FOR THE LORD’S NAME. 2nd Chronicles 2 Why would a building be made for the name of the Lord when the "heaven of heavens" can't contain Him? Before Solomon was born, it was in David's heart to build a house for the Lord—a temple. A place for "The Name" is so that those who know and love the Lord would come together in that place for perpetual worship and praise to the Lord. In that unique place, sacrifices would be made to the Lord. As individuals brought each sacrifice to that place, it would be joined with the sacrifices of others as a united whole. God is not limited in location to "temples made with hands," nor is He worshipped with men's hands as though He needed anything, seeing He gives to all life, breath, and all things. The temple was built for the sake of the people so that there would be a visible, unifying center.
Some people who seek to undermine the infallibility of the scriptures point to places like 2nd Chronicles and compare the accounts in the books of the Kings. Some differences may be due to errors made by the scribes who wrote copies of the original scriptures. They may also be because the entire event was not covered in each account. 2nd Chronicles 2:3-10 gives a different amount paid to Hiram than what is stated in 1st Kings. One account refers to a personal gift, while the other refers to what was given to the workmen.
Huram’s mother was a Danite, referred to in 1st Kings, and was from Naphtali. She was likely a widow whose second husband was a Danite from Tyre. Other apparent discrepancies include the number of overseers, the height of the temple porch, the size of the laver, and so on throughout the book of 2nd Chronicles.
What we need to remember is that “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Therefore, the scriptures did not originate with men. The prophecies and writings are more reliable than any of the words of men because they were moved along by the Holy Spirit just as wind moves a boat under sail. In its origin, the Bible is inspired by God, without errors, and is infallible. We have copies that may be affected in some passages by translators, copyists' errors, and in some of the newer versions of the Bible, by the opinions of men.
Ezra, or whoever wrote the Chronicles, omits some of the things recorded in the Kings and adds material that was suited to the needs of the Israelites who returned from Babylon hundreds of years after the temple was built. The skills of the man appointed to lead the work were given to him when the Holy Spirit came upon Huram-Abi, just as He came upon Bezalel when the Tabernacle was built.
The materials used, the costs, and payments for the material and their use were substantial, but Solomon sought the best he could obtain to represent the majesty, glory, and honor of God, aiming to inspire the nation's people to worship and obey Him. Hiram understood that the Lord God loved the Hebrews and had endowed Solomon with intelligence, discernment, and wisdom beyond that of others. The man he sent, Huram-Abi, was capable and adaptable to working with the Israelites.
In the Chronicles, we learn that the laborers were foreigners who were forced to work and lived among the Israelites. These men likely possessed different skills than the Israelites, who were mainly an agriculture-oriented society. Metalworkers, woodworkers, and skilled tradesmen probably came from conquered nations or those subdued by the Israelites during the reign of David.
Of special interest in this chapter is Solomon’s statement about God, who is the only true God, not a great god among lesser gods. His understanding of the infinite nature of God, who is limitless in every way, is a testimony to what he knew. The “heaven of heavens” cannot contain the true God, who has no boundaries to His existence. The “Lord of hosts” has authority over every being in heaven and earth.
Hiram, king of Tyre, made a diplomatic and prudent statement about God, but it reflected the perspective of an observer, not a believer. He respected the God of Israel but did not have personal faith in Him.
"Gather My saints together unto Me" is still a desire of the Lord for His people. However, we no longer require a magnificent edifice to represent God's presence among us. The people of the Lord are now members of His body. He is the Head; we are the parts that comprise the body, with every child of God being unique. Since the dispensational church has been scattered over the 21 centuries since it began at the feast of Pentecost, in various parts of the earth and heaven, local assemblies serve as a testimony to the reality of the body of Christ to the world, angels, and men.
When God's people come together according to the scriptural pattern our Lord has provided, every individual in that local fellowship has a role to fill and a responsibility to assume. "We are members of one another," and we are "body of Christ" in character and composition that can be seen visibly. We are part of that fellowship all the time, whether we are meeting together or apart while fulfilling the tasks of daily living. Everything I do individually reflects on the testimony of that body of believers and the One to whom we gather. As the gathering center, we meet with Jesus in our midst.
The temple is not a type of Christ like the tabernacle was. Instead, it serves as a testimony to the name of the Lord, particularly during the millennium when we gather to Him in person. The purpose of the temple in Israel was to be a place where the worship of God would be conducted continually. The magnificence of the structure was meant to impress the Lord's people and all who would behold it, emphasizing that our Great God is worthy of all honor and glory that mere mortal man can ascribe to Him. The visible extravagance of the materials and the glory of the building cannot begin to represent the actual glory of God. It only shows that those who know, love, and serve Him understand He deserves the very best we can offer. At best, our best is merely a shadow compared to the reality of His divine glory and holiness.
