2 Chronicles 1:1-6: a reflection

1Solomon the son of David was firmly established in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and made him exceedingly great. 2Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households. 3Then Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for God’s Tent of Meeting was there, which the LORD’s servant Moses had made in the wilderness. 4But David had brought God’s ark up from Kiriath Jearim to the place that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. 5Moreover the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was there before the LORD’s tabernacle; and Solomon and the assembly were seeking counsel there. 6Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the Tent of Meeting, and offered one thousand burnt offerings on it.

As Solomon begins his reign, established in his kingdom and made great by God, the first thing recorded of him is not a display of his own power, but an act of seeking God. He gathers all Israel and goes up to the tabernacle at Gibeon, to the altar before the LORD, and there offers a thousand burnt offerings, seeking God before all else. Before he asks for anything, before he undertakes the work of his reign, Solomon seeks God and worships him abundantly. He puts the seeking of God first, before all his other undertakings.

Notice what Solomon does first: he seeks God and worships him before all else. Newly established as king, with a kingdom to run and much to do, Solomon's first recorded act is to gather the people and seek God at the altar, offering abundantly. He does not plunge first into the work, or ask God for what he needs, before seeking and worshiping him; he puts the seeking of God first. His reign begins not with a display of his own greatness, but with worship, seeking God before undertaking anything else. He sought God first, and worshiped him abundantly, before all his other business.

That is worth taking to heart, for we do well to seek God first, before all our other undertakings. We can plunge first into our work and business, seeking God only afterward if at all, or coming to him only to ask for what we need; but Solomon sought God first, worshiping him before undertaking anything else. There is wisdom in putting the seeking of God first, before we plunge into our work. Do not plunge into your work and business, seeking God only afterward or only to ask for things; seek him first, worshiping him before all else, as Solomon did at the altar. Seek God first, before your other undertakings, worshiping him before you plunge into your work, as Solomon gathered the people to seek God at the altar before all else; for there is wisdom in putting the seeking of God first, and a reign, and a life, does well to begin with worship rather than with our own business.

Lord, as Solomon begins his reign, established in his kingdom and made great by you, the first thing recorded of him is not a display of his own power, but an act of seeking you. He gathers all Israel and goes up to the tabernacle at Gibeon, to the altar before you, and there offers a thousand burnt offerings, seeking you before all else. Before he asks for anything, before he undertakes the work of his reign, Solomon seeks you and worships you abundantly. Show me what Solomon does first: he seeks you and worships you before all else. Newly established as king, with a kingdom to run and much to do, his first recorded act is to gather the people and seek you at the altar, offering abundantly. He does not plunge first into the work, or ask you for what he needs, before seeking and worshiping you; he puts the seeking of you first. His reign begins not with a display of his own greatness, but with worship. Take that to my heart, for I do well to seek you first, before all my other undertakings. I can plunge first into my work and business, seeking you only afterward if at all, or coming to you only to ask for what I need; but Solomon sought you first, worshiping you before undertaking anything else. There is wisdom in putting the seeking of you first. Keep me from plunging into my work and business, seeking you only afterward or only to ask for things; help me seek you first, Lord, worshiping you before all else, as Solomon did at the altar.