Solomon's Immigration Policy

Most mornings my good friend Matthew Henry and I spend time in the Word, not Microsoft Word, The Word. It can be both interesting and insightful reading the ancient texts and finding applications for today’s problems, all the while enjoying Henry’s 17th century “take” on both personal and world events. 

In 2 Chronicles Chapter 6 and verse 32 it says “Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house; 33 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.”

These words are in the context of Solomon building the temple, the dedicating of it and are from his prayer of dedication.   He has previously mentioned God's certain presence in temple by the cloud with which God filled it.  My friend Matthew says, “He supposed that those who had not called upon God at other times, yet, in their affliction, would seek him early and earnestly. When they are in distress they will confess their sins, and confess thy name, and make supplication to thee.”   He further says, “Trouble will drive those to God who have said to him, Depart.”  Solomon says the temple is the place for you. 

Many things had happened and continued to happen to God’s chosen people both nationally and individually because of their lack of trust in Him. Things like defeat by an enemy, things like it doesn’t rain anymore, things like I’m upset with my neighbor or my brother and I don’t  know to make it right. 

Solomon says, here’s the temple and it’s the place to make things right.  Matthew says, “He supposed that those who had not called upon God at other times, yet, in their affliction, would seek him early and earnestly. When they are in distress they will confess their sins, and confess thy name, and make supplication to thee.”

And then, almost as an “Oh by the way,” he says a few words about “the stranger who is not of thy people”, and there were a lot of them.  Many came as invited laborers and craftsmen in the building of the temple.  But if they were to “come and pray in this house,” if they were to accept the Israelite traditions, if they were to accept Israel’s moral character, then you God should hear their prayer and they could be like us.  Matthew says, “He supposed that strangers would come from afar to worship the God of Israel and to pay homage to him; and this also might reasonably be expected, considering what worthless things the gods of the nations were, and what proofs the God of Israel had given of his being Lord of the whole earth.”  

Matthew insightfully lists some reasons why these “strangers” might want to do this.  One being the “worthless things the gods of the other nations were,” and as we look at where current immigrants come from we see that as certainly true.  They still come, but they come bringing those worthless things with them.  Other reasons are easily missed, for example in v32; “for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm.”  They came for what they could see God was doing among his chosen people and the protection His “stretched out arm” provided.  What an interesting word picture.  Is God’s arm stretched out in welcome or protection?  May I suggest both?  I think Matthew and I can agree on that.

Can we apply this to today?  I think so.  I’d suggest one of the many reasons “strangers” come to our land is the personal protection our constitution and form of government provides although that has taken some staggering hits lately, but they still come.  Do they come because they can see the blessings our nation provides? I hear immigrants who have been wildly successful saying that very thing.  Do they come because they see God working in our nation,” not so much.  That may have been true at some time in the past but few immigrants are going to worship the God of our Founding Fathers when our own people do not.  We have immigration but very little integration.  The people come but prefer to remain attached to their former “gods” and traditions and why not, do they see us as a nation worshipping the God of the universe or the god of the dollar or the god of convenience?

Ultimately God’s purpose for Israel and I believe for our nation is stated in v33;  “that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel.”  Israel failed and so do we.