Today we come to 2 Chronicles, which continues the history of David’s family line. The first nine chapters of the book focus on Solomon’s reign, the temple and its construction, the furnishings in the temple, Solomon’s prayer and dedication of the temple, the LORD’s second appearance to Solomon, and the affluence of his kingdom. After David’s death, we read that “Solomon established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great” (verse 1). Solomon “offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar in front of the tabernacle, and that night, God first appeared to him and said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you’” (verses 6-7). Unlike most people, Solomon asked God for “wisdom and knowledge to lead his people” (verse 10). Because Solomon asked for wisdom – which pleased the Lord (cf., 1 Kings 3:10) – God promised to “give him wisdom, knowledge, wealth, riches, and honor such as no king who was before him ever had or after him would ever have” (verse 11). David’s son, Solomon – whose name means “peace,” – is a picture of Christ our King Whom the Father desires to bless and exalt. Solomon’s earthly kingdom provides us a prophetic portrait of the splendor of Christ’s glorious millennial kingdom in the future. Psalm 2 tells us, “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill … ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance … you will rule them” (cf., verses 6-9). Here, we see God’s direct blessings on Solomon for seeking wisdom, and we will see how God adds more to this singular request.
In Psalm 94:1-11, we can identify with the Psalmist’s complaint that the wicked “pour out arrogant, boastful words” (verse 4). In our day and age, we see pride, arrogance, and boasting everywhere – in students, teachers, politicians, sports figures, TV personalities - and even men and women on the streets. God’s Word says that the wicked “oppress and crush” His people (verse 5), and they seem to get away with “murder” (verse 6). We agree that evil is continually on the increase, but it is important for us to remember that, until we received God’s forgiveness for our own sins, we too were numbered among the “wicked.” We were saved by God’s grace alone, but even as Christians, we are still tempted to do wrong. The Psalmist gently reminds us to “take notice and become wise” (verse 8), and to remember that “the LORD is a God Who avenges,” (verse 1). In other words, God sees everything, and He has everything under control. If it seems that He is delaying judgment, it’s because He is also extending mercy. In His timing, He will “pay back to the proud what they deserve” (verse 2). We tend to forget that “He Who teaches mankind” also “knows all human plans” (verses 10-11).
In 1 Corinthians 6, we are introduced to the next two major problems that confronted the Corinthian church. The third problem is lawsuits among believers (verses 1-11). Paul implies that we are not even to “dare” to think this way. Believers are not to take disputes among themselves for settlement by unbelievers. Why? Because, says Paul, “the saints will judge the world” (verse 2). This situation shames the church and discredits the name of Jesus Christ. “The very fact that you have lawsuits means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged?” (verse 7). This is consistent with the teachings of Jesus, Who was Himself treated wrongly. Then, in verses 12-20, we see the fourth major problem – sexual immorality. This sin relates to fornication – joining one’s body illicitly to another – in this example, to a prostitute. Fornication was rampant in Corinth, but Paul states that it is a “sin against one’s own body, which has been sanctified by God as the temple of the Holy Spirit” (verses 18-19). Hence, our bodies are holy instruments for the Lord’s use and for His glory (verse 20); thus, believers - in contrast to unbelievers - are called to live lives of sexual purity. We are not to be united with unbelievers or with anything that is unholy or impure. In the next chapter, Paul will make clear that the proper antidote to fornication is God-ordained marriage which – by God’s design – makes a man and a woman complete.
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