Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:05.759
Let's turn our attention now to God's
word in second chronicles, chapter two.
2
00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:15.189
Second Chronicles, Chapter Two, second
chronicles, chapter two. Now Solomon purpose
3
00:00:15.310 --> 00:00:20.230
to build a temple for the name
of Jehovah and a Royal Palace for himself.
4
00:00:21.109 --> 00:00:26.379
And Solomon assigned seventy thousand men to
bear burdens and eighty thousand to quarry
5
00:00:26.460 --> 00:00:32.179
in the hill country and three thousand
six hundred to oversee them. And Solomon
6
00:00:32.219 --> 00:00:37.409
sent word to Hiram, the king
of Tire, as you dealt with David,
7
00:00:37.450 --> 00:00:41.090
my father, and send him Cedar, to build himself a house to
8
00:00:41.130 --> 00:00:45.770
dwell in. So deal with me. Behold, I am about to build
9
00:00:45.810 --> 00:00:49.850
a house for the name of Jehovah, my God, and dedicate it to
10
00:00:49.890 --> 00:00:55.000
him for the burning of incense of
sweet spices before him and for the regular
11
00:00:55.079 --> 00:01:00.479
arrangements of the showbread and for burnt
offerings morning and evening on the sabbaths and
12
00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:04.670
the new moons and the appointed feasts
of Jehovah, our God, as ordained
13
00:01:04.709 --> 00:01:10.349
forever for Israel. The House that
I am to build will be great,
14
00:01:11.189 --> 00:01:15.469
for our God is greater than all
gods. But who is able to build
15
00:01:15.469 --> 00:01:19.379
him a house? Since Heaven even
highest heaven cannot contain him. Who Am
16
00:01:19.420 --> 00:01:23.099
I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings
17
00:01:23.180 --> 00:01:29.780
before him? So now send me
a man skilled to work in gold,
18
00:01:30.140 --> 00:01:36.049
silver, bronze and iron and in
purple, Crimson and blue fabrics, trained
19
00:01:36.090 --> 00:01:40.250
also in engraving, to be with
the skilled workers who are with me in
20
00:01:40.370 --> 00:01:45.650
Judah and Jerusalem, whom David,
my father, provided. Send me also
21
00:01:45.769 --> 00:01:51.120
Cedar Cyprus and Algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know
22
00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:55.560
how to cut timber in Lebanon,
and my servants will be your with your
23
00:01:55.640 --> 00:02:00.359
servants to prepare timber for me in
abundance, for the House that I am
24
00:02:00.439 --> 00:02:05.310
to build will be great and wonderful. I will give for your servants,
25
00:02:05.670 --> 00:02:09.949
the Woodsman Who Cut Timbers, Twentyzero
Corps of crushed wheat, Twentyzero corps of
26
00:02:10.030 --> 00:02:17.460
barley, twentyzero baths of wine and
twentyzero baths of oil. Then Hiram,
27
00:02:17.580 --> 00:02:22.180
the king of tire, answered in
a letter that he sent to Solomon.
28
00:02:23.460 --> 00:02:29.300
Because Jehovah loves his people, he
has made you king over them. Hiram
29
00:02:29.340 --> 00:02:34.409
also said, blessed be Jehovah,
God of Israel, who made heaven and
30
00:02:34.610 --> 00:02:38.210
earth, who has given King David
a wise son, who has discretion and
31
00:02:38.409 --> 00:02:45.000
understanding, who will build a temple
for Jehovah and a Royal Palace for himself.
32
00:02:46.280 --> 00:02:50.719
Now I have sent a skilled man
who has understanding, who Ram Abi,
33
00:02:51.479 --> 00:02:53.639
the son of a woman of the
daughters of Dan, and his father
34
00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:58.990
was a man of tire. He
is trained to work in gold, silver,
35
00:02:59.229 --> 00:03:02.150
bronze, iron stone and wood,
and in purple, blue and Crimson
36
00:03:02.310 --> 00:03:07.270
Fabrics and fine linen, and to
do all sorts of engraving and execute any
37
00:03:07.389 --> 00:03:13.219
design that may be assigned him with
your craftsman, the craftsman of my Lord
38
00:03:13.340 --> 00:03:16.219
David, your father. Now,
therefore, the wheat and barley, oil
39
00:03:16.300 --> 00:03:20.860
and wine of which my Lord has
spoken, let him send to his servants
40
00:03:21.419 --> 00:03:24.219
and we will cut whatever timber you
need from Lebanon and bring it to you
41
00:03:24.419 --> 00:03:30.129
and rafts by sea to Joppa so
that you may take it up to Jerusalem.
