I really enjoyed the passage below and saw it as an accurate description and/or definition of a church
18 “But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 19 Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20 May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 21 Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.
Love it! reminds me of this verse too: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” Revelation 21:3 in Christ we have the ultimate way that God dwells with man- in Jesus God answers Solomon’s question with a resounding YES!
Today I was really compelled by Solomon’s dedication. 7 “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 8 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. 9 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’ David wanted so badly to build the temple. And though his heart and intentions were good, it just wasn’t God’s plan for him. David’s obedience to God is such a beautiful reminder for me to adopt the same attitude. Sometimes I have a great idea that comes from a good heart but God says, it’s just not for you. Ultimately I still must choose to obey and trust that His plan is better than mine. Which makes me remember Mary and Martha. Martha wanted so badly for everything to be perfect for her Lord. And though she *thought* her heart was in the right place, it wasn’t. I know MANY of us relate all to well to Martha. Lord, today I ask that you would help me emulate David’s obedience and Mary’s heart and hunger for Your word and presence. You are so good. Always.
Good question. If I recall correctly, none of the old stuff had been plundered. Solomon (well, originally David) wanted to bless The Lord by building a permanent temple, a dwelling for God, and all the items involved. I wonder if the sizes given correspond to the originals during the time of Moses…
I already love the passage about Mary and Martha in Luke. It’s a good reminder for me to start each day with Jesus, that’s where I’m refueled. As a stay at home mom I always feel the pressure (from myself!) to being doing, there’s ALWAYS something that needs to be done. But just being is good and right, too! Anyone else love this reminder? Makes me want to reread Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World!
Somebody please help refresh my memory….in this passage, Solomon is having all new things made for use in the temple (the sea, the basins, the tables, altars, lampstands, etc). But earlier it was said that the Israelites were still using the tent of meeting (and presumably all the original items that had been made in Moses’s time). Did Solomon just want everything to be new and beautiful, or am I getting my timeline messed up and all the original items had been hauled off by enemies at some point?
He was fulfilling the prophecy from David to complete the temple, which I think included all new things. It was supposed to be big and grand in honor of God, so it makes sense that they wanted the best of the best!
2 Chronicles 5
4 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, 5 and they brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The Levitical priests carried them up;
It sounds to me as if all the sacred furnishings were brought from the tent to the temple but that even grander furnishings were made for use from that point forward.
I loved reading Solomon’s prayers for God’s people and for forgiveness. I’m understanding better his great wisdom.
I really enjoyed the passage below and saw it as an accurate description and/or definition of a church
18 “But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 19 Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20 May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 21 Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.
Love it! reminds me of this verse too: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” Revelation 21:3 in Christ we have the ultimate way that God dwells with man- in Jesus God answers Solomon’s question with a resounding YES!
I am Martha. I am often anxious and troubled by many things. I just need to sit at the feet of Jesus…he’s all I need and what matters.
Me too! I pray to be more like Mary!
Today I was really compelled by Solomon’s dedication. 7 “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 8 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. 9 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’ David wanted so badly to build the temple. And though his heart and intentions were good, it just wasn’t God’s plan for him. David’s obedience to God is such a beautiful reminder for me to adopt the same attitude. Sometimes I have a great idea that comes from a good heart but God says, it’s just not for you. Ultimately I still must choose to obey and trust that His plan is better than mine. Which makes me remember Mary and Martha. Martha wanted so badly for everything to be perfect for her Lord. And though she *thought* her heart was in the right place, it wasn’t. I know MANY of us relate all to well to Martha. Lord, today I ask that you would help me emulate David’s obedience and Mary’s heart and hunger for Your word and presence. You are so good. Always.
Good morning! Do verses 32 and33 in chapter 6 foreshadow the inclusion of the Gentiles/spread of the Gospel?
I don’t have an official answer for you, but I came to the same idea when I was reading it!
Good question. If I recall correctly, none of the old stuff had been plundered. Solomon (well, originally David) wanted to bless The Lord by building a permanent temple, a dwelling for God, and all the items involved. I wonder if the sizes given correspond to the originals during the time of Moses…
I already love the passage about Mary and Martha in Luke. It’s a good reminder for me to start each day with Jesus, that’s where I’m refueled. As a stay at home mom I always feel the pressure (from myself!) to being doing, there’s ALWAYS something that needs to be done. But just being is good and right, too! Anyone else love this reminder? Makes me want to reread Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World!
This story touched my heart as well. We need to remember to pause and sit at Jesus’ feet.
Somebody please help refresh my memory….in this passage, Solomon is having all new things made for use in the temple (the sea, the basins, the tables, altars, lampstands, etc). But earlier it was said that the Israelites were still using the tent of meeting (and presumably all the original items that had been made in Moses’s time). Did Solomon just want everything to be new and beautiful, or am I getting my timeline messed up and all the original items had been hauled off by enemies at some point?
He was fulfilling the prophecy from David to complete the temple, which I think included all new things. It was supposed to be big and grand in honor of God, so it makes sense that they wanted the best of the best!
2 Chronicles 5
4 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, 5 and they brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The Levitical priests carried them up;
It sounds to me as if all the sacred furnishings were brought from the tent to the temple but that even grander furnishings were made for use from that point forward.