As we continue in 2Chr Solomon dedicates the temple in today’s readings. Let’s dedicate our ministry leaders to the Lord’s service. Please support and pray that the Lord blesses them as they serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Chronicles 5:
1 Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the LORD was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, and stored the silver, the gold, and all the vessels in the treasuries of the house of God.
The Ark Brought to the Temple
2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.
3 And all the men of Israel assembled before the king at the feast that is in the seventh month.
4 And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark.
5 And they brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the Levitical priests brought them up.
6 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.
7 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.
8 The cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles.
9 And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day.
10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
11 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves, without regard to their divisions,
12 and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters;
13 and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever," the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud,
14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.
2 Chronicles 6: Solomon Blesses the People
1 Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.
2 But I have built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever."
3 Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood.
4 And he said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying,
5 'Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there, and I chose no man as prince over my people Israel;
6 but I have chosen Jerusalem that my name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.'
7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
8 But the LORD said to David my father, 'Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.
9 Nevertheless, it is not you who shall build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.'
10 Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
11 And there I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with the people of Israel."
Solomon's Prayer of Dedication
12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.
13 Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the court, and he stood on it. Then he knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven,
14 and said, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart,
15 who have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day.
16 Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, 'You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.'
17 Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David.
18 "But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!
19 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you,
20 that your eyes may be open day and night toward this house, the place where you have promised to set your name, that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place.
21 And listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.
22 "If a man sins against his neighbour and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house,
23 then hear from heaven and act and judge your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness.
24 "If your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and they turn again and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house,
25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to them and to their fathers.
26 "When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them,
27 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.
28 "If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemies besiege them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,
29 whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own sorrow and stretching out his hands toward this house,
30 then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways, for you, you only, know the hearts of the children of mankind,
31 that they may fear you and walk in your ways all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers.
32 "Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for the sake of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when he comes and prays toward this house,
33 hear from heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name.
34 "If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name,
35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause.
36 "If they sin against you---for there is no one who does not sin---and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near,
37 yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity, saying, 'We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,'
38 if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name,
39 then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their pleas, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
40 Now, O my God, let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place.
41 "And now arise, O LORD God, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. Let your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in your goodness.
42 O LORD God, do not turn away the face of your anointed one! Remember your steadfast love for David your servant."
Things to think about…
1. 2Chr 5:1 shows that Solomon wanted to honour his father David and he brings out all his father’s treasures that David had dedicated to the Lord. What have your parents entrusted to you spiritually? Are you being faithful with those things? If you are the first to have faith in your family, what legacy are you leaving for your children? Do you have anything you want to leave to your children as something that has been ‘dedicated to the Lord’? The amount of gold and silver that David would left his son Solomon would have been immense. No doubt hundreds of billions in modern currency. The Father gave the Son for us. A worth which is exceedingly and abundantly above anything we could ask or imagine.
2. In 2Chr 5:2-14 Solomon has the Levites and Priests bring the Ark of the Covenant into the ‘Holy of Holies’. At this point only the 2 stone “Law” tablets were inside. Aaron’s staff and the ephod of manna are not here and one wonders where they went, we are not told. The ark represented the presence of God. Look at what also accompanied the ark – lots of loud instruments and those who sung, in unity! Our worship as we sing corporately and our praise are intertwined with the power and presence of God. How is your heart of praise going at this point? Continue to pray for our worship teams. Pray for a heart of praise as we meet on Sunday. Look what happens when God’s people praise His name – 2Chr 5:13&14 ‘the glory of the Lord filled the house’. Pray for His glory to fill your house and the house of the Lord! What does this look like when it happens? Revival is what I am praying for as well as the presence of the Lord in whatever form it takes as we worship corporately together.
3. Solomon recognises the Lord has answered the prayer of David and fulfilled the promise given to him in 2Chr 6:1-11. He acknowledges the Lord’s presence and blesses the people. The Lord chose the house of David and He continues to choose a people of praise today. Solomon acknowledges the Lord has built his house. How is He building His house today? Where is the temple represented today? Where is the ark represented today? It is in the body of Christ, His church and Christ among us in the form and power of the Spirit.
4. Have a look at 2Chr 6:12-42. Solomon prays that God would hear from heaven and forgive when the children of Israel their sin. He prays that the Lord would restore and bless even after the plague has come or the enemies have destroyed. These words were said 500 years before the time of Nehemiah that we looked at in the last two weeks. It’s as if Solomon is prophesying what would happen while he is praying. All of this before the Babylonian captivity of 70 years. Do you believe we serve the same God? What healing needs to occur in Australia? In what areas do we need to ask the Lord’s forgiveness?
5. Is your heart with Solomon’s as he prays in 2Chr 6:41-42? “And now arise, O LORD GOD….”. We are the ones clothed with salvation, we are the anointed ones and we have received His steadfast love! Are you pleading for Him to arise?.
Vision Point for cell groups – Cell groups on break over the school holidays
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Title was “Broken Promises” from Nehemiah 9:1-6
1. Have you ever broken a promise or perhaps someone has broken a promise to you. Were you a Christian at the time? How did it affect you?
2. The wall had been built in 52 days around Jerusalem. Truly miraculous. The people had dedicated themselves to a. give to the temple – tithes offerings b. Keep the Sabbath c. Keep marriages/relationships pure d. Attend to the hearing of the law. How did this go for them? What happened during the 10-12 years Nehemiah was away back in Susa.
3. How are Christians/the church affected by 1. Bible reading 2. Giving 3. Gathering together 3. Christ centred relationships.
4. Pray for prayer points and for each other.
Prayer Points
1. As we celebrated the sacrifice for the Anzacs yesterday let’s pray for peace to rest over Ukraine.
2. Pray for people as they settle into life at CBC.
3. Over 400 flood victims in South Africa. These people are in great poverty as well.
4. Upcoming Australian elections – pray for the Lord’s choice of MP’s.
5. Continue to pray for the flood clean-up as well as the money donated to help.
6. Folk sick with Covid – relief and healing.
7. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
8. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Anzac Day and the freedoms we have because of the sacrifice given by those of those the past and present.
2. Visitors to CBC over the weekend – new people added to the church.
3. God’s word affecting people for Christ
4. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
5. Flood cleanup is restoring communities around Ipswich and Brisbane.
Announcements
1. Service 9:30am – remember to check your duty rosters.
2. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
3. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism question for April...
Q. 2. Where is Christ now? A. In heaven, interceding for sinners and sitting at the right hand of God the Father.
