Today's Reading:

2 Chronicles 4
2 Chronicles 5
2 Chronicles 6
2 Chronicles 7
Psalm 134
Psalm 136

In Psalm 136, we see that God and His steadfast love are in every action, from creation to daily bread. You alone do great wonders. You made the heavens. You delivered the people. You remembered us in our lowest moments and rescued us from our enemies. All of this truth continues today. Lord, You give us food; it is in Your goodness, Your works, and Your love that endures forever.

How would your day-to-day life change if you truly believed that God’s steadfast love is working in every single detail, from the big moments of deliverance to the simple provision of today’s bread?

This was a continuation of Solomon’s Temple from 1 Kings 7-8. These chapters give a very concise account of the projects and Temple dedication. In 1 Kings, it was a historical view that read of the precise measurements and description of the palace spaces. Now, in 2 Chronicles, this was written after the exile, for encouragement to those who came back to Israel. The book was to be used for reference to David and Solomon as role models of faithful kings. There was more focus on worship and the role of the Levites who brought the Ark of the Covenant to the Temple. Remember, the last time the Ark was moved, the oxen stumbled, and a man was struck down for steadying it.

2 Chronicles encourages the post-exile Israelites to have hope through faithfully worshiping and remembering God’s promise to David. In 1 Kings 8:22 of Solomon’s dedication prayer, he was described as standing, and in 2 Chronicles 6:12-13, Solomon had made a bronze platform about 7.5 feet square that was set up in the middle of the outer courtyard where he knelt down with his hands spread towards heaven. There is no discrepancy in Scripture; it is just a more vivid description, showing Solomon’s humility. There is beauty in the image of Solomon kneeling with arms wide, reaching towards Heaven to ask the Lord to hear and act upon the prayer. How often do we worship with arms raised, kneeling in humble adoration of all that He does for us?

The chapters end with 1 Kings 8:50-53 and 2 Chronicles 6:40-42 about God’s mercy and the possibility of exile. The verses are quoted in Psalm 132:8-10. This is God’s resting place and area of Temple worship. The festival timeline was 14 days total for the feast.

• Days 1-7: The dedication of the altar and Temple dedication with special sacrifices by Solomon.
• Days 8-14: Which correlate to the 15th of the month for the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot, see Leviticus 23:34-36).
• Day 15: The 8th day after the Feast of Tabernacles, the 23rd Day of the 7th month, the people were sent home for a day of rest and special service. There were 14 days of celebration and then the closing day assembly. This was an enormous amount of time to sacrifice as they needed the space and time due to the entire kingdom coming together to praise the Lord.

Psalm 134-
Calls all of God’s people, not just the Levites and priests, to pray continuously day and night. This was an open surrender to the Lord as the Creator. God’s people praise Him, and He blesses them in return, to show the ongoing nature of worship.

Psalm 136- This is also called “The Great Hallel,” which is a responsive psalm. The worship leader would say the first line, and then the people were to respond, repeating the line “His love endures forever.” The psalm celebrates God’s loyal, merciful, kind, eternal, and reliable love, from Creation to the deliverance of Israel. Verses 4–9 recount Creation from Genesis 1. Verses 10–16 describe the Exodus and deliverance. Verses 17–22 cover the conquest of the Promised Land. Verses 23–25 speak of God’s continued care for His people. The final verse (26) affirms God’s sovereignty.

Today's Discussion question:

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