On Tuesday I discussed the key of being THANKFUL. If you want to read my last post on thanksgiving, you can click HERE to catch up. In the last post I discussed David placing the Ark of the Lord in the tent. Now we will read about his son, Solomon.
2 Chronicles 5:2-6 Then Solomon summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the LORD’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. And all the men of Israel came together to the king at the time of the festival in the seventh month.
When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, and they brought up the ark and the Tent of Meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The priests, who were Levites, carried them up; and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.
Can you imagine the blood? There were so many animals sacrificed that they couldn’t be recorded or counted! For many of these people, their animals were their livelihoods. Perhaps we can’t completely understand what a sacrifice many of them truly made. It must have been so pleasing to Father God! Hearts willing to make true SACRIFICES.
In verses 7 – 10 the priests placed the Ark of the Lord in the Most Holy Place.
2 Chronicles 5:11-13
The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: “He is good; His love endures forever.” Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God …
Did you notice they understood the importance of giving praise AND THANKS?
On a side note: I can’t find this in scripture, perhaps you can, but Ryan Wyatt pointed out that there were 120 in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit came! If that is the case, then it is interesting that there were 120 priests sounding trumpets as well! I looked in my NIV Study Bible notes which stated: “2:4 All of them. Could refer either to the apostles or to the 120. Those holding that the 120 [are meant] point to the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy (vv 17-18) as involving more than the 12 apostles.” Do you ever wonder why particular numbers seem holy in the Bible?
I often try to envision what the people must have seen or heard while living out the scriptures. Can you imagine the sound of 120 trumpets blasting? The worshipers and trumpeters were unified, giving praise and THANKS. Unified! What happened as they praised the Lord? The GLORY of the Lord filled the temple.
2 Chronicles 5:14 … so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.
There is nothing like being in God’s presence. Who can describe such experiences? I don’t know about you, but I want to be so surrounded by God’s presence that I can’t stand.
THANKSGIVING and PRAISE are two important keys in our walk with the Lord. I believe unity is key as well! They sang in unity and one accord.
Where would we be if we were unified?
Beth, thanks for your comment.
Unity in the body is a lovely experience, and when the church is one in uniting God it is a small glimpse of heaven. How wonderful it will be on that day when we all come together in His presence and praise Him as one!
On your side note about Ryan Wyatt pointing out that 120 were in the upper room when the Holy Spirit came…Acts 1:12-14 The eleven and some women and Mary, the mother of Jesus and his brothers were in the upper room praying and waiting for the Holy Spirit. vs.15 starts the talk about the 120. This could have been in the upper room or not. This was when a replacement was picked for Judas.
The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost when they were all together at one place. It does not say that the place was the upper room. Acts 2. Crowds of people gathered when they heard various tongues and after hearing Peter speak about Jesus, 3000 were saved and baptized. Mighty big upper room if this was where the Holy Spirit first came.
I know you were just talking about the number 120, but since you asked about the upper room scripture I looked it up. I knew it was in Acts, but when I read more, it just doesn't say for sure that the Holy Spirit first showed up in the upper room.
Thanks Beth for more of your being thankful study. It made me dive in to the Word for a mini bible study tonight.
Such great teaching sis, love you.
Hi Beth,
Wondeful post on being thankful and praising Him!How thankful I have been and how I have praised Him too for all He has done in my life and will do.Love your studies.
Amen and Amen!!
Enjoy your day.
Blessings and hugs.
Beth,
Thank you very much for your sweet words and encouragement on my post from yesterday. I didn't think about it the way that you put it. But, you are absolutely correct in that God placed this little one in me and He will make a way for him to come into this world. I can't thank you enough for that gentle reminder. You are so sweet!
Tiffany