Jesus in 2 Chronicles: The Blessing of Wisdom
1 Chronicles covers the same period of time as 2 Samuel. They both tell about the reign of David.
2 Chronicles covers the same period of time as 1 and 2 KINGS. They both cover the time from Solomon to the Babylonian Captivity.
There is a difference, however. Chronicles looks at the kings from a different point of view. Chronicles only tells us about the kings of Judah (the southern kingdom). These are the kings who were in the line of David bringing the lineage of the Messiah.
2 Chronicles was written near the end of Israel’s Babylonian captivity reviewing the goodness of God even in the midst of disappointment. There was still a hope of a restored temple, reformed worship and a reunified people. Reviewing the goodness of God in our difficult times empowers us to pursue a better future with expectation because of God’s faithfulness.
John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! NLT
Jesus is revealed in 2 Chronicle in the wisdom and blessing of the kings of Judah who honored God and kept his Law. Solomon, through which Jesus would descend, is the first King mentioned in this account.
2 Chron 1:6-12 Solomon went up to the bronze altar…and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. 7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you…10 Give me wisdom and knowledge… 11 God said, "Since..you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor… wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." NIV
What is more important wisdom or riches? Obviously if you learn to get wisdom as your primary pursuit the others come.
There is a story of a man who bought an old horse for $500. The seller agreed to deliver the horse the next day. Bad news came the next day that the horse had died overnight. The man demanded his money back but the seller explained he was selling the horse to make a payment he was late on and he made it right after getting the money. The buyer demanded the dead horse be delivered anyway.
A month later the seller stopped by asking what did you do with that dead horse. I sold 500 raffle tickets for a horse for $10/each. What? You raffled a dead horse? Yip and made almost $5k. Didn’t anybody complain? Just one guy and I gave him his $10 back.
Wisdom is better than silver or gold according to Scripture. Thomas Jefferson said of the Bible, "A studious perusal of the sacred volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands." The wisdom of God will enrich every area of our lives!
Proverbs 2:3-5 If you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. NIV
These are some online tools that you will find very helpful in your study of Scripture.
- Search any translation of the Bible.
- We clicked the “Read” tab during service and then clicked on “Books of the Bible”
- See chapter layout, book summary & video explanation.
We clicked on the “Interlinear” tab to view verses broken down in the original languages of Scripture.
Luke 16:11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? NIV
When we handle temporal stuff well, the parts of life that have eternal value can then be entrusted to us. World-changing, history-altering influence awaits those who get it right in the temporal things.
2 Chron 1:6-7 Solomon went up to the bronze altar…and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. 7 That night God appeared to Solomon… NIV
It’s important to note that this famous conversation of God’s blessing happened after Solomon gave a sacrificial offering.
Gen 15:1-7 After this the word of the LORD came to Abram…"Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." NIV
This famous portion of Scripture where God blessed Abram starts with a curious phrase, “after this.” If you look at Genesis 14 you’ll see Abram had just given a tithe, 10% of all God had given him. Embracing eternal purposes releases a greater legacy in our lives!
We don’t get to have a great legacy just because we want a great legacy. Legacy happens when we live a life that simply cannot be contained by the years we've been allotted because we are living for more than temporal things.
Legacy is when eternal treasure is stored up in our temporal lives producing life beyond our years. Whatever number of years I have on this earth it will never be enough to contain the life I possess because of Jesus Christ!
Hezekiah is one of the kings in 2 Chronicles who was obedient to God and devoted himself to eternal perspectives.
2 Chron 31:20-21 Hezekiah did throughout Judah, what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. 21 In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. NIV
Everybody wants a great legacy. We must live a legacy before we leave a legacy.
GP4RL: #TurnThePage #PrayAttention This week reflect back on your entries and thank God for what he has done and what he’s going to do to see us through!