42
00:03:30.210 --> 00:03:35.250
Then Solomon counted all the resident aliens
who were in the land of Israel
43
00:03:35.289 --> 00:03:38.169
after the census of them that David, his father, had taken, and
44
00:03:38.250 --> 00:03:43.879
there were found a hundred and fifty
three thousand six hundred Seventyzero of them.
45
00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:47.639
He assigned to bear burdens, eightyzero
to corry in the hill country and three
46
00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:53.800
thousand six hundred as overseers to make
the people work. You may be seated.
47
00:03:57.750 --> 00:04:02.310
I find it very easy to imagine
myself in this kind of situation,
48
00:04:02.830 --> 00:04:08.430
not me as any kind of particular
character, but everything is so detailed here,
49
00:04:09.110 --> 00:04:14.460
the Inns, the letters between these
two kings, of it all makes
50
00:04:14.819 --> 00:04:19.459
a lot of sense. You can
imagine similar building projects being done various kinds
51
00:04:19.500 --> 00:04:24.689
of trap and Trans Actions. Even
today we do these kinds of things.
52
00:04:25.329 --> 00:04:29.569
For example, if you were to
go and and build a big house or
53
00:04:29.610 --> 00:04:32.329
a big project or even just a
general remodel of your home, you might
54
00:04:32.370 --> 00:04:39.680
hire a general contractor, and it
seems that that's something of what Solomon is
55
00:04:39.800 --> 00:04:44.680
asking for. He writes to hire
them and he says I need someone who's
56
00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:49.160
skilled not in any one thing but
in everything, and it's interesting too that
57
00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:55.069
he seeks this from him. We
might come back to that later, but
58
00:04:55.149 --> 00:04:59.230
anyway, all of these details as
we see them, as grand as they
59
00:04:59.230 --> 00:05:04.310
are, it's clear to us what's
going on here. Solomon says it himself.
60
00:05:04.350 --> 00:05:12.540
He's purposed to build a temple and
all these things. There's many different
61
00:05:12.579 --> 00:05:17.459
lessons and things we might see.
We might consider God's keeping his promises.
62
00:05:18.220 --> 00:05:24.009
The promises he made David back in
first chronicles seventeen are being fulfilled here in
63
00:05:24.050 --> 00:05:29.209
this very real way. We also
see here in second chronicles to a great
64
00:05:29.329 --> 00:05:34.959
demonstration of the wisdom that God has
blessed Solomon with as he organizes his resources,
65
00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:40.439
in the way that he writes his
letter and deals with this foreign king,
66
00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:45.000
in the work correspondence that goes back
and forth. We even read hire
67
00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:54.189
Ms Profession of God's blessing on Solomon
and his wisdom. What I want to
68
00:05:54.230 --> 00:05:59.910
focus on particularly this evening, though, is worship, the worship that is
69
00:06:00.029 --> 00:06:04.100
being established here, because ultimately that's
what the temple is about, that's what
70
00:06:04.300 --> 00:06:10.699
Solomon is after. He says he
purposes to build a temple for the Lord,
71
00:06:10.779 --> 00:06:15.100
but he says, of course,
I'm not doing this to contain God
72
00:06:15.379 --> 00:06:20.370
somehow, because God dwells outside of
temples, above the highest heaven. He
73
00:06:20.850 --> 00:06:27.930
can even the highest heaven cannot contain
him. He has in mind probably the
74
00:06:28.129 --> 00:06:31.050
stars. To speak of the heavens, is sort of the clouds and sky,
75
00:06:31.290 --> 00:06:36.199
the sort of area just most directly
above the earth and then even above
76
00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:42.319
that, the scars, the Stars
and the highest heavens. Solomon says,
77
00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:46.990
as far as you can see,
even the greatest expanses that we know they
78
00:06:47.069 --> 00:06:51.230
can't contain God. So I'm not
trying to build a house for that.
