May 26-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 5:1-6, When all the work Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated—the silver and gold and all the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of God’s temple. 2 Then Solomon summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. 3 And all the Israelites came together to the king at the time of the festival in the seventh month. 4 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, 5 and they brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The Levitical priests carried them up; 6 and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.
Observe what it is saying.
Now that the temple, the furnishings, tools, and utensils were completed, it was time to move in. Years of work were finally finished, and the day they had been anticipating had come. As anyone who has ever moved into a new home has felt, the excitement had to be off the charts. Everything was clean, beautiful, and even smelled brand new. We are told all the Israelites came together to the king to witness the move in. However, there was one piece of furniture that was most important- the ark of the covenant. It was only about 500 yards away in the tented tabernacle. A vast number of sacrifices were made in recognition of the Lord’s goodness, grace, and holy call upon them as the people of God. They went all in showing their reverence, faith, love, and commitment to the God who had led them to this place.
Relate it to your life
My joyful and generous giving is an act of worship that reveals how much I love the Lord.
Do something.
Father, even with many gifts, I can never fully show how much I love You as my Lord God. Amen.
May 27-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 5:7-10, The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 8 The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its carrying poles. 9 These poles were so long that their ends, extending from the ark, could be seen from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.
Observe what it is saying.
The fact that by Solomon's time there was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of the 10 Commandments reveals that the other two items previously kept in the ark: the omer of manna and Aaron’s rod had been removed or lost during the ark’s transient period, including years in Philistine possession. What was most importantly preserved were these tablets that expressed the message of the covenant that God had created with His people. It served as an ongoing testimony to the word God had given Moses to create this unique people. God’s nature and word are one and the same. That’s why Jesus said, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Relate it to your life.
The only way I can speak intelligently about God is through the word of God.
Do something.
Father, make it my heart’s deepest desire to live by every word that comes from Your mouth. Amen.
May 28-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 5:11-14, The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. 12 All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. 13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, 14 and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.
Observe what it is saying.
Besides the many sacrifices offered, we find many musicians and singers were present at this special worship service of moving the ark into the Holy of Holies. Can you imagine the sound of the 120 trumpets along with all the other instruments! The singers sang a simple chorus declaring God’s goodness and never-failing love. This was quite an elaborate display of talent in praise and thanks to the Lord. After this majestic praise was offered, a cloud came, not just any cloud, but the cloud of the shekinah glory of the Lord. It was so pervasive that the priests could no longer do their work. When we offer such heartfelt praise and worship, we should expect to encounter the heavy presence of the Lord’s glory.
Relate it to your life.
Whether I play an instrument, sing, or make a joyful noise, I give my all and my best for the Lord.
Do something.
Father, I want to encounter the heavy weight of Your presence as I humbly offer my all to You. Amen.
May 29-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 6:1-3, Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; 2 I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.” 3 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them.
Observe what it is saying.
In this chapter, King Solomon pronounces a blessing on the people, which was actually a testimony of praise to the Lord for his faithfulness in prospering the temple project up to this point. In verse 11, he begins a long prayer dedicating the building for God’s sanctuary and asking God for His favorable response when Israel submitted their petitions. Verses 1 and 2 reflect the preceding event, when God demonstrated his approval of the king's relocation of the ark in the new temple. The reference about dwelling "in a dark cloud" is found in God coming on top of Mount Sinai, shrouded in a cloud (Exodus 19:9; 20:21), and also in Moses’ tabernacle, as veiled off in its Most Holy Place (Leviticus 16:2). While he was speaking with God, Solomon faced the temple and the cloud of the divine Presence that filled it. When he began to pronounce his blessing on the people, Solomon turned around and faced the crowd as they stood beyond the altar. The king’s blessing revealed his understanding of his role as their servant leader. Godly leadership is inherently intended to take others to a better place than they could go on their own. The very purpose of leadership is to bring benefit and blessing to others.
Relate it to your life.
Whatever influence I have in my relationship with others, I am to leave them better than I found them.
Do something.
Father, may my every thought, word, attitude, and action be beneficial to others and bring honor to You. Amen.
May 30-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 6:4-6, Then he said: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said, 5 ‘Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel. 6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there, and I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.’
Observe what it is saying.
The blessing that Solomon offered the people was a prayer of praise for God’s faithfulness. Going back to the Exodus where God inaugurated His covenant relationship with Israel, Solomon spoke that God had not chosen a place for His temple or a person to lead them until now. They were blessed to be a part of this holy time in history where God gave two promises to his father, King David. Jerusalem would be the city where God’s name would be located, and David’s lineage would be the one to rule the people. In His sovereign grace, God made these decrees. We each can think of such special times of blessing in our lives, where God’s grace has been made clearly known. We understand it was not anything we had earned or deserved, yet we found ourselves in a time and place of God’s generous activity. As it did with Solomon, such reflection of God’s grace should overwhelm our hearts with praise and thanksgiving.
Relate it to your life.
My life is filled with far more blessing than I have ever considered.
Do something.
Father, I give thanks and praise for Your gracious acts throughout my life that have brought me great joy. Amen.
May 31-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 6:7-11, “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 8 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. 9 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’ 10 “The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 11 There I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon fulfilled his father’s dream to build the temple. David was told that he would not be able to do so, but his son would. Solomon had been told and shown this promise as David helped with the initial preparations for the temple before he died. As Solomon blessed the people, he spoke again of the Lord’s faithfulness in making him king and giving him the opportunity to build this holy worship space. Placing the ark within the temple was the capstone to this monumental day as the tablets of the law stood as a reminder of the covenant God made with His people so many years before. King David had the original vision and passion to build this home for God, but Solomon was given the authority and capacity to complete it. We may have larger dreams than we will ever complete in our own lifetime, but if they are of God, we can be encouraged that God will fulfill them in those who faithfully follow after us.
Relate it to your life.
God’s kingdom purposes are much larger than any single person can accomplish in their own lifetime.
Do something.
Father, give me kingdom-sized dreams that will stretch far beyond my lifetime and come to fruition in future generations, including my children, grandchildren, and even beyond. Amen.
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 5:1-6, When all the work Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated—the silver and gold and all the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of God’s temple. 2 Then Solomon summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. 3 And all the Israelites came together to the king at the time of the festival in the seventh month. 4 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, 5 and they brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The Levitical priests carried them up; 6 and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.
Observe what it is saying.
Now that the temple, the furnishings, tools, and utensils were completed, it was time to move in. Years of work were finally finished, and the day they had been anticipating had come. As anyone who has ever moved into a new home has felt, the excitement had to be off the charts. Everything was clean, beautiful, and even smelled brand new. We are told all the Israelites came together to the king to witness the move in. However, there was one piece of furniture that was most important- the ark of the covenant. It was only about 500 yards away in the tented tabernacle. A vast number of sacrifices were made in recognition of the Lord’s goodness, grace, and holy call upon them as the people of God. They went all in showing their reverence, faith, love, and commitment to the God who had led them to this place.
Relate it to your life
My joyful and generous giving is an act of worship that reveals how much I love the Lord.
Do something.
Father, even with many gifts, I can never fully show how much I love You as my Lord God. Amen.
May 27-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 5:7-10, The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 8 The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its carrying poles. 9 These poles were so long that their ends, extending from the ark, could be seen from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.
Observe what it is saying.
The fact that by Solomon's time there was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of the 10 Commandments reveals that the other two items previously kept in the ark: the omer of manna and Aaron’s rod had been removed or lost during the ark’s transient period, including years in Philistine possession. What was most importantly preserved were these tablets that expressed the message of the covenant that God had created with His people. It served as an ongoing testimony to the word God had given Moses to create this unique people. God’s nature and word are one and the same. That’s why Jesus said, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Relate it to your life.
The only way I can speak intelligently about God is through the word of God.
Do something.
Father, make it my heart’s deepest desire to live by every word that comes from Your mouth. Amen.
May 28-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 5:11-14, The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. 12 All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. 13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, 14 and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.
Observe what it is saying.
Besides the many sacrifices offered, we find many musicians and singers were present at this special worship service of moving the ark into the Holy of Holies. Can you imagine the sound of the 120 trumpets along with all the other instruments! The singers sang a simple chorus declaring God’s goodness and never-failing love. This was quite an elaborate display of talent in praise and thanks to the Lord. After this majestic praise was offered, a cloud came, not just any cloud, but the cloud of the shekinah glory of the Lord. It was so pervasive that the priests could no longer do their work. When we offer such heartfelt praise and worship, we should expect to encounter the heavy presence of the Lord’s glory.
Relate it to your life.
Whether I play an instrument, sing, or make a joyful noise, I give my all and my best for the Lord.
Do something.
Father, I want to encounter the heavy weight of Your presence as I humbly offer my all to You. Amen.
May 29-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 6:1-3, Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; 2 I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.” 3 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them.
Observe what it is saying.
In this chapter, King Solomon pronounces a blessing on the people, which was actually a testimony of praise to the Lord for his faithfulness in prospering the temple project up to this point. In verse 11, he begins a long prayer dedicating the building for God’s sanctuary and asking God for His favorable response when Israel submitted their petitions. Verses 1 and 2 reflect the preceding event, when God demonstrated his approval of the king's relocation of the ark in the new temple. The reference about dwelling "in a dark cloud" is found in God coming on top of Mount Sinai, shrouded in a cloud (Exodus 19:9; 20:21), and also in Moses’ tabernacle, as veiled off in its Most Holy Place (Leviticus 16:2). While he was speaking with God, Solomon faced the temple and the cloud of the divine Presence that filled it. When he began to pronounce his blessing on the people, Solomon turned around and faced the crowd as they stood beyond the altar. The king’s blessing revealed his understanding of his role as their servant leader. Godly leadership is inherently intended to take others to a better place than they could go on their own. The very purpose of leadership is to bring benefit and blessing to others.
Relate it to your life.
Whatever influence I have in my relationship with others, I am to leave them better than I found them.
Do something.
Father, may my every thought, word, attitude, and action be beneficial to others and bring honor to You. Amen.
May 30-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 6:4-6, Then he said: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said, 5 ‘Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel. 6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there, and I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.’
Observe what it is saying.
The blessing that Solomon offered the people was a prayer of praise for God’s faithfulness. Going back to the Exodus where God inaugurated His covenant relationship with Israel, Solomon spoke that God had not chosen a place for His temple or a person to lead them until now. They were blessed to be a part of this holy time in history where God gave two promises to his father, King David. Jerusalem would be the city where God’s name would be located, and David’s lineage would be the one to rule the people. In His sovereign grace, God made these decrees. We each can think of such special times of blessing in our lives, where God’s grace has been made clearly known. We understand it was not anything we had earned or deserved, yet we found ourselves in a time and place of God’s generous activity. As it did with Solomon, such reflection of God’s grace should overwhelm our hearts with praise and thanksgiving.
Relate it to your life.
My life is filled with far more blessing than I have ever considered.
Do something.
Father, I give thanks and praise for Your gracious acts throughout my life that have brought me great joy. Amen.
May 31-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 6:7-11, “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 8 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. 9 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’ 10 “The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 11 There I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon fulfilled his father’s dream to build the temple. David was told that he would not be able to do so, but his son would. Solomon had been told and shown this promise as David helped with the initial preparations for the temple before he died. As Solomon blessed the people, he spoke again of the Lord’s faithfulness in making him king and giving him the opportunity to build this holy worship space. Placing the ark within the temple was the capstone to this monumental day as the tablets of the law stood as a reminder of the covenant God made with His people so many years before. King David had the original vision and passion to build this home for God, but Solomon was given the authority and capacity to complete it. We may have larger dreams than we will ever complete in our own lifetime, but if they are of God, we can be encouraged that God will fulfill them in those who faithfully follow after us.
Relate it to your life.
God’s kingdom purposes are much larger than any single person can accomplish in their own lifetime.
Do something.
Father, give me kingdom-sized dreams that will stretch far beyond my lifetime and come to fruition in future generations, including my children, grandchildren, and even beyond. Amen.
Posted in Daily Devotionals