Lesson Text: II Chronicles 7:1-9 Sunday, March 18, 2018 King James Version (KJV) I. WE WORSHIP BY PRAISING GOD (II Chronicles 7:1-3) 1. Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. 2. And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord s house. 3. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshiped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. II. WE WORSHIP WITH SACRIFICE AND MUSIC (II Chronicles 7:4-7) 4. Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before
the Lord. 5. And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6. And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. 7. Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat. III. WE WORSHIP BY ASSEMBLING TOGETHER (II Chronicles 7:8-9) 8. Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt. 9. And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast
seven days. New International Version (NIV) I. WE WORSHIP BY PRAISING GOD (II Chronicles 7:1-3) 1. When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. 3. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, He is good; his love endures forever. II. WE WORSHIP WITH SACRIFICE AND MUSIC (II Chronicles 7:4-7) 4. Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord.
5. And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. 6. The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the Lord s musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the Lord and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, His love endures forever. Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing. 7. Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the Lord, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions. III. WE WORSHIP BY ASSEMBLING TOGETHER (II Chronicles 7:8-9) 8. So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. 9. On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more.
PRACTICAL POINTS FOR DISCUSSION: 1. When we truly worship the Lord, we can expect His glory to be revealed (II Chronicles 7:1). 2. In true worship we humbly surrender and submit to God s presence (II Chronicles 7:2-3). 3. A good spiritual leader sets the example of worship for the congregation (II Chronicles 7:4-5). 4. God should be praised with our voices and with music because He is good and His mercy is everlasting (II Chronicles 7:6; Psalms 150:1-6). 5. Just as the temple was hallowed as a place of worship, believers should also show reverence and respect for our places of worship (II Chronicles 7:7). 6. Believers should always make time to celebrate and worship the Lord together (II Chronicles 7:8-9; Hebrews 10:25).
***The Bible Expositor and Illuminator, Union Gospel Press***