79
00:06:51.310 --> 00:06:56.790
I'm trying to build a house for
him, he says, so that I
80
00:06:56.949 --> 00:07:01.980
can dedicate it to him, for
the burning of offerings and incense, for
81
00:07:02.060 --> 00:07:08.819
the celebration of faces and festivals.
He says. I build to him a
82
00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:14.579
house as a place to make offerings
before him. It's a place for worship.
83
00:07:16.689 --> 00:07:24.050
When we considered in Romans, in
our morning services, the worship of
84
00:07:24.209 --> 00:07:30.639
Israel, we talked about how worship
was expressed in Israel in various ways,
85
00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:35.360
and we see some of that here. Explicit things I'm being mentioned, but
86
00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:40.600
one of the things to notice,
I want to mention three this evening,
87
00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:46.589
is that worship was about devotion to
God, first and foremost. I'm second,
88
00:07:46.709 --> 00:07:53.750
worship was central to all of life
and third, worship in Israel was
89
00:07:54.110 --> 00:07:59.660
also for the world. And these
three things come out in various ways in
90
00:07:59.779 --> 00:08:03.699
this chapter, ways in which we
come to understand what it was God was
91
00:08:03.779 --> 00:08:09.060
establishing in Israel. Under Solomon what
kind of worship he was establishing in that
92
00:08:09.220 --> 00:08:15.930
place. The first thing is that
it worship was about devotion and honor and
93
00:08:16.129 --> 00:08:20.850
fear of the Lord, to Yah
Way, to God, the God of
94
00:08:20.009 --> 00:08:24.689
Israel. We see this in verse
one. It was a temple, not
95
00:08:24.889 --> 00:08:28.439
in Solomon's name or the name of
some moon God or something else. It
96
00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:35.559
is in the name of the Lord
Jehovah or Yah Way. We also see
97
00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:39.120
that in verse four when he says
I build a house in the name of
98
00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:41.429
the Lord, my God, and
I'm going to dedicate it to him.
99
00:08:41.470 --> 00:08:46.470
That's what this is for. David
had a house. Solomon will build a
100
00:08:46.549 --> 00:08:52.269
palace, but this one is for
his God. Another way we see that
101
00:08:52.389 --> 00:08:58.860
worship is about devotion and honor to
God is in its architecture. Notice what
102
00:08:58.940 --> 00:09:03.379
Solomon says in Verse Five. The
House that I'm to billy build will be
103
00:09:03.700 --> 00:09:09.820
great. Then he gives a reason
for our God is greater than all gods.
104
00:09:09.490 --> 00:09:16.769
Later on he also describes it as
great and wonderful. We choose the
105
00:09:16.889 --> 00:09:24.559
architecture of various buildings to communicate particular
things. Perhaps it's connection to the surrounding
106
00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:30.039
land, or perhaps it's connection to
cultural history. Or perhaps the function and
107
00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:33.840
purpose of the building of skating rank
is probably going to look a little different
108
00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:41.149
than a shopping mall or a house. Here Solomon Talks about the the reason
109
00:09:41.230 --> 00:09:46.509
why this building will be designed as
it is so that offerings can be made
110
00:09:46.110 --> 00:09:50.389
and it is to be great,
for God is greater than all gods.
111
00:09:52.669 --> 00:09:56.500
You see that worship is a Divo, about devotion to God and even the
112
00:09:56.620 --> 00:10:03.580
plans that are being made. Hiram
also makes these points when he praises Yah,
113
00:10:03.700 --> 00:10:07.570
way, when he praises God.
So, for example, and verse
114
00:10:07.649 --> 00:10:13.450
eleven, we read that when Hiram
answers, when Hiram Answers Psalm, and
115
00:10:13.490 --> 00:10:18.570
he says because Jehovah loves his people, he has made you great. Blessed
116
00:10:18.769 --> 00:10:24.360
Be Jehovah, God of Israel,
who made heaven and earth, who has
117
00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:28.360
given King David a wise son and
discretion and understanding, who will build a
118
00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:35.830
temple for Jehovah and a Royal Palace
for Himself? Worship, as I'm pointing
119
00:10:35.870 --> 00:10:41.350
out, as second chronicles teaches us, is about devotion and honor to God.
