Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
6:32-33 As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.
Solomon prays that all peoples of the earth “may know your name and fear you”. This was God’s purpose in choosing Israel—to be an example to the rest of the world.
6:32-33 As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.
Solomon prays that all peoples of the earth “may know your name and fear you”. This was God’s purpose in choosing Israel—to be an example to the rest of the world.
7:7 Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the Lord, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions.
Solomon had only recently made the bronze altar and it wasn’t big enough!
(From Constable’s Commentary) “Solomon reunited the ark, the symbol of God’s grace, and the altar, the symbol of human sacrificial response to that grace.”
7:7 Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the Lord, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions.
Solomon had only recently made the bronze altar and it wasn’t big enough!
(From Constable’s Commentary) “Solomon reunited the ark, the symbol of God’s grace, and the altar, the symbol of human sacrificial response to that grace.”
8:1-2 At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built the temple of the Lord and his own palace, Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram had given him, and settled Israelites in them.
Often God’s blessings was experienced in the building programs that took place, like this one of Solomon’s. God blessed Solomon with the wisdom to complete these projects, yet Solomon’s focus drifted from God to the blessings that God gives. His attention moved from the Giver to the gifts.
8:1-2 At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built the temple of the Lord and his own palace, Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram had given him, and settled Israelites in them.
Often God’s blessings was experienced in the building programs that took place, like this one of Solomon’s. God blessed Solomon with the wisdom to complete these projects, yet Solomon’s focus drifted from God to the blessings that God gives. His attention moved from the Giver to the gifts.
9:22-23 King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.
Kings sought out Solomon. They came to him seeking wisdom. It’s a foretaste of kings coming to Jesus.
(From Constable’s Commentary) “God’s purpose for Israel was that His people should draw the nations to Yahweh.”
9:22-23 King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.
Kings sought out Solomon. They came to him seeking wisdom. It’s a foretaste of kings coming to Jesus.
(From Constable’s Commentary) “God’s purpose for Israel was that His people should draw the nations to Yahweh.”
10:15 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.
This turn of events lead to the kingdom being divided. God uses tragedies to speak to us, to teach us, to grow us.
(From Constable’s Commentary) “The division of the kingdom looked like a tragedy but it was part of God’ plan for his people. That would have given hope to the original readers since the captivity looked like a tragedy, but prophets foretold it too. It was part of God’s Sovereign will.”
10:15 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.
This turn of events lead to the kingdom being divided. God uses tragedies to speak to us, to teach us, to grow us.
(From Constable’s Commentary) “The division of the kingdom looked like a tragedy but it was part of God’ plan for his people. That would have given hope to the original readers since the captivity looked like a tragedy, but prophets foretold it too. It was part of God’s Sovereign will.”