JOURNEY THROUGH 2 CHRONICLES

Here is part one of my learnings from 2 Chronicles (by chapter).

1. Leading God's people is a staggering task.
2. Something else staggering is the size of the workforce building the Temple. Add the numbers from verse 2 = 153,600. Wonder if they had workman's comp.
3. I also wonder if anyone has figured out how much Solomon's Temple would cost to construct and furnish in today's dollars. Gold nails weighing a little over a pound each?
4. Even the tongs, lamps, bowls, ladles, and wick trimmers were made of gold.
5. Man, I would have loved to have been a part of this worship experience. There is nothing greater than to experience times of worship when it is evident that God has shown up.
6. Solomon knew how to pray--a pertinent reminder how leaders must make sure prayer is a prominent part of worship in God's house.
7. As glorious a celebration as the Temple dedication was, it was tempered with stern warnings about what would happen if they turned away from God.
8. Verse 6--a forewarning of Solomon's downfall. He built impulsively and extravagantly.
9. With today's value of gold ($870/oz when I first wrote this), the Queen of Sheba's gift to Solomon (9 tons of gold) would have a street value of more than $125 million. Just 1% of that would cover the $1 million we were targeting for the REACH campaign.
10. Verse 7--although the elders' advice was not followed, their wisdom was right on target. If you want people to follow, be a servant, consider their needs, be compassionate, and work things out.
11. We need more Shemaiahs in our churches, holy men who are in tune with God and willing to speak up for God.
12. God honors repentance but repentance doesn't necessarily eliminate the consequences of God's judgment.
13. Plotting and fighting against God is not a wise thing to do.
14. Chronicles and Kings tell many of the same stories. One difference is that Chronicles describes the kings of Judah in a more favorable way.
15. Asa is to be commended for leading people to a renewed covenant with God. However, to kill those not willing to get right with God? I think that may have been Asa's doing more than God's.
16. God is always looking for people fully committed to Him.
17. Amasiah was a "volunteer for God." May every volunteer at CBC see himself/herself as a "volunteer for God."
18. Like Micaiah, am I willing to speak what I believe God is saying even if I'm the only one speaking out?

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