120
00:10:43.309 --> 00:10:48.750
It's worth pausing and reflecting on that
point and thinking about our own worship.
121
00:10:48.789 --> 00:10:54.980
Who is our worship for when we
come to worship, why do we
122
00:10:54.179 --> 00:10:58.460
worship? What is it for?
The things that we do, the things
123
00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:01.980
that we say? What is it
all about? Is it for God or
124
00:11:03.179 --> 00:11:09.529
is it for some other reason?
Some people come for other's sake, to
125
00:11:09.649 --> 00:11:16.330
impress family or appease family, for
friends, for community, to prove something.
126
00:11:16.169 --> 00:11:22.200
Some people come and make a habit
out of worship to do something for
127
00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:28.240
others. Other people come to worship
to do something for themselves, perhaps to
128
00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:33.549
prove something to themselves, perhaps to
show something to themselves. But ultimately our
129
00:11:33.669 --> 00:11:37.830
worship. But in some senses it's
for others, in some senses as for
130
00:11:37.909 --> 00:11:43.110
ourselves. Ultimately our worship, real
worship, is about devotion, not to
131
00:11:43.230 --> 00:11:50.179
ourselves, not to others, but
to God. That's what worship was about
132
00:11:50.340 --> 00:11:54.899
here in the Old Testament. That's
every aspect of the temple made that clear,
133
00:11:56.340 --> 00:12:01.090
and it should be the same for
us. Our worship should reflect God,
134
00:12:03.169 --> 00:12:09.409
the God of Israel. Our worship
should respond to God and he should
135
00:12:09.409 --> 00:12:15.919
have our best. When we come
in worship, we should be giving our
136
00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:20.039
best to God. That's what Solomon
does here, and you see it in
137
00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:22.720
a few different ways. You see
it it for example, and all the
138
00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:28.159
gold and silver and the precious metals. You see it in the woods that
139
00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:33.509
he chooses. He could have gathered
woods from Israel, but he doesn't because
140
00:12:33.509 --> 00:12:37.750
he wants the best woods and he
knows the best woods come from other places.
141
00:12:37.350 --> 00:12:43.500
The cedars of Lebanon, Algum timber
that's mentioned here as well as was
142
00:12:43.659 --> 00:12:50.419
known for being something that could be
highly polished, beautiful grain, some of
143
00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:54.980
the woods that are chosen in the
temple, or also bug resistant, mild
144
00:12:56.179 --> 00:13:00.649
resistant. He's choosing the best.
Sometimes, when we build projects, we
145
00:13:00.730 --> 00:13:03.610
don't choose the best. We need
a cheap we want to get it done
146
00:13:03.610 --> 00:13:07.889
fast. That that's not what Solomon
does. He makes a political arrangement with
147
00:13:09.049 --> 00:13:13.000
another king to transport would and all
the rest, for these are very for
148
00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:18.960
this special purpose of giving all that
he has, the greatest, the best
149
00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:22.559
that he has, to the worship
of God. You see it in the
150
00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:30.669
these fabrics as well, purple,
Crimson, blue, fine fabrics. Well,
151
00:13:30.750 --> 00:13:35.230
one of these dies, one of
these dyes, was likely imported from
152
00:13:35.629 --> 00:13:41.860
Phoenicia. I was reading that one. In one commentary it said that a
153
00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:46.580
chemist had had studied this die and
calculated that it would take about a quarter
154
00:13:46.700 --> 00:13:50.899
of a million of these snails that
are used to make this die, to
155
00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:56.370
make about one ounce of pure die. It's a lot of work. These
156
00:13:56.490 --> 00:14:05.649
things are expensive, time consuming,
labor intensive. You think about the stone
157
00:14:05.769 --> 00:14:11.000
cutting that was required for projects like
this. There are various reliefs throughout the
158
00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:16.039
ancient near east of people doing this
