This reading underlines again the importance of the temple in the living relationship between Israel and God.
In 1 Chronicles 21 – 22 we saw that this place, the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, would be the place where Yahweh’s just wrath would be propitiated and where Yahweh would hear the prayers of His people just as He heard David’s intercession for mercy on Jerusalem. All that we read today in these chapters confirms these two essential functions of the temple. As Yahweh told Solomon when He appeared to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice” (2 Chronicles 7:12).
Also, as we saw in the consecration of the tabernacle, the temple will be the place where Yahweh’s Presence dwells in a unique way: “Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time” (2 Chronicles 7:15-16).
For these three factors: 1) for being the place where Yahweh’s just wrath for sin will be propitiated, 2) for being the place where Yahweh mercifully listens to prayer, and 3) for being the place where Yahweh’s Presence dwells, Jerusalem and its temple will be unique in Israelite history and spirituality. They will profoundly
shape our readings from the historical books, the Psalms and the prophets of the
Old Testament and all of the New Testament, too.
In 1 Chronicles 21 – 22 we saw that this place, the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, would be the place where Yahweh’s just wrath would be propitiated and where Yahweh would hear the prayers of His people just as He heard David’s intercession for mercy on Jerusalem. All that we read today in these chapters confirms these two essential functions of the temple. As Yahweh told Solomon when He appeared to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice” (2 Chronicles 7:12).
Also, as we saw in the consecration of the tabernacle, the temple will be the place where Yahweh’s Presence dwells in a unique way: “Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time” (2 Chronicles 7:15-16).
For these three factors: 1) for being the place where Yahweh’s just wrath for sin will be propitiated, 2) for being the place where Yahweh mercifully listens to prayer, and 3) for being the place where Yahweh’s Presence dwells, Jerusalem and its temple will be unique in Israelite history and spirituality. They will profoundly
shape our readings from the historical books, the Psalms and the prophets of the
Old Testament and all of the New Testament, too.
RSS Feed
