Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Day 31 of Bible Food


Good morning; today we are reading from 1 Chronicles 24 and we'll finish at 2 Chronicles 7

1 Chronicles 24

 1Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Here is David establishing the sons of Aaron who were to administer the priest office:

 4And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar, and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.

With Aaron and his sons these 24 chief men were the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.  They are the 24 elders in Revelation chapter 4 that had crowns are their heads; we see why; they are rulers of the sanctuary of God and of the house of God.  They are the priest who minister to God forever.  We even know their names.

19These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

What a lot of people don't understand in the bible is that God attempted to set everything up in the beginning; but man failed and disobeyed; so now we are going through a trial process to see who will pass; the wheat growing with the tares and we are applying for positions.  David will be king over Jerusalem an Israel forever (under Jesus); and these 24 sons of Eleazar and Ithamar are going to be chief elders governing the house of God.  You and I have a job as well; it is to be announced.

1 Chronicles 25

We see in this chapter David continues to organize his kingdom; some details we didn't read in the book of kings nor in Samuel.  In some list we just read names; but in others you see they govern the temple as oppose to the sons of Aaron who govern the house of God.  There is a big difference.

We have instrument players and Asaph, who wrote many Psalms with David, being the chief musician.  They had 24 bands of 12 as the lot fell for those who were to do the songs of the Lord: 7So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.  The Lord has 24 elders to minister His Temple and 288 choir members here.

1 Chronicles 26

Here we have the chief porters; men who are conducting the ground work for the House of the Lord.  Don't quote me on if they will minister in the house of the Lord.

1 Chronicles 27

Chapter twenty-seven lays out the men of war in David's fortieth year of reign.  This chapter just gives the details of the mighty men who were set over their men and captains.

1 Chronicles 28

In this chapter, David makes his farewell speech to the people of Israel.  David tells them he had it in his heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building; but the Lord commanded he stop because of his many bloodsheds of being a man of war.

Nevertheless, God has made him king of Israel forever.  If it is forever, David is dead and Israel is scattered so his seed is not even sitting on the throne; that means the Lord is going to recover them and redeem David and other servants of God.  Redeeming them means to resurrect the dead.

David announces Solomon who will take over his throne when he dies.  6And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.  We see here that David did not fully understand that the son to build the Temple will be Jesus, who came out of David's lineage in the flesh.

1 Chronicles 29

So David encouraged the people to be helpful to Solomon for this big task for the Lord.  David talked about all the instruments he dedicated, and the money of his own that he donated to this project, and finally he prayed and Solomon took over.

 26Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.

 27And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

This is very important to know here in first Chronicles chapter 29 because in Luke chapter 1; the angel tells Mary that her child Jesus will reign over Israel forever, and will sit on the throne David said on.  Where did David sit?  That is where Jesus was set.

2 Chronicles 1

Here Solomon is ready to make sacrifices to the Lord and the Lord appears to him asking his what he wants in his kingdom.  And if we remember what he asked for in Samuel; we know it was: 10Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

God granted him riches, long life, and power just for his wisdom to ask for wisdom and knowledge.  Perhaps, we should not pray to God to give us the lotto ticket and maybe give us wisdom and understanding so we can figure out how to make money without worry.

2 Chronicles 2

 1And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.  Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, to send him cedars (as he did for David) to build the Lord an house to dwell there in.

And Huram agreed and blessed Solomon and also blessed the Lord God of Israel for putting it in the mind of Solomon to do this great task.  Solomon put the strangers who lived in Israelto work.

17And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.

 18And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.

First off there were 153,600 strangers living in Israel during Solomon's day and he made them workers in the land or 'bearers of burdens'.

2 Chronicles 3

Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to David, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.  Solomon began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.

He laced the building with gold; and designed it beautifully, and he had the cherubims up and all manner of good works.  Also, this chapter gives us the measurements of the temple as well.

2 Chronicles 4

Chapter four just gives more construction basics.  Not that it is not important, because it made it's way into the bible so it is important.  The seers wrote on it to inform us of how the temple was built and how it looked.  Construction workers should love this chapter.  When we read Ezekiel's book we will see stunning resemblances to the temple to be built when the Lord returns and the one Solomon built.

2 Chronicles chapter 5 

Solomon has now finished the work of the temple and brings all the dedications and vessels into the temple. Then Solomon called all the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, up to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.  

So they all came up during the feast of Tabernacles in the 7th month.  It's important that we remember this took place in the 7th month.  It's the completion of things; and also Jesus will return to this earth on the seventh month of the year.

 4And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark. 

and as they were playing their trumpets and the singers were singing, praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD.  

It was so bad that the priest could not deal with it and had to clear out because God had visited the temple.  I'm sure that was scary at the beginning then you get your composure.

2 Chronicles 6

5Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:

 6But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

Solomon is speaking but it shows he was clearly speaking with understanding and knew that David would rule over these people, Israel.  Solomon continues his prayer; that the eyes of the Lord may be open on this house day and night, upon the place where the Lord said He would put His name; to listen to the prayers, which His people pray towards this place.  Again, this why it is wise to pray facing Jerusalem because the eyes and ears of the Lord is on that place.

Solomon prayed for every circumstance asking the Lord to hear the people when they pray facing the Temple.  42O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.

2 Chronicles 7

 1Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

 2And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.

 3And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

Thus we see that the Lord was there; He showed a wonder to prove to the people He was there and put fear in their hearts, nevertheless, He accepted their sacrifices.

8Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.

 9And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.

So they kept the feast in Solomon's day, the same feast we read of in Leviticus 23 that were written to be done forever.  They even kept the 8th day feast as well; a very significant feast.

11Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.

 12And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.

The Lord appears to Solomon in a dream perhaps and let's him know he has heard the prayer Solomon made.

 13If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

 14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

We have to get some understanding here: the Lord God of Israel says, if my people, who are called by my name, would humble themselves, pray, seek the Lord, turn from wickedness, then God would hear from Heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land.  That is a promise.  

First things first; His people are called by His name.  What name is that?  Israel.  So if you have or had a problem with the name Israel; you are having or had a problem with the Lord's name.

 15Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

 16For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

So the Lord confirms His ears will be open to the prayers sent towards this place, even if the temple is there or not.  And the Lord reiterates the destruction of Israel if they forsake the Lord; and will send them into captivity.  And the people will wonder why these people are in such horrifying conditions; and they will say they forsook their God.

This concludes our reading for today; we'll be back tomorrow.  Notice how David and Solomon had nearly all of Chronicles written of their accounts; and the rest of the kings got a few verses, some wicked me barely received that.  David and Solomon were great men.

--
Peace & Grace

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