2nd Chronicles 1 PAY ATTENTION WHEN MAKING CHOICES Ezra the scribe in his God-inspired desire to unify the Israelites who returned to the promised land from captivity in Babylon, continued to recount the ways of God with His people in the past. Lessons from history are important, but unless people pay attention to those lessons, they will have to experience the consequences of failure and sin themselves. The book of 1st Chronicles gave them lessons and illustrations from the life of David to bring about national revival. At the very end of 1st Chronicles and now in the beginning of 2nd Chronicles this saga of divine dealings with God's people in the past begins with an account of the "glory-days" of Solomon. From there to the end of the book the departure of the people of God, mainly those in Judah, continues through the reigns of various kings to the taking away to Babylon.
How often we hear people say, "That's just old history. What does that have to do with us now?" In the passing of time, if we are not maintaining fellowship with God and continuing to follow the word of God, we will find ourselves powerless, in a state of departure, and having to go through the same difficulties, and maybe even more, than others before us because we did not pay attention. The lessons of history, if learned, can preserve God's people today from turning to the idolatrous worship of money, success and pleasure.
The book of 2nd Chronicles is not just a recounting of the failures of government and a political history. It is written from a religious perspective, a priestly perspective if you will, by a spiritual leader. Beginning with the high point of Solomon's ascendency to the throne of David, and his good start personally, the scribe recounts the building of the temple and various revivals in the nation. Peace, prayer and public worship are all addressed as a reminder of the faithfulness of God to unfaithful people. Even when leaders failed miserably God was patiently waiting for repentance and revival. Short revivals came and went because the people of God didn't stay focused on Him. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee." Failure came and the patience of God was tried to the place where He knew the fulfillment of His warning of captivity was allowed to happen.
In our day in nations, businesses, families and assemblies of God's people, if lessons are not learned, if we do not pay attention to warnings, if we forsake the assembling of ourselves together, if we ignore that which we know is right, we soon are lost as a testimony to the grace of God. Many religious groups began because an earnest desire for the truth of God moved people to turn to the word of God for guidance, and they acted on that guidance. In a few generations, a historical drift sets in and those truths which were so precious, and for which first generation Christians paid a high cost, now have been compromised. Truth and error have become so blended, that compromise is accepted, and the truth itself is ignored and soon lost. When truth has been bought for a price, "Buy the truth and sell it not," the Lord's people are strong in faith. They have a high motivation to pass truth on to those around. Those who take biblical spiritual things for granted, find it quite easy to walk away from the truth and "sell" it to be acceptable to the world system around us.
Solomon began with a good desire. He went to the brazen altar in Gibeon to make contact with God, and he took with him those who were leaders among God's people. One man with a sincere desire for God can have a big impact on a lot of people. In his enthusiasm Solomon did not hold back from making plain to the people where he stood in relation to the Lord. They knew and God knew his commitment to God. One thousand burnt offerings would have left a huge impression on those who watched that smoke and smell ascend to God. Not only was it evident to the people that their new king was conscious of the authority of God and devoted to Him, but in days to come they would have been benefitted by the unprecedented offer God gave Solomon.
The principle remains today. "God resists the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." When we have a choice to make, there are consequences to accept - good and bad. By asking for wisdom and knowledge so he could rule the people of God well, he got that, plus riches, wealth and honor. That was indeed a wonderful choice with great significance both to him and those over whom he was to rule. But one wise choice and its lasting benefits does not mean that all our choices are right, nor does it mean God is obligated to us in any way. The choice to make a solemn offering at Gibeon had a great effect on himself, those with him who help lead the people, and on the people themselves. The whole nation was made aware of the fact that the great God of the universe was the God of Israel. His choice for wisdom had a good effect on Solomon and was a temporal benefit to wealth of the nation. Then for some strange reason, Solomon made a choice that was against the word of God.
By getting 12,000 horses mainly from Egypt which had been forbidden, he took matters into his own hands. The chariots and horses he brought were probably and business enterprise, that in some ways would give him some leverage over the nations around him which he could use to his advantage. They would have to buy their armaments from him because he controlled the trade routes of the Middle East. The affinity he would have had with the Egyptians in business led him to actually marrying an Egyptian princess, which in turn started him on a downward course away from obedience to the word of the Lord. The world has an effect on believers that may not be that obvious or significant at first. It may start as "only business," but soon leads to friendship politically, socially, personally and then spiritually. All the perceived benefits are nothing when its costs lead us away from God and making decisions according to His will and word.
The accumulation of wealth also has a dangerous fallout in our day, the same as it did in the time of the reign of Solomon. When riches increase, we are not to "set our hearts upon them." Wealth does not bring happiness. Covetousness is never satisfied. When the people of God become "rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing," reality fades into a form of idolatry in which it is more important to make more money and accumulate more things, than it is to be with God's people in worship, remembrance, prayer and testimony. One professed believer said, "I haven't got time for 'church' when I can make time and a half in overtime pay."
Poor rich Solomon! He didn't pay attention to what was written in the scriptures and began to drift away from the mind and will of God. We need to pay earnest attention to that which has been taught us, and what has happened to those who have gone before us and failed in faith. We need to listen, learn and act on what is right in every choice we make - not just on one or two highlights in life.