The Ark of the Covenant Was Moved to The Temple
October 2, 2020
Commentary
Upon completion of the temple, Solomon had all the elders of Israel and the tribal leaders assemble at Jerusalem for a great ceremonial occasion. He put in its storage rooms everything the Lord had dedicated to the Lord (v. 1). The ark of the covenant was to be brought from its temporary tent in Jerusalem (I Chronicles 16:1) to its permanent location in the new temple (v.7). This happened during the Feast of the Tabernacles in September-October. (Leviticus 23:33-36). Solomon decided to have the Ark moved to the temple while everyone was in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Shelters. The people of Israel all united and focused together on the house of God (vv. 2-9).
Inside the ark of the covenant were two stone tablets of the law (v.10). The author of Hebrews wrote that the ark also contained Aaron’s rod and a pot of manna (Hebrews 9:4). These objects may have been added to the original contents sometime later than Solomon.
The presence of God and the word of God were brought into the new Jerusalem temple on this day (vv. 11-12). The people of God united together. One hundred twenty priests were with these musicians blowing trumpets. They “were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord …" God was pleased. While their praise was ascending, the glory of the Lord descended and filled the house of God (vv. 13-14). The light was so bright that the priests could not stay inside to do their work (v. 14).
Application
Is God pleased at the unity of your family (within the whole body of Christ) around the word of God, the presence of God and the people of God? How would He be more pleased?
2 Chronicles 5:1– 14 (NET)
1 When Solomon had finished constructing the Lordās temple, he put the holy items that belonged to his father David (the silver, gold, and all the other articles) in the treasuries of Godās temple.
2 Then Solomon convened Israelās eldersāall the leaders of the Israelite tribes and familiesāin Jerusalem, so they could witness the transferal of the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David (that is, Zion). 3 All the men of Israel assembled before the king during the festival in the seventh month. 4 When all Israelās elders had arrived, the Levites lifted the ark. 5 The priests and Levites carried the ark, the tent where God appeared to his people, and all the holy items in the tent. 6 Now King Solomon and all the Israelites who had assembled with him went on ahead of the ark and sacrificed more sheep and cattle than could be counted or numbered.
7 The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its assigned place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, in the Most Holy Place under the wings of the cherubim. 8 The cherubimās wings extended over the place where the ark sat; the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles. 9 The poles were so long their ends extending out from the ark were visible from in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from beyond that point. They have remained there to this very day. 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets Moses had placed there in Horeb. (It was there that the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after he brought them out of the land of Egypt.)
11 The priests left the Holy Place. All the priests who participated had consecrated themselves, no matter which division they represented. 12 All the Levites who were musicians, including Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives, wore linen. They played cymbals and stringed instruments as they stood east of the altar. They were accompanied by 120 priests who blew trumpets. 13 The trumpeters and musicians played together, praising and giving thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they loudly praised the Lord, singing: āCertainly he is good; certainly his loyal love endures!ā Then a cloud filled the Lordās temple. 14 The priests could not carry out their duties because of the cloud; the Lordās splendor filled Godās temple.