Year 1, Week 46, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 46, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Chronicles 5.

Today’s reading, which is a part of a segment that will end in 2 Chronicles 7, records the Temple dedication. The parallel historical account for this segment is 1 Kings 8-9, which we began looking at in yesterday’s reading. 2 Chronicles 5 notes the arrival of the Ark to the Temple: “Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ houses of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion” (2 Chronicles 5:2). It follows up the placement of the Ark in the Temple with the glory of the LORD filling the Temple: “the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God” (2 Chronicles 5:13b-14). But unlike the parallel account in 1 Kings 8, the Chronicler specifically adds the role that the priestly musicians played in connection with the glory of the LORD descending on the Temple.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the role that the musicians played in the Temple dedication: “And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves, without regard to their divisions, and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever” (2 Chronicles 5:11-13a). The Temple dedication account from 1 Kings has no mention of the musicians. The Chronicler has already given much attention to the priestly musicians by way of their structure and function in Israel’s worship, so it should come as little surprise that we see a report of their actual work on the day that the Temple began operation. The musicians played a key role as the Ark was brought into Jerusalem (see 1 Chronicles 15-16), and they played an important role on Temple dedication day as well.

The Chronicler specifically links the descending of the LORD’s glory with the ascending of the songs that the priestly musicians led out in: “and when the song was raised,…the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God” (2 Chronicles 5:11-14). There was a clear link between the presence of the LORD and their singing praises: “Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!” (Psalm 9:11); and : "Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3). I would suggest that it was not the singing per se that was the cause in an ultimate sense of the glory of God filling the Temple, but neither would we be correct if we do not acknowledge that the singing was an instrumental correlation. The LORD, who alone decides where and when to manifest His glory, is not manipulated by singing, but He sure does love to hear the singing of His people: “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” (Psalm 100:1-2). It is as if the LORD is pleased to come in closer as He hears His people singing. But it is not all singing that the LORD loves: “Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen” (Amos 5:23). So, at a more foundational level, I would offer the observation that as the LORD’s glory was filling the Temple, He was simultaneously filling the hearts of His people so that they overflowed in songs of praise, as that same glory was filling the Temple. With this observation in mind, it is not musical interest and talent that forms singing God’s praise; it is the presence of God and moves us to sing: “but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” (Ephesians 5:18b-19). Thus, it is not really about whether a person is a “singer” or not, but whether the Spirit is controlling a heart.

The particular song that the singers sang was simple but focused upon the LORD: “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever” (1 Chronicles 5:13). The Psalms, Israel’s hymnbook are filled with this stanza. It is found in Psalms 100:5; 106:1; 107:1; 118:1, 29; and in Psalm 136 it is stated in the only verse and becomes the repeated chorus for a total of twenty-six times as it couples with instances of God’s particular goodness and steadfast love. The repeating should not be judged a mere vain repetition, but as an earnest, focused devotion of gratitude to the LORD: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1-3). The presence of the LORD creates such earnest, focused, devotion of gratitude.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe