Justin Houtz

2 Chronicles 5:1–6:11, 1 John 4, Nahum 3, Luke 19

DateVersionReading Plan
December 5, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

2 Chronicles 5:1–6:11

The chapter begins with the finishing of the house of the LORD by Solomon and his bringing the things that his father, David, had dedicated. Solomon assembled the elders and leaders of fathers’ houses to bring up the ark of the covenant out of the city of David (Zion). “Just as his father, David, did, Solomon gathers the leaders of Israel to move the ark, this time to its permanent residence.” (CSB Notes). The priests brought the ark to the Most Holy Place underneath the wings of the cherubim. An interesting detail is then given that the “poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary” (2 Chron. 5:9). The CSB Notes explains that, “The poles were too long to be confined to the most holy place, so they jutted out into the temple. In the day the Chronicler wrote these words, the ark was no longer in the temple, but the poles were, presumably as a symbol of the missing ark.” (CSB Notes). The Chronicler describes that the ark only contained the two tablets of the commandments. As the NAC states, “The New Testament had a tradition that referred to a jar of manna and Aaron’s rod in the ark as well (Heb 9:4). The Old Testament speaks of the rod and the jar of manna being placed in front of the ark (Exod 16:32–34; Num 17:10–11).” (NAC).

The priests came out of the Holy Place without regard for their divisions, displaying their “commitment to unity and worship” (FSB). All the Levitical singers—descendants of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun—were reunited and began to make music in praise of the LORD. The house of the LORD was filled with a cloud, the glory of the LORD, so that the priests could not minister insided.

Solomon spoke to the people, recounting how the LORD had said that He would dwell in thick darkness. Solomon then observed how he had built the LORD an exalted house and then turned to the people to bless the assembly. “As the entire congregation rose to receive Solomon’s blessings, he repeated the familiar story that led up to this point so everyone would understand the grace of God. The Lord had made a promise and now he had fulfilled it. It was he who had chosen David; and it was he who had designated Solomon as the temple builder.” (CSB Notes).

1 John 4

1 John 4:15–17 (ESV) 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

The Holy Spirit transforms the hearts of the elect in such a way that it leads to confession that Jesus is the Son of God and a reciprocal abiding. This opens the way to knowledge and belief in the love God has for us. The BBC offers a helpful word on the “perfected word with us” and the confidence we have “for the day of judgment:

It is not our love that is made perfect, but God’s love is made perfect with us. John is now taking us on to that future time when we will stand before the Lord. Will it be with boldness and confidence or will it be with cringing terror? The answer is that it will be with boldness, or confidence, because perfect love has settled the sin question once and for all. The reason for our confidence in that coming day is given in the words “because as He is, so are we in this world.” (BBC)

Nahum 3

“Chapter 3 continues the picture of the fall of Nineveh and gives the underlying reasons: It is a bloody city and full of lies and robbery, having seized booty from many others. Now the Babylonian horsemen are attacking with bright sword, and the streets are full of countless corpses.” (BBC)

“So thoroughly was Nahum’s prophecy fulfilled that, in later times, armies, such as Xenophon’s and Alexander the Great’s, were totally unaware that they were marching near or over the ruins of great Nineveh. Not until the nineteenth century was the ancient site of Nineveh even definitely relocated.” (BBC)

Luke 19

Luke 19:45–46 (ESV) 45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”

In this context, Jesus was rebuking the extortion being propagated through sale of animals for sacrifices at exorbitant prices. However, the question is whether there is a principle here that applies to other types of markets within the church. This has personal relevance because my church has recently opened a book store to provide congregants with Biblical and extra-Biblical resources. While the motivation is the growth and building up of the saints, it seems great caution is needed with such initiatives so as not to distract from the purpose of the church as the corporate assembly of the saints for worship, preaching of God’s Word and the administration of sacraments.

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