EGW Writings2 Chronicles 7

From Splendor to Shadow

Solomon’s Prayer

SS 22.1

As Solomon ended his prayer, “fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices.” The priests could not enter the temple because “the glory of the Lord had filled” it. 2 Chronicles 7:1, 2. Then king and people offered sacrifices. “So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.” Verse 5. For seven days the multitudes kept a joyous feast. The week following was spent in observing the Feast of Tabernacles. At the close of the season the people returned to their homes “glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had showed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel His people.” 2 Chronicles 7:10.

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 28—Hezekiah

PK 335.1

And in the prophetic prayer offered at the dedication of the temple whose services Hezekiah and his associates were now restoring, Solomon had prayed, “When Thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against Thee, and shall turn again to Thee, and confess Thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto Thee in this house: then hear Thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of Thy people Israel.” 1 Kings 8:33, 34. The seal of divine approval had been placed upon this prayer; for at its close fire had come down from heaven to consume the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord had filled the temple. See 2 Chronicles 7:1. And by night the Lord had appeared to Solomon to tell him that his prayer had been heard, and that mercy would be shown those who should worship there. The gracious assurance was given: “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.” Verse 14.

To Be Like Jesus

Prayer Closely Related to Reformation, January 19

BLJ 26.1

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 will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14, NKJV.

BLJ 26.3

The seal of divine approval had been placed upon this prayer; for at its close fire had come down from heaven to consume the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord had filled the Temple. (See 2 Chronicles 7:1.) And by night the Lord had appeared to Solomon to tell him that his prayer had been heard, and that mercy would be shown those who should worship there....

BLJ 26.5

For stricken Israel there was but one remedy—a turning away from the sins that had brought upon them the chastening hand of the Almighty, and a turning to the Lord with full purpose of heart. To them had been given the assurance, “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; 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” (2 Chronicles 7:13, 14). It was to bring to pass this blessed result that God continued to withhold from them the dew and the rain until a decided reformation should take place.—Prophets and Kings, 128.

The Review and Herald

April 22, 1915

RH April 22, 1915, par. 11

And in the prophetic prayer offered at the dedication of the temple whose services Hezekiah and his associates were now restoring, Solomon had prayed: “When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house: then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel.” 1 Kings 8:33, 34. The seal of divine approval had been placed upon this prayer; for at its close fire had come down from heaven to consume the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord had filled the temple. See 2 Chronicles 7:1. And by night the Lord had appeared to Solomon, to tell him that his prayer had been heard, and that mercy would be shown those who should worship there. The gracious assurance was given: “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.” Verses 14, 15.

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 2—The Temple and Its Dedication

PK 37.1

At last the temple planned by King David, and built by Solomon his son, was completed. “All that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the Lord,” he had “prosperously effected.” 2 Chronicles 7:11. And now, in order that the palace crowning the heights of Mount Moriah might indeed be, as David had so much desired, a dwelling place “not for man, but for the Lord God” (1 Chronicles 29:1), there remained the solemn ceremony of formally dedicating it to Jehovah and His worship.

PK 45.2

Then king and people offered sacrifices before the Lord. “So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.” 2 Chronicles 7:1-5. For seven days the multitudes from every part of the kingdom, from the borders “of Hamath unto the river of Egypt,” “a very great congregation,” kept a joyous feast. The week following was spent by the happy throng in observing the Feast of Tabernacles. At the close of the season of reconsecration and rejoicing the people returned to their homes, “glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had showed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel His people.” Verses 8, 10.

PK 45.3

The king had done everything within his power to encourage the people to give themselves wholly to God and His service, and to magnify His holy name. And now once more, as at Gibeon early in his reign, Israel’s ruler was given evidence of divine acceptance and blessing. In a night vision the Lord appeared to him with the message: “I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to Myself for an house of sacrifice. 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; 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. Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever: and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually.” Verses 12-16.

PK 46.2

In connection with these assurances of acceptance, the Lord made very plain the path of duty before the king. “As for thee,” He declared, “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; then will I establish 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.” 2 Chronicles 7:17, 18.

PK 47.1

Had Solomon continued to serve the Lord in humility, his entire reign would have exerted a powerful influence for good over the surrounding nations, nations that had been so favorably impressed by the reign of David his father and by the wise words and the magnificent works of the earlier years of his own reign. Foreseeing the terrible temptations that attend prosperity and worldly honor, God warned Solomon against the evil of apostasy and foretold the awful results of sin. Even the beautiful temple that had just been dedicated, He declared, would become “a proverb and a byword among all nations” should the Israelites forsake “the Lord God of their fathers” and persist in idolatry. Verses 20, 22.

