WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An
international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday March 11, 2018
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154,000 readers worldwide
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THERE
IS NO GOD LIKE YOU
(GOD
is worthy of our praise)
(2
Chronicles 6:12-42)
In
the biblical Greek, the word used for “promise” is “epaggelia”
(ep-ang-el-ee-ah), and it is “an announcement of divine assurance of good”. In 2
Chronicles 6, verses 12-42, King Solomon, the son of David, prays a petition of
dedication at the opening day of the newly built “Temple of the LORD” at
Jerusalem. It was the fulfillment of a promise from the LORD to King David that
one of his sons would build HIM a Temple (2 Samuel 7:12-13) using the plans that
GOD had given to David before he died.
After Solomon had finished the seven-year
construction project at Jerusalem, he blessed the people and then stood upon a
newly constructed special platform, and with his hands spread out before the
altar of the LORD, he began to pray a “prayer of thanksgiving” to GOD for
keeping HIS promise to his father David.
Solomon then asked the LORD to continue
bestowing HIS favor upon the Davidic Dynasty, because all the people had
continued, up until that point, to be faithful and obedient in their service to
HIM. Solomon clearly understood that GOD’s promise to his father David was
conditional, and would always hinge upon their continued obedience to GOD.
Here in this passage, Solomon’s prayer to
GOD that HE will keep HIS promise is evidence of his faith, not unbelief. GOD
has already promised to meet all of our needs, yet, we are still taught by
JESUS to pray that GOD “give us this day, our daily bread”. Our prayers should
always express our continued dependence on GOD. Such prayers give honor to GOD,
especially when we express them with joy and regularity.
Solomon was persuaded of GOD’s interest in
human affairs, and that is why he prayed that the LORD would also recognize the
temple as a focal point of HIS communion with Israel. He prayed that GOD would
always respond to the prayers of the faithful, not only while in the temple,
but also, in those times whenever they might be away from Jerusalem, and prayed
while facing in the direction of the temple. Solomon knew that GOD would keep
HIS promise to care for HIS faithful, no matter where in the world they might
find themselves (Vs.18-21).
Most of the troubles that Solomon prays
about in verses 22-39, are self-inflicted and befall us as a result of sinful
choices in life. Thankfully, GOD’s grace is greater than our failures. Only GOD
can justify and declare the guilty innocent, restoring us after we’ve been
defeated by sinful choices. HE can forgive us and, through HIS Word, transform
us so that we will begin to desire right-living (Vs.22-27).
GOD, makes us aware of our deepest needs,
through testing, so that we might fear HIM more than we fear man, and the
various ways that the world can affect and influence us, through constant daily
pressures. HE hears us, even when we have alienated ourselves from HIM, and HE
graciously answers our prayers when we finally realize that we need HIM, and
then humble ourselves and repent (Vs.28-33).
The Almighty GOD, through JESUS CHRIST, is
the only ONE WHO can uphold us in our struggles, and then, actually restore us
back into an experiential, personal relationship with HIMSELF, all after we
have willingly abandoned HIS plan for us, as HIS greatest creation. Yes, if we
pray here on earth, GOD will answer those prayers from Heaven (Vs.34-39). GOD,
is worthy of our praise, and HE always delivers on HIS promises, whenever we
keep our end of the bargain.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
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