Part 11: God's Road To Revival Series

Great Prayers of the Old Testament

Part 11: God's Road to Revival

2 Chronicles 7:12-14

Sermon by Rick Crandall

(Prepared December 13, 2024)

BACKGROUND:

*The last time we focused on King Solomon we were in 1 Kings 3, and the young king had just been anointed to take the place of his dying father, King David. Shortly after he became king, Solomon prayed for one of the best things we can ever receive. Solomon humbly asked the LORD for godly wisdom.

*1 Kings 3:10-13 reports that

10. The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

11. Then God said to him: "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice,

12. behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.

13. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days."

*Solomon lived a truly remarkable life. Henry Haley summed up 1 Kings 4 by writing that "Solomon had inherited the throne of the most powerful Kingdom then in existence. It was an era of peace and prosperity. Solomon had vast business enterprises, and was famous for his literary accomplishments. He wrote 3,000 proverbs, 1,005 songs, and scientific works on botany and zoology."

*Then from 1 Kings chapters 9 and 10 Haley explained that "the era of David and Solomon was the golden age of Hebrew history. David was a warrior. Solomon was a builder. David made the Kingdom. Solomon built the temple. In the outside world, this was the age of Homer, the beginning of Greek history. Egypt Assyria, and Babylon, at the same time were weak. Israel was the most powerful Kingdom in all the world. Jerusalem was the most magnificent city, and the temple was the most splendid building on earth. They came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon's wisdom and see his glory. The famous queen of Sheba exclaimed, "The half was not told me." (1)

*In 2 Chronicles 3:1-2, "Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And he began to build on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.

*About 7 years later, 2 Chronicles 5:1 says, "So all the work that Solomon had done for the house of the LORD was finished; and Solomon brought in all the things which his father David had dedicated: the silver and the gold and all the furnishings. And he put them in the treasuries of the house of God."

*Then King Solomon assembled all the elders and heads of the tribes to Jerusalem for the dedication of the Temple. 2 Chronicles 5:6 tells us that King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel sacrificed sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude. Then the priests brought the Ark from Moses' day into the most holy place of the Temple. The Ark was a wooden box covered with gold inside and out. Inside were two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments, written by the finger of God.

*Next in 2 Chronicles 5:13-14, the LORD revealed Himself with an amazing, miraculous display of His glory.

13. indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying: "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever,'' that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud,

14. so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

*Then in 2 Chronicles 6, Solomon blessed the whole congregation of Israel, and he praised the LORD God Almighty for keeping His promises. Then Solomon spread out his hands to Heaven, and he began to pray. Solomon prayed that the LORD would hear the prayers of His people whenever disasters were upon them from terrible weather, or diseases, or enemies.

*And in 2 Chronicles 6:36-39, Solomon prayed,

36. "When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to a land far or near,