November 22, 2025

Of course, Rehoboam forsook the Lord. Did we expect anything different? He was only 24 years old when he began his reign. Could you imagine a person that young running our country? He sowed his oats and paid the price because God sent a massive army from Egypt to teach a lesson. Egypt robbed them of all the treasures in the temple and the king’s house. Rehoboam’s fortifications didn’t hold. According to the marginal notes in Matthew Henry’s Bible, those who didn’t waver in their commitment to God prospered during this time of calamity in their country. Rehoboam repented and turned back to God, and God lifted His hand of wrath from upon them. Rehoboam died at the age of 41. There are several things we can learn from what happened here in 2 Chronicles 12. 

1. God doesn’t leave you until you turn away from him. Always keep your eyes on Him.
2. If you fall but turn back to Him, realize and acknowledge that He was justified in His actions against you. It is to our advantage to admit that God was right in His rebuke.
3. This lesson is my favorite: Those who maintain their commitment to God during times of trouble and wrath will prosper during those times.

Don’t worry about what is going on in the country; stay the course, and at no point turn your back on God. Remain faithful, and you too will prosper during times of trouble. 

And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. 2 Chronicles 12:14

November 21, 2025

Though I felt sorry for Jeroboam because Rehoboam caused the kingdom to split into the northern and southern kingdoms, I’m now angry with Jeroboam. (Refer to 2 Chronicles 10.) When the land was sectioned off back in the time of Joshua, each tribe was required to give a portion of land to the Levites, who were the priests of the temple and were to provide them with all the necessities, as they were not allotted any land; they were to find their sustenance in God. What were the priests of the northern kingdom to do now that they were separated from the temple at Jerusalem? Jeroboam had set up calves and idols to the devils, and wouldn’t allow the Levite priest to continue in their assigned duty at the temple. So they left their homes and went to Jerusalem to be near the temple, so that they could continue their duty to God. They left the comfort of their homes and all their possessions because it was more important to be free to serve God and even face the possibility of becoming poor than to stay where they were no longer allowed to do their duty to God. They left all they had in pursuit of God. 

What are you hanging onto that prevents you from worshipping God fully? How willing are you to leave everything you have to pursue a relationship with God? You must be willing to leave everything behind to follow Jesus; he taught this lesson himself. God strengthened Rehoboam’s kingdom because all their priests were there. Was God testing the commitment of the Levite priests? It could be.

And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers. 2 Chronicles 11:16

November 20, 2025

The way you treat people matters. Not only should you treat the people over you with kindness and respect, but your subordinates should also receive your due regard and appreciation. After King Solomon died, Rehoboam reigned in his place. However, when Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who had served King Solomon for many years but had fled to Egypt because Solomon placed a heavy burden on him and his people, came to the newly crowned King Rehoboam to plead for mercy and to lighten their burden. Rehoboam sought counsel with the elders, who told him to lighten their load, but when he consulted the younger men, they told him to increase their burden. He took the younger men's advice. The people were shocked by how he was treated, and they left Jerusalem; the ten tribes of the northern kingdom parted ways with Benjamin and Judah and crowned Jeroboam king. Israel was the northern kingdom, and Judah was the southern kingdom. A prophet had told Jeroboam that he would reign over ten tribes, and this is how God brought that prediction to fruition. 

Kindness is essential! You never know how your actions will impact your future. As for Rehoboam, he lost the support of a significant portion of the kingdom, which had likely significantly contributed to Jerusalem's wealth. Also, if things don't seem to be going your way, wait and don't get too bent out of shape; sometimes it is God's plan falling into place.  

And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. 2 Chronicles 10:19

November 19, 2025

The Queen of Sheba came to see King Solomon, bringing many gifts. Knowing what I do about King Solomon and all the wives and concubines he had, I was curious whether he had consummated a relationship with the queen. Of course, the Bible doesn’t mention it; however, if you do a quick search on the internet, you will find historical information concerning their promiscuity. I don’t mean to sensationalize a story, but the information is out there, whether it is accurate or not. The Ethiopians say the Queen of Sheba was from their region and had a son by King Solomon, Menelik I, who later became emperor. However, Jewish historians say it is possible that the queen had a daughter who was an ancestor of Nebuchadnezzar. Whether any of this is true or not, it makes for an interesting story. 

