2Ch 7:6 | KingComments | STEP | The sacrificial service and the praise of the LORD belong together. For all who have returned from Babylon, there is no renewed fulfillment of the temple with the glory of the LORD. Yet there are the altar, the sacrifices and the temple. This is also what has been left to us in a time when the church has fallen into decay and the glory of God is no longer present in the church in the same way as in the beginning. In bringing sacrifices there is no separation between the leader and the people ( ). In the New Testament, all believers are priests, regardless of their position in the church. The oldest and youngest believers come with their sacrifice. The huge peace offering that Solomon brings speaks of the great impression one has of the fellowship of God with His people and of the people among themselves. The house of God is first and foremost a house of prayer, but also of sacrifice and fellowship. If that is experienced, the house is in truth dedicated, that is, the house is used in the way God has given it for. Also now, in God’s house, the glory of the Lord Jesus can be seen, both in His life on earth and now at God’s right hand. Spiritual sacrifices can also be made now and there can be a fellowship meal where God gets His portion and the Lord Jesus and also the people. In particular, this is the case with the Lord’s Supper at the Lord’s Table. When the house of God is dedicated, the priests stand on their posts and the Levites have musical instruments to praise the LORD. Each is in his own place, no one takes the place of another or does anything else than he has to do. This happens in accordance with what the LORD had previously arranged by Moses and David. Priests offer, Levites sing. These two services are now done by every believer. Only the musical instruments are mentioned, not the singers. We all are now musical instruments. Just as David played the musical instruments through the hand of the Levites, so the Lord Jesus now sings through our mouths. He says to His God: “In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise” ( ) and for this He uses our mouths. We offer up a sacrifice of praise to God through Him ( ). Christ is the great Singer. What Solomon has to sacrifice is so much that the bronze burnt offering altar cannot contain it all. That is why he consecrates a part of the court and makes it also a place of sacrifice. ‘Consecrate’ means to separate something from ordinary use and to give it a special purpose. The consecrated part of the court is added to the altar, so that the altar is enlarged and can contain all the sacrifices that are brought.

‏ 2 Chronicles 7:6

Offers for the Dedication of the House

The sacrificial service and the praise of the LORD belong together. For all who have returned from Babylon, there is no renewed fulfillment of the temple with the glory of the LORD. Yet there are the altar, the sacrifices and the temple. This is also what has been left to us in a time when the church has fallen into decay and the glory of God is no longer present in the church in the same way as in the beginning.

In bringing sacrifices there is no separation between the leader and the people (2Chr 7:4). In the New Testament, all believers are priests, regardless of their position in the church. The oldest and youngest believers come with their sacrifice. The huge peace offering that Solomon brings speaks of the great impression one has of the fellowship of God with His people and of the people among themselves. The house of God is first and foremost a house of prayer, but also of sacrifice and fellowship. If that is experienced, the house is in truth dedicated, that is, the house is used in the way God has given it for.

Also now, in God’s house, the glory of the Lord Jesus can be seen, both in His life on earth and now at God’s right hand. Spiritual sacrifices can also be made now and there can be a fellowship meal where God gets His portion and the Lord Jesus and also the people. In particular, this is the case with the Lord’s Supper at the Lord’s Table.

When the house of God is dedicated, the priests stand on their posts and the Levites have musical instruments to praise the LORD. Each is in his own place, no one takes the place of another or does anything else than he has to do. This happens in accordance with what the LORD had previously arranged by Moses and David. Priests offer, Levites sing. These two services are now done by every believer.

Only the musical instruments are mentioned, not the singers. We all are now musical instruments. Just as David played the musical instruments through the hand of the Levites, so the Lord Jesus now sings through our mouths. He says to His God: “In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise” (Heb 2:12b) and for this He uses our mouths. We offer up a sacrifice of praise to God through Him (Heb 13:15). Christ is the great Singer.

What Solomon has to sacrifice is so much that the bronze burnt offering altar cannot contain it all. That is why he consecrates a part of the court and makes it also a place of sacrifice. ‘Consecrate’ means to separate something from ordinary use and to give it a special purpose. The consecrated part of the court is added to the altar, so that the altar is enlarged and can contain all the sacrifices that are brought.