Day 8 – If/Then

2 Chronicles 7:1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of JEHOVAH filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the house of JEHOVAH, because the glory of JEHOVAH filled JEHOVAH’S house.

 3 When the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of JEHOVAH on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised JEHOVAH, saying, “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever.”

 4 Then the king and the people offered sacrifices before JEHOVAH. 5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. Thus, the king and the people dedicated the house of Elohiym.

 6 The priests attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of JEHOVAH, which King David had made to praise JEHOVAH, saying, “For His mercy endures forever,” whenever David offered praise by their ministry. The priests sounded trumpets opposite them, while Israel stood.

 7 Furthermore, Solomon consecrated the middle of the court in front of the house of JEHOVAH; for there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar which Solomon had made could not receive the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, or the fat.

 8 At that time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and Israel with him, a great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt. 9 On the eighth day they held a sacred assembly, for they observed the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.

 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the good JEHOVAH had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel.

 11 Thus, Solomon finished the house of JEHOVAH and the king’s house; and Solomon accomplished everything that came into his heart to make in the house of JEHOVAH and in his house.

 12 Then JEHOVAH appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, “I heard your prayer, and chose this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. 16 For now, I chose and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 17 As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, and do according to everything I commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, 18 then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You will not fail to have a man as ruler in Israel.’ 19 However, if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I set before you, and go and serve other elohiym, and worship them, 20 then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all people. 21 As for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has JEHOVAH done thus to this land and this house?’ 22 Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook JEHOVAH Elohiym of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other elohiym, and worshiped them and served them; therefore, He brought this calamity on them.’”

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Merciful

Exalted

Most celebrations today last only a few hours before the celebrants return home happy and satisfied with the work they accomplished.

When the people saw fire come down from JEHOVAH and the glory cloud, they praised JEHOVAH and worshipped Him.

Solomon and everyone in Israel celebrated the dedication of the temple for eight days. Solomon offered thousands of burnt offerings and peace offerings to JEHOVAH before he sent them home with joy in their hearts. After Solomon sent the people to their tents, JEHOVAH came to Solomon and told him what He would do if the people turned from Him and worshiped other elohiym. He also told Solomon what He would do if they humbled themselves, sought His face, and returned to Him. JEHOVAH gave conditions to Solomon for His promises to take care of His people. If they obeyed Him then He would be with them. If they disobeyed Him and turned from Him then He would depart from them.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, the same conditions apply to you. If you obey Him, then He will take care of everything you need and provide for you. However, if you walk away from Him, doing what you desire and forget Him, then you won’t find blessings in your life. Obedience is a two-way street.

When was the last time you opened your Bible, prayed, went to church or listened online if you couldn’t attend church? When was the last time you went to Bible study, encouraged another believer, spent time in His presence? Do you feel like your life is missing something? To have Yeshuwa’s blessings in your life, you need to spend time with Him. You need to obey Him and put Him first in everything you do. When you do, He will bless you and provide everything you need.

If you obey Him, then He will provide you with everything you need.

Let’s pray: Father, I come humbly before You, confessing my sin and lack of obedience to You. Let me feel Your presence in my life and know You are with me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 26 January 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux