Remember the Dedication NLT
The Dedication
1 Chronicles 22:14-16
14 "I have worked hard to provide materials for building the Temple of the LORD ¡X nearly four thousand tons of gold, nearly forty thousand tons of silver, and so much iron and bronze that it cannot be weighed. I have also gathered lumber and stone for the walls, though you may need to add more. 15 You have many skilled stonemasons and carpenters and craftsmen of every kind available to you. 16 They are expert goldsmiths and silversmiths and workers of bronze and iron. Now begin the work, and may the LORD be with you!"
4,000 tons of gold (3,400 metric tons) at $421.70 per ounce that is roughly $50,561,830,000.00 or $50.5 billion in gold
40,000 tons of silver (34,000 metric tons) at $6.42 per ounce is roughly $7,697,580,000 or $7.7 billion in silver.
The Temple was approximately 90 ft. long, 30 ft. broad, and 45 ft. high.
This is not to mention the other precious stones, craftsmanship, trees, time and sacrifices offered there.
Estimated value is greater than $58 billion USD!
This temple is worth more that Bill Gates!
Solomon¡¦s Prayer
2 Chronicles 6:12-21
12 Then Solomon stood with his hands spread out before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire community of Israel. 13 He had made a bronze platform 71/2 feet long, 71/2 feet wide, and 41/2 feet high and had placed it at the center of the Temple’s outer courtyard. He stood on the platform before the entire assembly, and then he knelt down and lifted his hands toward heaven. 14 He prayed, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. You keep your promises and show unfailing love to all who obey you and are eager to do your will. 15 You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and today you have fulfilled it with your own hands. 16 And now, O LORD, God of Israel, carry out your further promise to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ’If your descendants guard their behavior and obey my law as you have done, they will always reign over Israel.’ 17 Now, O LORD, God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David.
18 "But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built! 19 Listen to my prayer and my request, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you. 20 May you watch over this Temple both day and night, this place where you have said you would put your name. May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place. 21 May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.
The Lord¡¦s Reply
2 Chronicles 7:1-4
When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple. 2 The priests could not even enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the LORD filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying,
"He is so good!
His faithful love endures forever!"
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices to the LORD. NLT
2 Chronicles 7:11-22
11 So Solomon finished building the Temple of the LORD, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do. 12 Then one night the LORD appeared to Solomon and said, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. 13 At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or I might command locusts to devour your crops, or I might send plagues among you. 14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land. 15 I will listen to every prayer made in this place, 16 for I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be my home forever. My eyes and my heart will always be here.
17 "As for you, if you follow me as your father, David, did and obey all my commands, laws, and regulations, 18 then I will not let anyone take away your throne. This is the same promise I gave your father, David, when I said, ’You will never fail to have a successor who rules over Israel.’
19 "But if you abandon me and disobey the laws and commands I have given you, and if you go and worship other gods, 20 then I will uproot the people of Israel from this land of mine that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have set apart to honor my name. I will make it a spectacle of contempt among the nations. 21 And though this Temple is impressive now, it will become an appalling sight to all who pass by. They will ask, ’Why has the LORD done such terrible things to his land and to his Temple?’ 22 And the answer will be, ’Because his people abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead. That is why he brought all these disasters upon them.’ "
The Kings of Judah
ƒá Rehoboam: (1Kings 12:1-24; 14:21-31; 2Chron 10-12) Son of Solomon who became king when he was 41 years old. Ignored elders¡¦ council on Israeli¡¦s request for lower taxes and thus split kingdom with unwise response. Attempted to fight Israel to restore kingdom, but God intervened. Built cities of defense. Had lots of wives, forsook God¡¦s law and did evil, building high places, Asherim, and other idols. Humbled himself under Shishak of Egypt, whom he served. Reigned 17 years and died.
ƒá Abijah: (1Kings 15:1-8; 2Chron. 13) Son of Rehoboam who took throne in 18th year of Jereboam. Also called Abijam, Abijah fought Jereboam with God¡¦s help. Had many wives, doing evil like his father. Reigned 3 years and died.
