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Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 6
1. Figures, Types, and Dramatized Prophecies
If you have studied with us for any length of time you will know by now that we firmly believe that virtually all 'Old' Testament events are 'dramatized prophecies,' 'living blueprints' and 'miniature models' of events due to occur in the closing days of this age. In other words, Bible events were especially staged and recorded by YaHuWaH the Elohim of Israel, to inform angel and human beings of what to expect in the days just prior to the return of YAHUSHUA the Messiah. The presence of those 'scriptural blueprints' is an inexhaustible source of information.
So in future when you read a Bible story, remember this vital fact, that all the events recorded in Elohim's Word are 'examples,' 'types,' 'shadows,' 'prophetic models' and 'miniature blueprints,' which were staged by Elohim and recorded in the Scriptures for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
2. Solomon's Temple
This morning we will consider the 'model' of Solomon's temple which he built some 3000 years ago; and especially the prayer Solomon offered up to YaHuWaH when that temple was dedicated. Bear in mind that Solomon's temple was but a 'blueprint' of the eternal Temple YAHUSHUA the Messiah, One greater than Solomon, is currently building. It is a Spiritual Temple and the materials used in its construction (that is the foundation stones, timbers, pillars and vessels etc.) are the true believers in YaHuWaH the Almighty One of Israel.
We are told that while building the temple in Jerusalem, the builders rejected a gigantic, awkward looking stone which had been sent to them by the stone masons in the quarries. Upon investigation that rejected stone turned out to be the main corner stone of the Temple! That rejected foundation/corner stone represents YAHUSHUA the Messiah; who was, as we all know, rejected by His chosen people Israel.
| Luke 20: | 17: And He beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
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In a similar but less cruel way, tens of millions of true believers have also been rejected by the church hierarchy as unfit. But the fact is, every true believer has a divinely ordained place in the eternal, spiritual Temple of YaHuWaH ; and only the Most High, the Divine Architect, knows where that place is. Even we don't know where we fit in.
| 1 Peter 2: | 4: To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of YaHuWaH, and precious,
5: Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to YaHuWaH by YAHUSHUA Messiah. |
In 2 Chronicles chapters 3 & 4 we read the details concerning Solomon's temple. Make no mistake, every article and every detail of every article, has deep spiritual significance. All those details are significant and they all point to true believers and the YaHuWaH - given authority with which we will be invested for all eternity.
The Seventh Month
Even the timing of the Temple's dedication is significant. It was dedicated, we are told, in the seventh month (Tishri) of the sacred calendar; a month which has 4 annual and 4 weekly Sabbaths in it; which is more than any other month.
| 2 Chron.5: | 3: Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king
in the Feast which was in the seventh month. |
3. Solomon's Prayer
At the dedication of the temple, king Solomon prayed a prayer which includes every follower of Israel's Elohim, be he/she Jew or Gentile. Solomon's prayer is recorded in 2 Chronicles Chapter 6.
I have highlighted a few of the many important parts of this prayer; the parts which apply to all of us who constitute the spiritual Temple of YaHuWaH, which the Savior is currently building.
