THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE

PROCLAMATION

“Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before The Lord.  And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep; so the king and all the people dedicated the house of The God.”  2 Chronicles 7:5 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

The words of First and Second Chronicles were written as one book under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Ezra the scribe and priest and historical Bible scholar according to Jewish tradition.  Chapter Four of The Bible Book of Second Chronicles provides the details of the furnishings of the temple which was to be the house of The Lord.  This included a description of the large bronze altar, the large ceremonial cleansing pool and the twelve large oxen that it set upon, the ten candlesticks of gold, the ten tables, one hundred golden bowls, the courts for the priests, the doors of brass, the pots, tongs, and other instruments of gold , the two large pillars at the temple entrance and the wreaths which adorned the chapiters of each pillar. (2 Chronicles 4:1-22)  After the temple was completed, chapter five records that King Solomon assembled the elders, the heads of tribes, and all the chiefs in order to bring the ark of the covenant and place it in the temple.  They placed the ark under the wings of the two cherubims.  When the priests came out of the temple, the people sang songs of praise and thanks while others played instrument, trumpets, cymbals, and harps.  Then the house of The Lord was filled with a cloud and the glory of The Lord filled the house of God. (2 Chronicles 5:1-14)  Chapter six presents the prayer that Solomon prayed unto God for the temple and for the people of God. (2 Chronicles 6:1-42)  In chapter seven Solomon and all of the people offer sacrifices unto The Lord to consecrate and dedicate the temple.  When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifices.  All of the people saw this and bowed down and worshipped. (2 Chronicles 7:1-22)

 

APPLICATION

We need to dedicate or rededicate our temple, our bodies, and ourselves unto The Lord God.  The Lord appeared unto Solomon and said, “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)  This applies to us today because we are His people, believers in Jesus, The Christ, and are called “Christians”.  So, let us confess and believe, (Romans 10:9) and praise The Lord. (Psalm 150:6)