The place of the temple in Israel is an important theme for the writer of Chronicles. At the time when Chronicles was written, after the return from exile, the major issue was that of the rebuilding of the temple. The prophet Haggai rebuked the returned Jews for neglecting the building of the temple. Here in chapter 5 the Chronicler, with similar concerns, highlights the fact that it was the building of the temple that prepared the way for the glory of God to dwell in Jerusalem, something that the returned exiles longed to see. It was not that the temple itself was inherently divine or ‘enchanted’. It was what the temple stood for that was important. The temple was a symbol of God’s willingness to connect with his people as they connected with him through worship. The burnt offerings that were offered in the temple were symbols of the real meaning of worship which is the offering of oneself to God. The temple brought the people to the place of worship and itself declared the meaning of worship. It was in this context that they saw the glory of God and it is in this same context that we also will see the glory of God. Worship is the starting point for everything. Yield yourself to God today and God will receive you and begin to transform you into a living temple of his Holy Spirit.
Yield yourself to God again today.
Read 2 Chronicles 5
