Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Bible Reading Challenge Week 23 Day 2

Our reading challenge for the day is 2 Chronicles 1-5. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?

2 Chronicles 1 - Even as Solomon seeks wisdom from God, he receives not only wisdom but riches. He busily works on a building program even as he enriches himself and the kingdom, taking on more and more of the trappings of other monarchs. What kind of trappings do we take on when God blesses us? Do they end up serving as nets and snares which will . . . well, trap us?

2 Chronicles 2 - God blesses different people with different skills. He brings specialists into contact with Solomon so they can do the fancy work involved in building the temple. We all do well to consider not only the gifts God has given us but also the gifts He has given others.

2 Chronicles 3-4 - There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into this temple. Consider the size of the building. It would fit inside most of our modern church buildings except it is very tall. The temple isn’t a place where people gather to hear the Word of God and worship together. It is a place where they would bring sacrifices which would be offered by the priest and received by God. The corporate life of Israel happens outside of the temple, in the community.

2 Chronicles 5 - The consecration of the temple is full of the praises of God because of his goodness and his everlasting mercy. In God’s presence none can stand. How do we consider God’s presence? Do we approach worship in a reverent way, knowing that when our Lord speaks and appears to his people we cannot possibly stand before him?

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