April 21, 2020

This chapter of Chronicles is adding to what 1 Kings 7 said about Solomon’s rebuilding of the temple. The author goes into great detail about what is being done. He describes the weight of the gold that lined the temple. He describes the size of the bronze altar. He describes all of these things with great detail. He even tells you which direction in which the gourd (or oxen) figures’ rear ends are facing. Although this may seem like a repeat chapter, or information that is not needed to fulfill the overlaying story, you would be wrong.

There are a couple things to note from this chapter. We are told that God blessed Solomon and his rule with an abundance of wealth and possessions. The people are thriving and the kingdom is doing really well financially. With all of these blessings from God, Solomon decides that he will give the wealth that he was given back to God in the form of the temple. It would have been easy for Solomon to make the temple the exact same way that it was made in the past. He could have made it with the same size, the same amount of wealth, and make it exactly like the old one, but he chose not to. Solomon knew that God had given him all of these things and that God expects us to give back what was given. So Solomon made the altar four times bigger this time and greatly increased the wealth inside the temple as well. 

God has greatly blessed us. I know with what is going on in the world it doesn’t always seem that way, but we are so blessed. God expects us to give back. Whether it be our time, money, resources. We don’t offer burnt sacrifices anymore, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t sacrifice for others.

By: Jacob Kerr — West Campus Pastoral Ministry Apprentice – Students & Worship