From 28abf0c0cdab41ca0c94ab3824eafdab9865df36 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Lyle Mantooth Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2024 09:26:29 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] 2 Chronicles 2:1-18 --- content/bible_journal/2chronicles/2:1-18.md | 37 +++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 37 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/bible_journal/2chronicles/2:1-18.md diff --git a/content/bible_journal/2chronicles/2:1-18.md b/content/bible_journal/2chronicles/2:1-18.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7ba3f97 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/bible_journal/2chronicles/2:1-18.md @@ -0,0 +1,37 @@ ++++ +title = "2 Chronicles 2:1–18" +date = "2024-09-07" ++++ + +### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2Chronicles2.1-18) + +While Solomon built the temple to the Lord and his own palace at the same time, the emphasis here is squarely on the temple. +The building project was so grand and expansive that many thousands of workers had a hand in the construction. +Most, if not all, of these would be non-Israelites living in the land. +These would be the descendants of the Gibeonites, who decieved Joshua into a peace treaty, or remnants of other Canaanites, or possibly other folks from farther off who migrated to Israel at some point. + +The bulk of the chapter details the agreement made between Solomon and King Hiram of Tyre. +Solomon's father David had a previous agreement with Hiram where Tyre would provide building materials for the future temple. +Now, Solomon is setting up his own agreement with Hiram that follows the same lines as the previous one. +Tyre provides a master builder or architect and timber of various kinds. +In return, Israel provides foodstuffs for the men who harvest and deliver the timber: wheat, barley, wine, and oil. +Hiram agrees to the arrangement and appoints a skilled man who is part Tyran and part Israelite. +He even includes shipping details that indicate where the timber will be delivered. + +Those are the straight facts, but what is more interesting is the way Hiram and Solomon word their communications. +In _v. 5_, Solomon declares that the Lord is greater than all gods. +While that's true and all, it's kind of undiplomatic when dealing with a foreign country, isn't it? +But then Hiram says in _v. 12_, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who made heaven and earth…" +Hiram acknowledges the supremacy of Yahweh and believes that He granted Solomon his wisdom and the desire to build the temple. +In light of that, Solomon's use of "our God" in _vv. 4–5_ take on a new meaning. +He wasn't just talking about "us Israelites", but "you and me", that is, Hiram and Solomon. +Hiram, king of Tyre, was a believer in Yahweh. + +As Church-era Christians, we often get stuck thinking that only the Israelites knew about the Lord during the Old Testament times. +But our God has been God of the whole earth for all of history. +Several Gentiles came to know the Lord before Jesus was born: Melchizedek, Rahab, Ruth, Naaman, Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, a whole generation of Ninevites… +God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would be a blessing to the whole world was certainly fulfilled in Jesus, but blessings had been given before then, too. + +* * * + +Let us recognize Your goodness throughout all of history.