ƒá Asa: (1Kings 15:9-24; 2Chron 14-16) Son of Abijah who took throne in 20th year of Jereboam, removed idols and the queen mother, turned to God, fought Ethiopia with God¡¦s help, and had rest for many years. When Baasha of Israel attacked, sent to Aram for help instead of turning to God, and later became diseased in feet and turned to doctors. Reigned 41 years and died.
ƒá Jehoshaphat: (1Kings 22; 2Chron 17-20) Son of Asa who became king at age 35 in the 4th year of Ahab. Took pride in God¡¦s ways, sending men through Judah to teach the law, expelling the sodomites, and appointing judges in the land. Received tribute from Philistines and Arabians. Allied with Ahab by marriage, joining in battle with him against Ramoth Gilead. Prayed for God to fight attacking Ammonites, and had rest on all sides for many years. Allied with Ahaziah of Israel to make ships, which God thwarted. Reigned 25 years and died.
ƒá Joram: (2Kings 8:16-24, 2Chron 21) Son of Jehoshaphat who took throne at age 32 in 5th year of Jehoram. Married Ahab¡¦s daughter, doing evil like the house of Ahab. Also called Jehoram, Joram made high places in Judah, received a letter from Elijah about his sin, and was struck by God with a disease of the bowels. He struck Edom when it revolted, but had his sons killed by the Philistines and Arabs. Reigned 8 years and died to no one¡¦s regret.
ƒá Ahaziah: (2Kings 8:25-29; 2Chron 22:1-9) youngest son of Joram who, at 22 years old, became king in the 12th year of Jehoram. Son of Athaliah (the grand-daughter of Omri), A did evil as counseled by Ahab¡¦s house. Went with Joram to fight Aram. Reigned 1 year and was killed by Jehu while visiting Jehoram.
ƒá Athaliah: (2Kings 11; 2Chron 22:10 - 23:21) Mother of Ahaziah and granddaughter of Omri, she killed all the royal offspring (missing one) to become the only A¡¨ female king¡¨ over Judah. Reigned 6 years before being killed in Jehoiadah the priest¡¦s efforts to restore the rightful king to the throne.
ƒá Joash: (2Kings 12, 2Chron 24) Son of Ahaziah who became king at age 7 in the 7th year of Jehu. Also called Jehoash, Joash was hidden from Athaliah by Jehoiadah the priest. Commissioned temple repairs and was faithful until Jehoiadah¡¦s death, then turned from God, even killing Zechariah, Jehoiadah¡¦s son. Forced to pay tribute to Hazael, king of Aram, Joash reigned 40 years before being killed by his servants. He was hid in the temple as a child and later left it completely.
ƒá Amaziah :(2Kings 14:1-22; 2 Chronicles 25) Son of Joash who, at age 25, became king in the 2nd year of Jehoash. Killed the men who murdered his father and did right, but now with his whole heart. Hired Israelite warriors then dismissed them at God¡¦s command. Slaughtered the Edomites by God¡¦s hand, but brought back the Edomite idols to worship them. Fought Israel and lost. Reigned 29 years before being killed by conspirators.
ć Azariah: (2Kings 15:1-7; 2Chron 26) Son of Amaziah who, at age 16, became king in the 27th year of Jereboam. Also called Uzziah, A sought God and did right, conquering the Philistines and Arabians, and receiving tribute from the Ammonites. Made towers and engines of war, and after becoming strong, acted corruptly. Was struck with leprosy for burning incense in the temple. Reigned 52 years and died a leper.
ƒá Jotham: (2Kings 15:32-38; 2Chron 27) Son of Azariah who, in the 2nd year of Pekah, became king at age 25. Ruled over king¡¦s house when his father became leprous, doing right and building extensively. Fought and subdued Ammonites contended with Aram and Israel. Died after reigning 16 years.
ć Ahaz: (2Kings 16; 2Chron 28) Son of Jotham who, at age 20, was crowned in the 17th year of Pekah. Did evil, even burning his sons in fire, provoking God to deliver his kingdom to Aram and Israel (Israelites took 200,000 Judeans captive, but God forced them to return the captives). Sent to Assyria for help, but they ended up attacking instead. Turned to Gods of Damascus, even building an altar after pattern in Damascus. Reigned 16 years and died.
