What I Noticed Today (2 Chronicles 4-6)
2 Chronicles 4
2 Chronicles 4 lists some of the major elements that went into furnishing the temple.
In verses 1-6, Solomon had the bronze altar and the bronze sea made (some Bibles say “reservoir”). The large sea held 3,000 baths (about 18,000 gallons, more than the average backyard swimming pool), was placed on top of four bronze oxen.
In verses 7-11, there were golden lampstands, tables, pots, shovels, and basins all made of pure gold or cast bronze.
Note: The “priest’s courtyard” referred to in verse 9 would be the “inner courtyard” described in 1 Kings 6:36. The “large courtyard” was the “great courtyard” described in 1 Kings 7:12.
In verses 12-18, Huram (see 2 Chronicles 2:13) made all the cast bronze elements for the Lord’s temple in the Jordan Valley (about 35 miles north of the Dead Sea).
In verses 19-22, all the items Solomon had made for the Lord’s temple in gold or bronze are summarized again.
2 Chronicles 5
2 Chronicles 5 describes Solomon gathering all the elders and leaders of Israel to bring the Ark of the Covenant and install it in the temple.
In verse 1, Solomon had all the consecrated elements of the Lord’s temple that had been made and had them placed in the temple treasury.
In verses 2-14, Solomon assembled all the leaders of Israel in Jerusalem to witness bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the Lord’s Temple.
- The Levites carried the Ark and all the temple furnishings and placed them inside the temple.
- Solomon and the people sacrificed animals to dedicate the temple.
- Musicians sang praises of thanksgiving to the Lord.
- When everything was in place, the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
2 Chronicles 6
2 Chronicles 6 is comprised of Solomon’s prayer of blessing over the people of Israel, and his prayer of dedication of the temple.
In verses 1-11, Solomon blessed the people of Israel by retelling the story of how God had selected the Israelites from among all the peoples, brought them out of Egypt, and how God had chosen Jerusalem in which to build His house. Now, Solomon stood before them having fulfilled God’s promise to allow him to build the Lord’s house.
In verses 12-42, Solomon continued with a prayer to dedicate the temple.
- He humbled himself before all the people by kneeling on a platform with his hands raised to heaven (vv. 12-13).
- Solomon asked God to fulfill his covenant promises made to his father, David, and to help the people through various trials and to forgive them when they sinned (vv. 14-31).
- Solomon asked God to even hear the prayers of the Gentiles so that Israel could be a blessing to all nations (vv. 32-39).
- Finally, Solomon prayed for God to forgive the future sins of the nation Israel (vv. 40-42).
Note: I counted six times in this chapter when Solomon asked God to hear the prayers of His people and forgive them when they repented of their sins.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- God’s house was finished, with all the fixtures dedicated and in place, but it was still empty until the singers praised the Lord, and only then did God’s glory fill His house. God’s presence today does not depend on the physical building but on the hearts of His people who come before him in worship. It saddens me that many of God’s children today see little value in worshipping God. They come late to the service, just in time to hear the pastor’s message, but miss the opportunity to prepare their hearts to be in the presence of the Lord.
- It is a beautiful thing when a leader humbles himself before the Lord in public and prays for the nation, the people, and for himself as their leader. I wish there were leaders today who had the courage to stand before the people today, humble themselves and offer prayers to the Lord on behalf of the nation!
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