Christ Triumphant

Churches to Be Built to God’s Glory, May 27

CTr 154.1

Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord ... and all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, he prosperously effected. 2 Chronicles 7:11.

From Splendor to Shadow

The Surpassing Beauty of the Temple

SS 19.1

At last the temple was completed. “All that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the Lord,” he had “prosperously effected.” 2 Chronicles 7:11. Now, in order that the palace crowning Mount Moriah might indeed be a dwelling place “not for man, but for the Lord God” (1 Chronicles 29:1), there remained the solemn ceremony of dedicating it.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 1 (1844 - 1868)

Lt 12, 1865

1LtMs, Lt 12, 1865, par. 3

After the temple was erected Solomon prayed vocally, kneeling upon a brazen scaffold in the presence and hearing of the people of Israel. The words of Solomon are given in the Bible. After the prayer ended, the Lord sent fire from heaven and consumed the burnt offering. 2 Chronicles 6. “The Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer.” [2 Chronicles 7:12.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 41, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 41, 1900, par. 20

After the temple was erected, Solomon prayed vocally, kneeling upon a brazen scaffold in the presence and hearing of the people of Israel. The words of Solomon are given in the Bible. After the prayer ended, the Lord sent fire from heaven and consumed the burnt offering. 2 Chronicles 6. “The Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer.” [2 Chronicles 7:12.]

From Splendor to Shadow

The Lord Warns the King Against Backsliding

SS 22.2

Now once more, as at Gibeon early in his reign, Israel’s ruler was given evidence of divine acceptance. In a night vision the Lord appeared to him with the message: “I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to Myself for an house of sacrifice. 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; 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 ... . For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever: and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually.” Verses 12-16.

SS 23.1

The Lord made very plain the path of duty before the king: “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; then will I establish 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.” 2 Chronicles 7:17, 18.

SS 23.2

Had Solomon continued to serve the Lord, his entire reign would have exerted a powerful influence over the surrounding nations. Foreseeing the terrible temptations that attend prosperity and worldly honor, God warned Solomon against apostasy. The beautiful temple that had just been dedicated, He declared, would become “a proverb and a byword among all nations” should the Israelites forsake “the Lord God of their fathers” and persist in idolatry. Verses 20, 22.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 23 (1908)

Ms 134, 1908

23LtMs, Ms 134, 1908, par. 3

“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. 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; 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. Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.” 2 Chronicles 7:12-15. Read verses 16-22. I write this because I am charged to do this. Will they take heed?

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 9—Elijah the Tishbite

PK 128.1

For stricken Israel there was but one remedy—a turning away from the sins that had brought upon them the chastening hand of the Almighty, and a turning to the Lord with full purpose of heart. To them had been given the assurance, “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; 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.” 2 Chronicles 7:13, 14. It was to bring to pass this blessed result that God continued to withhold from them the dew and the rain until a decided reformation should take place.

From Splendor to Shadow

Drought and Famine for Two Years

SS 66.1

For stricken Israel there was but one remedy—turning away from the sins that had brought upon them the chastening hand of the Almighty. To them had been given the assurance, “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; 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.” 2 Chronicles 7:13, 14. To bring to pass this blessed result, God continued to withhold the dew and the rain until a decided reformation should take place.

From Splendor to Shadow

Chapter 28—King Hezekiah Repairs the Damage

SS 177.2

And at the dedication of the temple Solomon had prayed, “When Thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against Thee, and shall turn again to Thee, and confess Thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto Thee in this house: then hear Thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of Thy people Israel.” 1 Kings 8:33, 34. By night the Lord had appeared to Solomon to tell him that mercy would be shown those who should worship there: “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.” 2 Chronicles 7:14. These promises met abundant fulfillment during the reformation under Hezekiah.

With God at Dawn

If My People Seek I Will Hear, May 24

WGD 146.1

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. 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 51, 1900

15LtMs, Lt 51, 1900, par. 25

The Lord is in earnest with us, and we feel no burden to build a sanitarium in which God shall not be made first, and last, and best in everything. The promises of God are only given to us on condition that we faithfully do His will. God said to Solomon, “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 all my statutes, and my judgments, then will I establish 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. 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, then will I pluck them up by the roots out of the 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 by-word among all nations.” [2 Chronicles 7:17-20.]