READING FOR SEPTEMBER 2, 2025: 2 CHRONICLES 8, LUKE 21, PSALM 90:1-11 2 CHRONICLES 8 This chapter reviews much of what we read in 1 Kings 9 yesterday, but with a few provocative differences or at least added details. In verse 2 it says Solomon built the cities Huram (sometimes called Hiram) gave him. You may recall in 1 Kings 9:11-14, It was Solomon who gave the cities to Hiram. We are not given a reason for this seeming discrepancy, but we are given a clue. In 1 Kings 9:12 we learn that Hiram was unimpressed with these cities. It is not hard to imagine that Hiram gave them back to Solomon so that he could improve them.
Although the cities for the chariots and horsemen were recorded in 1 Kings, this writer did not remind us that this excessive number of horses and chariots was a cultural sign of wealth and power, but certainly not God’s will for the king of His people: “He [the king] is not to acquire many horses for himself” (Deut. 17:16). Does it make us cringe when we see Solomon starting to wander from God’s word? Let’s at least check ourselves in regard to excessive acquisition.
Another bit of information with a similar back story relates to Solomon’s wife, who was Pharoah’s daughter. In verse 11 it states that Solomon brought his wife from Jerusalem to a house he built for her outside the city. The reason seems to be that she could not live in the same city that housed the holy ark of the Lord. And why might that be the case? Likely because she was not part of the Lord’s people of the covenant. Back to Deuteronomy 17: “You [Israel] shall never again return that way [Egypt]. And he [the king] shall not acquire many wives for himself, so that his heart does not turn away” (vs. 16-17).
How could Solomon have avoided these mistakes that will come back to defeat him later in his reign? Once more to Deuteronomy 17: “it shall come about, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this Law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, so that he will learn to fear the Lord his God, by care- fully following all the words of this Law and these statutes” (vs. 17-18). Are we reading all our days?
We see that the construction has been completed and in verse 14 all the Levites had settled into their daily routines as God commanded. From outward appearances, the systems are running smoothly for now. There are some dark clouds on the horizon, though.
LUKE 21 Do we find it comforting or concerning that God looks at life differently than we do? How many college buildings are named after people who give out of their poverty rather than their huge portfolio? Yet, God sees and will reward based on His criteria, not the world’s. Notice, even though the widow was poor, she gave two coins instead of keeping one for herself. Wow. Speaking of a wow factor, the temple at that time must of have been impressive: “it was covered all over with plates of gold of great weight, and, at the first rising
READING FOR SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 CONTINUED: LUKE 21, PSALM 90:1-11
of the sun, reflected back a very fiery splendor, and made those who forced themselves to look upon it to turn their eyes away, just as they would have done at the sun's own rays” (from Flavius Josephus). Jesus’s comment that this temple would soon be destroyed led to his extensive discourse about future events.
Jesus’s prophecies are a truncated version of Matthew 24 and Mark 13. Verses 10-24 appear directed to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (e.g.,“Jerusalem will be trampled.” vs.24), while verses 25-36 relate more to the second coming (e.g., “They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud.” vs.27). Yet, a strong case could be made that Jerusalem’s destruction is a localized foreshadowing of the global second coming. Thus, the need for the disciples to persevere with endurance (vs.19) will be even more necessary for those alive at the end times (vs.36). Verse 24 tells us we are currently in the time of the Gentiles (Rom. 11:25). Our job is to stay alert, pray, and not get weighed down with the follies and cares of this life (vs. 34-36).
PSALM 90:1-11 Moses had quite a life. He led a nation out of captivity, conveyed a legal system to Israel that still exists, and interacted uniquely with God. His perspective on life is likely worth more than most. His advice for us on September 2, 2025 is to spend time contemplating God’s eternity in the midst of the extremely brief time we have. He says we likely have only 70 or 80 years to live. Many of us are really living on borrowed time now, like soccer games that go into extra minutes at the end. We have these precious moments to live either for the values of a fallen world or, as his writes in verse one, to dwell in God, to enfold our smaller reality into His eternal one.
Lawgiver (or maybe conveyer is more accurate) that he is, he knows something about our guilty deeds and God’s righteous wrath. When he says, “We have been consumed by Your anger,” he isn’t kidding. All those who were men of war (age 20 and above) upon leaving Egypt with the exception of Joshua and Caleb died in the wilderness (Joshua 5:8). Yet, Moses also witnessed God’s leading His people out of slavery and keeping His covenant with Israel. As Moses suggests in verse 11, let’s take this God seriously and live in light of all His attributes. The God who exists and revealed Himself in his word is much greater than one we might construct in our imagination.
