Daily Devotional for Sunday, March 2

Solomon’s Sacrifices

“And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly,” 2 Chronicles 1:1.

Second Chronicles begins with the priests’ account of Solomon’s reign. The Lord set His beloved Jedidiah on the throne of Israel, and He established his kingdom and made Solomon great. Even more spectacular, the Lord his God was with him. These words were once spoken of his father in 1 Samuel 16:18. David was a mighty man of valor and prudent in speech, but his crowning attribute was the Lord’s presence with him. This also is said of his son, Solomon. The Lord’s apparent presence is the highest honor bestowed on a human.

Interestingly, 2 Chronicles both begins and ends with this phrase. The last verse in 2 Chronicles  reads, “Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up” (2 Chronicles 36:23). God called another king to rebuild the Lord’s house in Jerusalem. For that huge calling, the Lord would also be with him.

God gave Solomon favor with people. Although he was the highest in the land, he met with all the leaders of Israel, from the highest ranking to the local tribal leaders. Each was invited to have an audience with the king, and they led their people to follow their king to Gibeon to the “tabernacle of the congregation” (2 Chronicles 1:3). There, in accordance with Leviticus 17:3-9, Solomon led Israel in making sacrifices to the Lord. He offered one thousand burnt-offerings in answer to God’s lovingkindness and in obedience to His command to “rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto” (Deuteronomy 12:18). It was indeed a sweet savor to the Lord.

THOUGHT

As the Lord blesses us, let us offer our own sacrifices to Him in thanks.

Kelli Reynolds