2 Chronicles 1:1-12 (KJV)
1 And
Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified
him exceedingly.
2 Then
Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds,
and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the
fathers.
3 So
Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at
Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses
the servant of the Lord had made
in the wilderness.
4 But
the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David
had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.
5 Moreover
the brazen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he
put before the tabernacle of the Lord:
and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.
6 And
Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and
offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.
7 In
that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall
give thee.
8 And
Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and
hast made me to reign in his stead.
9 Now,
O Lord God, let thy promise unto
David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like
the dust of the earth in multitude.
10 Give
me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people:
for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
11 And
God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked
riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast
asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou
mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:
12 Wisdom
and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth,
and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee,
neither shall there any after thee have the like.
The first nine chapters of the book of 2nd
Chronicles narrate the peaceable reign of Solomon:
Made possible by his deliberate actions in
recognising the place of God in his domain.
- He did not misuse the divine privilege given to
him.
- He carefully merged his earthly inheritance with
his divine inheritance.
- He honoured God with SACRIFICE (2nd
Chronicles 1: 1-6).
- He honoured God with PRAYER (2nd
Chronicles 1: 7-12).
- He honoured the people of Israel with trade (1st
Chronicles 1: 13-17).
1. God honoured Solomon in
return and also made it possible for the people to honour him. The presence of
God strengthened his HEART, HANDS and made a SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE in his
labour on the throne (2nd Chronicles 1: 1-3).
PRAYER:
- Lord, please visit the
foundation of my walk with You afresh and rid it of any pollution. Remove
anything that is not of You that has secretly or publicly crept into my life,
so that I will not misuse the divine privilege upon my life. Set me free from all
forms of entanglements by way of religious rites, affluence, habits,
association, self-righteousness, pride, lust, etc.
- I present my life as a living
sacrifice to You. Consume me and let Your presence make an evident difference
in every area of my life. Establish my heart in Your word and strengthen my
hands in my labour of love for Your Kingdom.
- Grant me the grace to engage
all within and outside my cycle of influence in the things that pertains to THE
CROSS.
2. Solomon made a public
declaration by his manner of worship from the start of his rulership. He
ensured SACRIFICE (himself) was not far from the ALTAR (God). He laid hold on
the eternal truth and the established understanding that IT IS ONLY THE ALTAR
THAT CAN SANCTIFY THE SACRIFICE (2nd Chronicles 1: 4-5).
PRAYER:
- Lord, have mercy on me and
forgive me where I have not publicly declared my stand in You, where I have
missed it, or mixed it up due to carelessness, or pressure from my leaders in
all capacities.
- Lord, put out all the strange
fires on my sacrifice unto You. Let Your Holy Fire burn constantly in my life.
- Lord, please bind all aspects
of my sacrifices unto You to Your ALTAR, sanctify and purify them with Your
HOLY FIRE; so they can be acceptable and measure up to the standard of heaven.
3. Solomon's CHOICES and
DESIRES reflected in his prayers. His prayer reflected his heart and what he
gave preference to in his life. It was the preference of heaven for his labour
that drove his heart desires for the Kingdom labour (2nd Chronicles 1:6-10).
PRAYER:
- Lord, please affect my choices
and desires in significant ways for Your pleasure, affect all the areas that
are still untouched by the life of Jesus; so that I may reflect Your nature and
character in all my endeavours.
- Lord, let me not carelessly
remove You from the throne of my life. Be the centre, be my all, be my vision
in all things, be my confidence and be my dominating focus.
- Help me to co-operate with You
to work out what You have already worked out in me. Let me be content in whatever
position I find myself in You (full, empty, abased, abound, weak, strong, etc).
4. Solomon acknowledged
God as the SOLE-GIVER of knowledge and wisdom. He admitted that God put him in
that position, and would give him the grace for the duties attached to it
according to the Spiritual Order of Heaven (2nd Chronicles 1:8).
PRAYER:
- Lord, open my eyes and my
heart to The WISDOM (Jesus) that comes from above. Increase my faith in Your
Wisdom, and grant me the grace to live my entire life through Your Divine
Wisdom and Knowledge.
- Lord, quicken my heart to This
Wisdom and abundant grace, so I can faithfully work and walk in the Spirit of
my FATHER through the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Lord, help me not to talk,
live or throw myself out of the Spiritual Order of Heaven. Keep me near The
Cross where my life will constantly and consistently measure up with the rules
of Your Kingdom.
5. Solomon did all from
the very beginning to ACTIVATE THE PROMISES OF GOD in his life and labour. He
made the promises of God as the platform for approaching God's throne and for
discharging his duties as the recipient of those promises. (The Promise made to
David, his father - 2nd Samuel 7: 13-16).
PRAYER:
- Lord, please let not my life
forfeit Your mercy.
- Grant me the wisdom and grace
to fulfil my part in standing on Your promises for my life.
- Lord, please grant me glorious
answers to my requests according to Your will.
- Crush my confidence in
anything that does not have a place in heaven.
- Let me always seek YOU first
in every area of my life.
Scripture Lyrics: Solomon’s Prayer
(2 Chronicles 1:7-12. “When I Survey”)
1. The Lord came
down, to Solomon
Israel’s
king, and David’s son,
By
night He said, come ask me now,
What
shall I give, To thee my son?
2.
The king looked up, and said to God
Mercy
hast Thou, my father shown
And
me Thou made, his stead to reign
O
Lord God now, hear me I pray
3.
Give unto me, wisdom, knowledge
That
I may go, and come before
This
mighty flock, for who can judge
This
Thy people, that is so great?
4.
Thou hast not asked, riches or wealth
Thine
enemies, lives did not ask
Wisdom,
knowledge, is granted thee
With
much more too, Replied the Lord
5.
Grant Lord my heart, Like Solomon’s
To
seek Thee first, Thy kingdom too
Abide
in Thee, and Thou in me
One
with my God, is all I seek.
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