Lesson Text: II Chronicles 7:12-22 King James Version (KJV) Sunday, March 25, 2018 I. THE BLESSINGS THAT COME WITH SEEKING GOD S FACE (II Chronicles 7:12-18 ) 12. And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. 13. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 17. And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy
father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; 18.Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. II. THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT SEEKING GOD S FACE (II Chronicles 7:19-22) 19. But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; 20. Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. 21. And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house? 22. And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshiped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon
them. New International Version (NIV) I. THE BLESSINGS THAT COME WITH SEEKING GOD S FACE (II Chronicles 7:12-18 ) 12. the Lord appeared to him at night and said: I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. 13. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14. if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
17. As for you, if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, 18. I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel. II. THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT SEEKING GOD S FACE (II Chronicles 7:19-22) 19. But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20. then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21. This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple? 22. People will answer, Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them that is why he brought all this disaster on
them. PRACTICAL POINTS FOR DISCUSSION: 1. Our prayer should be that God makes His presence known in our place of worship (II Chronicles 7:12). 2. God warns us of His judgment for disobedience (II Chronicles 7:13). 3. When we sincerely seek the Lord in prayer and repentance, we can receive God s forgiveness and His healing (II Chronicles 7:14). 4. When we repent, God sees and hears the needs and cries of His people (II Chronicles 7:15). 5. Believers are the temple of God and He indwells us continually (II Chronicles 7:16; I Corinthians 3:16-17). 6. If we are obedient to God s Word, we can expect blessings, but if we are disobedient we can expect disaster (II Chronicles 7:17-22).
***The Bible Expositor and Illuminator, Union Gospel Press***