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In this episode of The Dwelling Place Podcast, Stephanie Hickox walks through 6–7 and 134, 136, and 146, exploring God’s response to Solomon’s prayer of dedication and the powerful reminder that God’s steadfast love endures forever.

As fire falls from heaven and the glory of the Lord fills the Temple, the people worship with awe and gratitude. Yet this remarkable moment also serves as a warning. Solomon’s life reminds us that spiritual experiences, biblical knowledge, and even great service for God cannot replace a heart that remains fully devoted to Him.

Stephanie examines the beloved promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 in its biblical context, discusses why our ultimate hope cannot rest in political leaders or earthly kingdoms, and encourages Christian moms to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus—the only King who will reign perfectly forever.

This episode is a beautiful reminder that while our hearts are prone to wander, God’s steadfast love never fails. His patience, mercy, and faithfulness point us again and again to Christ.

In This Episode:

• 2 Chronicles 6–7 explained
• Solomon’s prayer of dedication
• The glory of God filling the Temple
• What 2 Chronicles 7:14 really means
• Psalm 136 and God’s steadfast love
• Why we should not place our hope in political leaders
• The danger of a divided heart
• Solomon’s warning for believers today
• God’s patience with imperfect people
• The Temple and New Testament believers
• Raising children with genuine faith
• Remaining faithful to the Lord for a lifetime

Key Takeaways:

• God’s steadfast love is repeated 26 times in Psalm 136 for a reason.
• The glory of God filled Solomon’s Temple, but God cared most about the hearts of His people.
• Spiritual success today does not guarantee faithfulness tomorrow.
• Christian moms must teach their children to depend on Christ, not merely inherit a spiritual legacy.
• Our hope is not in earthly rulers but in King Jesus.
• God’s patience with sinners points us to the gospel.

For Christian Moms

Have you ever wondered how someone can start so well spiritually and yet drift from the Lord over time? Solomon’s story reminds us to remain humble, vigilant, and dependent upon God’s grace. As we disciple our children and walk with Christ ourselves, we must continually return to the One whose steadfast love truly endures forever.

This episode will encourage you to cultivate a faith that is not built on circumstances, accomplishments, or even spiritual experiences—but on the unchanging character of God.

Resources Recommended:

• Animated visual of Solomon’s Temple
• Bible study resources from Entrusted Ministries

Connect with Entrusted Ministries

Learn more about Bible studies for moms, Christian discipleship resources, and Scripture-rich encouragement for families at Entrusted Ministries

Join us as we help moms study the Bible, build their homes on God’s Word, and raise the next generation to know and love Jesus Christ.

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Commentary, MacArthur Commentary, Spurgeon's Treasury of David

Welcome to The Dwelling Place from Entrusted Ministries.

2

I'm Stephanie Hickox, and our scriptures

for today are 2 Chronicles 6 through

3

7 and Psalms 134, 136, and 146.

4

We'll focus on God's response to

Solomon's prayer of dedication.

5

If we were to look at this passage in

isolation We'd be inspired and encouraged.

6

But when we look at it in the context

of Solomon's life and what will

7

follow for the nation of Israel

8

we're wisely alerted of our need to

be anchored to the Lord Jesus Christ

9

Let's look to the Psalms first.

10

Psalm 134 is the final song of ascent.

11

It's only three verses, all of

which call us to bless the Lord

12

And moving to Psalm 136, this

chapter repeats, " For the steadfast

13

love endures forever," more than

any other passage of scripture.

14

It says it 26 times.

15

We may long to brush past this

repetition, but how much would we be

16

transformed if we truly understood how

steadfastly loving God is toward us?

17

I'll read a few verses from

the beginning and the end.

18

" Give thanks to the Lord for He is good,

for His steadfast love endures forever.

19

Give thanks to the God of gods, for

His steadfast love endures forever.

20

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for

His steadfast love endures forever."

21

It is he who remembered us in our low

estate, for his steadfast love endures

22

forever; and rescued us from our foes,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

23

He gives food to all flesh, for

his steadfast love endures forever.

24

Give thanks to the God of heaven, for

his steadfast love endures forever.

25

Wouldn't this be the sweetest

devotion to do with your kids?

26

Even before they're readers, you could

read that initial line of each stanza,

27

and then they could respond, " For

the steadfast love endures forever."

28

And you can be watching for how

the chronicler weaves in that

29

beautiful phrase as well today

30

now let's turn to Psalm 146.

31

" Praise the Lord.

32

Praise the Lord, O my soul.

