I am beginning to appreciate some of the distinctions between the Samuels and Kings compared to the Chronicles. Samuels and Kings records many of the Jewish failures, but Chronicles mostly communicates the Jewish history from a hopeful, redemptive perspective.
2:6 But who can really build him a worthy home? Not even the highest heavens can contain him! So who am I to consider building a Temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices to him? ... 3:1 So Solomon began to build the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David, his father. The Temple was built on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the site that David had selected.
Two points. First, God does not dwell in a building. He did for a while for the Jews, but Jesus let Him out of the box and into the hearts of men, which He had designed as His dwelling. Second, the redemptive typology of Christ is rich: our sin caused a plague of death, but it was stopped at Calvary, which is the location of the Apostles (the foundation) of the Church.
Heavenly Father, as my friend John would say, the cinematography that you have woven into history is incredible! Lord, please clean up my life so that you will be pleased with dwelling in me. And, please use me to expand your Church, which is where your presences is realized. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
I wonder if it was indicative of Solomon's future that it took him longer to build his "house" than God's "house." Also, according to the understood arrangement of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) Chronicles was the last book and so it is thought that it was the last to be compiled and completed. I am thankful for the way it does provide more theological commentary on the histories, really because it starts with Adam, its even trying to draw out major emphases from the whole of the OT.
ReplyDeleteTwo other thoughts...when are you going to put that you are a father now in your profile....when are we going to talk?