After the gold and silver and all the vessels which belong to David are brought into the temple treasury, the ark of the covenant, the Real Treasure, is transported from the tent to its permanent resting place in the inner sanctuary of the temple. According to the Chronicler the Levites carry the ark. The Levites sing joyful songs of praise and thanksgiving to the accompaniment of musical instruments. The climax is reached when the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. The Transcendent has become Immanent in this place! Chapter 6 is taken almost verbatim from 1 Kings. But, why improve on perfection? The king’s prayer, verses 14-42, is considered by those who read it in the language in which it was written, a masterpiece. “Then hear thou from heaven they dwelling place… and forgive.” Forgiveness, does God need it? No, we do. Without it, we drink lethal poison. And, to be forgiven? “There is no man who does not sin.” As always, the Hebrew prayer shows concern for the foreigner, the stranger in a strange land. Divine approval of the new temple is shown by the fire which came down form heaven and consumed the sacrifices and the glory which filled the house. A great feast follows. Solomon has a dream at night in which God assures him that his prayer will be answered. The divine blessing will be his if he keeps God’s statutes.
After the gold and silver and all the vessels which belong to David are brought into the temple treasury, the ark of the covenant, the Real Treasure, is transported from the tent to its permanent resting place in the inner sanctuary of the temple. According to the Chronicler the Levites carry the ark. The Levites sing joyful songs of praise and thanksgiving to the accompaniment of musical instruments. The climax is reached when the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. The Transcendent has become Immanent in this place! Chapter 6 is taken almost verbatim from 1 Kings. But, why improve on perfection? The king’s prayer, verses 14-42, is considered by those who read it in the language in which it was written, a masterpiece. “Then hear thou from heaven they dwelling place… and forgive.” Forgiveness, does God need it? No, we do. Without it, we drink lethal poison. And, to be forgiven? “There is no man who does not sin.” As always, the Hebrew prayer shows concern for the foreigner, the stranger in a strange land. Divine approval of the new temple is shown by the fire which came down form heaven and consumed the sacrifices and the glory which filled the house. A great feast follows. Solomon has a dream at night in which God assures him that his prayer will be answered. The divine blessing will be his if he keeps God’s statutes.
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