33

I will praise the Lord as long as I live.

34

I will sing praises to my

God while I have my being.

35

Put not your trust in princes, in a son

of man in whom there is no salvation.

36

While his breath departs, he

returns to the earth; on that

37

very day his plans perish.

38

Blessed is he whose help is in the God

of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his

39

God, who made heaven and earth, the sea,

and all that is in them; who keeps faith

40

forever; who executes justice for the

oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.

41

The Lord sets the prisoners free;

the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.

42

The Lord lifts up those who are bowed

down; the Lord loves the righteous.

43

The Lord watches over the sojourners; he

upholds the widow and the fatherless, but

44

the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

45

The Lord will reign forever, your

God, O Zion, to all generations.

46

Praise the Lord."

47

Although this is the God who made

heaven and earth He is near and He

48

sees every need We're reminded to not

put our trust in princes or in people.

49

And I think this is a great admonishment

to not put our trust in political leaders.

50

And when I was single, I saw this

as a caution to not hope in love or

51

marriage to fulfill me, and I still

see it as a call to find my fulfillment

52

in Christ first and foremost,

53

and We have That beautiful reminder

once again that the Lord is our help,

54

he repeatedly gives us strength

to do what He's called us to

55

Now let's turn back to 2 Chronicles.

56

Chapter 6 is very similar to what

we already studied in 1 Kings 8.

57

Solomon offered that second

longest prayer in scripture

58

It was lowly and contrite and acknowledged

that as ornate and extravagant as

59

this temple was, it was nothing if

God didn't fill it with His presence

60

In chapter seven, God affirms

He has heard their prayer

61

When fire comes down from heaven

and consumes the sacrifices and the

62

offering, and the glory of the Lord

fills the temple so much so that

63

the priest couldn't even enter it

64

And the people bowed down and

worshiped And what did they say?

65

" For He is good, for His

steadfast love endures forever."

66

Then they sacrificed to the Lord

22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep

67

This seems like so much, but

remember the peace offerings,

68

they were allowed to consume.

69

It's interesting to note the temple was

actually completed, but Solomon waited

70

about seven months until the Day of

Atonement and the Feast of Booths because

71

he knew the people would have a pilgrimage

72

to Jerusalem, they celebrated for

seven days, and on the eighth day,

73

they had the dedication of the altar

74

Eventually he sends them

away joyful and glad of heart

75

Let's begin reading in 7:11 Thus

Solomon finished the house of

76

the Lord and the king's house.

77

All that Solomon had planned to do in

the house of the Lord and in his own

78

house, he successfully accomplished.

79

Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the

night and said to him, " I have heard

80

your prayer and have chosen this place

for myself as a house of sacrifice.

81

When I shut up the heavens so

that there is no rain, or command

82

the locust to devour the land, or

send pestilence among my people-

83

If my people who are called by my name

humble themselves and pray and seek my

84

face and turn from their wicked ways,

then I will hear from heaven and will

85

forgive their sin and heal their land.

86

Now my eyes will be open and

my ears attentive to the prayer

87

that is made in this place.

88

For now I have chosen and consecrated this

house, that my name may be there forever.

89

My eyes and my heart will

be there for all time.

90

And as for you, if you will walk

before me as David your father walked,

91

doing according to all that I have

commanded you, and keeping my statutes

92

and my rules, then I will establish

your royal throne, as I covenanted

93

with David your father, saying, ' You

shall not lack a man to rule Israel.'

94

But if you turn aside and forsake my

statutes and my commandments that I have

95

set before you, and go and serve other

gods and worship them, then I will pluck

96

you up from my land that I have given you,

and this house that I have consecrated

97

for my name, I will cast out of my sight.

98

And I will make it a proverb

and a byword among all peoples.

99

And at this house, which was exalted,

everyone passing by will be astonished

100

and say, " Why has the Lord done

thus to the land and to this house?"

101

Then they will say, " Because they

abandoned the Lord, the God of their

102

fathers who brought them out of the

land of Egypt, and laid hold on other

103

gods and worshiped them and served them.

104

Therefore, he has brought

all this disaster on them."

105

You probably recognize the infamous

prayer, " If my people who are called

106

by my name we often have leaders

pray that for our nation of America.

107

And certainly , the Lord embraces

all who come to Him with humility

108

and turn from sin.

109

But we have to be careful

because this was a covenant

110

promise to the nation of Israel.

111

God has not made those same promises

to America or to any other nation.

112

While we can have hope and we can pray

for our country to honor the Lord we

113

can't apply this promise of healing

to something He's promised our nation.

