Definition: And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since [the people] began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left [is] this great store.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Chronicles 31:10. It’s a really interesting passage about God’s provision for His people! Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is saying that the Israelites had been giving gifts and offerings to God – they were providing for themselves through these sacrifices. But, over time, they became so comfortable and secure with this provision that they started to enjoy it and didn’t need as much anymore. They were so grateful, they realized they had enough food and resources left over. Let's unpack the parts: “And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok” : This refers to a high-ranking priest in the temple. “answered him…” : Azariah spoke up and disagreed with something the prophet Nathan was saying. “…and said, Since [the people] began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD…” : This is the key part – it’s about when these offerings started. The verse starts with the Israelites starting to give gifts to God. “we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty” : This means they were comfortably satisfied and had a good supply of food. “for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left [is] this great store.” : This is where it gets symbolic. The Lord (God) has blessed His people – meaning He’s pleased with them and provides for them. And, because of their gratitude and satisfaction, they had a large amount of food and resources left over - that's the "great store" part. What does this tell us about God? This verse shows that: God loves His people: It emphasizes that God values and appreciates those who give Him offerings. Gratitude is important: It highlights how grateful we should be for God’s provision. He provides abundantly: It suggests a generous and abundant supply of blessings for us. In short, it's a story about the Israelites’ contentment and gratitude, which shows that they were blessed by God. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss the historical context of this passage? Or maybe explore what this verse might mean for us today in terms of our own relationship with God?