365 Reflections

Solomon has come to the completion of his work to establish both the Temple of God and his own palace in 2 Chronicles 8. The text makes clear that Solomon was well established by the Lord and his kingdom, as promised, was strong and blessed. 2 Chronicles 8:1–2, 6 (ESV) At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of the LORD and his own house, 2 Solomon rebuilt the cities that Hiram had given to him, and settled the people of Israel in them... 6b ... and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. But later in the passage, there's a hint of impending compromise in Solomon's life. An interesting notation occurs in verse 11: 2 Chronicles 8:11 (ESV) Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy.” Solomon's kingdom ...

The Ark came back to Israel but all was not well. Twenty years pass and Israel has no way out of their predicament with the Philistines. Eventually, Samuel calls the people back to God commanding them to put away their foreign Gods and direct their heart to the Lord. The people listen to him. 1 Samuel 7:5–6 (ESV) Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” 6 So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord .” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah. Now in verse 5, they are gathered together seeking the Lord. They fast, and Samuel takes the lead of God's people. "Mizpah" means "watchtower" which would have been some sort of military station. The Philistines hear they are gathering at a military location and decide to intimidate them with a military advance against of their own. The people turn to Samuel...

1 Samuel 4:18 (ESV)   As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years. 1 Samuel 5:4 (ESV) But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. Two broken necks from two different national icons.  The first neck is that of Eli, the old, overweight and out of touch priest of Israel. He failed to restrain his sons or himself (consider his weight). He grew blind and impotent. He sat when he should have been standing and doing his duty for the Lord's people in the Temple. The prophecy given to Samuel concerning his sons comes true, they are dead. The nation he leads has lost its worst battle. The Philistines are victorious. ...

The central element of the Jordan crossing is the Ark. Nothing happens without the Ark being involved and visible to the nation. The Ark was the representation of the presence of God amidst Israel. It is also the prefigured picture of Christ among His people. Consider the following facts that point to Christ. The Ark was made of wood - representing Christ's humility and humanity. The Ark was covered with gold - representing Christ's Kingship and Divinity. The Ark contained the law - representing His ability to KEEP the law perfectly. The Ark contained the manna - representing His ability to nourish His people in any season. The Ark contained the budded rod of Aaron - representing the resurrection of Jesus. And so fittingly, the people of Israel were to keep watch on every movement of the Ark during their Jordan crossing. I have heard many messages that talk about how we need to be leaders of the people as the priests were in this episode. How we need to put our feet i...

We all want to hear from God. But sometimes we get frustrated when we don't. I was reading Exodus 25 about God's instructions concerning the Ark of the Covenant - the item in Ancient Israel's temple that physically signified God's presence among. They are to build the ark by God's specific directions and this is how it ends: Exodus 25:22 (ESV) There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel. What you have in these instructions about the Ark is a physical type or picture of how we can come to hear God's voice. Looking to God's instructions to Moses we have clear principles as to what God wants from us in order to hear Him regularly.  First God tells them: Exodus 25:11 (ESV)  You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on ...