2 Crônicas 7

2 Crônicas 7

Trapp - This fire was kept alive till the captivity of Babylon: and after that, it was said to have been miraculously renewed [in the days of the Maccabees].” Frederick Mabie: The appearance of fire from heaven at the completion of Solomon’s prayer visually showcases God’s power and signifies his approval of Solomon’s dedicatory prayer and offering. Similarly, fire came down from heaven following a number of important events, including David’s sacrifice at the threshing floor of Ornan (the future location of the Jerusalem temple; cf. 1Ch 21:26), the inauguration of priestly service at the Tent of Meeting at Mount Sinai (cf. Lev 9:23–24), and Elijah’s showdown with the prophets of Baal (cf. 1Ki 18:16–39, esp. 38). (See 1 and 2 Chronicles) Raymond Dillard: This second report of the appearance of the fire and glory of Yahweh parallels the earlier account (2Ch 5:13–14) and probably refers to the same incident, narrated twice to achieve the literary balance of a chiasm. It should be compared with other appearances of fire from Yahweh showing approval of a sanctuary or sacrifice (1 Chr 21 // 2 Sam 24; Ex 40:34–38; 1 Kgs 18; Jdg 6:20–22). A second approach to the two passages construes them in chronological sequence rather than as a duplicate account for purposes of literary balance; in this case the initial appearance was confined to the priests inside (2Ch 5:13–14), while the latter incident was visible to all the people (2Ch 7:3). (See 2 Chronicles, Volume 15 - Page 56) Mark Boda: The final section of Solomon’s prayer (2Ch 6:41-42) invites God to “enter your resting place,” a request that is fulfilled immediately at the outset of chapter 7. Just before the glorious presence of the Lord fills the Temple, however, the Chronicler records that God sent down fire from heaven to burn up the sacrifices that had been prepared. Believer's Study Bible - When David built the provisional altar on the threshing floor which he purchased from Ornan, the Lord responded to his sacrifices by "fire on the altar of burnt offering" (cf. 1 Chr. 21:18-30, especially v. 26). This is reminiscent of other occasions when the Lord sent fire from heaven (cf. Gen. 15:7-17; Lev. 9:24; Judg. 6:21-24; 1 Kin. 18:36-38). Jewish Study Bible - The divine Presence fills the Temple, in response to Solomon’s prayer; these vv. are absent in 1 Kings. 2Ch 7:1, 3 echo the dedication of the Mosaic Tabernacle at Lev. 9.24; in both passages a divine fire consumes the sacrifice in the presence of the people, who then prostrate themselves and sing the Lord’s praise. (See also the reference to the divine Presence three times in these three verses and in Lev. 9.23.) The Chronicler thus again establishes a continuum between the Tabernacle and Temple. Jewish Study Bible - The present passage complements the appearance of the divine glory at 2Ch 5.11-14+: The former marks the dedication of the Temple, accomplished by placement of the Ark within it, the latter the dedication of the altar. Related: Glory of God God's Plan for Jerusalem: Five Prophetic Mountain Peaks RON DANIEL - 2Chr 7:1-3 The People Bow To The Ground. When Solomon's prayer was over, the Lord demonstrated His acceptance of the burnt offering by sending fire from heaven to consume it. This must have a been an amazing sight! The people's response is a little difficult to understand completely without some study. When the fire consumed the burnt offering, they bowed to the ground and said, 2Chr. 7:3 ..."Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting." You would think that they would say something like, "He is all-powerful," or "He is a God of wonders and consuming fire." Why would they focus on His lovingkindness at a time like that? The key is in understanding the purpose of the burnt offering. You see, our study of Leviticus chapter one revealed that, the purpose of the burnt offering was for a person to be accepted before the Lord, to have atonement made for his sin. In other words, it is the offering that covers a person's sin. The person would lay his hand on the head of the animal essentially transferring the guilt of his sin to the animal, and then it was killed. When God accepts a substitutionary sacrifice for sin, what can we point to more than God's lovingkindness, His mercy? Paul reminded the Ephesians, Eph. 2:4-7 ...God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. When atonement is made for your sins, what else can you say besides, "God's mercy, His lovingkindess, is everlasting. Truly the Lord is good." Matthew Henry Notes: 2Chr 7 In this chapter we have God's answer to Solomon's prayer. I. His public answer by fire from heaven, which consumed the sacrifices (2Chr 7:1), with which the priests and people were much affected (2Chr 7:2, 3). By that token of God's acceptance they were encouraged to continue the solemnities of the feast for fourteen days, and Solomon was encouraged to pursue all his designs for the honour of God (2Chr 7:4-11). II. His private answer by word of mouth, in a dream or vision of the night (2Chr 7:12-22). Most of these things we had before, 1 Ki. 8 and 9. 2Chr 7:1-11 Here is, I. The gracious answer which God immediately made to Solomon's prayer: The fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, v. 1. In this way God testified his acceptance of Moses (Lev. 9:24), of Gideon (Jdg. 6:21), of David (1 Chr. 21:26), of Elijah (1 Ki. 18:38); and, in general, to accept the burnt-sacrifice is, in the Hebrew phrase, to turn it to ashes, Ps. 20:3. The fire came down here, not upon the killing of the sacrifices, but the praying of the prayer. 1. This fire intimated that God was, (1.) Glorious in himself; for our God is a consuming fire, terrible even in his holy places. This fire, breaking forth (as it is probable) out of the thick darkness, made it the more terrible, as on Mount Sinai, Ex. 24:16, 17. The sinners in Sion had reason to be afraid at that sight, and to say, Who among us shall dwell near this devouring fire? Isa. 33:14. And yet, (2.) Gracious to Israel; for this fire, which might justly have consumed them, fastened upon the sacrifice which was offered in their stead, and consumed that, by which God signified to them that he accepted their offerings and that his anger was turned away from them. 2. Let us apply this, (1.) To the suffering of Christ. When it pleased the Lord to bruise him, and put him to grief, in that he showed his good-will to men, having laid on him the iniquity of us all. His death was our life, and he was made sin and a curse that we might inherit righteousness and a blessing. That sacrifice was consumed that we might escape. Here am I, let these go their way. (2.) To the sanctification of the Spirit, who descends like fire, burning up our lusts and corruptions, those beasts that must be sacrificed or we are undone, and kindling in our souls a holy fire of pious and devout affections, always to be kept burning on the altar of the heart. The surest evidence of God's acceptance of our prayers is the descent of the holy fire upon us. Did not our hearts burn within us? Lu. 24:32. As a further evidence that God accepted Solomon's prayer, still the glory of the Lord filled the house. The heart that is thus filled with a holy awe and reverence of the divine glory, the heart to which God manifests himself in his greatness, and (which is no less his glory) in his goodness, is thereby owned as a living temple. F B