King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: God's Temple
Date: Wednesday May 09, 2012
Today's Chapters: 2 Chronicles 1-4

Hello My Friend,

The book of 2 Chronicles is the fourteenth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains thirty-six chapters. The time line for these events took place approximately 1015 BC – 610 BC. The author of the book is the prophet Ezra and the book was written to the Jews who were in captivity in Babylon for seventy years. The purpose of the book was to record the religious history of Judah. What we are to learn from the book is that the blessings that God give to us comes through our humbling ourselves and seeking Him in all that we do. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” - 2 Chronicles 7:14.

After David died Solomon was given the task to not only reign over the kingdom, but to build the first temple for people to worship God. I imagine Solomon was a bit uneasy about such a huge task, but God was with him and knew what he was feeling. Through a dream Solomon had a very inspiring conversation with God. “And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:” - 2 Chronicles 1:8-11.

God spoke to Solomon in a dream because it was His intention to get Solomon to see what that more important than riches and fame was to be obedient to the Word of God. When we live in submission to God we become more obedient to the Word of God as we learn it. The key is learning it, we cannot know the best things that God has in store for us unless we learn what He has to say. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” - 2 Timothy 2:15.

Now with a new outlook, Solomon was determined to build the temple as his father David instructed, he began to gather only the best people along with those David appointed. Solomon sent message to Huram, one of David's trusted friends, that he needed some of his people. “Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel. And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods. But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him? Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.” - 2 Chronicles 2:4-7.

Solomon expresses that building a house for God would not be a place to contain Him as He cannot be contained, but it would be a place to worship Him and where He would be graciously present. Today, we still cannot contain God in one building, in fact, God does not dwell in a building, He dwells within every believer who accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” - 2 Corinthians 3:16,17.

Solomon not only used Jews to help build the Temple he used Gentiles as well (people other than Jews). “And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred. And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.“ - 2 Chronicles 2:17,18.

While God chose the Jews as the people that would represent Him as His people, He did not stop any of the people from other nations from wanting to be His people. They were merely the foundation set to prove that there is only one living God to live by. Being a Jew or Gentile does not save a person, believing in Jesus Christ is what saves a person. “And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:” - Romans 9:26,27. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” - Galatians 3:26-29.

It took about seven and a half years for the temple to be completed, but every detail was precise and everything that went into the Temple was pure and only of the best quality. The furniture and amount of items in the temple, compared with that of the Tabernacle, showed that God's church would be enlarged, as His worshipers multiplied. “Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof. He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in. And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left. He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made an hundred basons of gold.” - 2 Chronicles 4:1,6-8.

It was important that everything that went into the temple be pure and perfect, a foreseen quality that would be of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today, those who are saved are the temple of God, He dwells within the soul of every believer. Since we are His temple it is just as important that everything we put into it be pure. We are not perfect, but we can be pure, keeping our body and mind undefiled, in other words living by some standards and morals. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:1,2.

Today's Psalm: 119:1 - “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.”

Today's Proverb: 28:9 - “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”

Today's Prayer: God, I understand that the second I called on Your Son Jesus Christ to save me Your Spirit entered my body and now You dwell in me just like You dwelt in the temple in Jerusalem so many years ago. God, I want to feel Your presence upon my live, help me to remove the impurities that keep me from seeing You bless me as You did Solomon, not with riches beyond my need, but wisdom and a wiling heart to be a faithful servant and a holy temple for You to dwell in. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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