King Solomon reigned in peace for forty years, and died and was buried in the City of David. Why doesn’t the Bible mention any of the sins of Solomon? To answer that question, we must ask ourselves why God doesn’t mention any of our sins. It’s because we, like Solomon, have been forgiven much. Remember, because of Jesus, our sins are forgiven and forgotten. I’m grateful for that. 

Imagine trying to trace Solomon’s lineage; it stresses me out just thinking about it.

 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead. 2 Chronicles 9:31

November 18, 2025

Solomon spent twenty years building the house of the Lord and his home. We sometimes spend years in schools and colleges. Solomon, using his wisdom, didn’t waste time; he got right to work, completing the temple, his home, and building cities. He built a palace for his wife, the daughter of Huram, the Egyptian, because he didn’t think it was proper for her to live in the house of David. After all, it had been a house of great piety. She had converted to the Israelite religion; however, she had people working for her who likely didn’t leave their idolatry behind. Solomon observed all the feasts and holy days of his father, David, and sacrificed the proper offerings as required by the Lord. 

Use the time you have here on earth wisely. When you reach a certain age, you realize how short our lives are, and wasting them by not appreciating all the things God has given us and by not pursuing a relationship with Jesus is a careless use of time. The very best use of our time is honoring Jesus and worshipping the Father. If you need to, wake up a little earlier so that you can begin your day by spending time with Jesus, feeling the movement of the Holy Spirit through songs of worship, and enlightening your mind with the Holy Scriptures.  

And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come. 2 Chronicles 8:11

November 17, 2025

After Solomon’s prayer to dedicate the temple, fire came down from God and consumed the burnt offerings and sacrifices. Then the glory of the Lord filled the house of the LORD. The people brought their sacrifices, along with the massive amounts that Solomon offered; there were so many that Solomon made the middle court holy so that no sacrifice was turned away. All of this happened during the fall feasts, including the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. After he sent everyone home, while he was sleeping, God came to him in a dream or night vision and spoke to him about his prayer, the one recorded in 2 Chronicles 6. His answer to this prayer is that famous verse that nearly everyone quotes for the repentance of our nation.

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. 2 Chronicles 7:14

The turning from our wicked ways is where our country seems to have trouble; not only that, but how can we seek His face when we cannot even turn away from our sinfulness? We must pray for our government and those causing distress in our nation. Individually, we do our best to honor God, but collectively, we depend on those who’ve fallen for their own self-interest, which puts us in quite a predicament. Our best bet is that more people turn to God and follow Jesus; that’s when things will turn around. 

November 16, 2025

Solomon prayed a blessing for the people and then dedicated the temple to God. However, God didn’t need a building to live in because he can exist in the vast darkness. He chose not a particular tribe to reside with, but chose Jerusalem as His place to dwell, particularly the temple that He sanctioned, which was planned by David and built by Solomon. The words Solomon prayed are almost a list of prophetic words concerning the people of Israel that have come to fruition over time. Did the words spoken over them cause them to come true by speaking them into existence, or was it pure prophecy? He was asking God to hear their prayer and intervene should any of the negative things happen, but I can’t help but think his words set the stage for them to come true. I believe we need to be cautious about the things we speak over ourselves, such as negative self-talk. Not only does God hear those words, but the enemy and his cronies also hear them and may try to make your words stick. For this reason, we should avoid any detrimental words and speak only positive things about ourselves and others. Don’t give the devil any ammunition. Keep your words holy, confident, and optimistic. 

O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant. 2 Chronicles 6:42

November 16, 2025

Part 2 of 2 Chronicles 5

One thing I failed to expand on in yesterday’s devotional for 2 Chronicles 5 was that once the priest had left the holy of holies, they began to sing and play their instruments, worshiping and praising God; that’s when God filled the temple. The room, empty of all the ungodly, and the praise and worship brought Him in. It was the music and singing that brought in the presence of God! Make sure to empty yourself and raise your voice in praise to help usher in the presence of God during your time of devotion; this may be crucial, so don’t miss it. 

