Dwell in Our Midst; 2 Chronicles 6-7

May the mumbling commence!

A recurring refrain in Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the temple is that the heavens are the dwelling place for God (2 Chronicles 6:21, 30, 33, 39).  This refrain builds up to the end of the chapter and culminates in the sung invitation for the Name of the Lord to dwell in the temple.  This invitation is recorded only in 2 Chronicles – not in 1 Kings.  It is another example of the attention to detail so that rightful worship can be restored among the returning exiles.    Read the invitation below from 2 Chronicles 6: 41-42 –

“Now arise, O Lord God, and come to your resting place,

you and the ark of your might.

May your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation,

may your saints rejoice in your goodness. 

O Lord God, do not reject your anointed one.

Remember the great love promised to David your servant."   

Yes, O Lord, come to dwell among your people.  Though we no longer have the Ark of the Covenant, we still crave your presence.  Clothe us with your salvation so that we may rejoice before all creation of your goodness.  We, too, want you to remember your promises.  We desire the stamp of your approval on our efforts to praise you – just like the stamp that you gave Solomon at the beginning of 2 Chronicles 7.  Read verses one to three below:

When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.  The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it.  When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, "He is good; his love endures forever."

Fire from heaven came down and consumed the sacrifices of Solomon.  This stamp of approval inspired worshipful awe from all the people.  The refrain that the priests had started in 2 Chronicles 5 that we read yesterday is repeated by all people.  May it be so with us!  Let us proclaim that God is good, all the time.  His love endures forever.

And let us extend this love to those foreign to us, just as Solomon prayed in the dedication of the temple.  Read from 2 Chronicles 6:32-33 –

As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm – when he comes and prays toward this temple,  then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.

Even those foreign to Israel were included in Solomon’s prayer for the temple dedication.  Those foreign to us also have access to the same God, so let’s welcome them.

Enough mumbling for today…

Peace Out