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The people gave thanks to God (March 18, 2018)

UNIFORM LESSON FOR March 18, 2018
Scripture passage and lesson focus: 2 Chronicles 7:1-9

Rewriting the history of Israel approximately 300 years after the original historical accounts found in the books of Samuel and Kings had been compiled was the difficult task the Chronicler undertook during the fourth century B.C. Using a variety of sources, the Chronicler’s purpose was to create a common identity for Jews who had returned from exile and others who had remained in Judea.

The task of writing history is never objective. It always reflects the perspective and assumptions of the history writer. As we noted last week, the Chronicler selectively rewrote the history of Israel. Beginning with creation and continuing with the reigns of David and Solomon, the story of Israel is a tale of the highs and lows of the covenant people. The persistent theme is that God is the shaper and director of history.

The Chronicler links Israel’s history with the faithfulness of the king. Faithful kings receive credit for righteous leadership and the resulting prosperity and peace while evil kings brought about retribution from God that resulted in defeat and ultimately exile.

Theological emphasis in 1 and 2 Chronicles is placed upon the Jerusalem temple and the important role of the Levites in teaching and leading worship. David and Solomon are presented as the iconic leaders of Israel. The Chronicler highlights their righteous actions while minimizing their shortcomings. Solomon’s prayer of dedication in the restored Jerusalem temple is a model of royal piety. “Let your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation and let your faithful rejoice in your goodness,” Solomon prays.

2 Chronicles 7:1-3 — God’s glory fills the temple
The Chronicler reports that Solomon’s prayer got an instant response from God. The heavens erupted with flames that consumed the offerings on the altar. At the same time, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. What form God’s glory took is not described, but it was so strong that the priests could not enter the sanctuary. It must have been a powerful sense of God’s presence, possibly symbolized by a cloud of smoke as on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:9) or an overwhelming sound (Exodus 19:16).

The prophet Isaiah links the glory of God with God’s holiness. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of God’s glory” (Isaiah 6:3). In that chapter, Isaiah says with a large dose of hyperbole that “the hem of [God’s] robe filled the temple.” Isaiah, like the people described by the Chronicler, had the disorienting experience of a theophany, an appearance of God. The human beings faced with God’s glory bowed to the ground, worshipped God and gave thanks. Their worship praised God: “For God is good, for God’s steadfast love endures forever,” a frequent expression in Chronicles.

2 Chronicles 7:4-7 — The people offer sacrifices
The powerful presence of God inspired the people to respond by offering sacrifices to God. The Chronicler makes use of hyperbole once again by citing extraordinarily large numbers for the sacrifices: 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. In a similar way, large but less extreme numbers are given for the sacrifices offered during the reigns of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:32) and Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:7-9). There were so many animals sacrificed by Solomon that the altar he had provided could not accommodate them. So the festivities were moved outdoors to the courtyard in front of the temple.

The sacrifices formed the main activity of this festive occasion that honored God and marked the dedication of the temple. But there were also other celebratory events with special music provided by a choir of Levites accompanied by the trumpets King David had provided.  As the Chronicler notes, “all Israel stood” in acknowledging God’s goodness to Israel.

2 Chronicles 7:8-10 — The Feast of Tabernacles
The great celebration of the dedication of Solomon’s temple marked a high point in Israel’s life as a nation. The Chronicler had high hopes that those glorious days would return. From the northern border of Israel at Lebo-hamath to the southern border here identified as the Wadi of Egypt, the entire nation rejoiced and praised God. King Solomon sent the people back to their homes “joyful and in good spirits” because of the goodness the Lord had shone to David, Solomon and Israel.

For discussion: A common Presbyterian motto is “soli deo gloria” (to God alone be glory). How would you describe the glory of God? Have you ever experienced it? If so, when and how? What does it mean to glorify God? What aspects of Israel’s worship in the temple do you find attractive and which aspects make you uncomfortable? Do Presbyterians have modern equivalents of priests and Levites?

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