hen Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting. And he reigned over Israel.
2 Chronicles 1:1-7, 13
1Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.
2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel—to the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, to the judges and to all the leaders in Israel, the heads of families— 3 and Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon, for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the Lord’s servant had made in the wilderness. 4 Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5 But the bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the tabernacle of the Lord; so Solomon and the assembly inquired of him there. 6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. 7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 13 Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting. And he reigned over Israel.
Today’s title is “From Tabernacle To Temple”
One of the most common problems of human society is generational conflict. It seems that there have been always conflicts between one generation and another. Sometimes it is not quite so noticeable. Other times the conflicts are very serious. We saw a remarkable difference of destiny between the Exodus generation and the wilderness generation. Bible also notices the critical difference between the generation that conquered the promised land with Joshua and the generation that did not know about the war. It seems that every generation has its own characteristics. God also recognizes such differences. But as much as there are differences between generations, there are much more in common between generations. We should humbly recognize the differences but maintain the common inheritance as well as destiny for all generations. We see a good model of such change and continuity in today’s passage. Solomon the successor of David is now firmly established as a king. He was now ready to embark on the life mission of building the temple of God. He knew that it will be completely different from what the Israelites had so far in scale and in the level of glory. But the temple was essentially the same as the tabernacle in its spiritual function as the dwelling place of God. They were both the place where God meets His people. Solomon must have been fully conscious of such continuity between tabernacle and temple. So He gathered the whole assembly of the Israelites and to the high place at Gibeon, for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the Lord’s servant had made in the wilderness. After hundreds of years since it was dedicated by Moses and his contemporary Israelites, the tabernacle was pitifully tattered. Many of its original components were scattered around. David already secured the ark which was the most important symbol of God’s presence in the city of David. Another big chunk of the tabernacle including the bronze altar was at the high place of Gibeon. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. It was a symbolic pronouncement that the era of the tabernacle is now over and the era of the temple will now set in. At the same time, it was a grand pronouncement that they worship the same God that their ancestors worshiped in the temple. This must have pleased God. That night God appeared to Solomon and blessed him. Temple from tabernacle is a big change. We might as well call it a great leap. But the temple generation represented by Solomon humbly recognized the spiritual legacy of the tabernacle generation. That’s the wisdom that merits the greater blessings. Which generation do you belong to? How are you passing down or succeeding between generations? Are you doing it in a way that would draw a greater blessing upon you and your descendants?
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