What the Acts of Worship Mean

2 Chronicles 2:1-18 (NKJV)
¹  Then Solomon determined to build a temple for the name of the LORD, and a royal house for himself.
²  Solomon selected seventy thousand men to bear burdens, eighty thousand to quarry stone in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred to oversee them.
³  Then Solomon sent to Hiram king of Tyre, saying: As you have dealt with David my father, and sent him cedars to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me.
⁴  Behold, I am building a temple for the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to Him, to burn before Him sweet incense, for the continual showbread, for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, on the New Moons, and on the set feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance forever to Israel.

 

Note: The two books of Chronicles covers much of the same historical events as the four books of Samuel and Kings, but does so after the Exile to Babylon ends and there is more of an emphasis on grace than on the sin and judgment of the earlier books.  Compare this to the Christian Gospels, which cover many of the same events but with differing emphases.  I read recently that the Jewish Bible ends with the two books of Chronicles, giving a hopeful view going forward. 

          When reading these books, I try to compare and contrast the religious acts recorded with what we do in church buildings on Sunday over much of the world.  In so doing I found verse four of this chapter interesting.  Here Solomon is beginning work to build the Temple in Jerusalem and he writes the king of a neighboring country for skilled workers and raw materials for the project.  What struck my attention was verse four, which outlines the purpose and activities of the Temple.  They are...

to dedicate (purpose)

burn incense

present showbread, made fresh regularly.

offerings morning and evening, and on Sabbaths, New Moons and great feasts outlined in Scripture.

          The fact that this describes the great Temple of Jerusalem contrasts greatly with the humble congregation, one of many in my town, that I serve.  The priests of the temple represented the whole nation of Israel, and my congregation is one of many thousands scattered across the country.  Still, the symbolism of the activities of the temple speak to the values of worship in any Christian congregation.  First, the place was dedicated, that is, it is declared holy and for sacred use.  Christian theology would maintain the same for the place we gather for worship, and for the congregation itself.  The image of a temple made of people to house the Lord is part of the New Testament (cf. Ephesians 2:19-22).  Incense symbolizes the prayers of the people; showbread represents the life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit; the sacrifices remind us to be living sacrifices unto Christ (Romans 12:1-2).  With this in the back of our minds, I strongly hope that our participation in worship this Sunday will bring encouragement and a refreshed presence of the Holy Spirit.  We don't worship in order to receive, but God does reward people who see Him.  (Hebrews 11:6).