2 Chronicles 4 lists the making of the articles for use in the Temple. Over and over again we read either that King Solomon or Hiram made this item or that. We read of dozens and dozens of items and of one thing we can be sure: King Solomon most likely didn’t make any of the items himself. Hiram oversaw the casting of the items, but he probably did make any of the items himself. When we were completing the construction of the Galaxy at New Life, a number of you said, “You have certainly done a lot of work!” The truth is on that particular building, I didn’t do any work. When we built the first building, I did a good deal of hands on work on the project, but I didn’t do anything on the Galaxy. When such a major project is undertaken, the leader receives credit for “building” it, but the workers are the ones who do the building. It was true in King Solomon’s era, and it is true in ours. Each of you who have prayed for the project or given money toward the project have been part of building the building. In the end, though, God will receive the glory for any good thing that takes place in it, for seeing the project through to completion and putting the building into use. King Solomon would undoubtedly have said the same thing in his day. Let’s acknowledge the many workers who have overseen the project, coordinated the project, and poured and leveled the concrete, nailed the walls and trusses together, installed the wiring and plumbing, and all the details to get the building built. Let’s pray the building will continue to be used to bring God glory and draw more children, teens and adults to salvation in Jesus’ name!
2 Chronicles 5 records the Ark of the Covenant being brought into the Temple. The process involved a great procession, so many sacrifices that the number of animals could not be counted, and eventually the presence of the LORD filling the Temple as the Ark was placed in the inner sanctuary of the Temple. This was a memorable day for every person who saw it. If we fast forward to this moment, something much more incredible is taking place: inside each of us who bear the name of Jesus the presence of the living God lives. While we gather in church buildings or houses to worship with one another, and the LORD’s presence is with us in that, wherever we are, and wherever we go, God is in us and goes with us by His Holy Spirit. Let’s remember to thank God for this amazing reality, and to live in His power every moment of this day, to His glory and praise!
2 Chronicles 6 records Solomon’s dedication of the Temple and his prayer to the LORD. While the entire chapter is significant, let’s focus on Solomon’s humility before the LORD. Before he prayed, Solomon fell to his knees. He was the king of a great nation, and yet he humbled himself before God in prayer. He thanked and praised God for humbling Himself to be with Israel. He prayed for the LORD to respond to the prayers of the people offered in the Temple, or even offered facing toward the Temple, and to do so especially when the people had sinned and repented before Him. Solomon acknowledged the people would sin, and the necessity of repentance for God to respond to our prayers. While we live in a time when Jesus has sacrificed Himself for us and become both LORD and Savior of our lives through His resurrection and return to heaven, we, too, must repent when we have sinned for Him to hear and respond to our prayers. We see this clearly throughout the Bible, but never more clearly than in 2 Chronicles 6-7.
In 2 Chronicles 7 we read God’s response to Solomon’s prayer. The response came in three parts. First, God sent fire and burned up all the sacrifices offered by the people. Second, God’s presence filled the Temple, so that the priests couldn’t even go inside it. Finally, God appeared that night to Solomon and gave him a personal answer to the prayers he offered in 2 Chronicles 6. Significantly, God said, “13When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (ESV) This response of the LORD is quoted often during National Day of Prayer celebrations, and at other times when we focus on God corporately, particularly as He relates to nations. This is a good use of this response. Note the order: 1) the whole people who are called by God’s name; 2) humble ourselves; 3) we pray and seek God’s face; 4) we turn from our wicked ways, or we repent, then God will hear our prayers, will forgive our sins, and will heal our land. We live in an incredibly individualistic culture in America, but as those belonging to the LORD, we must not only pray for ourselves and our own needs, but for our church family, and for our nation. As we do, and as we remember we are God’s people first, as we humble ourselves, as we pray and seek God’s face, and repent, God will hear, forgive and heal us. What an amazing promise! It was true when God spoke it to Solomon, and because Jesus came, lived, died, rose again, returned to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to us, we can be sure it is just as true for us today.
As we turn to Matthew 21, we find Jesus’ ministry is coming to a climax. He enters triumphantly into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday, and the crowds praise Him. He drives the money changers out of the Temple for making it a “den of thieves.” Then, the religious leaders press Him wanting to know where He derives the authority to do the kinds of things He does. Jesus turns the tables on them and asks them where John the Baptist derived His authority? They realized if they said it was from heaven, Jesus would ask why they didn’t believe him, but if they said it was human authority the crowds would turn on them, because they thought John was a prophet. As a result, they said, “We don’t know.” Jesus then responded, “Neither will I tell you where I derive my authority.”
The chapter closes with Jesus telling two parables, each of which points out flaws in the religious leaders. The first was the Parable of the Two Sons. In the parable a man had two sons, each of whom he asked to go work in the fields. The first said he would, but then he didn’t, while the second said he wouldn’t but then he did. Jesus asked which of the sons did their father’s will? The reasonable answer was the second, the one who said, “No,” but then went and worked in the field. Jesus compared the first son to the religious leaders and the second son to the tax collectors and other sinners. In the second parable, the Parable of the Tenants, Jesus told of a landowner who rented his vineyard out to tenants. When it came time for the harvest, the landowner sent servants to get his share of the revenues, but the tenants mistreated them, and even killed some of them. Finally, the landowner sent his only son, thinking they would treat him well. Instead, they killed him, thinking they would keep the proceeds for themselves with the son out of the way. The religious leaders realized this parable was about them, they were the tenants, and Jesus was the son. This caused them to be even more eager to be rid of Him.