2 Chronicles 2

CHAPTERS 24THEME: Construction of the templeSolomon moves forward now according to the instructions that David his father had given him.

2 Chronicles 2:1

SOLOMON PREPARES TO BUILDThe blueprints are laid out, and Solomon begins the organization to build. Notice that building the temple is the part of Solomon’s reign that God emphasizes.

2 Chronicles 2:3

Hiram loved David, and David loved Hiram. On this basis Solomon appeals to him. I think Hiram had problems with Solomon, as we shall see. He had been very generous with David, but he finds Solomon a little difficult to deal with.

2 Chronicles 2:4

Notice that this is to be an ordinance forever. There have been criticisms of the restoration of temple sacrifices during the Millennium. Since the animal sacrifices pointed forward to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, why would animal sacrifices be resumed during the Millennium? Because God ordained it; that is answer enough. They will be meaningful, of course, and will be a reminder of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Chronicles 2:5

In our day what makes a thing great? What makes a man great? What makes a nation great? What makes a church great? God, my friend. This is something else we are losing sight of.

2 Chronicles 2:6

It was by a sacrifice that they approached God. And the only way you and I can come to God is through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. The important thing to note here is that Solomon had no misgivings as to who God was, or whether God would occupy and live in that house. I once read an article about a theologian who made the statement that what Solomon was attempting to do was build a little house to put God in a box and that the people had the idea that God should be put in a boxthat He could be held there. May I say to you that Solomon had no conception like that at all; neither did the people. They were much farther advanced than a great many people are today, even in our churches. Many people call the church “God’s house.” Well, God doesn’t occupy a house. He never did. The temple was a place to make sacrifices.

It was a place of approach to God. And it had to be worthy of Him. It was highly ornate, very beautiful. It was not very large compared to other buildings of that day. For instance, if you put the temple that Solomon built down beside the temple of Diana in Ephesus or the pyramids, it would be a pygmy. But it made up for its small size in its wealththe tremendous amount of silver and gold that went into it.

2 Chronicles 2:7

You see, they had to get the skilled workmen from the outside, because the Israelites were an agricultural people, as God intended them to be. It is interesting to see that when Jewish people return to Israel in our day, they return to the soil. I have traveled from one end of Israel to the other end, and from the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and some of the finest farms I have ever seen are there. I do not believe there is land anywhere any richer than the Valley of Esdraelon where Megiddo is located. It certainly is rich country. In Solomon’s day the nation Israel did not have artificers or artisans, and they had to call upon Hiram for those.

2 Chronicles 2:8

In other words, Solomon’s men would learn from them. These cedar trees are the famous cedars of Lebanon.

2 Chronicles 2:9

It won’t be large, but it will be great.

2 Chronicles 2:10

Later on we shall see there was a misunderstanding relative to this payment that Solomon was to make.

2 Chronicles 2:11

Then he goes on to describe this one whom he is sending.

2 Chronicles 2:17

These are to be the helpers, you see. These are the men who will do the common labor.