The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – 2 Chronicles 2:1-12 (day three)

“My servants will work with your servants…”

How does God view the laborers who had no say in the decision to use their bodies for the building of the temple? Are they peripheral? Are there any peripheral people in God’s eyes? There are in ours. We’ll never know their names. Their lives of forced servitude, harsh conditions, and static social position are foreign to those who have never been brushed aside in society. That was long ago and far away, but not to God. Wherever people’s decisions are made for them, wherever grand plans depend on the bodies and skills of those who have little say in the world, we do it again. We will cease such practices when we heed the words of Jesus regarding the temple: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

Re:Verse passage – 2 Chronicles 2:1-12 (day two) But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him? vs. 6

Have you ever been completely overwhelmed by a task that you are certain that you were given to do? As you think about that moment perhaps you looked at the totality of the project and you had no idea where to begin: scope of the project, resources both financial and human, time frame, etc. These can be daunting factors, and Solomon could have certainly felt similar, but he knew this task was for him, just not for him alone. The wisdom required to outsource can be God sent. Friend, you may know you have a job to do, but that doesn’t mean it is up to you alone. Take stock of the resources God has placed before you. That is stewardship, that is wisdom.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Chronicles 1:1-13 (day seven)

“And I will give you riches and wealth and honor.” vs 12b

The temptation of this passage is to make a direct correlation of wisdom and prosperity. We subtly believe that by honoring God and asking for His wisdom that we will be blessed by Him as Solomon was. That was not the point of what God was trying to teach Solomon. The point comes directly before that:

“that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king” vs 11b

Receiving wisdom from God does not mean we will have a prosperous or perfect life (we will learn about that in the weeks ahead), but when we seek God’s wisdom, we will better lead those whom God has entrusted into our hands. Seeking wisdom from Above in our decisions will sometimes result in earthly success but will always result in spiritual fulfillment and trustworthy leadership.

Who are the people in your life that God has entrusted you to lead?
How will they benefit from you seeking wisdom from Above?

Re:Verse passage – 2 Chronicles 1:1-13 (day six)

There in front of the Tabernacle, Solomon went up to the bronze altar in the Lord’s presence and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.

⁷ That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” 2 Chronicles 1:6-7

The progression is clear, from 1000’s of sacrifices at the altar to receiving word from God. Worship at the tabernacle in Gibeon illustrates that kind of beautiful movement towards God; we can only move towards him through repentance and atonement.

This highlights something else for us. The forgiveness we receive through Jesus, our once for all sacrifice, restores our relationship with God. The kind of relationship where God speaks to us, and we speak with him.

Repentance and atonement is never the end goal, restoration to our Father in heaven is; knowing the one true God and the one who he sent, Jesus. (John 17:3)

Re:Verse passage – 2 Chronicles 1:1-13 (day five)

Many of you might remember an ad campaign that ran over twenty years ago with two simple words, “Got milk?” It was a simple, yet memorable phrase that was seemingly etched into so many commercials, newspaper and magazine ads, and billboards all across the nation. Even as a young kid, I remember watching those commercials thinking that I needed to drink milk every time that I saw an ad for it!

The premise behind the TV commercials was simple: the people selling the milk wanted you to think that you needed milk, and that having it was the only way to make whatever situation you were in, a better one. Milk-needy people in the commercials would search and search until they found a source of milk, only to find that the source of the milk was empty. Then, a voiceover and big letters on the screen would ask, “Got milk?”

When I read 2 Chronicles 1:1-13, I am reminded of the “Got milk” ad campaign. I can just imagine Solomon coming to the realization that he was severely lacking in wisdom to lead the kingdom of Israel. But Solomon knew where the source of wisdom was. He knew that God was the only source for an infinite amount of wisdom, and so he asked for more. Do you lack wisdom? Where do you search for wisdom and when was the last time you asked for more of it?

– Jimmy Gunn

Re:Verse passage – 2 Chronicles 1:1-13 (day four)

Solomon recognized who had made him king…it wasn’t his father David, it wasn’t the Israelites, it was God.  He also recognized the huge task before him of ruling this mass of people.  Solomon had no doubt been raised in the lap of luxury…wanting for nothing.  Now though, faced with the responsibility of making the decisions that would affect all of the Israelites, Solomon turned to his God.  When God offered him whatever he desired, Solomon requested wisdom to rule.  To Solomon’s credit, this was a very wise answer…reflecting his training and heritage.

How would we respond to such an offer?  Winning the Publisher’s Clearing House drawing would be nice…houses and lands…longevity and good health…certainly our culture pushes us to such self-gratifying rewards.  Wisdom and knowledge, obedience and discernment, kindness and love…how could we best serve our God?  The answers to a question like God asked are answers of the heart.  Solomon had prepared his heart prior to God’s question by worshiping his God.  How are you preparing your heart…should you be asked a question?

Re:Verse passage – 2 Chronicles 1:1-13 (day three)

“I will also give you riches, wealth, and honor…”

The lure of the underdog narrative can command our attention to such a degree that we start to believe that underdogs always win. They don’t. They often have something to teach us about perseverance, faith, hope, and humility, but they don’t command the voice, influence, and authority it takes to shape a society. In fact, the tragedy of the underdog is this: If that person possessed social power equal to character, the kind of triumph that could result would leave a legacy capable of determining the course of history for generations. As it is, though, the world often suffers at the hands of those possessing vast resources but little understanding. “May I learn wisdom at least equal to my net worth for the sake of those I might influence” is a worthy prayer.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Chronicles 1:1-13 (day two) Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours? vs. 10

It is an old saying in ministry, but one worthy of repetition: God does not call the equipped, he equips the called. One of the best assessments that Solomon made of himself at the outset of his rule was his inability to rule without God. This kind of humility is often difficult to find as people gain power and authority. Solomon rightly discerned that his kingship was not a right, but a responsibility handed to him by God himself, and to effectively reign he must recognize his reliance on God. The same is true for us. Whatever the Lord has placed in front of us is not a test to see if you are worthy, it is an opportunity to ask for the Lord to strengthen your hands, your, heart, and your resolve for the task at hand.