II Chronicles 4
Solomon made an altar of brassverse 1
Moreover he made an altar of brass – twenty cubits the length thereof
twenty cubits the breadth thereof – ten cubits the height thereof
Solomon made a molten seaverses 2-5
Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim
round in compass five cubits the height thereof
and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about
And under it was the similitude of oxen – which compass it round about
ten in a cubit – compassing the sea round about
two rows of oxen were cast – when it was cast
It stood upon twelve oxen – three looking toward the
north – west – south – east – and the sea was set above on them
and all their hinder parts were inward
and the thickness of it was an handbreadth
and the brim of it like the work of the
brim of a cup with flowing of lilies
and it received and held three thousand baths
Solomon made ten laversverse 6
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
Solomon made ten candlesticksverse 7
And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form
and set them in the temple
five on the right hand – five on the left
Solomon made ten tablesverse 8
He made also ten tables – and placed them in the temple
five on the right side – five on the left
He made a hundred basins of gold
Solomon made a court of the priestsverses 9-10
Furthermore he made the court of the priests – and the great court
and doors for the court
and overlaid the doors of them with brass
And he set the sea on the right side of the east end
over against the south
Huram made furnishing for templeverses 11-18
And Huram
made the pots – shovels – basins
And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon
for the house of God – to wit – the two pillars – the pommels
the chapiters which were on the top of the two pillars
the two wreaths to cover the two pommels
of the chapiters which were on the
top of the pillars
and four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths
two rows of pomegranates on each wreath
to cover the two pommels of the chapiters
which were upon the pillars
He made also bases – and lavers made he upon the bases
one sea – twelve oxen under it
The pots – shovels – fleshhooks and all their instruments
did Huram his father make to king Solomon for the
house of the LORD of bright brass
In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them
in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah
Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance
for the weight of the brass could not be found out
Solomon made vessels for templeverses 19-22
And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God
the golden altar also
the tables whereon the showbread was set
Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps
that they should burn after the manner before the oracle
of pure gold
the flowers – the lamps – tongs – made of gold
and that perfect gold
the snuffers – the basins – the spoons – the censers of pure gold
and the entry of the house
the inner doors thereof for the most holy place
and the doors of the house of the temple were of gold
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 5 And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies, and it received and held three thousand baths. (1004 “baths” [bayith] means a liquid measure equal to about 10 gallons)
DEVOTION: Here we have the description of the place where the priests were to wash. They had to be clean to serve the LORD. This was one of the requirements for service. There were a lot of priests serving the LORD at one time and there have to be spots where they could continually wash themselves.
Notice how much water could be kept in this molten sea as it was called. There were twelve animals that looked like oxen that were about a foot apart that supported this giant water basin.
There were other spots for the animals to be washed. The priests were the only ones who were to use the molten sea to wash in for their cleansing. We need to wash in the blood of the Lamb as the Bible tells us that our cleansing comes from Jesus dying on the cross for our sins.
We sing the song “Nothing but the blood if Jesus” can cleanse us from sin. We need to remember it and also to tell others that there is no other way to heaven but through HIM alone.
One of the facts we need to understand is that salvation happens once but our cleansing from sin has to take place on a regular basis through our confession of our sin to keep our fellowship with the LORD in proper relationship.
If we lose our fellowship because of unconfessed sin HE will have to chasten us to restore our fellowship with HIM. This is not our salvation but our daily relationship that keeps us close to the LORD and enables us to serve HIM properly with the gifts that HE has given us.
CHALLENGE: Should we ever stop washing ourselves with the milk and meat of the Word of God? The answer is NO!! Have you come to the Word of God for cleansing today?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 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. (7364 “wash” [rachats] means bathe, remove dirt or impurities with water, or ceremonial ritual)
DEVOTION: Details, details, details! Sometimes things can get lost in the details. Sometimes those who are reading this section of the Bible can get lost in the details. God is a God of details. HE has a plan and is working HIS plan. HE showed David HIS plan for the temple. David followed the pattern he was shown. He communicated the pattern to his son, Solomon. Solomon followed the directions of his father. The LORD knew this would happen.
One of the details was that there are two different places to wash. The ten lavers were for the priests to wash the sacrifices in. The sea was for the priests to wash themselves in. The important point of these different washing was that both the priest and the sacrifice had to be clean before the LORD.
The two containers were filled with water. The cleansing was important to show that God wanted clean people and sacrifices. That is still true today. We learn that in the New Testament the Holy Spirit is the ONE who washes away our sins with the blood of the Lamb.
