“But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them,” 2 Chronicles 7:19
King Solomon has finished building the Temple, all Israel has assembled in Jerusalem for its Dedication, and the Ark has been put into the Holy of Holies. God reveals His pleasure by filling it with the Cloud of His Glory. Solomon then offers a lengthy Prayer in Chapter 6 and God gives His answer as “fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices”. Can you imagine seeing all this that day?
We’re then told, that for the 2nd time, “the Lord appeared to Solomon”. God first speaks affirmingly “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice” and also with the warning “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people”. He then utters that well known Verse, “If my People, who are called by My name”. But in Today’s Verse, I wanted to focus on the negative side. Here, the Wisest, Wealthiest, and son of Israel’s greatest King, hears God give this Warning! AND,…He Would Disobey!!!
How is this possible? He had everything he wanted! The Wisest! The Wealthiest! God appears to him TWICE!!! And he forsakes God, His Commandments, and worships other gods! The Simple Answer: This World is Never Enough. AND,…we Need God’s Grace or we will do the same!