Weekly Guide：Week 65
April 21, 2019
Forward
We continue reading the Second Chronicles this week.
May God’s word renew you all each day!
Question
How was the ark of the Lord’s Covenant moved into the temple?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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King Solomon brought up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David, to Jerusalem.
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While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them.
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Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands and prayed.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - In his prayer, Solomon’s emphasized that the temple is the temple for God’s people’s prayers. He asked God to listen to faithful prayers toward the temple. Is my church a church of prayers? How should I respond to prayer meetings?
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Fidelity - David and Solomon wished to build the temple and it was finally completed. How do their fear of God and heart of servitude inspire me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did God appear to Solomon?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
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King and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord.
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Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days with all Israel.
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Lord appeared to Solomon and told him his prayer was heard and “If you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.’ But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land.”
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - God promises if we will humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, then He will hear from heaven, and He will forgive our sin and will heal our land. How does this help me when I’m low and need help?
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Fidelity - What was the reason God accepted the temple Solomon built and the burnt offering? Has God accepted my offerings? Why?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did Solomon place the Israelites and foreigners after the completion of the temple and palace?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram had given him, and settled Israelites in them.
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Solomon conscripted the descendants of all those people remaining in the land who were not Israelites to serve as slave labor.
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Solomon did not make slaves of the Israelites for his work; they were his fighting men, commanders of his captains, and commanders of his chariots and charioteers.
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On the altar of the Lord that he had built in front of the portico, Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord.
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In keeping with the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their duties.
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All Solomon’s work was carried out, so the temple of the Lord was finished.
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Hiram sent Solomon ships commanded by his own men, sailors who knew the sea.
Meditation: My Story
- Fidelity - Solomon built the temple and rebuilt the villages so that the Israelites may settle there. What effect did his action bring? How should I pray for the leaders of my country?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How was Solomon’s fame?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions.
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The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents.
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King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.
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Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. Then he rested with his ancestors and Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - The riches of Solomon came from God by His promise. God also promises fulfilled lives to all His children. Do I have that life?
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Fidelity - The queen of Sheba went to see Solomon for his wisdom. How may I bring people to Christ by His pleasing aroma?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How was the reign of king Rehoboam?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him but consulted the young men and brought hardship to Israelites.
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When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they all went home.
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God prohibited Rehoboam to fight against Jeroboam.
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The priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel sided with Rehoboam.
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Rehoboam had wives and children.
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After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord.
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Because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam.
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Shishak carried off the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields Solomon had made.
Meditation: My Story
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
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God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
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Jeroboam did not regain power during the time of Abijah. And the Lord struck him down and he died.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - Was king Abijah serving the Lord with all his heart and all his soul? What part of his life was pleasing to the Lord and what wasn’t?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How was Solomon known as a king?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions.
+ The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents.
+ King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.
+ Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. Then he rested with his ancestors and Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The riches of Solomon came from God by His promise. God also promises fulfilled lives to all His children. How do I have that life?
+ **Fidelity** - The queen of Sheba went to see Solomon for his wisdom. How may I bring people to Christ by His pleasing aroma?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How was he reign of king Rehoboam?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him but consulted the young men and brought hardship to Israelites.
+ When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they all went home.
+ God prohibited Rehoboam to fight against Jeroboam.
+ The priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel sided with Rehoboam.
+ Rehoboam had wives and children.
+ After Rehoboam's position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord.
+ Because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam.
+ Shishak carried off the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields Solomon had made.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Rehoboam abandoned God when he had become strong. What was he leaning on? How may I avoid being complacent in my abundantly fulfilled life?
+ **Community** - Facing the Israelites' request, Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him but consulted the young men. What warning do I see in this?
+ **Community** - God prohibited Rehoboam to fight against fellow Israelites. Do I have quarrel with my fellow Christians? What is God's point of view on this? Can I obey God's will?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How was Abijah son of Rehoboam's reigning as king?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
+ God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
+ Jeroboam did not regain power during the time of Abijah. And the Lord struck him down and he died.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - Was king Abijah serving the Lord with all his heart and all his soul? What part of his life was pleasing to the Lord and what wasn't?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How was Asa's life?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Abijah's son Asa succeeded him as king, and in his days the country was at peace for ten years. Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.
+ Zerah the Cushite marched out against Judah, Asa went out to meet him and the Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah.
+ Azariah exhorted to Asa, Judah, and Benjamites to obey God. Asa accepted.
+ Asa removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the portico of the Lord's temple.
+ King Asa also deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah.
+ In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah. Asa sought help from Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus.
+ Hanani the seer rebuked Asa for relying on the king of Aram and not on the Lord. Asa was angry with the seer and brutally oppressed some of the people.
+ In the forty-first year of his reign Asa died.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord by removing idols and obeying God's laws. What idols do I need to remove from my life? What laws do I need to remind myself to obey?
+ **Integrity** - Hanani rebuked Asa but Asa did not take it well. How may I accept the criticisms and warnings from others? Would I hate them for their criticisms and retaliate?
+ **Integrity** - There were stages in Asa's life. He sinned in his old age that brought about the judgment. What warning do I see in this? How may I stay on the path of Christ's salvation, not veering left or right?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did Jehoshaphat do in the third year of his reign?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel.