First we are cleansed by the blood of Christ for our salvation. Then we cleanse ourselves by the Word of God for fellowship with the LORD. Our responsibility each day is to go to the Word of God for our daily nourishment. In this way we offer proper sacrifices to the LORD.
Our daily quiet time with the LORD gives us the strength to face all the challenges that the LORD allows in our lives. Are we daily cleansing ourselves with the Word of God? Are we daily putting on the whole armor of God? The Word of God, the Bible, gets the dirt of the world out of our lives.
The Bible divides learning into milk and meat. Milk is for new believers. Meat is for those who are older in the faith. The ones who are new believers can’t eat the meat until they have them taught the milk of the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: Those who are older in the faith should be cutting into the meat of the Word of God. The problem is that many of those who are older in the Word of God are satisfied with the milk and don’t look for the meat.
: 9 Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass. (2691 “court” [chatser] means settlement, yard without walls, enclosure, an area wholly or partly surrounded by curtains, walls, or buildings, or enclosed space)
DEVOTION: This was a place where the priests performed their sacred duties. It was elevated, so that, the people could see them do their work for the LORD. It was a place of service for the LORD that the people could observe what was being done with the sacrifices.
Today we don’t have such a building but we have platforms on which the pastor stood to give the messages they receive from the LORD. They stand in front of the people to give them their service to the LORD.
Pastors have to present the truth of the Word of God to the people from the Bible. This is their place of service. It has to be one of honor to the LORD. It has to be one where the people understand the message of the LORD from HIS Word to the congregation.
In the Old Testament the priests prepared themselves for service and if they were ready, they were observed by the people to show their obedience to the service to the LORD. Everything had to be done decently and in order.
If the people observed the priests not doing their duty properly, they would also see the LORD judge them quickly.
What would happen today if the pastors of the local churches didn’t serve the LORD properly on Sunday? Would the people deal with it quickly or would they wait on the LORD to deal with their Pastor?
Too many individuals are leading “worship” services in local churches that are not giving the message of the Word of God faithfully. What do you think would happen if the LORD started judging pastors or the people who call themselves pastors if they were not preaching the Word of God accurately immediately?
CHALLENGE: Each believer has their responsibility before the LORD. We need to be faithful to the LORD in our presentation of HIS service.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 18 Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance; for the weight of the brass could not be found out. (7230 “abundance” [rob] means wealth, plentiful, great number, fullness, huge or prosperity)
DEVOTION: It is amazing all that Solomon collected to make the Temple so beautiful. He made things to the point that they couldn’t be counted. He used material to the point that it couldn’t be measured or it was so much that they didn’t want to measure it.
The people gave and the LORD blessed Solomon with plenty of material to build a Temple that would be a wonder of the world. It was going to be something that other nations would look at and come to the conclusion that the God of the children of Israel was a great God by the standards of the day.
Those who are not followers of the LORD would have to recognize that HE had provided many blessings for HIS nation. They measured by the world’s standards what was happening in Israel. To them great wealth meant a powerful God. They worshiped false gods but they recognized Jehovah as a great God as well. It didn’t mean that they would worship HIM but it meant that they would give HIM a status with the other gods of the world that they worshiped.
Today we have many false gods in our world. It seems that people measure the importance of the god they worship by the material wealth that they are given by their god.
Our churches sometimes measure the greatness of our God by the building we can put up for HIS honor but sometimes the people start worship the building rather than the God who gave them the blessing to build the building. This happened in Israel and can happen today.
The problem with building great buildings or churches where we think we are honoring the LORD is that if the people stop looking to the LORD for guidance or never really looked to the LORD for guidance and the building has to be sold because of debt it is not a good testimony to the LORD or to HIS people.
Our faith and trust should never be based on a building but on the God who gave us the blessing to build the building. Honoring HIM alone should be our priority.
CHALLENGE: We are never to worship a building or a book over the Creator of the Universe. Honor HIM alone!!!
: 20 Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold. (1687 “oracle” [dabiyr] means the holy of holies, the innermost room of the temple or tabernacle, hindmost chamber, adytum, or rear room of the temple)
DEVOTION: The doctors give us prescriptions on a regular basis to keep many of us healthy. Those who are not taking any medication are very fortunate today. It seems that everyone needs to have vitamins or supplements to help them stay healthy today. The drugstores in our nation are full of things that many think they simply need to stay healthy.
Here we have the LORD giving a prescribed way to worship HIM. HE doesn’t want those who want to worship HIM not to understand what HE requires for a healthy follower of HIM.
In the Old Testament the people brought their offerings to the priests and they prepared them for worship. The people who brought the offerings sometimes also took part of the offering to eat. The priests were given most of the offerings for their households or for just themselves depending on which offerings they were presenting to the LORD.
