Justin Houtz

2 Chronicles 7, 2 John, Habakkuk 2, Luke 21

DateVersionReading Plan
December 7, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

2 Chronicles 7

As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire from the LORD came down and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices. The priests could not enter the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled the temple. When the people saw the fire that came down and the LORD’s glory, they bowed down and gave thanks to the LORD, confessing the goodness of the LORD and that His steadfast love endures forever.

The king and the people then made sacrifices before the LORD. The priests and Levites stood at their posts with instruments of music and the priests sounded trumpets. Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offering that was made. “Sacrifices were supposed to be made on the altar of the temple, but it was not large enough to accommodate them all. Solomon consecrated the courtyard for this occasion, and the animals were sacrificed right there on the ground.” (CSB Notes)

Solomon and all Israel with him held a feast for seven days. “Since the dedication of the temple also coincided with the festival (Festival of Shelters), many people were in Jerusalem for the celebration of this feast. Hamath is in the far north and the Brook of Egypt is the southern border of Israel, so people were there from the whole country. It is not often that a nation comes together in a celebration of joy, but it surely was the case here.” (CSB Notes). On the twenty third day of the seventh month, Solomon sent the people away to their homes joyful and glad for the prosperity that the LORD had granted David, Solomon and His people, Israel.

Solomon had successfully finished all that was planned of the house of the LORD and his own house. The LORD then appeared to Solomon, telling him that He had heard his prayer and had chosen the temple for Himself as a house of sacrifice. He told Solomon that when drought, locust or pestilence comes, His eyes would be open and ears attentive to the prayer of the people if they humble themselves, pray, seek His face and turn from their wicked ways. The LORD said that if Solomon kept all that He had commanded in keeping His statutes and rules, He would establish Solomon’s royal throne as He had covenanted with David.

However, if Solomon forsook the LORD’s commandments and served other gods, the LORD would pluck them up from the land He had given them. Their rebellion would result in being made a byword and proverb among the peoples. Passers-by will be astonished at what had happened and ask why the LORD had done this to the land and the house. They would be told that the disaster that was brought upon God’s people was because they abandoned the LORD and worshipped other gods.

2 John

“Second John warns against the same false teaching mentioned in 1 John. This letter, however, was addressed to ‘the elect lady and her children’ (perhaps a local congregation), and focused on Christian hospitality. False teachers were using the kindness of Christians to gain influence within John’s congregations. John’s letter spoke of this danger and warned against opening one’s home to these destroyers of the faith. While the basic themes of 1 John—holding fast to truth, love, and obedience—are evident, there is the additional focus on what Christian hospitality is all about. Only when you find agreement on sound doctrine will you find meaningful fellowship. The letter was probably written by the apostle John in the late first century A.D.” (ESV Introduction)

Habakkuk 2

Habakkuk stood at his watchpost and looked out to see how the LORD would answer him. The LORD gave His answer, telling Habakkuk to write the vision and make it plain on tablets. The LORD pronounced five woes to the Chaldeans through a taunt song beginning in verse 6. “The woe pronouncements of Hab 2:6–20 are neatly structured into five stanzas consisting of three verses each. Verses 6–8 denounce the Chaldeans’ imperialistic avarice; vv. 9–11 condemn the Chaldeans’ covetousness; vv. 12–14 criticize the Chaldeans’ violence; vv. 15–17 censure the Chaldeans’ treachery; and vv. 18–20 address the Chaldeans’ idolatry. While the first four woes deal with the Chaldeans’ sins against their fellow humans, the fifth addresses the Chaldeans’ sin against God. The first and fourth woes end in a refrain, possibly a chorus sung by a congregation of people.” (FSB)

Luke 21

Luke 21:10–19 (ESV) 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

“Luke in this passage sought to alleviate some of the confusion associated with the prophetic pronouncements about Jerusalem’s destruction in A.D. 70. The appearance of false Christs (Luke 21:8), wars (21:9–10), natural disasters (21:11), and even astronomical signs (21:11) are not to be interpreted as signs of the world’s end. ‘The end will not come right away’ (21:9) after ‘these things’ (21:6–7, 9) take place. What these things announced was not the world’s end but Jerusalem’s destruction. Yet even Jerusalem’s destruction would not come immediately but would be preceded by these events. Theophilus and Luke’s other readers should understand that Jesus clearly taught that there would be an interval of time not only between his ministry and the consummation of all things but between his ministry and the destruction of Jerusalem.” (NAC)

Jesus spoke of how persecution would precede terrors and great signs from heaven. The faithful will be brought before kings and governors for His name’s sake. However, Jesus told them that this will be an opportunity to bear witness. It was this witness message that struck me in particular today.

While under persecution and adversity, followers of Christ have occasion to share the gospel. Such difficult circumstances provide an opening to bring the hope of salvation in Christ and of reconciliation with Him. When others see that our reaction to trials is not despair but genuine gratitude and strengthening of faith, there will be questions as to how such hope is found. As we take up our cross in following Christ, we point to the cross at Calvary and of our Lord’s ultimate sacrifice.

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