+ In the third year of his reign he sent his officials taking with them the Book of the Law of the Lord to teach people in the towns of Judah.
+ The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat but paid tributes.
+ Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab king of Israel by marriage.
+ Ahab urged Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth Gilead together. Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel to first seek the counsel of the Lord through the prophets.
+ The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah asked him to speak favorably. But Micaiah spoke only the word of the Lord to warn Ahab.
+ Ahab put Micaiah in prison and made him suffer.
+ The king of Israel entered the battle in disguise but was shot dead by a random arrow.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - In what stage of Jehoshaphat's life did he ally with Ahab? What can I learn from that? How should I treat the wealth God has given me?
+ **Fidelity** - Jehoshaphat prepared himself against Israel and obeyed God, followed His law. What can I learn from Jehoshaphat of the relationship between my own responsibilities and God's work?
+ **Fidelity** - Jehoshaphat motivated many of his officials to teach people with the Book of the Law of the Lord. How may I co-work by my fellow Christians to encourage all people to read Bible and to grow spiritually?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What new policies did Jehoshaphat put in place in Judah?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jehoshaphat returned safely to Jerusalem. Jehu the seer son of Hanani exhorted Jehoshaphat that he should not have helped the wicked.
+ Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people and turned them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.
+ In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the law of the Lord and to settle disputes.
+ The Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. Jehoshaphat stood up at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and prayed.
+ Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah and told them "not to be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle is not yours but God's.
+ Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
+ The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.
+ Jehoshaphat reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their ancestors.
+ Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked. The Lord would destroy their ships.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Read again Jehoshaphat's prayer when he faced the enemies. What can I learn from that?
+ **Fidelity** - Jehoshaphat's reform of his governance was to follow God's standard. How does this inspire me? What attitude and knowledge should I have on the politics and laws of the world?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What was the reason for Saul's death?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The record of Saul and his sons' death.
+ Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Saul used to pursuit David and became the pursued. God is merciful and just. Man must bear the consequences of his sin if without Jesus' salvation. Let us thank God for His salvation so that we may receive eternal life.
+ **Integrity** - The First Chronicles used the death of Saul as the starting point of a section in the book. What does that mean to me? Saul's unfaithfulness to the Lord was the cause of his downfall. How does that warn me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did David become king?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ All Israel came together to David at Hebron to anoint him as king.
+ David captured the fortress of Zion.
+ The records of the chiefs of David's mighty warriors-they, together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the Lord had promised.
+ The fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Community** - The mighty warriors were determined in unity to make David king, and they rejoiced together. How am I serving the Lord with my fellow Christians together in one heart? How am I rejoicing with them in the Lord?
+ **Fidelity** - David's mighty warriors followed him because the Lord touched their hearts and they saw the David was with the Lord. Has my heart ever been touched by the Lord? How may we bring others to serve with us?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did David do soon after he became king?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ David conferred with each of his officers and the commanders, to bring back the ark of the Lord.
+ They moved the ark of God from Abinadab's house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord struck Uzzah down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.
+ David took the ark to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. It remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household and everything he had.
+ In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters.
+ The Philistines went up in full force to search for David. David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Soon after David became king, he conferred with his officials and commanders to bring the ark back to Jerusalem. What was the reason he did that? (ref. 13:3) What can I learn from him?
+ **Fidelity** - What was the main reason for David's victory over the Philistines? What does it mean for my service?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How was the ark of the Lord brought to Jerusalem?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.
+ David summoned the Levites to carry the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.
+ David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.
+ David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing.
+ As the ark of the covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.
+ They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God.
+ He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel.
+ David appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the Lord.
+ David left Asaph and his associates before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister there regularly, according to each day's requirements.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - From David's praise: Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. How is God in control of my life, present, past, and future? How should I give thanks to God?
+ **Fidelity** - Compare the two attempts David made in moving the ark (13, 15). What were the results and the causes? How do these remind me of my service to the Lord?
+ **Fidelity** - What were David's reasons for praising the Lord? (23-24, 26, 33-34) Have I overlooked any?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What was God's response to David's wish to build the temple?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ David wished to build the temple for the Lord but He said: "You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in."
+ The Lord promised David that his descendant would build the temple for the Lord and the Lord would establish his descendant's throne forever.
+ David prayed humbly to the Lord.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - Why did God refuse David's wish to build the temple? (17:5-6) What did God promise him? God's promise was much greater than what David asked for. Have I been refused by God? What happened afterward?
+ **Identity** - Read carefully David's prayer. What was David's attitude and knowledge of God and himself reflected in the beginning of the prayer? What can I learn from it?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What were the David's military accomplishments against the gentiles?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ David defeated the Philistines, the Moabites, and the Arameans. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
+ He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David.
+ David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.
+ Hanun humiliated David's envoys.
+ Joab and Abishai defeated the Arameans and the Ammonites.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - David's undefeated military records in chapter 18 show the realization of God's promise to him in chapter 17. How is God leading me in my life? How am I responding to Him?
+ **Community** - David sent envoys to comfort Hanun. Instead, Hanun humiliated the envoys and started a war. Have I experienced a similar situation where my good will was ill-treated? How should I view this from the viewpoint of salvation and grace?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses