2 Chronicles 5
McGeeCHAPTERS 5 AND 6THEME: The completed temple
2 Chronicles 5:1
After the temple was completed, the ark was brought into the temple. Zion is right up on the hill not very far from the temple area. I have walked it several times, both up and down, because it is not too far. We don’t know the exact spot where David was keeping the ark, but it was in the city of David which is Mount Zion. That is not a very large area and it is not far from the temple area.
2 Chronicles 5:6
The thought here is that there was no attempt to count them because they represent the sacrifice of Christ. And that is something which cannot be counted or measured.
2 Chronicles 5:7
“Unto this day” refers, of course, to the time of the writing of Chronicles. The staves were drawn out. The ark is to move no more. You will remember that the ark was constructed in the wilderness at Mount Sinai, and then the children of Israel spent forty years wandering in the wilderness. The ark was always carried before them as they traveled. It was the ark that went first through the Jordan River when they entered the Promised Land. After they had arrived in the land, the ark was still moved from place to place. Remember that once it was even captured by the Philistines, and then it was sent back by them. The ark had been brought to Jerusalem by David, and he had kept it at Mount Zion until the time when the temple should be completed. That time has now come, and the ark is placed into the most holy place, and the staves are removed. It is to move no more. The males of the children of Israel are to appear at the tabernacle at three feasts of the year: Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. This means that from now on they will come to Jerusalem on those feast days and appear at the temple where the ark rests. You will remember that the ark speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ, of His person. Above the ark was the mercy seat which speaks of His work of redemption, His shedding of blood, the fact that He is now our propitiation. All of that is permanent. “…but now once in the end of the world [lit., the end of the age] hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Heb_9:26). It is permanent, it is basic, it is established. Let me use the figure of speech here: the staves have been pulled out. There will be no other way of salvation. Peter could say to his people, “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Act_4:12). My friend, the staves have been pulled out. The ark is not on the move any more. Also the withdrawing of the staves indicates rest. The Lord Jesus gives rest to those who come to Him. Also there is to be a place of rest. Our Lord spoke of that place when He said to His own men in the Upper Room, “…I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (Joh_14:2-3). The place is prepared, and one of these days we will go to that place. One of the characteristics of that place is its permanence, the fact that it is a place of eternity. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Rev_21:4). This is the city of God. It is permanent, and “…the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it” (Rev_21:22). My friend, the staves are already pulled out. How wonderful that we are not going to be on the march. We don’t have to go looking for God. As Paul said to the Romans, we don’t have to go to heaven to bring Christ down, nor do we have to go down to hell to bring Him up. He is right there for us. This is permanent; it is eternal. It will not be changed. He drew out the staves.
2 Chronicles 5:10
Two things that had been placed in the ark by Moses are now missing: Aaron’s rod and the pot of manna. The manna, you will recall from the account of Numbers 17, would disappear if the people didn’t gather it. And if it was not eaten the same day, it would spoil. However a pot of manna was preserved in the ark as a memorial. Now it is gone. The manna was a symbol of Christ as the Bread of Life, who feeds those who are His own.
Aaron’s rod that budded (Exod. 16) is a symbol of Christ’s resurrection. It has been actualized to us today by the historical fact that Jesus died (that’s His humanity), was buried, then rose again the third daythat’s not human; it reveals His deity. The priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ rests upon His resurrection, just as Aaron’s priesthood was confirmed by the budding of his rod, a type of resurrection.
2 Chronicles 5:11
You see, all the courses came up for this act of dedication. The singers were there, and the orchestra with cymbals and psalteries and harps, and 120 trumpet players!
2 Chronicles 5:13
This was a great occasion!
2 Chronicles 5:14
Now as we come to chapter 6 we have the message of Solomon for this occasion and his prayer of dedication.