Day 232 Reading Schedule: 1 Chronicles 1-4

1 Chronicles 1: Solomon's Thousand Burnt Offerings and His Wish

[Contents Overview]

This is the first chapter of the first half of the book that deals with the history of Solomon's reign, recording Solomon's ascension to the throne of Israel and the incidental events surrounding it, which are set against the backdrop of Solomon's ascension to the throne and the burnt offering at Gibeon. The first half describes Solomon's seeking of divine wisdom as a means of governance through the burnt offering at Gibeon (vv. 1-12), and the second half describes the resulting wealth (vv. 13-17). The author of this book is fulfilling the purpose for which he wrote it, namely, to give the Israelites returning from the Babylonian captivity a positive overview of the permanence of David's kingdom and the history of the kingdom of Judah in order to foster dreams and visions for the future. Just as Solomon offered burnt offerings to God first, so we believers should put God's glory first in all things, and God's wisdom in all things.

2 Chronicles 2: Preparing to Build the Temple

[Contents Overview]

As a continuation of the previous chapter, which highlighted God's grace in granting wisdom as a means of governance as a matter of faith for Solomon, this chapter describes Solomon's preparation for the work of building the temple. The book is divided into two parts: the first half, a request to Huram, king of Tyre, for craftsmen and lumber (vv. 1-10), and the second half, which records Huram's kind response to the request (vv. 11-18). Solomon's active involvement of Gentiles in the work of building the temple demonstrates that "God is greater than all gods" and foreshadows the future unity of Jews and Gentiles in the kingdom and rule of God.

2 Chronicles 3: Building the Temple in Jerusalem

[Overview]

This chapter has stated the time and place of the foundation of the temple (vv. 1-2), and it records the size of the temple and the construction of the holy of holies and the temple pillars (vv. 3-17). However, this chapter focuses on the construction of two important rooms in the temple, the Holy of Holies and the Holy of Holies, and describes the two pillars that were erected in front of the Holy of Holies, foreshadowing the features of the temple that would be rebuilt. In the book of Kings, the construction of the temple is described in greater detail and more space is devoted to the details of the construction of the temple, whereas this chapter only summarizes the main parts and features of the temple. Furthermore, while the book of Kings records the promises of God and the construction of the temple in parallel, this chapter only mentions the construction of the temple, indicating only the work of the temple at that time. Therefore, this book is characteristically illustrative of the material on the rebuilding of the temple that was presented to the Israelites upon their return from captivity.

2 Chronicles 4: The Making of the Temple Apparatus

[Overview]

Whereas the previous chapters were concerned with the exterior of the temple, this chapter is concerned with the interior of the temple and its utensils, the tools needed for sacrifice. With this intention in mind, this chapter, written with this intention, mainly shows temple utensils made of brass and gold. The making of the bronze utensils in the court (verses 1-6) and the gold utensils are recorded (vv. 7-8), the making of the court gates and floor arrangement (vv. 9-10), and a description of the utensils made by Huram. This appears (verses 11-18) and comprehensively records the temple equipment made by Solomon (verses 19-22). Through the temple instruments, Yahweh clearly showed his people the way to salvation. In other words, the bronze altar and various temple utensils mentioned in this chapter foreshadow the atoning work of Christ who comes as the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world, and the cleansing of the saints' sins thanks to the work of His precious blood.