kind of work, texts that talk about
159
00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:20.919
sore backs and sore thighs. They
would go into these quarries and pull out
160
00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:26.429
these large stones. Stones would ben
be dressed in very careful ways, so
161
00:14:26.710 --> 00:14:31.990
carefully actually, that you wouldn't always
have to use mortar to hold it all
162
00:14:31.190 --> 00:14:41.100
together. Solomon is giving his best
because yahwaghs great and worship is ultimately about
163
00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:46.980
devotion to him. A second point
we might learn about worship from this passage
164
00:14:48.019 --> 00:14:54.769
is that worship of God and among
his people is central to life. It's
165
00:14:54.809 --> 00:14:58.570
a center point. It is of
what the people are about. It organizes
166
00:14:58.690 --> 00:15:05.450
everything. In Romans twelve one,
we read that we are to present our
167
00:15:05.610 --> 00:15:11.159
bodies as a living sacrifice, holy
and acceptable to God, which is your
168
00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:16.799
spiritual worship. When Paul says this, he has in mind that we are
169
00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:22.750
to take ourselves in every aspect of
our lives and give ourselves, our bodies,
170
00:15:22.190 --> 00:15:30.029
over to God in obedience to him, and that is our spiritual worship,
171
00:15:30.230 --> 00:15:35.740
our sacrifice that is wholly and acceptable
to God. God doesn't want part
172
00:15:35.779 --> 00:15:39.179
of us, he wants all of
us, our heart, our mind,
173
00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:46.019
our strength. That's what Jesus says
when he when someone asks him what the
174
00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:50.090
Greatest Commandments are, when he talks
about devotion to the Lord, he talks
175
00:15:50.129 --> 00:15:58.169
about love. He means complete love
in every sense. Hebrews Thirteen, fifteen
176
00:15:58.250 --> 00:16:03.960
and sixteen to expresses it similarly through
Jesus. Then let us continually offer up,
177
00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:10.759
continually offer up a sacrifice of praise
to God. That is the fruit
178
00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:15.120
of lips that acknowledge his name.
Do not neglect to do good and to
179
00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:21.750
share what you have, for such
sacrifices are pleasing to God. You See,
180
00:16:21.750 --> 00:16:26.110
the New Testament, when it describes
our lives, when it describes our
181
00:16:26.350 --> 00:16:32.899
worship in these old testament terms,
describes them in this continual way. We
182
00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:38.340
are to give ourselves fully and continually
over to God. The continual aspect of
183
00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:45.820
this worship is symbolized and ritualized here
in second chronicles too, in the temple,
184
00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:49.129
when Solomon Talks about what's going to
be going on in the temple.
185
00:16:49.450 --> 00:16:55.529
He talks about the regular kind of
life that would be going on in Israel.
186
00:16:56.610 --> 00:17:00.289
He mentions he mentions the incense.
In Verse Four. He says he's
187
00:17:00.330 --> 00:17:07.920
building this House for the burning of
incense of sweet spices before him. He
188
00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:12.799
also mentions for the regular arrangement of
the showbread. These two things, the
189
00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:19.309
incense in the showbread, were two
of three things, three pieces of furniture
190
00:17:19.349 --> 00:17:26.549
or artic temple articles that were in
the holy place, that place right before
191
00:17:26.630 --> 00:17:30.700
or you entered into the holy of
holies or the most holy place. The
192
00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:37.859
incense was a an altar. There
was an altar similar to the altar that
193
00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:44.289
was in other altars in the temple, with polls of ACACIA and rings and
194
00:17:44.369 --> 00:17:48.930
those kinds of things, and on
this altar incense would be offered to God.