Solomon's Prayer
| 2 Chron.6: | 12: And he stood before the altar of YaHuWaH in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:
13: For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward Heaven, 14: And said, O YaHuWaH Elohim of Israel, there is no Elohim like Thee in the Heaven, nor in the Earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto Thy servants, that walk before Thee with all their hearts: 15: Thou which hast kept with Thy servant David my father that which Thou hast promised him; and spakest with Thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. 16: Now therefore, O YaHuWaH Elohim of Israel, keep with Thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in My sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that Thy children take heed to their way to walk in My Torah, as thou hast walked before Me. 17: Now then, O YaHuWaH Elohim of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David. 18: But will Elohim in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house which I have built! 19: Have respect therefore to the prayer of Thy servant, and to his supplication, O YaHuWaH my Elohim, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which Thy servant prayeth before thee: 20: That Thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put Thy Name there; to hearken unto the prayer which Thy servant prayeth toward this place. 21: Hearken therefore unto the supplications of Thy servant, and of Thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear Thou from Thy dwelling place, even from Heaven; and when Thou hearest, forgive. |
Be Our Judge In Neighborly Disputes
| verse 22 | If a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before Thine altar in this house;
23: Then hear Thou from Heaven, and do, and judge Thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness. |
Answer Our Prayers in Times of Defeat
| verse 24: | And if Thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against Thee; and shall return and confess Thy Name, and pray and make supplication before Thee in this house;
25: Then hear Thou from the Heavens, and forgive the sin of Thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which Thou gavest to them and to their fathers. |
Save Us from Drought
| verse 26 | When the Heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against Thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess Thy Name, and turn from their sin, when Thou dost afflict them;
27: Then hear Thou from Heaven, and forgive the sin of Thy servants, and of Thy people Israel, when Thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon Thy land, which Thou hast given unto Thy people for an inheritance. |
Save Us from Disease
| verse 28 | If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be: 29: Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of ANY man, or of all Thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house: 30: Then hear Thou from Heaven Thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart Thou knowest; (for Thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:) 31: That they may fear Thee, to walk in Thy ways, so long as they live in the land which Thou gavest unto our fathers. |
Answer the Stranger's Prayer
| verse 32 | Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of Thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for Thy great Name's sake, and Thy mighty hand, and Thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house;
33: Then hear Thou from the Heavens, even from Thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to Thee for; that all people of the Earth may know Thy Name, and fear Thee, as doth Thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by Thy Name. |
Grant Us Victory in Battle
| verse 34 | If Thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that Thou shalt send them, and they pray unto Thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for Thy Name;
35: Then hear Thou from the Heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. |
Towards This City
Notice those words '…pray unto thee toward this city.' Here Solomon mentions not just the prayers of his people Israel, but also the direction in which they should face …'towards Jerusalem!' The prophet Daniel followed this instruction whilst a captive in Babylon.
| Dan:6: | 10: Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his Elohim, as he did aforetime. |
His act signifying that in Jerusalem was the temple; and in the temple was the Holy of Holies; and in the Holy of Holies was the Judgment Seat of YaHuWaH, Elohim of Israel. In other words, by facing Jerusalem Daniel was bowing before YaHuWaH Himself on His throne in heaven!
Forgive Us Our Private Sins
| verse 36 | If they sin against Thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and Thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;
37: Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto Thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly; 38: If they return to Thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which Thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which Thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Thy Name: 39: Then hear Thou from the Heavens, even from Thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Thy people which have sinned against Thee. |
Listen My Elohim!
| verse 40 | Now, my Elohim, let, I beseech Thee, Thine eyes be open, and let Thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
41: Now therefore arise, O YaHuWaH Elohim, into Thy resting place, Thou, and the ark of Thy strength: let Thy priests, O YaHuWaH Elohim, be clothed with salvation, and let Thy saints rejoice in goodness. 42: O YaHuWaH Elohim, turn not away the face of Thine anointed: remember the mercies of David Thy servant. |
4. YaHuWaH 's Answer
As mentioned previously, the dedication service described here is a spiritual blueprint. It occurred during the holy 7th month of Tishri. No doubt YaHuWaH 's Temple, His Church, will also be dedicated during this festival month in a soon-coming year. That is why we pay so much attention to the Feast Days of YaHuWaH the Elohim of Israel; because the realities they foreshadow will certainly come to pass on the very same Feast days in some future year!
YaHuWaH 's Fire & Glory
| 2 Chron. 7: | 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 YaHuWaH filled the house.
2: And the priests could not enter into the house of YaHuWaH, because the glory of YaHuWaH had filled YaHuWaH 's house. 3: And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of YaHuWaH upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshiped, and praised YaHuWaH, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever. |
The Great Feast
As soon as these astonishing events (the 'falling fire' and 'the Glory of YaHuWaH ') occurred, a great anthem of praise filled the city of Jerusalem and one of the greatest feasts in all history began.
| verse 4 | Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before YaHuWaH.
