust in Jesus!
2nd – Preparing for the Temple… vs. 1-18 Read: II Chronicles 2:1-10
1st – Solomon was determined to build a Temple for the Lord…vs. 1-2
Solomon raised a HUGE work force to build the Temple…
There were so many trees harvested – Solomon hired 70,000 men to move them…
As well as 80,000 stone cutters who provided HUGE bocks for the Temple…
The stones were between 10-20m in length – weighing over 50 tons each!
Overseeing the project were 3,600 foremen to organize the HUGE work force!
In all there were almost 200,000 men working on the project…
I once had a pastor tell me – ‘Many hands make for light work’…
One man can only accomplish so much – but when many men work together…
There is no limit to what they can accomplish for the Lord!
2nd – Then Solomon asked king Hiram of Tyre for supplies… vs. 3-18
He needed LOTS of cedar trees from Lebanon – to use in building the Temple…
The Cedars of Lebanon were famous for their huge size – and durability…
They could grow to be over 120’ tall – and could be up to 8’ think!
A hard wood – they were perfect for constructing large buildings!
King Hiram agreed to give Solomon as much wood as he wanted…
His men would cut the trees – build them into rafts – and float them to Israel…
Then from Joppa – Solomon could bring them to Jerusalem…
In return Solomon provided food for the people of Tyre…
1.2 million gallons each of wheat and barley / 120,000 gallons each of olive oil and wine…
The total cost of materials and labor for the Temple was in the billions!
Solomon took the great wealth God had given him – and invested it in the Lord!
People work for years in order to afford bigger houses – better retirement…
Things that only last for a short while – but have no eternal benefit!
How much better to invest out time / talents / money – in the Lord!
3rd – The construciton of the Temple… vs. 1-17 Read: II Chronicles 3:1-17
1st – In the 4th year of King Solomon’s reign / 480 years after Egypt… vs. 1-9
King Solomon began to build the Temple of the Lord – it took 7 years to complete…
The Temple was 90’ long / 30’ wide / and 45’ high – larger than the Tabernacle…
On the east there was a porch that extended out 15’ from the front of the Temple…
The inside of the Temple was covered floor to ceiling in pure gold (even the nails)!
It was meant to be an awe-inspiring representation of heaven itself!
But as amazing as the Temple was – it is nothing compared to heaven…
I Corinthians 2:9 – “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Heaven is not the most amazing place we can imagine – beyond our imagination!
It will take ages – literally 1000s of years – in heaven for God to reveal it all to us!
All of the stones for the Temple were cut away from the site – I Kings 6:7-10
There was no hammer or chisel heard inside the Temple…
All the stones were finished in the quarry – then just assembled at the site…
Each stone was a perfect fit – they did not even need mortar between the stones…
To this day you can still see the quarry where Solomon cut out the rocks…
On the north side of Jerusalem – by the Damascus gate!
When God builds His House He does not use wood and concrete….
I Peter 2:5 – “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house…”
God uses something far more precious – He uses us to build His house!
Did you ever wonder why God did not take us right to heaven when we got saved…
Why leave us here on earth where we got through trials and temptations…
The reason is because we have a lot of ‘rough edges’ that need to be polished off…
We are not going to be ‘chiseled’ / ‘shaped’ in heaven – the work takes place here…
God put us through trials to mold/shape us into the people He wants us to be…
So that when we arrive in Heaven – we will already be a perfect fit!
2nd – The Holiest of All… vs. 10-17
Inside the Temple – Solomon made a room 30’ long for the Ark of the Covenant…
The Temple was divided inside into 2 parts – the Holiest / the Holy of Holies…
The Holiest was the 1st room inside the Temple – only the priest were allowed…
The Holy of Holies was the inner room – where the presence of God dwelt…
The walls were decorated with carvings fruits and flowers…
Against the back wall were two gold Cherubim (angels) – each 15’ high…
Their wings stretched 30’ across the whole room – over the Ark of the Covenant…
The Ark was a wooden box roughly 4’ x 2’ x 2’ – covered inside and out in gold…
The Ark held the 10 commandments written on stone…
It was meant to keep the most important of all treasures – the Word of God!
The cover for the Ark – was called the ‘Mercy Seat’ – the foot stool of God…
It was there – from on top of the Ark – God would speak to the people of Israel…
So how can we meet with God – hear from the Lord – today…
Through His Word – just like in the Ark – God speaks to us from His Word!
Solomon also made two bronze pillars for the Temple – each 40’ tall / 7’ wide…
Decorated on top with lilies – each would have weighed over 25 tons!
They stood at the entrance to the Temple – Jachin (God built) and Boaz (strength)…
Bronze in the Bible is a picture of the judgment of sin…
So before you came into the presence of the Lord – you had to deal with your sin!
4th – Hiram of Tyre… vs. 1-22 Read: II Chronicles 4:1-10
1st – Solomon hired a skilled bronze worker from Tyre… vs. 1-22
His name was Hiram – his mother was from Israel – his father from Tyre…
Hiram made 10 water carts / and various other bronze utensils…
Pots / shovels / bowls / forks – the bronze pillars along with 400 bronze pomegranates…
The weight of all the bronze used was so great – it could not be measured!
Hiram also made the Bronze Sea…
A HUGE bronze pool used by the Priests to wash their hands and feet…
15’ across – 7 ½’ deep – it could hold about 18,000 gallons of water…
12 full size bronze oxen – 3 facing in each direction – supported it!
The priests had to wash before the went into the tabernacle or to the Alter – or die…
The obvious questions is – why just wash the feet and hands – why not the rest…
Peter asked this same question of Jesus when He washed the disciples feet…
John 13:10 – “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean…’”
This is obviously not referring to hygiene – if you just wash you feet – you will stink…
It is a spiritual picture – your feet are where you go – your hands are what you do…
If where you go and what you do is clean – the rest of you will also be clean!
We as believers need to be careful where we go – and what we do…
If we find ourselves going along with others to placed where bad things happen…
But if we are attending Bible studies / spending time with Godly believers…
We will find we are clean – staying away from sin – walking with the Lord!
2nd – When he was done the Lord gave a message to Solomon – I Kings 6:11-14
The Temple was VERY impressive – but God did not want them to trust in the Temple…
God wanted them to remember the Temple was just stone – it had no power to save…
If Israel thought that because they had the Temple – God was with them…
If their faith was in the Temple – then their faith was in the wrong place!
Our problem is never a lack of faith – it was where our faith is placed…
Our faith is only going to be as effective as what we put our faith in…
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