2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 7: Fire from heaven and a promise

Begin in prayer

Before we read how fire fell and the LORD spoke to Solomon at night, let us pray. Ask Him to teach us what He said, and to lead us to the One who is the true temple.

Praise Yah, for Yahweh is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant.

Psalm 135:3

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Thank You that You hear prayer and fill Your house with glory, and show us Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

When Solomon finishes praying, fire comes down from heaven and burns up the offerings. The glory of the LORD fills the house. The priests cannot go in, and all Israel bows to the ground and thanks the LORD, because He is good. Solomon and the people offer thousands of sacrifices and keep a feast, and then they go home glad for the LORD's goodness. That night the LORD appears to Solomon. He says He has heard his prayer and has chosen this place for sacrifice. He tells Israel what He will do if they humble themselves and turn, and what will happen if they serve other gods.

As you read 2 Chronicles 7, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD answered Solomon's prayer with fire from heaven, and He told Israel how He would hear them.

Solomon finished praying, fire fell from heaven on the offerings, and the LORD's glory filled the house (verses 1 and 2). All Israel bowed to the ground and gave thanks that the LORD is good (verse 3). That night the LORD told Solomon, “I have heard your prayer” (verse 12). Then He said how He would deal with His people in times of drought, locusts and plague (verse 13). Verse 14 is often quoted, but it was a word to Israel about their land and this house. If His people humbled themselves, prayed, sought His face and turned, He would hear, forgive and heal their land (verse 14). He also warned that if they served other gods, He would cast the house from His sight (verses 19 and 20). It was not said to a nation today, because it belongs to Israel's land and temple. It shows a God who answers prayer with His presence, and who hears the humble and forgives.

How does 2 Chronicles 7 show us that the LORD answered Solomon's prayer with fire from heaven, and told Israel how He would hear them?

Fire came down and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

Fire came down from heaven and burned up the offering and the sacrifices (verse 1). The priests could not enter the house, because the LORD's glory filled it (verse 2). All Israel saw the fire, and they bowed to the ground and worshiped (verse 3). They said, “For he is good; for his loving kindness endures for ever” (verse 3).

The LORD heard Solomon's prayer and chose the house.

That night the LORD appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer” (verse 12). He said He had chosen this place for a house of sacrifice (verse 12). He had made the house holy so that His name would be there forever (verse 16). His eyes and His heart would be there always (verse 16).

The LORD told Israel how He would hear them.

He spoke of a shut sky, of locusts and of pestilence in their land (verse 13). If His people would humble themselves, pray, seek His face and turn from wicked ways, He would hear from heaven (verse 14). He would forgive their sin and heal their land (verse 14). These words were spoken to Israel about their own land and this house.

Jesus is the true temple, where God and sinners meet.

Jesus spoke of the temple of His body, and said He would raise it up (John 2 verses 19 to 21). The house was the place where the LORD's glory and the people's sacrifices met. In Jesus, God and sinners meet in a person. Jesus said that one greater than the temple was there (Matthew 12 verse 6).

Memorise

I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for myself for a house of sacrifice.

2 Chronicles 7:12

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, will I humble myself before God, and will I trust Jesus to forgive me?

Fire came down from heaven, and “Yahweh’s glory filled the house.” That night the LORD said to Solomon, “I have heard your prayer.” Jesus called His own body the temple, and in Him God meets sinners (John 2 verses 19 to 21).

Humbling ourselves cannot wipe out sin, because sin has to be paid for. At the cross Jesus carried the sin of His people, and every claim against them was met. His sacrifice was enough for them all. God raised Him up, and He lives.

So come to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will find mercy, and God will forgive them all their sin.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD answered Solomon with fire and glory, and that Jesus is the true temple. Parents, verse 14 was spoken to Israel about its land and temple, so please do not apply it to a nation. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He hears His people and fills His house with glory, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Give thanks to the God of gods; for his loving kindness endures forever.

Psalm 136:2

Father, thank You that You heard Solomon and filled Your house with glory. Thank You for Jesus, who gave Himself for sinners and is the true temple. Please lead each of us to humble ourselves and trust Him. Amen.