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 Elohim. |
The Priesthood Took up their Duties
| verse 6 | And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of YaHuWaH, which David the king had made to praise YaHuWaH, 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 YaHuWaH : for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat. 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. 10: And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that YaHuWaH had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people. 11: Thus Solomon finished the house of YaHuWaH, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of YaHuWaH, and in his own house, he prosperously effected. |
5. YaHuWaH 's Conditions
No one will doubt but that this was a wonderful prayer and we know that the Holy One of Israel answered it - and will continue to answer it - if His conditions are met. What are those conditions? Let us now study them.
| 2 Chron.7: | 12: And YaHuWaH 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.
13: 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; 14: 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. 15: Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16: For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that My Name may be there for ever: and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually. 17: And 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 My statutes and My judgements; 18: Then will I stablish 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. 19: 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; 20: Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my 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 byword among all nations. 21: And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath YaHuWaH done thus unto this land, and unto this house? 22: And it shall be answered, BECAUSE THEY FORSOOK YaHuWaH ELOHIM OF THEIR FATHERS, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshiped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them. |
Summary
For those who have the will to learn and obey, the lessons of Solomon's prayer and YaHuWaH 's response are plain to see and easy to understand. In essence Solomon's prayer tells us, that:
In times of trouble we should pray to YaHuWaH, Elohim of Israel, and He will answer our prayers; provided we repent, forsake our sins and return to the pathway of obedience.
This may sound simple enough. But you'll need the power of the Holy Spirit to put it into practice. See the Everlasting Gospel Page for details about Salvation.
Now let me summarize what we have learned.
- Events in Scripture, both in the 'Old' and 'New' Testaments, all have moral as well as prophetic significance; especially for us living in these last days. Those ancient stories all prefigure earth-encompassing events scheduled to take place in the days before the Messiah returns to earth.
- In Solomon's Temple, the materials, the furniture and even the time of the dedication service, all represent the spiritual Temple of true believers which the Messiah is currently building; and in which the Holy Ghost dwells. The solemn dedication of this Eternal Temple will take place in the seventh holy month in a soon-coming year. That dedication will be followed by a spiritual banquet of unimaginable delight and glory! just as the blueprint of Solomon's temple indicates.
- Solomon's Prayer lists several circumstances when prayer to YaHuWaH the Elohim of Israel will also be answered if His conditions are met. Failure to pray in these circumstances will spell disaster. Before I list those circumstances let us never forget that YaHuWaH, Elohim of Israel, is a Being of exceeding power, wisdom, mercy and kindness. No words can express His love for the human race; even for the vilest sinner. He loves you. He loves me. He loves us all and when He is approached in penitent prayer His mercy knows no bounds. With these thoughts in mind let me list the circumstances mentioned by king Solomon.
- When disputes arise between fellow believers, be Thou our Judge.
- When defeat is inevitable, be Thou our Ally.
- When disease strikes, be Thou our Physician.
- When strangers (believing Gentiles) pray, be Thou their Elohim and answer them.
- When going to battle, be Thou our Champion.
- When personal sins overtake us, be Thou our Savior; forgive us and restore us to Thy favor.
- Listen, oh YaHuWaH, and answer according to Thy great mercies. Hear us now and always - when we turn to Thee in penitence and prayer.
- YaHuWaH, the Almighty Elohim of Israel, answered with fire. His glory then filled the temple and burned up the sacrifice! A mighty shout filled the city of Jerusalem. YaHuWaH, the Elohim of Israel, had come to His Temple. Then began one of the greatest Feast of Tabernacles since time began. A feast at which 142,000 animals were offered to feed the guests who were camped at sites which extended all the way to the river of Egypt!
- Divine Conditions for Answered Prayer
| 2 Chron.7: | 14: 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.
... 19: 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; 20: Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my 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 byword among all nations. 21: And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, WHY hath YaHuWaH done thus unto this land, and unto this house? 22: And it shall be answered, BECAUSE they forsook YaHuWaH Elohim of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshiped them, and served them: therefore hath He brought all this evil upon them. |
Let all who hear or read these solemn words, pay close attention to those divine conditions; because they apply to all of us as surely as they applied to Israel of old!
And now may YaHuWaH, the Elohim of Israel, grant us all the wisdom to recognize His Truth and the power to put it into practice for His Name's sake.
Amen.
Joy By Surprise
