II Chronicles 1-4

II Chronicles begins in the middle of a story, the story of God’s covenant faithfulness with
David, continuing on with his son Solomon. What is unique about this story is the way we are
introduced to Solomon. God says to Solomon, “Ask what I shall give you.” What a question! It
truly feels like a genie-in-a-bottle moment, but God is no mere giver of wishes; he is after the
heart. We read that God was after Solomon’s heart, and finds that Solomon’s desires for Israel
and God’s desires are one in the same. Therefore, God gives Solomon his desire granting him
great knowledge and wisdom. Solomon then uses this knowledge and wisdom to begin God’s
purposes, namely starting the building process of this great “house.” It’s noteworthy that
Solomon mentions that no house or temple could hold God, that the temple serves as a place to
worship God and to offer sacrifices. As David did, so Solomon continues to build a good
relationship with a neighboring king, Hiram king of Tyre. Hiram was a gentile king who didn’t
know the Lord, yet because of his relationship with Solomon was able to say, “Blessed be the
LORD God of Israel.” Consider this for a moment, that one world power was more positively
disposed to God because of the work of Solomon. Consider how this might influence how others
in Tyre think about God and Israel. Hiram sends great craftsmen to begin the build, and the
construction and consequently explanation of this great temple is laid out before us.

Reflect- There are two main ideas worth reflecting on in these first chapters. First is this: Were
God to ask you the same question he asked Solomon, “Ask what I shall give you.” - what would
you say? A Christian’s life is primarily not about health and wealth, which God makes very clear
in commending Solomon’s answer. A Christian’s life is about whatever God is about, mainly
redemption. How might your answer contrast with Solomon’s? Why is that? Second, God uses
neighboring gentiles in helping to establish the most important religious structure of an ancient
Israel’s life, namely the temple. How might you today be predisposed to look inwardly, isolating
yourself from secular people? What might this Jewish-Gentile collaboration look like today?

Connect- The establishing of the temple is a fulfillment of God’s promise to David in 1
Chronicles 17:12 – In this promise, this covenant, we look to Christ.
I Chronicles 17:12 “He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.”

- Rev. Joseph Bianco

2 Samuel 22 - 24

The last chapters of the books of Samuel serve as an epilogue to the great saga of David.  Not all of the contents in these chapters happen in chronological order with the rest of the book, but they are meant to reiterate the grace found, not in man, but in the everlasting covenant from God (2 Sam. 7).  David’s psalm in chapter 22 is the same of another in the psalter (Psalm 18).  The last verses reference the Davidic covenant and the last lines of Hannah’s prayer/song (1 Sam. 2:10).  This along with the last words recorded of David (23:1-7) highlight the magnificent grace of God that is the refuge and strength for sinners.
         The last narrative found in these books foreshadow a key theme to be fully consummated in the prophesied future king.  David sins against God again by administering a census, and thus showing his trust in numbers than in the LORD (24:10).  As a result, there is judgment upon all of Israel for David’s distrust in the form of a massive epidemic (24:15).  As a means for atoning for his sins and lifting this consequence from the people (24:17), David purchases a threshing floor from a Jebusite to build an altar for the LORD.  What was primarily used for agricultural means now served metaphorical significance for appeasing judgment (see here for more on biblical uses of a threshing floor).  This proves significant for two reasons: 1) The site of this threshing floor would be the very plot of land that Solomon would build the Temple of the LORD (21:18-22:1); and, 2) David’s desire as the federal head of Israel to lift the burden of sin from his people would preview the very same inclination of his future royal offspring.  But Jesus was not needing to lift the burden of his sin- he was without sin (2 Cor. 5:21)- but was interceding on our behalf to pay the penalty of our own sin.  Unlike with David, we do not receive God’s wrath as a result of his mistakes.  Instead, as our new federal head, Jesus now imputes the fullness of his righteousness to us.  We see the very in-breaking of the Gospel here in the close of these books.
 
Reflect & Connect
         There was so much that was promising about David to serve as the king of the LORD’s people.  But David proved to be a sinner, as did Saul and as would every other king after him.  So as a contemporary of this monarchy, it would have been difficult to see hope in the promise of the covenant made with David.  Would there really be a king upright and worthy of carrying out God’s will perfectly?  We have the blessing of hindsight and standing on this side of salvation to know the answer to that question.  Read through the genealogy of the gospel of Matthew that follows this bloodline from Abraham to Jesus.  As you do, recall all the narratives that we’ve read through thus far and reflect on God’s grace shown at every turn of this story.  In spite of sin, God inclines to show us grace time and time again.
 
Matthew 1:1-17

- Rev. Nameun Cho