A Study of 2 Chronicles 7:11-22
What is the first thing that leaps to mind when you think about worship?
- Praise songs or hymns.
- Sermons.
- Testimonies.
- Fellowship with other believers.
- Other.
If prayer and humility weren’t listed in the title above, would you have included both as a part of worship?
Before proceeding with the study below, take a moment to journal your thoughts on why God, the creator of heaven and earth, considers prayer and humility as important components of worship.
Why God asks for Prayer and Humility in Worship
A Study of 2 Chronicles 7:11-22
11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king’s house. All that Solomon had planned to do in the house of the Lord and in his own house he successfully accomplished.[1]
Why did Solomon build a house for the Lord? (See 1 Chronicles 22:6-10)
How did God’s promise to Solomon in 1 Kings 3:5-14 help Solomon be successful?
What reason prompted God to give this promise to Solomon?
12 Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice.[2]
What does the Lord reveal about himself in this sentence?
Explain why the Lord states he has chosen this house for himself as a house of sacrifice. (See Deuteronomy 12:1-7.)
13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name 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.[3]
Why does the Lord prevent rain, command locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among his people according to the verses above?
What does the Lord say the people should do when these things happen?
15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.[4]
Explain the Lord’s desire from these verses.
17 And as for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my rules, 18 then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to rule Israel.’ [5]
The “you” here is singular, referring to Solomon.
What is Solomon’s responsibility as king?
Why does this matter?
19 “But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will pluck you up from my land that I have given you, and this house that I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. [6]
The “you” here is plural, referring to all of Israel.
Explain the consequences of forsaking the Lord.
21 And at this house, which was exalted, everyone passing by will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ 22 Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore he has brought all this disaster on them.’ ” [7]
Using 2 Chronicles 7:12-16, why do the thoughts of other nations matter?
How does this passage show the Lord’s love for Solomon and the Israelites?
Why God asks for Prayer and Humility in Worship
A Study of 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 | Application Questions
Describe your understanding of the following words:
Prayer –
Humility –
Worship –
What is the purpose of prayer based on 2 Chronicles 7:12-16?
Why is humility a part of the equation for worship based on 2 Chronicles 7:12-16?
Can one truly worship the Lord without prayer and humility? Why?
Why God asks for Prayer and Humility in Worship
A Study of 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 | New Testament Connections
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. [8]
How does this passage from James support what you learned from 2 Chronicles 7:14-22?
“Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” [9]
The above passage from 1 Peter 3:10-12 above, is cited from Psalm 34:12-16.
How does it support what you learned from 2 Chronicles 7:11-22?
Having studied 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 3:10-12 (Psalm 34:12-16), how has your understanding of why God asks for prayer and humility in worship deepened?
Heavenly Father, most Holy and Gracious Lord, help us see Your kingdom and will come to life around us and throughout the world. May we seek Your face in humble prayer, recognizing that You are the giver and redeemer of life. You provide for our daily needs specifically and uniquely. Enable us to extend forgiveness to those who don’t know you, or even if they know you and have stumbled in their faith practice, just as you have extravagantly forgiven us through the precious sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Warmly,
Barbara Lynn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), 2 Ch 7:11.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), 2 Ch 7:12.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), 2 Ch 7:12–14.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), 2 Ch 7:15–16.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), 2 Ch 7:17–18.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), 2 Ch 7:19–20.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), 2 Ch 7:21–22.
[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), Jas 4:7–10.
[9] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), 1 Pe 3:10–12.