And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord. (2 Chronicles 12:14, NKJV) Although King Rehoboam had moments when he humbled himself before God, he did not truly seek God. Evil behavior was the result. Our behavior is the fruit of the condition of our hearts. We tend to focus on our behaviors, but ignore the cause of the behaviors. For example, we may try to quit swearing, but ignore the thoughts and feelings in our minds that lead us to swear. If

And they spoke to him, saying, “If you are kind to these people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.” (2 Chronicles 10:7, NKJV) After the death of Solomon, his son, Rehoboam, became king.  The people asked the young king to lighten their workload.  The older advisors recommended he respond with kindness.  These advisors had served with his father, the wisest man on earth. Rehoboam rejected their advice. He consulted with younger

Now Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh up from the City of David to the house he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places to which the ark of the Lord has come are holy.” (2 Chronicles 8:11, NKJV) King Solomon married the daughter of Pharaoh to make a political alliance with Pharaoh, as was the practice in the ancient world. (1 Kings 3:1) The problem was: 1) God had commanded the Israelites NOT to

“...if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NKJV)  This is part of God’s response to Solomon after his dedication of the Temple. Solomon had completed the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. Then, he held a great dedication ceremony. As part of that ceremony, Solomon delivered a magnificent prayer

“But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You…” (2 Chronicles 6:18-19, NKJV) This is part of King Solomon’s prayer when he dedicated the Temple. King David, Solomon's father, wanted to build the Temple, but God woul

“O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.” (1 Chronicles 29:16-17, NKJV)  These verses are part of King David’s prayer concerning

"Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?” (2 Chronicles 1:10, NKJV) Shortly after Solomon became king, God offered him anything he wanted. He asked for wisdom and knowledge to rule God's people. God granted his request, and gave him more than he asked for. Wisdom and knowledge are more valuable than fame and fortune. God's wisdom is greater than the wisdom of men. Knowing God is more

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9, NKJV) These are some of the last instructions of King David, to his son, Solomon.  In his final days, David set everything in place that Solomon would need to success

So let it be established, that Your name may be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. (1 Chronicles 17:24, NKJV) King David wanted to build a magnificent Temple for God. God sent word through Nathan the Prophet that He did not want David to build a house for Him; but He would establish David's house. God would raise up a descendant of David, who would rule foreve

And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel. (1 Chronicles 16:4, NKJV) King David appointed people to “minister before the ark of the Lord.”   They were to minister to God, not men.  God was the audience. All songs, prayers, and rituals were for God. God is the focus of worship.  It is all about Him. We often tend to make worship about us. We focus on the music we like, the styl

“…sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. For because you did not do it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.” So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as Moses had c

ANGRY & AFRAID And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzza…David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?” (1 Chronicles 13:11-12, NKJV) In their zeal to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem, the Israelites put it on an ox cart to carry it.  The ark was supposed to be carried by the priests on special poles made for that purpose.  Failure to follow God’s instructions in that simple matter caused Uzza to commit a greater si

Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel. … So David went on and became great, and the Lord of hosts was with him. (1 Chronicles 11:3, 9, NKJV) God made David a great king and empowered him to do great things.  David followed God’s plan for his life and relied on His strength. God empowered David to defeat

So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse (1 Chronicles 10:13-14, NKJV) King Saul’s disobedience and lack of communication with God was his undoing. Here we see the charges against him. On separate occasions he had failed to obey

But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard— because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord. “Surely, ther

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