195
00:17:51.089 --> 00:17:56.930
It would be a pleasing aroma,
a sacrifice to God. In addition
196
00:17:56.049 --> 00:18:00.759
to this incense that would be offered
regularly, there would be the showbread,
197
00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:07.160
where the bread of presence on the
on the altar of the bread of presence,
198
00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:12.150
I'm twelve loaves representing the twelve tribes
of Israel, would be placed each
199
00:18:12.190 --> 00:18:18.509
and every week and then on the
Sabbath Aaron and his sons would eat of
200
00:18:18.950 --> 00:18:25.349
that bread. Regular things going on
in the life of Israel. We also
201
00:18:25.390 --> 00:18:30.460
read of daily sacrifices, burnt offerings
morning and the evening. Every single day
202
00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:37.980
in Israel there was a continual sacrifice
to God. Now, these were probably
203
00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:41.890
one lamb in the morning and one
lamb in the evening, offered corporately for
204
00:18:42.009 --> 00:18:47.650
all of Israel, representative for all
of Israel, not each and every single
205
00:18:47.769 --> 00:18:52.009
person bringing one lamb in the morning
in one lamb in the evening, but
206
00:18:52.130 --> 00:18:56.200
the priests would offer these on behalf
of the people to God. A lamb,
207
00:18:56.319 --> 00:19:00.720
a male lamb, one year old, without blemish, was what was
208
00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:06.000
required. One in the morning and
another at twilight. Every morning, every
209
00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:11.750
evening, every day, day after
day after day after day, sacrifice is
210
00:19:11.829 --> 00:19:17.710
going up before the Lord. In
addition to these daily burnt offerings, Paul,
211
00:19:17.869 --> 00:19:22.990
I'm sorry, the Chronicler also mentions
the sabbaths. In addition to these
212
00:19:22.029 --> 00:19:27.779
daily sacrifices in Israel there were weekly
a sacrifices on the Sabbath in addition to
213
00:19:27.859 --> 00:19:34.299
the daily offerings. That day two
additional lambs would be offered and in addition
214
00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:40.529
to these weekly extra offerings, on
each Sabbath, each seventh day, each
215
00:19:40.690 --> 00:19:45.089
new moon that would come along,
there would be two more bowls and one
216
00:19:45.210 --> 00:19:48.930
ram and seven sheep, in addition
to a goat offered as a sin offering.
217
00:19:49.049 --> 00:19:55.079
And in addition to these regular monthly
offerings, at each new moon,
218
00:19:55.720 --> 00:20:00.400
there were regular feasts going on throughout
the year. A each harvest there was
219
00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:03.920
a separate feast, three three different
feasts include and on top of that,
220
00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:08.589
the Feast of trumpets and the Day
of Atonement. All of these taken together
221
00:20:08.710 --> 00:20:14.150
that he mentions here, the incense, the showbread, the morning and evening
222
00:20:14.190 --> 00:20:18.349
sacrifices, the Sabbaths, the new
moons and all the appointed feasts of the
223
00:20:18.470 --> 00:20:22.460
Lord. This is what's going on
in Israel. You see why I say
224
00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:29.539
worship was a continual part of life, a regular part of life. Israel,
225
00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:36.250
in the temple, was continually offering
up sacrifices to God, and these
226
00:20:36.289 --> 00:20:40.970
were just the regular ones. They
are all kinds of additional sacrifices that might
227
00:20:41.009 --> 00:20:45.009
be offered, offerings that would be
given, some things that we'd be done
228
00:20:45.049 --> 00:20:55.079
unto the Lord. It was central
to life and it still is. We
229
00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:59.559
no longer have the temple. And
indeed, Paul says, and in Colossi
230
00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:03.079
in sixteen, let no one pass
judgment on you in questions of food and
231
00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:08.029
drink or with regard to festivals or
new moon or Sabbath. He gives a
232
00:21:08.109 --> 00:21:11.829
reason for that. He says this
is why we no longer do those things.
233
00:21:11.910 --> 00:21:15.750
In verse seventeen. These are a
shadow of the things to come,
234
00:21:15.950 --> 00:21:22.819
but the substance belongs to Christ when
Christ is come here. When Christ came,
235
00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:26.140
he fulfilled all of these things that
were anticipated here, and so we
236
00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:32.299
don't go back to shadows and types
anymore when we have the reality in Christ.
237
00:21:33.890 --> 00:21:40.890
Nevertheless, that same principle of continual
worship, of continually giving ourselves over
238
00:21:41.009 --> 00:21:45.329
to God, is still true.
The forms of these things have changed,
239
00:21:45.970 --> 00:21:48.920
but you know Jesus Christ does when
he sits at the father's right hand.
240
00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:56.079
The Bible says he's continually offering intercession
for us, pleading his own sacrifice,
241
00:21:56.519 --> 00:22:02.029
his own blood. We don't offer
sacrifices again and again and again, day
242
00:22:02.069 --> 00:22:03.990
after day after day, week after
week, month after month, year after
243
00:22:04.029 --> 00:22:10.829
year, because Jesus is there.
A sacrifice was final and complete for us.