David's desire became his son Solomon's desire and duty. In its magnificence, because of who the Lord is, the temple was meant to be a solid and permanent testimony to God, constructed with the best possible materials available. Due to its nature and composition, this material would endure for a long time. Carefully cut stones, well-crafted wood known for its durability, and skilled craftsmen guided by the expertise of one talented individual all contributed to an impressive edifice that words cannot adequately describe. One person remarked upon seeing it and the grandeur surrounding it, "The half hath not been told."
Those of us who are part of a scripturally gathered assembly of saints may not realize the impact that doing God's work according to His will, in His way, and according to His word has on spiritual observers. Angels who have seen the glories of heaven look on and see in the divine order of headship the purpose of God, remembering that many angels lost their position due to being lifted up in pride. Even believers who observe can see the value and power of divine order compared to a man-made hierarchy. The most impressive garments worn by religious leaders, the most ornate grandeur of man-made buildings, and man-made traditions do not have the spiritual impact on the soul and spirit of a spiritual believer that spiritual simplicity has on their heart. "This is of God," one said. "Now I know what Jesus meant when He said, 'Remember Me,'" another observer said.
The cost of the temple was measured in thousands of tons of food and gallons of drink. This would help sustain the thousands of laborers who spent countless hours preparing materials for the temple, allowing it to be built in relative silence without the sound of tools. However, when considering the overall cost of the temple and the combined expenses of all the labor, it pales compared to the cost of that "which He hath purchased with His own blood." Believers in the assembly at Corinth were reminded that they were not their own; they "were bought with a price." Because of that fact, they were to "glorify God" in their bodies and spirits, which were His at an infinite cost. That truth remains the same for us as it was in the past.
An onlooker from another country recognized from what he observed and understood about David and Solomon that God loved His people, Israel. He knew that God had appointed Solomon to be the king of Israel and recognized Solomon as a wise man. The house of God today is His people who gather in His name, and He loves them. Through His wisdom, He "raises up" those He equips to lead and guide the people of God. He grants them wisdom and understanding to establish and uphold His house according to His plans for His purposes. God's work can move forward when older people prepare the way for those who are younger and will soon continue the work of the Lord.
We are responsible for taking what God has given and making it a reality. The buildings where we gather are merely structures meant to help us maintain our focus on God. The place we meet is just that, regardless of how impressive or simple it may be. The foreigners who worked for Solomon understood only a small part of the project they were participating in. Spiritual discernment is rare among many of God's people. Most believers today will never see or understand the moral and spiritual value and beauty of "the house of God." They only know they are part of a great work that will one day be completed. However, they miss the joy of personal participation in the testimony of a scripturally gathered assembly in this church age.
The very best that man can do is simple compared to what God has done. If we were to take all the edifices made and create a single one from them, it could not compare in size or grandeur to what God has made all around us. It sounds discordant if we put all the music man has ever made together next to nature. But in a gracious act, God condescends to meet with mere mortal man and accepts whatever we offer Him when we give Him our best. A word of praise, a gift of love, and an act of kindness in Jesus’ name are very small compared to what God gave when the Lord Jesus came to the cross.
However, because God is so great, He understands the motives behind each act. The desire to bring honor to Him is accepted as an undeniable truth. He is willing to come and accepts our praise. He even promises to dwell with us. How great is our God, who the universe can’t contain, yet He reveals Himself this way! The silence of the majestic mountains often fills our minds with awe. We ask ourselves, “Is this made by the God who promises to hear me when I call?” The raging waves of the sea are such that man has no way to control them. God, who controls them, has a voice louder than the ocean’s noise – still can speak peace to my soul.
The labor spent building a house for God is not in vain. He instructed us to construct a special place for His great name. It may be a small and quiet location where God meets His people. The point of the meeting isn’t just a building; it is for the people who share in His grace.
The greatness of God is not only seen in things of impressive size. Evidence of His greatness can be hidden in small things not visible to natural eyesight, whether large or small, physical things provide striking evidence of God's greatness. But beyond all those things around us is the greatness of Jesus, our Lord. The true greatness that affects every person is that God has given us life. He maintains a personal interest in us; it was for our peace that He paid such a great price to redeem us through the great work of salvation when Jesus died for us. God's greatest work impacts forever those who are led into His kingdom.