- Lesson 9 in the BaptistWay Press Connect360 unit “Solomon: No Ordinary Kind of Wisdom” focuses on 2 Chronicles 6:12-42.
Since the Temple was complete, it was time for its purpose to be fulfilled. Instead of just handing it over to the priests or simply allowing the people entrance, Solomon led the way. First, he made a bronze platform that was 7½ foot square and 4½ foot tall. Then, he gathered the people for a dedication ceremony. He stood on the platform so he could be seen and heard by everyone. Then he knelt before them, spread his hands toward heaven, and prayed.
What a position for a king! After all, he had just built a grand Temple. He could have stood before them as a strong and important ruler, but he chose instead to humble himself before the people. Romans 12:1-2 says: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Consider 2 Corinthians 5:15, which says, “He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 6:20 says: “You were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” If Jesus was willing to sacrifice himself for us unto death, can we not at least live our lives for him by allowing him to be our Lord? Solomon was the king, lord over all others, but he still worshiped God by offering himself before the altar as a living sacrifice. He did not allow himself to be conformed to the ways of this world, but instead he acted in a way that was pleasing to the Lord.
Wisely humbling himself before God
By humbling himself before the people, Solomon showed himself to be a wise leader. But he also humbled himself before the Lord. He did not begin his prayer by saying how hard he worked on God’s house or how long it took him to build it. Instead, Solomon praised God, declared his holiness, and revealed their desperate need for his presence. No other god made promises to its people or would have the power to carry them out. Israel’s God was like no other!
Psalm 118:1 says, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good: for His steadfast love endures forever!” God had fulfilled his Temple promise. But God also promised David he would never lack a man on the throne of Israel as long as his sons paid close attention to follow God’s laws and walk in His ways. By stating the promise God already fulfilled, it showed Solomon trusted God’s ability to fulfill another. Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Solomon knew God had been faithful, yet he still pleaded with the Lord to further fulfill his promises. Solomon knew he would need God’s help to walk before the Lord as his father David had done.
To kneel, submit, ask for help or forgiveness, to praise and glorify another, are not typical actions for a king. The world may say these are the ways of the weak and powerless. But Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:20 that God has “made foolish the wisdom of the world.” So, when we offer ourselves to him, we live according to his ways instead, because we believe they are good and right. Philippians 2:5-8 says that even Jesus, the King of all heaven and earth, “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant… And…humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death.” Mark 10:45 says, “Even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” He praised his Father, gave him glory, and prayed for himself and his followers (John 17). So, if the King of heaven and earth is not too important to offer himself to the Father and walk in his ways, then why would the king of Israel be? Certainly, we are not. So, let us follow their lead, dedicate ourselves, and bring a revival.
Compiled by Stan Granberry, marketing coordinator for BaptistWay Press.
To learn more about BaptistWay Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.