2 Chronicles 8:12 - Meaning and Application

Here we see Solomon’s devotion. He built the temple for the worship that would take place in it. No matter how much he spent on the building, it would have meant nothing if he had neglected the worship there. Helping other people in their devotion does not make up for our own neglect.

After Solomon finished the temple, he kept the holy sacrifices going there, according to the law of Moses (2 Chronicles 8:12, 2 Chronicles 8:13). The altar would have been useless, and the fire from heaven would have been wasted, if sacrifices had not been brought regularly as its food and fuel. There were daily sacrifices, a fixed offering every day, weekly sacrifices on the Sabbath, more than on other days, monthly sacrifices at the new moons, and yearly sacrifices at the three major feasts.

These were the spiritual sacrifices now required of us, which we should bring daily and weekly. It is good to keep a steady pattern of devotion. Solomon also kept the holy songs going there, according to the law of David, who is called the man of God, just as Moses was, because God taught and authorized him to set these things in order (2 Chronicles 8:14). Solomon was wise and powerful, and he built the temple, but he did not try to improve, change, or add to what the man of God had commanded in God’s name. Instead, he carefully kept it, and used his authority to make sure it was followed.

Then no one turned aside from the king’s command in any matter (2 Chronicles 8:15). He obeyed God’s laws, and then everyone obeyed his orders. When the temple service was put in good order, then it is said, “The house of the Lord was finished” (2 Chronicles 8:16). The main thing was the work, not just the building. The temple was not truly complete until the worship was properly set in place.

Here we see Solomon’s trade. He personally visited the seaports of Eloth and Ezion-geber, for those who handle much business do best to look after it themselves and see things for themselves (2 Chronicles 8:17). Canaan was a rich land, yet it had to send to Ophir for gold. The Israelites were a wise and understanding people, yet they had to depend on the king of Tyre for men who knew the sea (2 Chronicles 8:18). Even so, Canaan was God’s special land, and Israel was God’s special people. This teaches us that grace, not gold, is the best wealth, and that knowing God and his law is better than knowing arts and sciences.