ć Hezekiah: (2Kings 18-20; 2Chron 29-32, Isaiah 36-39) Son of Ahaz who took throne in 3rd year of Hoshea. Tore down idols and their altars, then cleansed the temple, consecrated the priests, offered burnt offerings to God, celebrated the Passover, appointed regular offerings, and commanded people to bring the portion due the Levites. Relied on God to save him when Assyrians had captured Israel and were threatening Judah. Grew fatally ill, but God blessed him with 15 more years of life. Showed all his treasure to the Babylonians when they came to offer condolences at his illness. Reigned 29 years and died.
ć Manasseh: (2Kings 21:1-18; 2Chron 33:10-20) Son of Hezekiah who became king at age 12. Rebuilt the high places, passed his sons through the fire, and put idols in the temple. Taken by the Assyrians to Babylon, where he repented of his evil and turned to God. Returned to Jerusalem, tore down idols, and ordered people to serve God. Reigned 55 years and died.
ć Amon: (2Kings 21:19-36; 2Chron 33:21-25) Son of Manasseh who became king at age 22. Did evil and was killed by his servants after reigning 2 years.
ć Josiah: (2Kings 22:1 - 23:30; 2Chron 34-35) Son of Amon who became king at age 8. Did right and purged idolatry, burning the bones of the false priests on the altar at Bethel (as foretold to Jereboam). Repaired the temple and, after finding and reading the book of the law, inquired of God what to do to repent. Celebrated the Passover. Attacked Pharaoh Neco of Egypt and was killed. Reigned 31 years and his death was lamented by Jeremiah.
ć Jehoahaz: (2Kings 23:31-35; 2Chron 36:1-4) Son of Josiah who became king at age 23. Did evil and was imprisoned by the king of Egypt after reigning only 3 months. Died in Egypt.
ć Jehoiakim: (2Kings 23:36 - 24:7; 2Chron 36:5-8) Son of Josiah and brother of Jehoahaz. The king of Egypt placed him on the throne at age 25. Also called Eliakim, J did evil, provoking Babylon to besiege Jerusalem to take him. Reigned 11 years before his death.
ƒá Jehoiachin: (2Kings 24:8-12; 25:27-30; 2Chron 36:9-10) Son of Jehoiakim who became king at age 18. Did evil and reigned 3 months and 10 days before being taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. In 37th year of his exile, was released to eat at the king¡¦s table in Babylon.
ć Zedekiah: (2Kings 24:18-25:7; 2Chron 36:11-14) the last king of Judah, Zedekiah was the uncle of Jehoiachin. Also called Mattaniah, Zedekiah did evil rebelling against Babylon after vowing his allegiance. Captured by Babylon, his sons were killed before his eyes before his own eyes were poked out as he was bound and taken bondage to Babylon. Reigned 11 years, then Jerusalem fell
Here was a lineage of men riddled with compromise.
In 587 BC the city of Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians. The Babylonians were a cruel people. Explain
In 538, after Cyrus king of Persia has conquered Babylon, he issues an Edict allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Zerubbabel, Nehemiah, and Ezra are accredited with the reconstruction of the temple.
Herod would refurbish it in 6 BC for it to be destroyed one more time under the Romans in 70 AD. From that point on the Jews were not allowed to be in Jerusalem under penalty of death.
But God made a promise and in 1947 it started unfolding.
We are move valuable to God than that temple. He forsake heaven, humbled himself to become the Christ that would pay the penalty of our sins.
The toll of sin still leaves scars on the temple.
The sexual sins of today have ruined too many good dedications. The access that we so liberally have to the filth of this world is incredible.
I know what it is like to bound, a slave to my sin, a captive of my shame.
You are worth more to God than all the money in the world, or any power in heaven.
We do not need to live lives of compromise but conviction
We need to be dedicated instead of decadent
Remember what God said -
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
1 Corinthians 6:1-20
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
1 Peter 2:5
2 Chronicles 7:14
