Lesson Text: II Chronicles 6:12-21 Sunday, March 11, 2018 King James Version(KJV) I. SOLOMON HUMBLES HIMSELF BEFORE GOD (II Chronicles 6:12-13) 12. And he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands: 13. For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven. II. SOLOMON RECOUNTS GOD S GREATNESS (II Chronicles 6:14-18) 14. And said, O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts:
15. Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. 16. Now therefore, O Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me. 17. Now then, O Lord God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David. 18. But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built! III. SOLOMON MAKES A PETITION OF GOD (II Chronicles 6:19-21) 19. Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee: 20. That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.
21. Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive. New International Version (NIV) I. SOLOMON HUMBLES HIMSELF BEFORE GOD (II Chronicles 6:12-13) 12. Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13. Now he had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. II. SOLOMON RECOUNTS GOD S GREATNESS (II Chronicles 6:14-18) 14. He said: Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.
15. You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it as it is today. 16. Now, Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law, as you have done. 17. And now, Lord, the God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true. 18. But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! III. SOLOMON MAKES A PETITION OF GOD (II Chronicles 6:19-21) 19. Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20. May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this
place. 21. Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive. PRACTICAL POINTS FOR DISCUSSION: 1. Praising God should be the first thing we do when we pray (II Chronicles 6:12-14). 2. God is faithful to keep all of His promises even though we may not (II Chronicles 6:15-17). 3. God is immense and therefore cannot be contained in any space (II Chronicles 6:18; I Kings 8:27). 4. When we pray and confess our sins and ask for forgiveness, God is faithful to forgive us (II Chronicles 6:19-21; John 1:9). ***The Bible Expositor and Illuminator, Union Gospel
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