JESUS CHRIST and HOLY SPIRIT in 2Chronicles

JESUS CHRIST in 2Chronicles

Christ is foreshadowed in 2 Chronicles in much the same way as He is in 2 Kings. First Chronicles 21 (see also 2 Sam. 24) explains that as a consequence for sin, a death plague had broken out against Israel. David buys a piece of property from Ornan on which to make a sacrifice that stops the plague. This site on Mount Moriah was the very place where Solomon would build the temple (3:1). It is possible that this was the very mountain where Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac (Gen. 22:2). In the New Testament, three times Paul refers to believers as the “temple of God” (1 Cor. 3:16, 17; 6:19; Eph. 2:19–22). It is Christ who has purchased the ground for this spiritual temple. It was His sacrifice that delivered us from death (Rom. 5:12–18; 7:24, 25; 1 John 3:14).

HOLY SPIRIT in 2Chronicles

There are three clear references to the Holy Spirit in 2 Chronicles. He is referred to as the “Spirit of God” (15:1; 24:20) and the “Spirit of the LORD” (20:14). In these references, the Holy Spirit was active to give inspired utterances through Azariah (15:1), Jahaziel (20:14), and Zechariah (24:20). This work of the Holy Spirit to inspire people to prophesy is similar to His activity in 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings. See Introductions to 1 and 2 Kings: The Holy Spirit at Work.

Besides these references, many see a picture of the Holy Spirit in 2 Chronicles 5:13, 14 (cf. also 1 Kin. 8:10, 11) at the dedication of the temple. This temple, which was built on a place that was purchased, a place where sacrifice was made for sin, is now filled with the presence of God. In the New Testament, Paul explains that believers are the temple of God, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19).

Finally, there is a possible reference to the Holy Spirit in 18:23. This is a parallel reference to 1 Kings 22:24.