Today we have an offering taken in our churches to help supply the needs of the church and the pastor that the church has called to serve in the capacity of leader. We are to support the man we call with a offering that will give him a living that is equal to the rest of the congregation. He is to provide the church with a proper service for the wage that is paid.
The priests had their duties and today the pastor of a local church has his duties to perform in a prescribed manner. The Scripture is plain regarding what is required of a church leader. Three books outline God’s plan which are called the Pastoral Epistles: I & II Timothy and Titus. There are other references to what is expected of pastor/teachers today.
If the priests in the past and the pastors in the present are doing fulfilling their responsibilities properly they will be blessed and the people they serve will be blessed.
We need to pray for those who presently serving the LORD in offices of leadership. If they are properly serving we will be blessed by their service.
CHALLENGE: Prayer is necessary for this to take place regularly in our Biblical local churches.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Altar of brassverse 1
Molten seaverses 2-6, 14
Twelve oxen
Ten lavers
Burnt offeringverse 6
Priestsverse 6
Candlesticks of goldverses 7, 20
Ten tablesverse 8
Court of the priestsverse 9
House of Godverse 11
Two pillarsverses 12, 13-15
House of the LORDverse 16
Most holy placeverse 22
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign)verses 11, 19
House of Godverses 11, 19
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verse 16
House of the LORDverse 16
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Huramverse 11
Made pots- shovels – basins
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
King Solomonverses 11, 18
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
Two summaries of temple equipment are included, one for the bronze (or ‘copper’, neb) work (vv. 11b–18) and one for the gold (vv. 19–22). Together they emphasize the temple’s lavish decoration, including the ‘great quantities’ of bronze (v. 18, nrsv, rsv, cf. reb, neb), but the differences in the metals are also significant. They illustrate the principle of gradation, whereby the costlier metal represents a greater degree of holiness. Thus, the bronze objects are all associated with the temple entrance, but the gold is reserved for the interior. (Selman, M. J. (1994). 2 Chronicles: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 11, p. 329). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press)
So abundant was the bronze used that it was not even weighed (v. 18). Much if not all of the bronze came from David’s conquest of the Arameans (1 Chron. 18:3–8). (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 2 Chronicles. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 623). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
While the years of Solomon’s reign were undoubtedly Israel’s greatest in terms of wealth, fame, and political power, they were also the worst in terms of spiritual devotion to the Lord. Yes, Solomon began his reign at the altar, sacrificing to the Lord and asking Him for wisdom, but that didn’t continue. Furthermore, the king lived in luxury because he collected food and taxes from the people. Solomon reorganized the twelve tribes into twelve tax districts, with each district responsible to provide his food one month (1 Kings 4:7–19). When you read the menu for each day, you can well understand why the people felt burdened by his yoke (1 Kings 4:22–25; 12:1–5). Yes, the kingdom was indeed glorious, but it was declining in every way. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (2 Ch 1–9). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
17 The places at which Huram cast the bronze articles for the temple were located “in the plain east of the Jordan,” about halfway between Galilee and the Dead Sea. “Succoth,” modern Deir Allah, has been excavated by H. Franken; and “Zarethan” (cf. NIV mg. and 1 Kings 7:46), probably the modern Saʿidiyeh, be J. Pritchard Here the deep clay provided suitable molds (ʿaḇî, literally, “thickness”) for the great metal objects. (Payne, J. B. (1988). 1, 2 Chronicles. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job (Vol. 4, p. 454). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Recent exploration has revealed the probable location of this industry, about 35 miles north of the Dead Sea and east of the Jordan River, just north of the Jabbok River. So abundant was the bronze used that it was not even weighed (v. 18). Much if not all of the bronze came from David’s conquest of the Arameans (1 Chron. 18:3–8). (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 2 Chronicles. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 623). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Gold was used primarily for items inside the temple while the bronze furnishings were mainly employed outside. (MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 447). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
LOOKING ON
And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. Exodus 33:8
I am rather interested in what we are told about the remainder of the people. They say that Moses and one or two individuals used to go out of the camp to the Tabernacle to pray. In Exodus 33:8 we read, “And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.”
There is something very wonderful about this. All they did was to look on with interest. They were aware that something was happening, but they did not know what it was, and they did not understand it. They did not go out of the camp with Moses into the tent of meeting with God and pray and intercede. All they knew was that Moses had taken the tent outside the camp and that he and certain others periodically visited it. So they just stood at their tent doors, watching Moses as he went and talking about him, wondering what he was doing and what exactly was happening. Now the appalling thing is that the right place for the tent was in the midst of the camp. But it was not there.
