History – 2 Chronicles 1-5

How do you feel when you are reading the Chronicles?  After all, you have just read the Kings and the stories of the kings are still fresh in mind.  And now we have to read about them again?  What else can we learn about them that we have not known before?

There’s always something new we can learn each time we read the Bible – even if we have read the same passage over and over and over again.  It just depends on how much we really want to read about and get to know God.  Think about it….

Bible Passage:  2 Chronicles 1-5

Don’t you just envy people like Solomon?

They seem have everything!  Wealth, fame, health and added to that – they are smart!

Just look at Solomon!  Wisdom from God.  Thousands of horsemen and chariots.  Horses from Egypt.  The choicest materials and best craftmen for the temple and his palaces.  Thousands of servants.  And of course we know all about his concubines that came later.

There are people around who seems just like Solomon.  They drive luxurious cars, live in high class apartments, go on exotic holidays, have exciting jobs and they just have it all.

We think that when we are successful, we will be satisfied with our lot in life and will have need for nothing anymore.  But life does not work that way.

Very often in the midst of our wealth and success, we may feel like Solomon, to be…

Successful But Not Satisfied

Thanks the the Lord’s help, Solomon because the wealthiest and wisest man of his era (2 Chronicles 1:1).  No one, it seemed, accumultaed or accomplished as much as he did (Eccl 2:1-9).  Yet by his own admission, his life was far from satisfying (Eccl 2:11, 16).

In the life of Solomon, we can see how a person can be successful in terms of power, wealth, and prestige, and yet lack true success that comes from knowing and honouring God the way someone should.  Notice how those who came after him remembered his legacy:

Nehemiah

He led the returning Jews and he made reference to Solomon as an illustration of disobedience through his intermarriage with foreign – and therefore idolatorous – wives (Neh 13:26-27; compare 1 Kings 11:1-8).  In effect, Nehemiah warned that just as God had punished the nation for Solomon’s sins, so would He punish His people again if they continued in Solomon’s ways rather than God’s ways.

Jesus

Solomon and his splendour as an illustration of how His followers needed to concentrate on trusting, loving and serving God rather than on material gain or even the problems of day to day life (Matt 6:28-32).  Later, Jesus challenged His enemies with the fact that the Queen of Sheba, a Gentile, had shown more faith in coming to Jerusalem to inquire of Solomon than they had shown after seeing His miracles and hearing His teaching (Matt 12:46).

Stephen

In detailing the history of Israel, he mentioned Solomon as one who built a house for God, but praised Solomon’s father David as the one who “found favour before God…” (Acts 7:45-48).

Paul

When Paul reviewed the history from the Old Testament, he mentioned several of the great leaders of Israel, including Samuel, the judges and David.  Thre was no mention of Solomon.

Author of Hebrews

When you read about the heroes of Faith in Hebrews 11, you will notice that Solomon is conspicuous by his abscence from the list.

Solomon was not bad at all – his life shows us that great achievement and success – whether in business, government or any other field – pale in comparison to being faithful to God.

Do you need to restructure your priorities in order to focus on loving Him more and serving Him.  Or are you so driven by success as the world defines that you have little of any interest in the things that God cherishes?

Truly, only Jesus truly satisfies my soul.

Here is a hymn I found called “Jesus Satisfies My Longing” sang by one of my wife’s favourite groups…

1.
All my life I had a longing
For a drink from some clear spring,
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.

Refrain
Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings,
Through His blood I now am saved.

2.
Feeding on the husks around me,
Till my strength was almost gone,
Longed my soul for something better,
Only still to hunger on.

Refrain

3.
Poor I was, and sought for riches,
Something that would satisfy,
But the dust I gathered round me
Only mocked my soul’s sad cry.

Refrain

4.
Well of water, ever springing,
Bread of life so rich and free,
Untold wealth that never faileth,
My Redeemer is to me.

Refrain