In today’s section, we read about:
The duties of the priests, musicians, gatekeepers, soldiers and officials
David’s final instructions to Solomon and the people
David’s gifts for the temple
Solomon becomes king and asks for wisdom
Solomon carried out David’s (and God’s) plan for the temple
The temple is dedicated
Some thoughts from today:
I have been thinking about the repeated references in Chronicles to there being so many able, honest and capable people around eg 26:14. Was it exaggeration, was it genuinely the case, or was it that being in such a time where the leader of the people was so close to God, that the tendency was to see the good in other people?
I like the way there are repeated reference to the way that the rotas were drawn up without reference to age or rank or status r seniority (24:31; 25:8; 26:13)
Why is Gad not listed among the tribes in 27:16-22? 21:6 says Joab did not count the tribes of Levi and Benjamin, so that is not the explanation.
When I first read ch 28, I was wondering what Solomon was thinking as his father told him exactly what to do, and showed him how much had already been done. Was he moaning about the back-seat driver? But then we get 28:19 – ‘“Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the Lord”’.
David’s personal fortune is immense – the gold alone at last night spot price was (by my reckoning, forgive the calculation errors) over US$2.5 billion!!!!!!
All the people joined in freely and joyfully, as they had done when building the tabernacle in Ex 36:6
What amazing perspective in 29:14-15 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.
David has God’s perspective on why being more important than what we do - “O Lord our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honour your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you! I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.” (29:16-17 and also 28:9)
The story of David in 1 Chronicles gives an additional angle on him, after the account in 1 and 2 Samuel. Towards the end of the account in 2 Samuel, David seems a shadow of his former self, and even fatalistic during Absolom’s revolt. But here we get a lot more of the man after God’s heart.
In 2 Chr 1, Solomon asks for wisdom. Miriam pointed out that David prayed for God to grant Solomon wisdom in 1 Chr 22:12, and drew attention to that dynamic, whereby God placed in Solomon the desire to ask for wisdom, at least in part in answer to David’s prayer.
2 Chr 2:1 says “Solomon decided to a build a Temple to honour the name of the Lord”. Did he really have any choice? But it a useful reminder that we do have the ability to choose to do what is right. Adam and Eve could have done that in Gen 2:16-17, just as Solomon had the choice here.
The testimony of Hiram, king of Tyre is great - “It is because the Lord loves his people that he has made you their king! Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given King David a wise son, gifted with skill and understanding, who will build a Temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself.” (2:11-12)
I was struck by the size of the Temple, and how small it is. Our house is 12 metres wide, which is over 39 feet, ie almost a third as wide again as the Temple. It was 90 feet long, whereas our plot of land is 147 long, so the Temple would easily fit in our property! The big difference is the height – even after we get the extension, assuming we ever get the permission to do so.
2 Chr 6:1 puzzled me – when did God say he would live in a think cloud of darkness. This is so at variance with the imagery of God as being surrounded by light.
6:21 – “hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.”
I like 6:32-33 and the picture of all nations being drawn in by the wonder of God and giving Him glory
7:1-10 – it doesn’t get much better than this in this world. God shows his approval and pleasure by fire, the people celebrate for 7 days and then go home joyful and glad before the Lord has been so good!
I am sure there must be a special significance with the dedication of the temple being at Succoth (Festival of Shelters). This festival marks the gathering of the Autumn harvest, and also recalls the goodness of God in sustaining his people while they wandered in the desert for 40 years. The shelters are temporary dwellings, recalled from a now permanent home
One last question following another very astute observation from Miriam. In Ex 16:34 and Heb 9:4, we are told there was a jar of manna in the Ark of the Covenant, along with Aaron’s budded staff (Nu 17:10). But 1 Ki 8:9 says there was nothing in it except the stone tablets God gave Moses on Sinai. Can anyone reconcile these two accounts?
No comments:
Post a Comment