We have been studying God’s Covenant with mankind, in particular the “Terms and Conditions.” In the previous two editions of this subject we first examined the “Verbal Agreement” between God and man. Next, we examined the “Terms and Conditions” of the “Written Agreement”. This written agreement is commonly known as the “Ten Commandments.” Nearly every Christian is familiar with the Ten Commandments; however, most don’t know or have conveniently forgotten that there are “Terms and Conditions” attached to God’s Law. In other words, there are rewards for keeping God’s Law and penalties for breaking God’s Law. Last time we closed by asking the following question:
SO HOW DOES ALL OF THIS RELATE TO JESUS?

Well, the short answer to how God’s Law or “Ten Commandments” and all the stories and fine print surrounding God’s Law relates to Jesus is summed up very neatly by Paul in Galatians.

Galatians 3:24
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

Of course, anyone who has taken the time to read any of my studies probably realizes they are not about the short answer!

In my opinion, short answers without understanding is the source of all our problems today. It is no wonder that our society is in such a mess. To paraphrase the Old Testament Prophet, Isaiah, short answers give us “eyes that see not” and “ears that hear not.” Most of us realize we are living in a fast-food world, in which we seek instant gratification, not just for food but for everything. The problem with fast-food is it usually has low nutritional value. The problem with instant gratification is people usually don’t appreciate something which is given to them, if they don’t fully comprehend the price that was paid.

That is why I go into so much depth with these Bible studies. I want to know more about my Jesus in this life. The Lord has prepared a table before us in the presence of our enemy, through His living Word. The Bible was written over a period of some 1500 to nearly 2,000 years, by over 40 writers. The Bible covers all of His story of God’s dealings with mankind, from before creation until a few decades after Jesus’ appearance and resurrection. Some things in the Bible are hard to understand (2 Peter 3:16). If God took all that time to create this Earth for our understanding, do you not suppose He wants us to take a little time to enjoy the meal?

Considering the multi-course meal that God has set before us, let’s once again go back into the Old Testament and see how the Law and the Prophets lead us to Christ. In 2 Chronicles we find a very important instance of God’s chosen people, Israel, once again agreeing to enter into God’s Covenant. As a matter of fact, this agreement is highlighted by a very famous verse, we often hear quoted today.

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
[14] If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek
my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their
sin, and will heal their land.

Well, in context Solomon has just completed and dedicated his temple unto God even though
God never asked Solomon nor his father David to build Him a temple. God actually told David
through Nathan the Prophet not to build Him a temple.

1 Chronicles 17:4 Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me
an house to dwell in: 17:5 For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from [one] tabernacle [to another].

17:6 Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the
judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an
house of cedars?
Hmm!

1 Chronicles 17:7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the
LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, [even] from following the sheep, that thou
shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:17:8 And I have been with thee whithersoever thou
hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name
like the name of the great men that [are] in the earth. 17:9 Also I will ordain a place for my
people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no
more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,

Now make sure you read this next part!

1 Chronicles 17:10 And since the time that I commanded judges [to be] over my people Israel.
Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore, I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house.
Furthermore....”the LORD will build thee an house. I GUESS David heard but he did not completely understand what God was telling him? Keep reading!
1 Chronicles 17:11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go [to
be] with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will
establish his kingdom.

Obviously, David heard what he wanted to hear, filled in the gaps with David's own desires and decided it was his son Solomon. David must have been ordering a Big Mac and did not hear the next part?

1 Chronicles 17:12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever. Who will establish his throne forever? (Note: King James English spells it for ever, we spell it forever, same meaning.)

What man has a throne which can last forever?

MAKE SURE YOU CATCH THIS NEXT PART!!!

1Chronicles 17:13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy
away from him, as I took [it] from [him] that was before thee:

Did you catch what God told David about his seed (descendant)? God will be his father and he shall be God's son? I wonder who that could be????

1Chronicles 17:14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his
throne shall be established for evermore.

There is that word for ever and for emphasis this sentence basically says it twice, by using another form of forever; EVERMORE.

Now, Solomon also misunderstands what God is saying, just as David did not fully comprehend. Using a New Testament phrase; I guess they saw “through a glass darkly.” You can find the evidence that Solomon thought he was this promised “Son” just like his father David did by reading 2 Chronicles 6 in which Solomon says as much.
Now, Solomon was sincere in his heart, he offered sacrifice, and he prayed that God would chose to inhabit this temple that Solomon, a son of David, built in the city of God (Jerusalem). Just like David, his heart was in the right place, he really wanted to be God’s man. The problem is no man is worthy to satisfy God’s terms. John the Apostle explains it very well in Revelation 5:4 when he says, “I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look theron.” However, in order to prove that no man was worthy to satisfy God’s Covenant conditions, the LORD chose to allow the “Ark of the Covenant” to be temporarily placed in this temple made by man’s hands. But only IF Solomon and all of Israel would agree to God’s Covenant including all the Terms and Conditions. Solomon is just one example of every man thinking he can satisfy God’s conditions. Because we have freewill God will let everyone of us try on our own to satisfy His conditions. Solomon just like his father David got the fast-food version of what God was saying, and to prove that what God says is always true, God allowed Solomon and all Israel to try again to satisfy God’s sense of righteousness.
We spoke earlier about “seeing through a glass darkly”, before we stop for the moment lets, look at a little light shed upon this subject by some of the New Testament writers.
Acts 7:48

45Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; 46Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47But Solomon built him an house. 48Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? 50Hath not my hand made all these things? 51Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

Ouch!

We will continue next week while we take some time to digest what we have pointed out so far. We are going to look more closely at the often quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14 in terms of God’s Covenant and how all of mankind failing God’s Covenant leads us to Jesus.

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