2 Chronicles 8: 12-15
12 Then Solomon offered up burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of the LORD that he had built before the vestibule,
13 as the duty of each day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses for the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the three annual feasts-the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths.
14 According to the ruling of David his father, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, and the Levites for their offices of praise and ministry before the priests as the duty of each day required, and the gatekeepers in their divisions at each gate, for so David the man of God had commanded.
15 And they did not turn aside from what the king had commanded the priests and Levites concerning any matter and concerning the treasuries.
+++
The completion of the temple marked a new period of history for Israel and the world. My guess is that Solomon was a busy man. Building an enormous temple, along with his own palace takes a lot of time, work, energy, leadership, management, and planning. In these 4 short verses, we see that Solomon didn't forget to instill certain details like the divisions of priests, Levites, and gatekeepers.
I kept feeling drawn back to this verse, but unsure why. On one end, the feasts and Sabbaths and duties of the priests and Levites were given to Israel as foundations and absolute necessities as a nation (that’s a given), but I feel like the Lord is speaking about the necessity of the things that might otherwise seem like "little details." It's probably easy to oversee the building of a temple and slack on little details that are actually very important, like making sure the priests and gatekeepers are all organized and know what they are supposed to do. When it comes to myself, I tend to almost always slack on the details, the "little things."
Solomon was a great leader, especially in this important time for Israel, because he had vision and wisdom, but also knew the importance of the "little details."
Little Details
Mobile Mercy
2 Chronicles 6:12-42 records Solomon’s prayer of the dedication of the temple he has finished building for the Lord, which was started in the heart of David. Repeatedly in this prayer, Solomon emphasizes the temple as a place where God hears the cries and pleas of his people and forgives sin. The temple isn’t meant to be like a retreat or a resort for God to come and stay in and be comfortable and just shower blessings on the people, it’s meant to be a place where God’s justice and mercy shine forth as a house of forgiveness, because “there is no one who does not sin” (v.36).
As soon as this prayer is finished, fire falls from heaven, consuming the offerings, and God’s glory fils the temple so strongly that the priests could not enter. No one could do anything but fall on their faces and worship him. It says that the priests had to just stand at their posts (7:6). After a great feast and a 23-day celebration (with one day of solemnity--the 8th day), everyone goes home with joy and gladness of heart. After this, God comes to Solomon in the night and confirms that he has “chosen this place for (himself) as a house of sacrifice” (7:12).
Just as the house of God in Solomon’s day was a house of sacrifice, so it must be today. In our day, God’s house, or temple, is within the bodies of his people. God’s people must act as his “temple,” a place of forgiveness and justice and mercy. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, appeals for us to present our bodies as “living sacrifices,” which is our act of spiritual worship (12:1). As long as there is sin in the world, there is need of forgiveness. And as long as forgiveness is needed, God needs to provide it, or we’re all lost and without hope.
God’s temple was also open to foreigners. His plan was always for all people to know him and worship him. His temple was open to all, “in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you” (6:33). The temple of Israel was the beacon of hope in the world, as it was the place God had chosen and blessed to be a place on the earth where his mercy and justice and forgiveness was visible and tangible. Now, God’s “temple” is all over the earth, in those who have received his forgiveness and are sealed by his Spirit. God’s gone mobile, wireless. Am I doing what I am meant as God’s temple to be doing?
Lord, I see clearly today that your temple was not just a place of worship and gladness, but primarily a house of forgiveness. This day, may I be a mobile house of forgiveness; knowing your mercy and dispensing mercy, all to make you known. Thank you for your mercy, and for helping me see more clearly my purpose and your will.`
All In
1 Thessalonions 5:12-22
12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies,
21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
+++
Here, Paul clearly shows that there is a certain structure in the church. This letter is to be read to the entire church (v.27), and the instruction in verses 12-13 are for the congregation to respect and esteem the people who are over them in the church. It says to have this attitude even when they admonish you. That's not very popular here in Hawaii. We don't like people to admonish us here. But here, Paul says that this is part of the job description for elders and pastors and leaders.
Then, in the next verse, I find it so interesting that the members of the congregation are called to admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, and help the weak (v.14). Those are things we typically hand over to church staff people or pastors, but Paul clearly says here that this is for everyone to do, not just leaders. It means that all Christians are to get idle people un-idle. All Christians are to encourage those who are downcast, pray for them and counsel them. All Christians are to help those who are weak in their faith. And here's the best part, verse 15 says to be patient with them ALL. We are called to be patient with those who are idle, fainthearted, and weak.
The following verses tell us to always do good, rejoice, pray, give thanks, don't quench the Spirit. Then it says to be open to prophecies, not to reject the fact that the Holy Spirit will do some holy, spiritual, miraculous things; but then Paul says not to be completely gullible and accepting, but to test all things and avoid evil.
I read all these verses and find the Christian life to be full of great spiritual interaction, and interpersonal balance. Often, one or two of these verses from this particular section of Scripture are used to emphasize the hardcore, crazy spiritual stuff in Christian living. But these passages all interlock with one another, emphasizing a life of great generosity, humility, servanthood, wrapped up in a singular devotion to one Lord - Christ.
To this day, I sometimes find myself questioning others in ministry and complaining about an assortment of trivial things; especially this morning. But Lord, you are reminding me, admonishing me even, to follow in the footsteps of my master and live a life worthy of your great love for me. This isn't just a calling for me, as someone who works in the church as a minister; it's for all your people.
