2 posts tagged “2 chronicles”
I've always loved Josiah. At 16 years old Chronicles describes him as starting to seek the Lord. But what struck me today was the following verse:
In the eighteenth year of his reign, he continued his policy of purifying the land and the temple.
2 Chronicles 34:8
Naturally, the lives of the kings described in Chronicles, and their struggle with defeating idolatry in their land, "purifying" their land, etc., all has a strong symbolic character (not to take away from the history): The author of Chronicles seems to be prodding us: Are we as diligent of "cleaning house" in our own lives as these kings were in their country?
The last few years have been one adjustment after another for me personally. Am I willing to "continue my policy" of living for Christ, purifying anything he points out in my life, walking in love and holiness, making sacrifices, tearing down idols in my life and "tossing aside anything that hinders"? Am I willing to be that man?
“Foreigners, who do not belong to your people Israel, will come from a distant land because of your great reputation and your ability to accomplish mighty deeds; they will come and direct their prayers toward this temple. Then listen from your heavenly dwelling place and answer all the prayers of the foreigners. Then all the nations of the earth will acknowledge your reputation, obey you like your people Israel do, and recognize that this temple I built belongs to you.
2 Chronicles 6:32-33
God has always been interested in touching and drawing the "nations of the earth" to himself, as Solomon knows very well: One of the reasons for the temple is that all the nations of the earth would acknowledge, obey, and recognize.
Oh, if the church would only live out what she truly is: the new Temple of the Living God (1 Corinthians 3:16).
What would happen? God's reputation would grow because of his mighty deeds through the church. "Foreigners", "unchurched" "unbelievers" would feel accepted and welcomed, not isolated or judged. So often we as churches set up hoops which outsiders need to jump through in order to feel like they're a part of the church. No such hoops can be found in Solomon's prayer. No prerequisites, not even obedience to God: Solomon is asking God to answer the prayers of those outside of Israel - so that they'd obey, not because!
Such a powerful picture of what God wants the church to be.
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