I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading. I had been using One Year Bible Online, but it was time for a change.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Chronicles 1-4.

    There are two parts to today’s passage. The first is the account of Solomon’s interaction with God at Gibeon. There Solomon requested wisdom and knowledge rather than wealth and fame. God gave Solomon what he asked for and He gave him wealth and fame as well. The point is that we should seek wisdom and knowledge rather than wealth and/or fame. If we seek wisdom and knowledge, God will see that we find them. Once we have wisdom and knowledge, if we do as they instruct we may also find wealth and fame, but we will certainly find joy.

    The second part of this passage is preparations and efforts to build the Temple. In preparation for building the Temple Solomon gathered his resources and entered into an agreement with King Hiram of Tyre for Hiram to supply him with cedar for the building. Before construction began, Solomon made sure that he had the resources to complete the project. In addition, he made arrangements with others to supply those resources which he did not himself possess. Then he began construction, but he did not limit himself to just constructing a building. As part of the project he planned for and had constructed the furnishings and decorations as well. The description of Solomon building the Temple can give us insight for when we do God’s work. We need to carefully plan what resources we will need to complete the project. Then we need to put in the effort to do so, but we need to keep in mind that it is not enough to build the basic structure we must also take into account how the work will be used once it is complete. We need to plan out the work to which God calls us and not consider it finished until we have “furnished” it.