Chronological Bible Study – June 1
What I Noticed Today (2 Chronicles 1; Psalms 72)
There is a short introduction available for the book of 2 Chronicles. You can read it here.
2 Chronicles 1-9
The reign of Solomon.
2 Chronicles 1
Solomon asks God for wisdom.
In verses 1-13, the first thing we see in 2 Chronicles 1: 1 is that the Lord was with Solomon, and it was the Lord who made Solomon exceedingly great.
- As Solomon established his reign, he journeyed to Gibeon where the tent of meeting had been left when David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
- The bronze altar that Bezalel made for Moses (Exodus 38:1-3) was there, and Solomon sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.
- That night God appeared to Solomon and asked him what he desired and Solomon, only about 20 years old, wisely asked for wisdom in governing the Lord’s people.
- God was so impressed with Solomon’s answer that he granted him wisdom and promised him riches and honor beyond all kings as well.
In verses 14-17, Solomon may not have been known as a man of war like his father David, but Solomon amassed a huge army of chariots and horsemen which he stationed strategically around Israel.
Note: This seems like a brilliant act, but it was in direct violation of Deuteronomy 17:16-17, which forbade kings from amassing horses, especially from Egypt.
Psalm 72
Psalm 72 is one of two psalms written by Solomon (Psalms 72 & 127). The psalm describes blessings that come from God’s righteous rule over all the earth.
In verses 1-7, the psalmist prays the God would give the king the ability to judge righteously, bring prosperity to the people, protect the poor, and crush their enemies.
In verses 8-14, the psalmist specifically prays that God would give him dominion over the region. He asks this because of how God delivers the needy and the weak, protecting them from oppression.
In verses 15-17, the psalmist describes the prosperous reign of the king.
In verses 18-20, the psalmist praises God for His glorious deeds. These verses are the second doxology of Book 2 (Psalms 42-72) and signify the end of the Book.