It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; 2 Chronicles 5:13

November 15, 2025

Did you know that all the remains in the Ark of the Covenant are the stone tablets? By the time Solomon placed the ark in the temple, all that remained in it were the tablets. What happened to the rest of it, Aaron’s staff, the show bread, and the manna? If the Philistines took them out, how did they get them out without dying? Isn’t it funny how a straightforward verse can cause so much curiosity? At least that’s my experience when reading the scriptures. 

There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. 2 Chronicles 5:10

The temple was finished, and all the dedicated items were brought in. The ark was brought up, and a multitude of people gathered before it for the innumerable number of sacrifices. Then they placed the ark in its designated location, the priests exited the holy of holies, and the singers and musicians began worshiping and praising God. The glory of the Lord filled the temple, and His presence was so powerful that they could no longer stand. 

We are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God; how can we stand? Because we don’t get out of the way. Our minds are too focused on other, unimportant things to empty our vessels so that He can come in. I know He’s always there, but when do you actually feel his presence? It’s when you empty yourselves of all the worldly cares and focus your attention on Him. Stay in constant communication with Him, but make sure to set aside dedicated time to empty yourself so God can fill your temple with His presence and put you on your face, just as He did the priest when the temple was dedicated. 

So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God. 2 Chronicles 5:14

November 14, 2025

Some of the furnishings for the temple were bigger and more abundant than what was used in the tabernacle. Solomon used every bit of gold, silver, brass, and other things that had been dedicated to God; it wouldn’t have been right for him to use them elsewhere, so he made sure that all of it was made into utensils and other items for use in the temple. The scale of the temple was much larger than the tabernacle that Moses had put together, and so the areas for sacrifices were also larger. God didn’t want anyone to have excuses for not bringing their offerings; the number of people had grown, and there needed to be a sufficient number of priests with plenty of room to handle the number of people coming into the temple daily. We are so fortunate that Jesus came as our offering for our sins; not only was he the perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins, but he also did away with the need for a priest and the slaughter and burning of all the animals. Can you imagine having to bring your cow to church? Make it a point to ask forgiveness for your sins daily and start your day fresh and clean. If you think you don’t sin, you might be delusional. You may want to seek forgiveness for deceiving yourself.

Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out. 2 Chronicles 4:18

November 12, 2025

Solomon began building the temple in the fourth year of his reign. It probably took the people those first few years to gather all the necessary materials and craft the decorative objects and utensils. All of the walls were overlaid in gold, and precious stones were added for extra sparkle, making it extraordinary; it must have been a sight to see. The Holy of Holies was a gigantic 30-foot square with the Ark of the Covenant and two standing cherubim with their wings spread, touching one another with a total wing span of 30 feet. The cherubim's heads faced the Ark as a reminder that they, too, worship God and should not be the objects of our worship. The images that came to mind likely don't compare to the temple's actual magnificence. Imagine how luxurious the new heaven and new earth will be when we reach our eternal life; our lives will not be ordinary, but instead spent in true luxury beside our Savior. 

And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim. 2 Chronicles 3:6

November 12, 2025

Have you ever wondered why Darius, King of Persia, was willing to help rebuild the temple, or why his heart was full of kindness towards the Israelites captive in his country? I stumbled upon a tidbit of information that answers that question in the Matthew Henry Commentary, where he elaborates on Solomon's use of resources from Huram, King of Tyre, to build the temple. Perhaps I'm the only one who didn't know, but it seems to be well-known historical information that wasn't detailed in the Bible, at least not to my knowledge, but did you know that Queen Esther and King Ahasuerus had a daughter and a son? The son was Darius King of Persia! According to 2 Chronicles 2, the original temple built by Solomon utilized building materials from Tyre. The same country assisted in the rebuilding of the temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel after the Babylonian exile. The fact that Darius was willing to help with the temple makes so much more sense now; he was part Israelite through his mother, Hadassah, also known as Esther. God is good at filling in the gaps of our knowledge when we pray for Him to expand our understanding. Why does that excite me so much? It confirms that God heard my prayer and was faithful in answering it. Ask for more spiritual knowledge; God is faithful in answering our questions and curiosities. Remember, this information comes from historical sources not mentioned in the Bible, as far as I can tell.

