◄ 2 Chronicles 6:22 ►
When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple,
Study Bible
When a man sins against his neighbor
This phrase addresses interpersonal conflicts and the moral and ethical responsibilities individuals have towards one another. In the context of ancient Israel, the law given through Moses emphasized the importance of justice and reconciliation among neighbors (Leviticus 19:18). The concept of sinning against a neighbor includes a wide range of offenses, from theft to false witness, and reflects the broader biblical principle of loving one's neighbor as oneself. This principle is reiterated by Jesus in the New Testament (Matthew 22:39).

and is required to take an oath
Oaths were a serious matter in ancient Israelite society, serving as a means to affirm truthfulness and resolve disputes. The requirement to take an oath indicates a formal legal process, often involving a public declaration of innocence or guilt. The gravity of oaths is underscored in passages like Numbers 30:2 and Matthew 5:33-37, where the importance of keeping one's word is emphasized. Oaths were not to be taken lightly, as they invoked the name of God as a witness to the truth.

and he comes to take an oath before Your altar
The altar in the temple was a sacred place where sacrifices and offerings were made to God. Coming before the altar to take an oath signifies seeking divine witness and judgment in the matter. The altar represents God's presence and authority, and approaching it for an oath underscores the seriousness of the situation. This practice reflects the belief that God is the ultimate judge and arbiter of truth, as seen in Deuteronomy 17:8-13, where difficult cases are brought before the Lord.

in this temple
The temple in Jerusalem was the central place of worship for the Israelites and symbolized God's dwelling among His people. Solomon's temple, where this scene is set, was a magnificent structure that represented the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The temple's role as a place of justice and reconciliation is highlighted in this context, as it serves as the venue for resolving disputes and seeking God's guidance. The temple's significance is further explored in passages like 1 Kings 8:27-30, where Solomon acknowledges God's presence and the temple's role in the life of the nation.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
The king of Israel who is offering a prayer of dedication for the newly built temple in Jerusalem. He is seeking God's presence and guidance for the people of Israel.

2. The Temple
The house of God in Jerusalem, built by Solomon as a place for the Israelites to worship and seek God's presence.

3. The Altar
A sacred place within the temple where sacrifices and offerings are made, and where oaths are taken before God.

4. Neighbor
Represents any fellow Israelite or person with whom one might have a dispute or conflict.

5. Oath
A solemn promise or declaration, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one's future action or behavior.
Teaching Points
The Seriousness of Oaths
Oaths are not to be taken lightly, as they are made before God. This underscores the importance of truthfulness and integrity in our interactions with others.

The Role of the Temple
The temple serves as a central place for seeking God's justice and guidance. It reminds us of the importance of having a dedicated space for worship and reflection in our lives.

Conflict Resolution
The verse highlights the need for resolving disputes in a manner that honors God. It encourages us to seek reconciliation and truth in our relationships.

God's Presence in Justice
Invoking God's presence in matters of justice reminds us that He is the ultimate judge. We are called to live righteously and seek His guidance in all our dealings.

Community Accountability
The communal aspect of taking an oath before the altar emphasizes accountability within the community of believers. We are responsible for upholding truth and justice among one another.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of taking an oath before God influence your understanding of truthfulness and integrity in your daily life?

2. In what ways can we create spaces in our lives that serve as "temples" for seeking God's presence and guidance?

3. How can the principles of conflict resolution found in this verse be applied to modern-day disputes within the church or community?

4. What role does accountability play in maintaining truth and justice within a Christian community, and how can we foster it?

5. How do the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 5:33-37 expand upon the understanding of oaths and truthfulness presented in 2 Chronicles 6:22?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 20:16
This verse connects to the commandment against bearing false witness, highlighting the importance of truthfulness in oaths.

Matthew 5:33-37
Jesus teaches about the integrity of one's word, emphasizing that oaths should not be necessary if one's word is trustworthy.

Hebrews 6:16
Discusses the role of oaths in confirming truth and ending disputes, reflecting the seriousness of making vows before God.
Sermons
Divine JusticeW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 6:22-23
The Sevenfold IllustrationT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 6:22-39
People
David, Solomon
Places
Egypt, Holy Place, Jerusalem
Topics
Adjure, Altar, Cause, Exacted, Laid, Lifted, Neighbor, Neighbour, Oath, Required, Sin, Sinned, Sins, Swear, Swears, Takes, Temple, Wrong
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 6:22-23

     5203   acquittal

Library
December the Eighth Judged by Our Aspirations
"Thou didst well, it was in thine heart." --2 CHRONICLES vi. 1-15. And this was a purpose which the man was not permitted to realize. It was a temple built in the substance of dreams, but never established in wood and stone. And God took the shadowy structure and esteemed it as a perfected pile. The sacred intention was regarded as a finished work. The will to build a temple was regarded as a temple built. And hence I discern the preciousness of all hallowed purpose and desire, even though it …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

"If So be that the Spirit of God Dwell in You. Now if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ, He is None of His. "
Rom. viii. 9.--"If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." "But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?" 2 Chron. vi. 18. It was the wonder of one of the wisest of men, and indeed, considering his infinite highness above the height of heavens, his immense and incomprehensible greatness, that the heaven of heavens cannot contain him, and then the baseness, emptiness, and worthlessness of man, it may be a wonder to the …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Eleventh Lesson. Believe that Ye have Received;'
Believe that ye have received;' Or, The Faith that Takes. Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye have received them, and ye shall have them.'--Mark xi. 24 WHAT a promise! so large, so Divine, that our little hearts cannot take it in, and in every possible way seek to limit it to what we think safe or probable; instead of allowing it, in its quickening power and energy, just as He gave it, to enter in, and to enlarge our hearts to the measure of what …
Andrew Murray—With Christ in the School of Prayer

Sanctification.
VI. Objections answered. I will consider those passages of scripture which are by some supposed to contradict the doctrine we have been considering. 1 Kings viii. 46: "If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near," etc. On this passage, I remark:-- 1. That this sentiment in nearly the same language, is repeated in 2 Chron. vi. 26, and in Eccl. …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
or, Gospel Light Fetched out of the Temple at Jerusalem, to Let us More Easily into the Glory of New Testament Truths. 'Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Isreal;--shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out hereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof.'--Ezekiel 43:10, 11 London: Printed for, and sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgate, …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Entire Sanctification
By Dr. Adam Clarke The word "sanctify" has two meanings. 1. It signifies to consecrate, to separate from earth and common use, and to devote or dedicate to God and his service. 2. It signifies to make holy or pure. Many talk much, and indeed well, of what Christ has done for us: but how little is spoken of what he is to do in us! and yet all that he has done for us is in reference to what he is to do in us. He was incarnated, suffered, died, and rose again from the dead; ascended to heaven, and there …
Adam Clarke—Entire Sanctification

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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