Finding Our Way Back

Finding Our Way Back

2 Chronicles 7:14

Our Sunday School lesson today covered 2 Chronicles 7:1-7, 11 which describes the conclusion of Solomon's dedication of the temple. Where after Solomon’s prayer of dedication, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices. The glory of the Lord filled the temple so powerfully that the priests are unable to enter. The people, witnessing God's glory, bowed down in worship, giving thanks and praising the Lord.

It also discussed the large number of sacrifices made that day in the dedication of the new temple. We were told that 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep were sacrificed. Friends, can you imagine it? The priests and Levites took their positions, performed their duties with musical instruments made by David for worship. The entire assembly celebrated for seven days, and then another seven days for the festival of Tabernacles.

Now, a couple of things I want to specifically comment on right now are the fire from heaven, and the glory of the Lord. Fire from heaven is mentioned at least 6 times in the Bible. There is at record of it in the destruction of Job’s flocks. Then there’s the judgment of God against Sodom and Gomorrah, and twice we have fire raining down on soldiers sent by the wicked king Ahaziah to arrest Elijah.

There are also times, at least 3 times I can think of, when fire fell from heaven where it didn’t have anything to do with judgment or punishment, but forgiveness and acceptance. Like for instance on Mt Carmel when Elijah’s thrice soaked sacrifice was consumed, and last week we read of David’s sacrifice being heavenly burnt at the threshing floor, and then today, at Solomon’s dedication of the temple.

The fire that fell on Solomon’s sacrifice at the end of his prayer was also accompanied by the glory of God filling the temple. And you know, that’s happened before too, in the wilderness at Mt Sinai, after the tabernacle was completed and sanctified. God came down in the form of a cloud and filled the tabernacle with His presence.

Now, wouldn’t you have loved to be present at either of those times? I would love to experience the fire from heaven, in the acceptance and forgiving way, not the judgment, of course, and the glory of God filling this place. But those few experiences recorded in the Scriptures occurred over thousands of years. They were far from common occurrences. They were unique and given to special people under very special circumstances.

But, if we were ever able to experience the fire and the glory of God in this way, I’m thinking that the circumstances that might act as a catalyst of that are found in a portion of 2 Chronicles 7 that our SS lesson did not cover today. Specifically, that portion that is so well known and most often quoted and misapplied by many. That portion that says, 2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (Repeat)

Friends, like the fire from heaven and the glory of God we’d all like to experience, this verse was given to a specific person (Solomon), for a specific people (the Jews), for a specific reason (the temple). It’s not given to us to take out of context and use as a lucky charm or a general blessing to all people. It is tied up with Israel and the temple to let them know that if they will remain faithful to the Lord, then they will receive God’s blessings. But if they turn away as they are prone to do, then not only will they experience the chastisement of God, but God will also destroy this very temple He is honoring that day, and the people themselves will be taken away from the land into captivity.

The immediate, historical, and cultural context of this promise from God was specifically given to the Hebrew people and their descendants at a specific time as a warning and a promise. Now, some pastors and theologians stop right there. They’ll say that this verse cannot be applied to us today, but my response to that is, “Doesn’t the Bible tell us that everything that is recorded in the past was given to us today as an example?”

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: and Paul also tells us that 1Co 10:11 …all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, So, even though much of Scripture was written for a specific time, place, people, and event, all Scripture was given for our reproof, correction, instruction, and as an example and for our admonition, which means our counsel or our guidance. All Scripture can and should be applicable to us today, because if the OT isn’t for us today, then why do we have it? As Christians, why read and study it?