As you read the history of the church, you will find this repeated. At first just a few people feel the call and separate themselves, and then the others begin to say, “What is happening to so and so? Have you heard about this man or that woman?” They stand at their tent doors, and they look on. They have a feeling that something is happening. But they do nothing at all. Oh, if we wait until the whole church moves, revival will never happen.
A Thought to Ponder: If we wait until the whole church moves, revival will never happen. (From Revival, p. 170, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Greatest Name
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” (Philippians 2:9-10)
While the role of the Lord Jesus appears somewhat subdued in the Old Testament, it dominates the New Testament. The Hebrew equivalent of “Jesus” appears only 13 times as “saviour.” The Greek text explodes with over 960 verses either recording statements made by Jesus or proclaiming Him as Lord and King.
King David declared: “Blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory” (Psalm 72:19). And, of course, the great “name” passage in Isaiah 9:6 amplifies the many aspects of the “child” whose “name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
But Jesus prefers “Son of man.” That title is used 89 times, while “Son of God” is used 53 times. The majestic name of “Lord of lords, and King of kings” is used only three times in the New Testament, twice in the closing book (Revelation 17:14 and 19:16) and once in Paul’s moving benediction: “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen” (1 Timothy 6:15-16).
Since the New Testament emphasizes the ultimate kingship of our Lord Jesus, we can understand that the dominant name cited nearly 250 times in the Old Testament (“LORD of hosts”) refers to the Ruler of heaven, the Lord Jesus (Malachi 3:17).
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
OUR FELLOWSHIP IN HIS SUFFERINGS
That I may know the fellowship of his sufferings. Philippians 3:10
I would now like to emphasize our fellowship in Christ’s sufferings, and our fellowship even in His death. Paul says in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” What great thoughts! We must work them out, think them out, and pray them out.
Paul put it another way in Colossians 1:24: “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.” I do not pretend to understand that fully, but I do know that there is no higher statement of the doctrine of the union of the believer with His Lord. The apostle interprets his own sufferings in the flesh and in the body as, in a sense, filling up what remains of the sufferings and the afflictions of Christ Himself. Paul is bearing that in his own flesh. The result of the mystical union is that he enters into this mystical fellowship of the sufferings of Christ. There were people living in the Middle Ages of whom it is said that they so meditated upon and contemplated their Lord and all that He had done for them that some of them even developed in their physical hands the imprint of nails, the stigmata. It is not impossible. Such things do happen.
But all I am concerned to emphasize is that the more deeply we realize the truth about this union between us and our Lord, the more we shall know something of the fellowship of His sufferings. In this world He was “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah53:3). That was because of the sin of the world. And because He saw the enmity of the human heart against His Father, it hurt Him, it grieved Him, and He suffered. There is no more delicate test of our relationship to Him and our union with Him than the extent to which you and I know something of His suffering.
A Thought to Ponder: The result of the mystical union is mystical fellowship with the sufferings of Christ. (From God the Holy Spirit, pp. 115-116, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.)
Let Them Alone
“Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.” (Hosea 4:17)
The Lord is long-suffering, and those who speak in His name should be also. There do come times, however, when further witness becomes useless or even harmful, or when continued interaction merely invites contamination with ungodliness. In such cases, we must simply leave such people alone, following them with prayer and trusting God alone to deal with them.
Such was the 10-tribe nation of Israel, led by the tribe of Ephraim, just before God sent them into Assyrian captivity. God, through the prophet Hosea, told Judah henceforth to let them alone—they were hopelessly given over to pagan evolutionist idolatry. The words “joined to” in today’s verse mean literally “under the spell of.”
The Lord Jesus used similarly harsh language in reference to the hypocritical Pharisees of His own day: “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14).
There are other similar warnings. Of those who come “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof,” Paul says, “From such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:5). He has also warned us to “shun profane and vain babblings [that is, the empty philosophizing of those who reject God]: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:16). “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11).
Most, if not all, such warnings seem in context to apply especially, to people who once knew and understood the truth, perhaps even professing to accept it for a time and then knowingly rejected it. When such men oppose our testimony, God says to let them alone; He can deal with them better than we. HMM (The Institute for Creation Research)
God does the work of God, and man does the work of man. The work of man is faithfulness to what God has called him; the work of God is results. If we reverse the two, we can drive ourselves to an early grave. If we keep them in line, we can labor with freedom.
We need not get puffed up with pride when things go well, nor need we get distressed when things go poorly. To Pharaoh’s question, Joseph answered, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (Genesis 41:16). Our job is faithfulness; God’s job is results. (Quiet Walk)
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