Day 233 Reading Schedule: 2 Chronicles 5-7

2 Chronicles 5: The building of the Temple, Onaggon, and the Placing of the Ark of the Covenant

[Contents overview]

The author of this book continues to record the events of the temple's dedication after its completion, beginning in chapter 5 and continuing through chapter 7. This chapter references the most glorious scene of Solomon's reign. In this context, the events related to the ark of the covenant are described in this chapter: the bringing of the ark of God from the city of David to the temple in Jerusalem and its placing in the holy of holies. The chapter consists of a restatement of the completion of the temple (v. 1), the bringing of the ark of the covenant into the temple (vv. 2-10), and a description of the fact that God was present in the temple and with Israel when the ark arrived in the holy of holies (vv. 11-14). Indeed, the placing of the Ark of the Covenant is not only central to the dedication of the Temple, it is the most defining event. It is only when the ark of the covenant is fully placed in the holy of holies that it can be called the temple of the Lord.

2 Chronicles 6: Solomon's Prayer for the Dedication of the Temple

[Contents]

In this chapter, Solomon's faith as ruler of Israel is demonstrated as he completes and dedicates the temple to God. Throughout the book, the author makes it clear that God is with Israel through the temple. These chapters include Solomon's confession that the temple is God's eternal dwelling place, his testimony of God's guidance in the motivation and context of its construction (vv. 1-11), and Solomon's lengthy prayer (vv. 12-42). This prayer can be broadly divided into a prayer for kingship and a prayer of priestly intercession. The first, the prayer for kingship, includes praise for God's faithfulness in the building of the temple and a plea for the preservation of David's kingship. The priestly prayers are then divided into seven headings: introductory and main prayers. It also includes a concluding prayer. We can see from this chapter that Solomon was a man of faith who was used by God for His work.

2 Chronicles 7: God's Answer to the Prayer of Consecration

[Outline]

This chapter can be divided into three parts according to its content and chronological sequence. Firstly, God's answer by fire and the dedication of the temple (vv. 1-7), secondly, the observance of the feasts (vv. 8-11), and finally, Jehovah's answer to prayer (vv. 12-22). This chapter teaches us that God's manifestation and greatness were proclaimed through the temple and that the establishment of the Feast of Tabernacles was not Solomon's initiative, but the people's.