(19 verses, 3:28 to read)
What I am about to READ
- King David makes preparation to build the temple on the threshing floor of Ornan and move the altar of burnt offering to Jerusalem.
MARK & LEARN
- 1, David establishes the place for the building of the temple.
- 2-5, David provides the materials and workers for the building of the temple.
- 6-10, David recounts the reason he cannot build the temple, namely, because he has shed much blood and waged wars. The Lord has appointed Solomon, the son of rest and peace, to do this work.
- 11-13, David blesses Solomon and charges him to keep God’s law.
- 14-16, David reviews with Solomon the resources he has provided.
- 17-19, David further gives charge to the leaders of Israel to aid Solomon in this work, reminding them all of the victory and peace the Lord has give to Israel.
- We think of history in almost exclusively political terms, so it seems strange to us to hear so much about the church, the temple and worship of Israel. It shouldn’t. Israel is the people of God, and the Lord has arranged to dwell with His people in mercy and peace through the mediation of the temple. The temple is where the Lord has the blood of the sacrifices shed for the people’s sins. The temple is where the Lord preaches the coming of His Son who would die in the people’s place. From the temple the preaching of God’s Word of Las and Gospel goes forth, and the people come to recieve His mercy. It was right for David to be so concerned with the temple and God’s Word.
- But the temple is no more. The temple built by Solomon was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The rebuilt temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). He was speaking of the temple of His body (see John 2:21). Now, in the New Testament, we do not look to Jerusalem to find God’s gracious presence, but to the Word of the Gospel, and to the body and blood of Jesus in the Lord’s Supper. There we find God and His mercy, and there God finds us.
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Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller
Hope Lutheran Church, Aurora, CO