The Chronicler’s version of Solomon building of the temple, bringing the construction to a close and dedicating it to the service of the Lord, is not greatly different from what we read yesterday in I Kings 8. Solomon completed the building of the temple (II Chronicles 5:1); then the vocalists, accompanied by the trumpeters and cymbalists, sang out with loud praise to the Lord, “for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever” (5:13), and the house of the Lord was filled with the cloud of the glory of God (5:14).

In parallel to what we read yesterday, we read today of Solomon offering an extensive prayer of dedication (6:12-42), especially highlighting the need for forgiveness for the people when they sinned, if they turned back to the Lord once more (6:24-25). There are many verses that are word-for-word identical between the two accounts; this strongly suggests that the Chronicler was using I Kings as one of the written sources for the Chronicles. The repetition of this material emphasizes the gracious understanding of ancient Israel: despite all of our many failings, the character of Yahweh is not simply about severe punishments for failure, but also – perhaps especially – about mercy.

And not all of the Chronicler’s account is copied from I Kings. From some other source, unknown to us, the Chronicler includes God’s famous answer to Solomon: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (7:14). This is a verse that we would all do well to memorize.

It would take more than just memorization, of course. We would have to set aside our arrogance and self-assurance, and recognize our genuine need. We would have to learn to pray and seek God’s face, with real earnestness. We would have to turn from our wicked ways. We generally will admit to the occasional misstep. It would take more than that, to come to the place of genuinely acknowledging that our ways are wicked; and then to turn deliberately toward godly devotion and discipline. God help us!

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Give us your grace, we pray, that we may learn to humble ourselves before you, O God. Teach us to pray and seek your face, turning from all our self-centered and self-justifying ways: for we need forgiveness from you, Lord, and our land needs the healing that only you can provide.

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