And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me. 2 Chronicles 2:3

November 11, 2025

Before Solomon began to reign as king, he gathered the captains, judges, governors, and chief fathers to accompany him to Gibeon, where the tabernacle was set up, so that he could honor God by offering sacrifices there. At this time, the tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant were not together because David had brought the Ark to Jerusalem and placed it in a tent. While he was sleeping, God came to Solomon in a dream and instructed him to ask for anything he desired. He responded by requesting wisdom. Because he hadn’t asked for wealth, but had asked for something spiritual, God gave him what he asked for, and also made him the wealthiest man who has ever lived. His net worth was estimated to be over $2 trillion. 

If you haven’t yet prayed for wisdom like Solomon, why haven’t you? Not to gain material wealth, but to know God, His ways, and to understand the scriptures. One prayer that I prayed is that God would fill in the gaps of my understanding, and He granted me the answer to that prayer. Now, I weave bits of that information into my devotions and have a clearer understanding of the prophecies that seem to be coming to fruition. Just know that when Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun, he wasn’t kidding. The lies blind us, but the truth is hidden in plain sight. Pray for wisdom and discernment today. If you think your eyes are open, keep digging, because I guarantee you that they aren’t. Just know that if you keep Jesus close to your heart, you will be just fine whether or not you see the truth. 

Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like. 2 Chronicles 1:12

November 10, 2025

The final day of King David’s reign was full of his generosity, thanksgiving to God, and the anointing of his son Solomon to the throne. Because the temple was a palace for God, David encouraged the people to help Solomon because the task at hand was a significant undertaking for a young man. He drew from his own resources, providing gifts for the construction and the decorative appointments for the temple of God. He then encouraged others to give back generously because nothing they had in their possession wasn’t already God’s. David then prayed a beautiful prayer and offered sacrifices to God, because he was grateful for all that God had done for him. Then he anointed Solomon as king and died, having lived a long life; Solomon began his reign. If we could get it in our minds that everything we own was graciously given to us, not by chance or for anything we have done to earn it, but because God gave it to us, we should be willing to give a portion of it back for the furthering of God’s kingdom here on earth. If we fail to give back generously and from our hearts, we are likely to have it all taken away. I know what you’re thinking; evil people prosper, but when their lives end, they will be tormented, but we, on the other hand, have chosen the narrow path here in this lifetime to live in a wonderful eternity. We are not the same. We are chosen and loved; remember that when you begin to feel greedy and selfish. Give as often as you should with a grateful heart and love for our Almighty God. 

Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. 1 Chronicles 29:9-10

November 9, 2025

King David gathered representatives from all tribes and those who had served him throughout his reign and appointed Solomon as their next king. David was near his death, but still had enough energy to meet with his people. He was clear that Solomon would be the one to build the temple and gave him the plans that God had given him. We can compare the building of the temple to God creating us as the temple of the Holy Spirit. God has a plan for us, and all the specifications are outlined in the scriptures. He gave us Jesus as our foundation, but to build it, we need all the materials, each of which requires a certain amount of skill to fashion before they are included in the temple, similar to refining the gold for the candlesticks and other essentials. The plan God has for us includes our refinement; no one gets to bypass that process. However, it cannot begin until we accept the gift of having Jesus as our Savior and foundation; you must start there first. The refining can be harsh, but it is necessary for a pristine temple. However, we shouldn’t fear the process because we have the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as well as the angelic beings, watching over us as we walk out our salvation. We are not alone in this and must trust the process. If you are experiencing challenges, remember that they are part of your refinement, and you will emerge as pure gold.

And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. 1 Chronicles 28:20

November 8, 2025

It was quiet in David’s kingdom, so there was no need to keep a full army of fighting men. However, he couldn’t leave it without protection, so he assigned twelve sets of twenty-four thousand men to serve for one month a year, and then, after that, they were allowed to go home and attend to their affairs. Then David appointed civil rulers, known as “princes of the tribes,” to oversee the affairs of the tribes. We can see from this that God considers His people and guides David as he rules over the people of Israel and prepares to hand the kingdom over to his son, Solomon. God didn’t allow him to try to do everything himself, but gave him the ability to delegate his authority to others, promoting a smooth-running kingdom. As we can see from this, God cares about the country as a whole, but also cares about the affairs of His people. When necessary, enlist the help of others in your household to assist you with the tasks, so that the fullness of the duties is not placed solely on one person.

Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand. 1 Chronicles 27:1

November 7, 2025

Where there is a need, God fulfills it. The gatekeepers and treasurers were assigned to duty by casting lots, which is similar to drawing names at Christmas time, but they used rocks with distinctive markings; maybe they wrote names on the stones; then someone was chosen to pick a rock, and whoever's name was on the rock was assigned to that particular duty. It was orderly and well-organized. However, it may seem like a game of chance, but when God is foremost in people's minds, nothing is by chance. When you realize that God carefully plans your life, you will be less likely to worry or fear about what comes next. The duties of the kingdom were meticulously designed to suit the families that were chosen to work in the areas God assigned to them. For this reason, you always hear the phrase "God qualifies the called." However, if you possess a specific skill set, you may be expected to utilize those skills and talents in your ministry or assignment, and again, nothing is by chance. If you love music, you will find that God gave you that love on purpose to be used in praising Him, and so on. Continue to hone your skills, and eventually you will be called upon by God to use them. Remember, it starts by you showing up for the small things, and if you are faithful in the small, God will add to that.

And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate. 1 Chronicles 26:13

November 6, 2025

Singing praises to God was orderly. For the temple, there were twenty-four sets of twelve musicians, singers, and players of instruments. It is thought that because prophets wrote the songs, they called singing prophesying. Imagine that! Preachers who speak the word of God and those who sing the word of God are considered prophets. That seems to shed a different light on who we call prophets, even though some heard directly from God through visions and dreams, which the Bible also refers to as seers and prophets. It makes you wonder if, when Paul listed the gifts, he considered singers and instrumentalists as prophets; it wouldn’t be too far-fetched, considering the scriptures in the Chronicles, because Paul was well-versed in the scriptures. Doesn’t that make so much sense? Those who God didn’t give the gift of a beautiful singing voice or the ability to play an instrument often long to be able to sing and perform. The gift of prophecy is not about predicting the future but about communicating God’s message. Worshipping and praising the Lord through song is yet another layer in prophetic communication. This truth exemplifies the use of scripture to interpret scripture, rather than attempting to figure it out in our own minds or relying on someone else’s interpretation. 

Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was: Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king. 1 Chronicles 25:1-2

November 5, 2025

Now that King David had all the Levites counted, it was time to assign the priests their time slot in the temple. The names of the priests were put into a jar, and they were assigned their time as their name was pulled out of the jar. Some were young men and some were older, but they were equal in terms of when it came to when they were to reside over the priestly duties of the temple. Doing it this way made God ultimately responsible because He is a God of order and knows who is best suited for the times that were given. When God gives us our assignments and duties, He doesn’t consider our age but our willingness. Those who are faithful with a minor assignment are often given more responsibility. If you are unsure what God wants you to do as a ministry for Him, ask Him, and He will show you. If you do that task well, He will give you more. Prepare your heart and mind to do whatever He assigns you. It may be scary to start, but once you realize that God is in control and His burden is light, the fear will disappear. 

Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar. 1 Chronicles 24:5

November 4, 2025

King David, who was aging and in poor health, appointed Solomon king over Israel and Judah. Before he died, he organized the Levites for temple service and numbered them. If you’ll remember, Joab was supposed to count all of Israel, but he knew it was against the Law of Moses and didn’t count the Levites; however, David got in trouble anyway. This time, when David counted them, it was for a noble purpose and wasn’t viewed as sinful. The Levites were organized well before the temple was built to train and serve in the tabernacle until its construction was complete. The eligible men began training for service in their twenties, which wasn’t the case during Moses’ time; they weren’t eligible then until they were thirty. We can only guess the reason for the change, but I would think it was to prevent the young men from becoming lazy, or because they were no longer moving the tabernacle, and there was less need for them to be in their full strength; God considers our frame. If you’re wondering how this pertains to us, here’s why: they stood before the Lord every morning and every night, praising and worshipping God, and thanking Him for all He had done for them. If it was important then, it is as important now, if not more. You stand in your temple every day; make sure you are worshipping God every day, morning and evening. It is the least we can do in appreciation of the sacrifice Jesus made for us and the provision God makes for us daily.

And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even; 1 Chronicles 23:30