2 Chronicles 7:12-22 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, I have heard your prayer… I. THE PARTIES. 1. The Lord. Jehovah, the supreme and self-existent Deity (Exodus 3:14), the God of nature, who can "shut up heaven," "command the locusts," "send pestilence" (ver. 13), as well as the God of grace, who can hear prayer, forgive sin, and heal not only land, but souls (ver. 14); the God of providence, who can pluck up nations by the roots, and scatter them abroad upon the face of the earth (ver. 20); the God of law and order, who issues statutes and commandments (ver. 19); the God of faithfulness and truth, who both maketh and keepeth covenant with his people (ver. 18); the God of believing families, who, as "the Lord God of their fathers," remembereth them the children for good (ver. 22); the God of justice, who is able to fulfil his threatenings as well as promises (ver. 20); the one living and true God, who will not tolerate the rivalry of such as are no gods (ver. 22). 2. Solomon the King of Israel. The prince of peace, the head and representative of his people, their intercessor and mediator, who by sacrifices and supplications interposed between them and the all-glorious Jehovah who dwelt between the cherubim; in this respect a type of Jesus Christ, the heavenly Solomon, the true Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), the King of Israel par excellence (John 1:49), the Head and Representative of the Church of God (Ephesians 1:22), the Advocate and Intercessor for his believing people (Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1). II. THE BASIS. Two acts of grace on the part of Jehovah towards Solomon. 1. The acceptance of his prayer on behalf of Israel. "I have heard thy prayer" (ver. 12). On a similar basis Jehovah grounds his covenant with Christ concerning the Church of the New Testament, via. his acceptance of Christ's mediation and intercession - "Thou art [or, 'this is'] my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22); "Father, I know that thou hearest me always" (John 11:42). 2. The choice of his temple as a place of sacrifice. (Ver. 12.) There can be no covenant except on a sacrificial basis (Hebrews 9:16-20). For this reason emphasis was laid upon the choice of the temple as a house of sacrifice. The "house of sacrifice" in the new covenant was the temple of Christ's body (John 2:21; Hebrews 10:19, 20). III. THE PROMISES. 1. For the people. That penitential prayer, accompanied with an earnest seeking of the Divine favour, and a genuine work of reformation among them, should be followed by forgiveness and its attendant signs (ver. 14). 2. For the temple. That God's heart should be there perpetually (ver. 16), that his eyes should be open towards it, and his ears attest unto whatever prayer should in future years be made in it (ver. 15). So God still engages to observe every suppliant and hear every prayer made to him in Christ's Name, or with an eye to his atoning sacrifice; because his eyes and his heart are ever on the Son. 3. For the king. That God would establish his throne according to the covenant made with David, that the throne of Israel should never want a ruler (ver. 18); always provided that he, the king, followed in the footsteps of David, doing all God commanded him, and observing God's statutes and judgments. IV. THE THREATENINGS. All covenants have penalties attached to them to be inflicted as alternatives in case the covenanting party or parties fail to implement the condition on which alone the promise or promises can be bestowed (see Genesis 2:17). Here the penalties for disobedience were explicit, if severe. 1. For the king. Failure of the royal line, which would terminate with himself or with a near descendant. This a clear deduction from the terms of the Davidic covenant. 2. For the people. Plucking up by the roots from the land of their inheritance, and dispersion among the nations of the earth as a proverb and a byword (ver. 20). 3. For the temple. Destruction and desolation, which should make of its lofty wails an astonishment to every one that passeth by. Learn: 1. That God's promises of grace and salvation are all conditioned by the faith and obedience of those who receive them. 2. That God's threatenings are as certain of fulfilment as his promises. 3. That God's judgments can always vindicate themselves to those who reverently inquire concerning them. - W. Parallel Verses KJV: And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. |
    |