114

Ultimately, if we put our hope in any

political ruler, we will be disappointed

115

because it's only Jesus Christ who

will reign perfectly on this earth.

116

The peace we're longing for

in this world will not happen

117

until Jesus returns to reign

118

I was pretty shocked to uncover

that it was actually 12 or 13 years

119

after the dedication of the temple

that the Lord appeared to Solomon at

120

night and spoke these words to him

121

My eyes will be open and my ears attentive

to the prayer that is made in this place.

122

For now I have chosen and consecrated this

house that my name may be there forever.

123

My eyes and my heart will

be there for all time."

124

As New Testament believers, we're a

dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

125

2 Corinthians 6:16 tells

us, " What agreement has the

126

temple of God with idols?

127

For we are the temple of the living God."

128

As God said, "I will make my dwelling

among them and walk among them, and I will

129

be their God and they shall be my people."

130

This is such an encouragement, but it's

largely a call to holiness In First

131

Peter chapter three, Peter quotes Psalm

34, but it ensures that this idea of

132

God's eyes and His ears open to us still

applies to us as New Testament believers.

133

" For the eyes of the Lord are

on the righteous, and His

134

ears are open to their prayer.

135

But the face of the Lord is

against those who do evil."

136

In our Chronicles passage, I was so

encouraged that God described David's

137

life as doing all that he had commanded,

keeping his statutes and rules

138

though he failed, the trajectory of

his life was humility and repentance.

139

He course-corrected instead of

continuing to walk in his sin.

140

And I wish we could say the same about

Solomon's life God issued him a thorough

141

forewarning that if the people of Israel

and the king himself didn't stay faithful

142

That God would be quick to destroy this

temple God is to be honored and revered

143

in the hearts of His people, and if

they forsake Him, what is a building?

144

Later, we'll study the end of

Solomon's life and be reminded

145

he did not stay steadfast.

146

In the last couple days, the Lord has

been stirring in my soul, thinking

147

about how someone could do all of this

work of preparing the temple and could

148

issue these incredibly humble prayers,

a king on his knees before the Lord,

149

And that their future would be

marked by a divided heart and

150

turning away from the Lord.

151

I'm truly cautioned to never think

that I myself am beyond temptation

152

This is something we should teach our kids

too, To keep our souls with all vigilance.

153

We should never be comfortable

to just maintain our walk.

154

We should never feel confident in our

own strength to abide with the Lord.

155

We need His help because our hearts

are prone to wander But none of

156

this takes the Lord's by surprise.

157

He knew that Solomon, the man he

was allowing and calling to build

158

his temple, would not be faithful.

159

Can you imagine marrying a man

160

And saying your vows, knowing that

he would later be unfaithful I

161

don't think any of us would do that.

162

Or can you imagine choosing to become

pregnant, carrying and birthing a child

163

All while knowing that they

wouldn't choose Christ?

164

I'm in awe of the Lord's

willingness to use such sinful

165

people to advance His purposes.

166

You and I could read this chapter in

despair if we neglect to remember that

167

in all of our weaknesses and all of the

failings of the characters of scripture,

168

it points to a better King to come.

169

God always knew Jesus would be

His instrument to redeem sinners.

170

We can rejoice in the patience of God

171

To bear with us a sinful man

172

Let's turn to prayer, asking that

the Lord would keep us and help

173

us to stay reverent before Him

174

Heavenly Father, we come before

you knowing how weak we are.

175

We have powerful moments in your Word,

and we walk away confident and encouraged

176

to honor you in all manners of life.

177

And then before we know it, we're being

impatient with our husbands or our kids.

178

We're worrying about health or

finances, or we're being distracted

179

by images on Instagram

and picturesque pins.

180

lead us in paths of

righteousness for your namesake.

181

Be glorified in our lives and

prevent us from being comfortable.

182

Keep us vigilant and alert

183

We know our enemy seeks an opportunity,

and we pray that you would lead us not

184

into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

185

We rejoice that your steadfast

love endures forever, and

186

We pray that our kids, even when

they have the blessings of having

187

a spiritual heritage, that they

would not take it for granted.

188

May they be people after your heart, God.

189

Help them to grasp how steadfast

your love is, and would this

190

lead them to be quick to repent.

191

But also help them to be so

filled up by your goodness

192

that they would be abundantly drawn

to walk in paths of righteousness

193

Jesus, we thank you for what

you've afforded us on the cross.

194

May our eyes be fixed on you.

195

Amen