II Chronicles Chapter 5
Please read: II Chronicles 5 –
The temple was finally finished and all that was left for Solomon to do was to bring inside the Ark of the Covenant and the other things that his father David had stored up for the temple including treasuries. I can imagine that this must have been an emotional day for Solomon as he watched his father’s plans and hard work come to fruition. David was not there to see this day, but Solomon and the people celebrated and worshipped exactly in the fashion that David would have had he been there.
Let's Reflect
1. Most people when finished with a building project have very little left over in the way of money. What does the Bible say about the money that was brought into the temple?
2. Solomon could have just had the items that had been held in reserve simply carried inside the temple. Instead, he wanted it to be done in such a way that demonstrated the temple was more than just a finished building project. Who did he invite to come and participate in a proper ceremony of declaring the temple of God now completed?
3. For so many years the Ark of the Covenant and the place of worship of God had been a tent or tabernacle that was continually moving. The temple was now a permanent place where God might dwell with them. To show their deep gratitude to God for all He had done for them, sacrifices were made. How many animals were sacrificed that day?
4. The two tall statues that had been created and covered in gold were placed in such a way that their outstretched wings did what?
5. Verse 10 tells us something interesting. We know that there had previously been 3 items kept inside the Ark of the Covenant. There was Aaron’s staff and a bowl of manna. Perhaps when the Ark had been captured by the Philistines those items were taken, but one item remained. What was it?
6. After the Ark was put in its rightful place in the temple there was a great sound of music. I like the fact that it says that the instruments were played in unison along with the singers. This means that the musicians were trained for this day. How many of the musicians played trumpets? Can you imagine how loud and glorious this would have been?
7. What does the Bible say that the words of the song they sang that day were?
8. What was God’s reaction to all this praise and worship of Him?
Exodus 13:21-22 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
