July 21 – The Glory of the LORD has returned!

July 21
2 Chronicles 4:1-6:11
Romans 7:1-13
Psalm 17:1-15
Proverbs 19:22-23

2 Chronicles 5:3 – Notice they assembled for a feast – there are times where it is appropriate to celebrate and not to fast (Mark 2:19). Even though we have incredibly detailed records of other items, we cannot number the amount of sacrifices that were made to celebrate this building to glorify the LORD.

2 Chronicles 5:10 – What was within the Ark that was so holy that it killed Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:7), and the seventy of Beth-shemesh who looked in the ark (1 Samuel 6:19)? The two tables of the Mosaic Covenant containing the Ten Commandments written with the finger of God. The physical mark of the divine covenant with a designated human response.

2 Chronicles 5:14 – The glory of the LORD had returned! This is the first time the glory had been observed in roughly 450 years. Interestingly during the Exodus 5 of the 8 times the Glory of the LORD appeared was in conjunction with the wrath of God against the murmuring of Israel, while the other 3 times were in coordination with the explanation of the tabernacle, the dedication of the tabernacle, and the first use of the tabernacle.

• In the cloud, at the introduction of manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:10) following the murmuring of Israel (Exodus 16:2)
• Atop Mount Sinai, at the explanation of the tabernacle to Moses (Exodus 24:17)
• In the Tabernacle, at the dedication of the tabernacle (Exodus 40:35)
• In the Tabernacle, at the first burnt offering (Leviticus 9:23)
• In the Tabernacle, after the spies returned and the Israelites wanted to stone Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb (Numbers 14:10)
• At the door of the Tabernacle, during Korah’s rebellion (Numbers 16:19) before the earth swallowed Korah and the fire consumed 250 (Numbers 16:32, Numbers 16:35)
• In the Tabernacle, when Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron for killing Korah (Numbers 16:42) before 14,700 died (Numbers 16:49)
• At the door of the Tabernacle (Numbers 20:6) when the Israelites murmured (Numbers 20:1) before God told Moses to speak to the Rock (Numbers 20:8)

Now we see the glory of the LORD (1 Kings 8:11, 2 Chronicles 5:14) at the start of the dedication as well as the end (2 Chronicles 7:1-3).

What do we know about the Glory of the LORD? It endures forever (Psalm 104:31), and it is great (Psalm 138:5). Distant lands will see it (Isaiah 35:2). All flesh shall see it (Isaiah 40:5). It is the rereward (KJV) – meaning our rear guard (Isaiah 58:8). It will arise (Isaiah 60:1) and bring the Gentiles to its light. It made Ezekiel fall on his face (Ezekiel 1:28, Ezekiel 3:23). But it had left the Temple (Ezekiel 10:4, Ezekiel 10:8) and went to the Mount of Olives (Ezekiel 11:23).

The Chronicler is with the Exiles who had returned, and had read in Ezekiel’s prophecies that the Glory was gone. But it had been there on Mount Moriah 500 years ago, and about a hundred years before the Chronicles, the glory went from Mount Moriah to the Mount of Olives. But the Glory of the LORD would return! It would appear less than 500 years later to those who prepared some special things for Mount Moriah, as the Glory of the LORD would return to Mount Moriah, and once again go to the Mount of Olives. Now 2000 years after that, we behold that same glory (2 Corinthians 3:18)!

2 Chronicles 6:6 – Chronicles points out a word of the LORD that was not recorded in Kings – God’s declaration to David that He had chosen Jerusalem. Other references to his choosing Jerusalem fill the historical books, but records of the LORD communicating to Solomon (1 Kings 11:13), and Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:32, 1 Kings 11:36) – yet Jeroboam rejected that message that was doubly communicated to him in favor of evil counsel (1 Kings 12:28), and made the people to sin (1 Kings 12:30).

Romans 7:12 – Yes, those two tablets contained within the Ark of the Covenant that we read about (2 Chronicles 5:10) are not sin (Romans 7:7) but the way to life (Romans 7:10), and holy (Romans 7:12). But no one can keep the holy law, so it was found to be death (Romans 7:10).But now that we are dead to the death of the law (Romans 7:4) and married to Christ, we can bring forth fruit!

Psalm 17:3 – When we are right with the LORD, following His way with His power, we have His salvation (Psalm 17:7). We are kept as the apple of His eye, under the shadow of His wings (Psalm 17:8).

Psalm 17:15 – We shall not just behold the glory of the LORD, we will awake “with thy likeness.”  What does this mean? Check 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Proverbs 19:23 – The Fear of the LORD is the way of the life, that leads us to seeing the Glory of the LORD. It protects (as we read about in Psalm 17:9).