Bible Commentaries

3. The Dedication of the Temple

CHAPTER 5 The Ark Brought in the Temple

1. The completion of the temple (2 Chronicles 5:1)

2. The assembly called by Solomon (2 Chronicles 5:2-3)

3. The ark carried to its place (2 Chronicles 5:4-9)

4. The contents of the ark (2 Chronicles 5:10)

5. The praise and the glory (2 Chronicles 5:11-14)

The reader will find the comments on the dedication of the temple in the book of Kings (1 Kings 8). Verses 11-13 are not given in the record of the first book of Kings. The Levites exercised their holy office. What a sight it must have been when Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun in the lead with their sons and brethren, all clothed in white linen, with cymbals, psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding the trumpets! And they were as one, to make one sound. It expresses the unity of God’s people. The one supreme thought and aim was to praise and thank the Lord. This was the one mind in which they all were as one. Then the mighty volume of many voices, the sound of the trumpets, cymbals and instruments of music broke forth. The one note in praise was “He is good; for His mercy endureth forever.” When the foundation of the second house was laid this praise was again uttered (Ezra 3:11). It must be remembered that David in his great prophetic psalm of praise ended with this note of praise “O give thanks unto the LORD for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever.... Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD” (1 Chronicles 16:34-36). In Psalm 136 we find twenty-six times “His mercy endureth.” How rich was that mercy towards Israel! He had graciously guided and kept them. He brought them into the land and all their enemies had been subdued. The house had been built and all had been accomplished. And greater mercy is for Israel in the future. He will regather them. All their enemies will be silenced. Another house will once more stand in Jerusalem and the covenant-promise made to David will be completely realized in the enthronement of the coming King upon the hill of Zion (Psalm 2). What praises His redeemed and restored people will then utter, when the Lord has been gracious to His people and to His land! (Psalms 65:1; Psalms 147:12) The scene here at the dedication of the temple foreshadows the future praise of Israel in the Kingdom which our Lord will bring and establish when He comes again.

And when this mighty praise ascended to Jehovah, when they made but one sound, heaven answered. The house was filled with the cloud. The visible symbol presence of Jehovah had come, as it came at the consecration of the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35). “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me” (Psalms 50:23). “As an holy priesthood we are to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). “By him therefore let us offer praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15). And if Israel had but one thought and made but one sound, how much more should we, His heavenly people, enjoying greater riches and a greater nearness than Israel ever had, be of one mind in praising His name!