244
00:22:12.829 --> 00:22:18.380
But in that our worship still remains
a central part of our lives.
245
00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:23.259
It's not just a Sunday thing,
though on Sundays we do do something special.
246
00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:27.019
We meet corporately and receive, we
receive the Lord's means of grace.
247
00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:33.250
Nevertheless, throughout the week we continually
offer ourselves, at least we try to
248
00:22:33.329 --> 00:22:37.809
offer ourselves, and we should offer
ourselves as a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord,
249
00:22:37.849 --> 00:22:42.849
our God. The final thing to
note about worship here is that worship
250
00:22:42.970 --> 00:22:49.599
in Israel was for the world.
Various portions of scripture, and Jesus mentions
251
00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:53.799
this as well. The temple was
intended to be a house of prayer for
252
00:22:53.920 --> 00:23:00.670
the nation's that's a remarkable thing,
since this temple was promised to David and
253
00:23:00.789 --> 00:23:06.309
Solomon and Israel in particular. But
we see something of that happening even here
254
00:23:06.670 --> 00:23:11.430
in the construction of the temple,
in High Ram's confession, in the service
255
00:23:11.710 --> 00:23:18.019
of these foreign people, in the
great this contractor, this general contractor that
256
00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:22.660
is hired to come and oversee and
make sure that all these things are done
257
00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:30.569
well and done perfectly in the resident
aliens and strangers that are living among Israel,
258
00:23:30.250 --> 00:23:33.930
these people that are signed to bear
burdens, to quarry the hill country
259
00:23:34.089 --> 00:23:40.210
and even oversee the work and make
sure it's done well. The worship of
260
00:23:40.369 --> 00:23:44.720
Israel was for the Lord, or, I'm sorry, well, was for
261
00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:48.240
the Lord, but it was also
for the world. It was to benefit
262
00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:51.880
the world. The world was in
some ways to participate in it and to
263
00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:56.750
enjoy in it. And again,
as with these other two things, this
264
00:23:56.069 --> 00:24:03.630
also is true. But as with
the first two things, all the things
265
00:24:03.670 --> 00:24:11.420
change and worship tray changes in some
significant ways. When Jesus comes to the
266
00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:15.900
first point, worship is still devotion
to God, but now we realize and
267
00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:22.700
we understand that God. When we
say that, we mean also Jesus,
268
00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:26.650
this one who came, who was
born of Mary, who's born in a
269
00:24:26.730 --> 00:24:33.569
stable and died on a cross.
We worship him. He wasn't just someone
270
00:24:33.650 --> 00:24:37.609
who came to do some good things. He came to save us and he
271
00:24:37.730 --> 00:24:44.119
saved us as God himself. Jesus
is God himself and we worship him.
272
00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:49.000
As to the second point about the
worship being central to life, we've already
273
00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:56.190
said and noted that worship in the
temple changes. But if fit's fulfilled in
274
00:24:56.309 --> 00:25:02.549
him and continues in him today,
we might say that worship, the ritualized
275
00:25:02.589 --> 00:25:07.980
worship, happens less often. We
don't have a morning and evening sacrifices or
276
00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:14.180
monthly sacrifices, are really any sacrifices? But another way it happens constantly now,
277
00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:19.539
with Jesus constantly, continually interceding for
us. Another way in which we
278
00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:26.369
see a change after Jesus is now
the worship of God is spread high.
279
00:25:26.410 --> 00:25:32.650
Room isn't participating in worship from afar, but we see the temple being in
280
00:25:32.890 --> 00:25:38.440
God's people everywhere and in all places, and not just kings but people all
281
00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:45.240
over the world worshiping God. And
that that. That brings us to that
282
00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:51.549
last point. Let me read again, as we've quoted various times. Second
283
00:25:51.589 --> 00:26:00.230
Peter, I'm sorry, Second Peter, I'm versus chapter one, of versus
284
00:26:00.349 --> 00:26:04.579
five and six. No, I
am right, I am right, and
285
00:26:04.660 --> 00:26:11.140
wrong his first Peter, First Peter, the chapter one, chapter two,
286
00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:15.700
versus five through six. We read
that you yourselves, like living stones,
287
00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:21.690
are being built up as a spiritual
house. Here Peter Speaks to us as
288
00:26:21.730 --> 00:26:26.410
Christians. He speaks to us in
terms of a temple. He says that
289
00:26:26.490 --> 00:26:30.970
we are to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
290
00:26:30.609 --> 00:26:36.920
through Jesus Christ. For as it
stands in scripture, behold, I'm laying
291
00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:41.119
in Zion a stone, a corner
stone, chosen and precious, and whoever
292
00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:48.190
believes in him will not be put
to shame. Do you remember why they
293
00:26:48.269 --> 00:26:53.069
wanted to put Jesus to death?
Because he was saying things about the temple
294
00:26:55.029 --> 00:26:57.789
was one of the reasons, anyway. For example, in Matthew Twelve six,
295
00:26:57.910 --> 00:27:02.740
he says, I tell you something
greater than the temple is here.
296
00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:10.700
That's a pretty remarkable statement in light
of second chronicles, to thousands upon thousands,
297
00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:17.369
hundreds of thousands of people at work
building this thing, international relationships being
298
00:27:17.529 --> 00:27:22.730
formed to build this structure, the
worship of Yahway going on day in and
299
00:27:22.809 --> 00:27:30.400
day out here, all fulfillments as
of God's promises to David. And yet
300
00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:37.839
Jesus comes and says of himself,
I tell you something greater than the temple
301
00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:44.750
is here. In John to nineteen, he says destroy this temple and in
302
00:27:44.910 --> 00:27:48.990
three days I will raise it up
again. There we read that Jesus is
303
00:27:49.190 --> 00:27:56.109
being somewhat coy and that he's in
John tells us he's talking about his body
304
00:27:56.670 --> 00:28:02.900
and that when he did rise from
the dead, the disciples believed the scripture
305
00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:07.700
and Jesus's words. When Jesus speaks
in this way, when he speaks about
306
00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:12.130
something being greater than the temple,
when he speaks about his own body being
307
00:28:12.329 --> 00:28:18.730
that temple, he's telling US something. He's telling us that all of this
308
00:28:18.930 --> 00:28:23.049
greatness and all of this worship and
all that is given to God here and
309
00:28:23.210 --> 00:28:30.880
second chronicles too, comes into an
even greater form, a more majestic form,
310
00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:37.680
a more wonderful form, a more
precious form in himself. When Jesus
311
00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:41.670
dies and rises from the dead,
he raises a temple that will last forever.
312
00:28:44.150 --> 00:28:48.990
When Peter tells us that we are
those stones that the Holy Spirit himself
313
00:28:49.230 --> 00:28:56.579
is quarrying out of the mess of
the world and dressing and building up into
314
00:28:56.619 --> 00:29:03.779
this holy temple, he's telling US
something very significant. When we see hierum
315
00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:10.329
worship being and praising God and blessing
God and participating in this project, we
316
00:29:10.450 --> 00:29:17.369
are beginning to get just a foretaste
of what we experience every day when people
317
00:29:17.529 --> 00:29:22.849
from all over the world come and
worship and play it praise the God of
318
00:29:22.970 --> 00:29:30.559
Solomon, of David, of Abraham. This is a wonderful thing to which
319
00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:37.950
we belong. When John says that
the disciples believed of the Scripture and Jesus's
320
00:29:38.029 --> 00:29:45.549
words, it's also is implicitly saying
that we should too. When we read
321
00:29:45.630 --> 00:29:49.150
of the temple in the Old Testament, our minds should go to Jesus Christ
322
00:29:49.750 --> 00:29:57.140
and the and and his work as
a priest, as a sacrifice, as
323
00:29:57.140 --> 00:30:03.660
a builder of a House that is
better than the Salt House that Solomon built.
324
00:30:03.859 --> 00:30:07.529
When we read of this in the
Old Testament, when we sing the
325
00:30:07.609 --> 00:30:12.730
psalms, when we consider who we
are, we must think about ourselves as
326
00:30:12.769 --> 00:30:18.009
belonging to Jesus in this way,
a great way, a glorious way,
327
00:30:18.049 --> 00:30:25.720
a wonderful way and a way that
all fulfills God's promises and desires for worship,
328
00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:30.039
worshiping him. Let us pray
