What Has Happened in the Last Seven and One Half Years?

O. T. #939  "What Has Happened in the Last Seven and One Half Years?"
March 7, 2017
2 Chronicles 5


LET IT GLOW

What has happened in your life in the last 7 1/2 years? That is quite a while ago. Let's see, that would be way back to the year 2010. Well, our last 2 grandchildren in our family wee born. I recall some people died. Our church was still in the old sanctuary, then broken ground on the new one. Those preschoolers I had in children's church last Sunday were born during that span of time. I took some foreign mission trips. Can't think of anything else, except hurts, pain, disappointments, discouragements. They keep trying to pop up in my mind every now and then. But the are forgiven and under the blood of Jesus.
Anything significant that happened in your life back then?

Seven and 1/2 years ago. King David had seen Solomon anointed as king, and then he died. Solomon began the building of the new Temple.
In this chapter we read of Solomon's dedication of the new Temple. It took 7 1/2 years to complete. He brought the vessels and holy furnishings, dedicated to the Lord by David, inside. The Ark of the Covenant was installed, which involved the Levites bringing it from Gibeon where it dwelt in the Tabernacle.

Who attended?

• Elders and heads of the tribes assembled in Jerusalem;
• the group of 24 priests;
• the 120 Levite priests who were singers and played instruments are mentioned.

Also King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that assembled unto him before the Ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude. (verse 6)

There was no attempt to count them because they represent the sacrifice of Christ. That is something which cannot be counted or measured. (J. Vernon McGee)

Is a sacrifice too great when it is given unto the Lord Jesus? Should we be counting ours, braggingly? No it it the heart which God looks upon, not the monetary value.

Another thing, shouldn't we let the past be in the past? Learn from it, but let it go.

LET IT GROW

The Ark was to move no more. It had been constructed in the wilderness at Mount Sinai. As Israel wandered through the wilderness those 40 years, the Ark was always in front. In addition, it was before them as they crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land. It had been moved from place to place and captured by the Philistines, but sent back.

The Ark speaks of our Lord Jesus Christ, work of redemption, shedding of blood, and our propitiation because of our sins, that resulted in His death on the cross. Folks, He was a perfect person, sinless, which those animals sacrificed symbolized. such amazing love, that this King Jesus would die for us sinners! His sacrifice was once and for all.

Do we come before Jesus with songs of praise daily?

LET IT GO

Let go of the past and live in the present, looking to the future.

Learn from the past.

Hold fast to Jesus.