2Ch 7:8-10 | KingComments | STEP | “At that time” ( ), that is the time of consecration, sacrifice and praise, there is “observed the feast … for seven days” by Solomon “and all Israel with him”. The feast of the dedication of the altar lasted seven days ( ). After those seven days, the Feast of Booths was also celebrated. This can be seen from the fact that there is talk of “the eighth day”, when a special meeting takes place, and that the people go to their tents on the twenty-third day ( ). After the feast, the people go to their tents, “rejoicing and happy of heart” about the goodness of the LORD. They are all impressed by the consecration, sacrifice and worship. “The goodness” is all “that the LORD has shown to David and to Solomon and to His people Israel”. Thus we may go home rejoicing and happy of heart when we have seen in the meeting of the church what God our Father has done for Christ and His church. Then the description of the building of the house of the LORD and Solomon’s house is finished ( ). Here again we see the close connection between the house of God and the house of the believer (cf. ). Activities in the church are not separate from activities at home. Solomon has done everything that has come into his heart. That certainly does not mean that he has acted according to his own inspiration and insight. What has come into his heart is what has also been in the heart of his father David ( ). David gave him the plan for the temple, with the instruction to execute this plan and to execute it exactly as it is. Because Solomon kept to this, he “successfully completed all” that he had planned.

‏ 2 Chronicles 7:8-10

The Feast of Booths Celebrated

“At that time” (2Chr 7:8), that is the time of consecration, sacrifice and praise, there is “observed the feast … for seven days” by Solomon “and all Israel with him”. The feast of the dedication of the altar lasted seven days (2Chr 7:9). After those seven days, the Feast of Booths was also celebrated. This can be seen from the fact that there is talk of “the eighth day”, when a special meeting takes place, and that the people go to their tents on the twenty-third day (Lev 23:33-43).

After the feast, the people go to their tents, “rejoicing and happy of heart” about the goodness of the LORD. They are all impressed by the consecration, sacrifice and worship. “The goodness” is all “that the LORD has shown to David and to Solomon and to His people Israel”. Thus we may go home rejoicing and happy of heart when we have seen in the meeting of the church what God our Father has done for Christ and His church.

Then the description of the building of the house of the LORD and Solomon’s house is finished (2Chr 7:11). Here again we see the close connection between the house of God and the house of the believer (cf. 1Tim 3:5). Activities in the church are not separate from activities at home.

Solomon has done everything that has come into his heart. That certainly does not mean that he has acted according to his own inspiration and insight. What has come into his heart is what has also been in the heart of his father David (1Chr 28:2). David gave him the plan for the temple, with the instruction to execute this plan and to execute it exactly as it is. Because Solomon kept to this, he “successfully completed all” that he had planned.