Dear friends,
2 Chronicles 5 is about the dedication of the 1st Temple of Israel situated in Jerusalem. What can we learn from this chapter with regards to praising and worshipping God?
First, the leaders of the church must be an example of all the believers.
2 Chronicles 5:2 says, “Then Solomon summoned to 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.”
If you volunteer to become a leader of the church, you have to accept the responsibility and accountability that comes with it.
Second, as Christians we have to make sacrifices.
2 Chronicles 5:6 says”…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.”
For the Israelites in the Old Testament they used the sheep and cattle to be the sacrifice. They have to pay it for themselves.
The point is that there will be a lot of times that we will make sacrifices for the sake of the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have made sacrifices before, and we should continue to do so.
Going to church is a sacrifice. Why? You could do the laundry. Practicing in the choir is sacrifice. You could go to the mall and just hang out. Giving an offering is a sacrifice. Why? It could be added to your daily budget.
Third, the study of the Word of God must be the primary focus of the church.
2 Chronicles 5:7 says, “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.”
The preaching of the pastor could be of help to the people but it is not a substitute to the Word of God. The singing of the choir can enhance the worship experience but it is not a substitute to the Word of God.
The church is here to remind each one of us to read the Word of God, and to live out what the Word of God is telling us.
May God bless us all!
Sincerely,
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on