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Speaker 1: I'm John Stangi, and today we're in Second Chronicles, chapter eight,
Speaker 1: and we'll be reading from the New English translation. After
Speaker 1: twenty years during which Solomon built the Lord's Temple and
Speaker 1: his royal palace, Solomon rebuilt the cities that Hurum had
Speaker 1: given him and settled Israelites there. Solomon went to Hamath
Speaker 1: Zoba and seized it. He built up Tadmore in the
Speaker 1: wilderness and all the storage cities he had built in Hamath.
Speaker 1: He made Upper Beth Huran and Lower Beth Haran fortified
Speaker 1: cities with walls and barred gates, and built up Baylath,
Speaker 1: all the storage cities that belonged to him, and all
Speaker 1: the cities where chariots and horses were kept. He built
Speaker 1: whatever he wanted in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout his entire kingdom.
Speaker 1: Now several non Israelite peoples were left in the land
Speaker 1: after the conquest of Joshua, including the Hittites, Amorites, Parizites, Hittites,
Speaker 1: and Jebusites. Their descendants remained in the land. The Israelites
Speaker 1: were unable to wipe them out. Solomon conscripted them for
Speaker 1: his work crews, and they continue in that role to
Speaker 1: this very day. Solomon did not assign Israelites to these
Speaker 1: work crews. The Israelites served as his soldiers, officers, charioteers,
Speaker 1: and commanders of his chariot forces. These men worked for
Speaker 1: Solomon as supervisors. There were a total of two hundred
Speaker 1: and fifty of them who were in charge of the people.
Speaker 1: Solomon moved Pharaoh's daughter up from the city of David
Speaker 1: to the palace he had built for her, for he said,
Speaker 1: my wife must not live in the palace of King
Speaker 1: David of Israel, for the places where the ark of
Speaker 1: the Lord has entered are holy. Then Solomon offered burnt
Speaker 1: sacrifices to the Lord on the Altar of the Lord,
Speaker 1: which he had built in front of the temple's porch.
Speaker 1: He observed the daily requirements for sacrifices that Moses had
Speaker 1: specified for Sabbaths, New moon, festivals, and the three annual celebrations,
Speaker 1: the Feast of unleavened bread, the Feast of Weeks, and
Speaker 1: the Feast of temporary shelters. As his father David had decreed.
Speaker 1: Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests to do their
Speaker 1: assigned tasks, the levitical orders to lead worship and help
Speaker 1: the priests with their daily tasks, and the divisions of
Speaker 1: the gatekeepers to serve at their assigned gates. This was
Speaker 1: what David, the man of God had ordered. They did
Speaker 1: not neglect any detail of the King's orders pertaining to
Speaker 1: the priests, levites, and treasuries. All the work ordered by
Speaker 1: Solomon was completed from the day the foundation of the
Speaker 1: Lord's Temple was laid until it was finished. The Lord's
Speaker 1: Temple was completed. Then Solomon went to easy on Geeber
Speaker 1: and to Elat on the coast in the land of Edom.
Speaker 1: Hurm sent him ships and some of his sailors, men
Speaker 1: who were well acquainted with the sea. They sailed with
Speaker 1: Solomon's men to oh Fear and took from their four
Speaker 1: hundred and fifty talents of gold, which they brought back
Speaker 1: to King Solomon. Let's pray, Lord, we thank you for
Speaker 1: your word, and we thank you for the privilege of
Speaker 1: being able to read it together today and to study
Speaker 1: its content. And Lord, as we look at this portion
Speaker 1: of Scripture as it describes Solomon's reign and the things
Speaker 1: that he did during the course of his reign to
Speaker 1: build up the temple and various areas in his kingdom.
Speaker 1: We're also reminded, Lord that you desire to build us
Speaker 1: up In you. Lord, you strengthen us, you fill us
Speaker 1: with your Holy Spirit, You grant us spiritual gifts, and
Speaker 1: you make us men and women who are fully devoted
Speaker 1: followers of your son, Jesus Christ. And we're truly built
Speaker 1: up by you, and by your grace, we have the
Speaker 1: privilege to build others up as well, and so we're grateful,
Speaker 1: Lord that you allow us to do that in our
Speaker 1: day to day life. Lord, we're grateful for this day,
Speaker 1: and Lord, we pray that, by your grace, that we
Speaker 1: would use this day to honor your name and to
Speaker 1: worship you and to give you glory in all areas. Lord,
Speaker 1: we commit this day to your care, and we thank
Speaker 1: you for your presence with us, and we pray this
Speaker 1: all in Jesus' name. Amen.