2 Chronicles chapter 5 reminds me how lasting a father’s influence can be. Consciously or subconsciously, we tend to default to the way we were raised. The behaviors, passions and priorities of a father stay with his adult children for a lifetime. Even the emptiness of no father in the home can have life-long results. The chapter begins with Solomon bringing “in the things his father David had dedicated the silver and gold and all the furnishings and he placed them in the treasuries of God’s temple“. The things a father dedicates in his life are passed on to his children. Fathers can pass on a work ethic, love of learning, laughter, music or money, violence, faith, generosity, even fidelity. But we see a picture here of Solomon making a conscious choice about where to place these treasures. Jesus reminds us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). What treasures have you brought into your temple?
The chapter next describes move-in day. “The Levites took up the ark… and all the sacred furnishings… sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted… 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 cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its carrying poles“. A house does not become our home until we live in it and the Temple was just an expensive building until God’s very presence dwelt there. “The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves… All the Levites who were musicians… The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang“. Notice this preparation was for the hearts of the people, God does not need to be coaxed into fellowship with us. Praise reminds us of God’s holiness. Is God distant from you? Listen to the simplicity of their praise song, “He is good; His love endures forever“.
The chapter ends with a powerful image, “Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God“. God desired to be with His people from the beginning. Exodus 29:45 says, “I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God“. God can and will replace the dedicated things in your heart with newness by His Spirit. Ephesians chapter 3 includes the apostle’s prayer for believers everywhere. “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend… the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God“. Revelation 3:20 reminds us of Gods desire to the end. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me“. Maybe today is move-in day?