Slices
Prepare
‘I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart; I will enter his courts with praise.’*
*Leona Von Brethorst, Maranatha! Music, 1976
Bible passage
The ark brought to the temple
8 Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. 2 All the Israelites came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.
3 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark, 4 and they brought up the ark of the Lord and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The priests and Levites carried them up, 5 and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.
6 The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 7 The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its carrying poles. 8 These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. 9 There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.
10 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. 11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.
12 Then Solomon said, ‘The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; 13 I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell for ever.’
14 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned round and blessed them. 15 Then he said:
‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to my father David. For he said, 16 “Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, but I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.”
17 ‘My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 18 But the Lord said to my father David, “You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. 19 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood – he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.”
20 ‘The Lord has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 21 I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.’
Explore
The notes in the ‘Explore’ sections of this series in 1 Kings are written as the diary of a fictional courtier in King Solomon’s court (but look carefully at the Bible passages to check out his accounts!). As he observes, questions and comments on what he sees happening in Solomon’s life, he tries to discern God’s hand at work – and challenges us to do the same in our families, churches, communities and societies.
‘Jerusalem is heaving with people, come to celebrate the Festival of Shelters, thanking God for the harvest and remembering our ancestors travelling through the wilderness. In every available space people have built shelters and there is a buzz of noise as the people cook, eat and sleep in their temporary “homes”.
‘Solomon decided to use this occasion to bring the Ark of the Covenant into its new permanent home. With crowds of people around, the king, the tribal chiefs and the heads of families followed the priests carrying the Ark into the Temple. All the available priests were making countless sacrifices to the Lord.
‘The priests carried the Ark into the Most Holy Place and – as they withdrew – a cloud filled the whole Temple! Those of us watching in awe were reminded of the pillar of cloud, leading our ancestors through the wilderness. Could this actually be God himself coming to inhabit his new home on earth?
‘Solomon, inspired by this sign of God’s presence, turned to the people and reminded them of the promises God has made to our nation. God has been faithful, keeping his promises. I can’t imagine our nation ever being anything but faithful to God in return!’
Respond
What promises has God made to you personally? Which have already been fulfilled, and which are you still waiting for? Praise God that he is trustworthy.
Deeper Bible study
Lord, fill this place where I am now with your presence and majesty. Reveal your glory through your Word.
Whenever we have moved to a new home and a new base for ministry, we have been blessed by the effort that church volunteers have put into making the house suitable for the needs of our family and our ministry. There is a sense, though, that the house will only really become our home when we move in.
Here, the culmination of this incredible building project is reached, not with a final piece of construction, but with God, who it has all been for, coming to take up residence. The moving of the Ark of the Covenant in the sight of the people is the ultimate reminder that this Temple is a house of the Lord and for the Lord. It changes from being an ornate building to being a holy Temple at the point when the Lord’s presence fills the place. This residence is represented by the presence of a thick cloud – a common image in the Old Testament of God’s presence with the people.
Solomon then reminds the people that, although he has built the Temple, its creation and establishment is a fulfilment of the promise given to his father David.1 This prompts us to reflect on the nature of God’s work. God graciously invites human beings to partner in his work and, as he works through our skill and experience and adds inspiration and guidance, his work is established with the aid of our efforts. Solomon is correct when he says that he has built the Temple, but the success of the project overall is testament to the faithfulness of God in keeping his promise to David. It is always important for us to ensure that we don’t try to take credit for that which God has done, even if, in his grace, he chooses to use us in that work.
Lord, thank you for the privilege of being invited to share in your work. Please show me now where I can be of most use to you.
1 2 Sam 7
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 1 Kings 3–5; 1 Corinthians 11
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for the work of Local Mission Partner Gobaith Môn in the secondary schools in Anglesey and openness from the students to hear and receive the good news.
