2Ch 5:13-14 | KingComments | STEP | The priests come forth so that the rightful Inhabitant can take up residence there ( ). The importance of the case justifies not yet taking into account David’s institutions with regard to divisions ( ). At this event, all priests from all divisions must be present. They all have to be eyewitnesses to the fact that the LORD takes His residence in the temple. They are able to do so because they have all sanctified themselves. We can only see the glory of the Lord when we are committed to Him. The Levites and the priests stand on the east side of the altar ( ). The east side is the side where the sun rises. It is the side where the door of the tabernacle is, the closest to the people. When the carriers of the Levites have done their service, now the singers come forward. When the Lord Jesus has been given the central place in our lives, we become singers. This also applies to the local church. If the Lord Jesus is central there, this will be reflected in the hymn of praise. The singers are standing at the altar. The names “Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun” mean successively “one who gathers”, “faithful” and “choir of praise”. This is reminiscent of the church gathering around the altar (a picture of the Lord’s Table) to faithfully praise the Lord as a choir of praise . The church does this as “sons” of God and “kinsmen” of each other and of the Lord Jesus. The “fine linen” indicates that they are made pleasant in the Beloved ( ). Besides the Levites there are also priests. The number of priests is one hundred and twenty. This number reminds of the one hundred and twenty disciples who are in the upper room after the ascension of the Lord Jesus ( ), to wait there for the “promise of the Father” ( ), which is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The priests blow “in unison” on the trumpets and “in unison” make their voices heard ( ). We also see this unanimity in Acts 2. After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the church there is also unanimous (cf. ). They do everything together ( ). In their praise we hear the reference to the kingdom of peace. It is a song of praise that will never cease: “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Then the house of the LORD is filled with the glory of the LORD. Not during sacrifice, but during singing about His lovingkindness, the answer comes from heaven in the form of the cloud. God’s lovingkindness is seen in His glory, of which the cloud is the expression. God is enthroned upon the praises of His people ( ). The cloud filling the house here led the people out of Egypt ( ) and through the wilderness ( ). We also see this cloud of God’s glory with the Lord Jesus on the mountain of glorification ( ), at the erection of the tabernacle ( ), after the ordination of the priests ( ), at the origination of the church ( ) and at the temple of Ezekiel ( ). At the rebuilding of the temple by Zerubbabel after the return from exile we do not see this cloud of glory. The priests cannot stand in the presence of God to serve ( ). They are overwhelmed by the presence of God’s glory in the temple. This is the situation in the Old Testament. For us it is a great privilege to behold the glory of the Lord with an uncovered face ( ). Under grace we are not driven out of the presence of God, but we may enter it and see the glory of the Lord Jesus there ( ). In a way, we too cannot remain standing when we see the Lamb That was slain standing “as if slain” ( ): “And the elders fell down and worshiped” ( ). Where He is, man and his service disappear.

‏ 2 Chronicles 5:13-14

The Glory of the LORD

The priests come forth so that the rightful Inhabitant can take up residence there (2Chr 5:11). The importance of the case justifies not yet taking into account David’s institutions with regard to divisions (1Chr 24:3-19). At this event, all priests from all divisions must be present. They all have to be eyewitnesses to the fact that the LORD takes His residence in the temple. They are able to do so because they have all sanctified themselves. We can only see the glory of the Lord when we are committed to Him.

The Levites and the priests stand on the east side of the altar (2Chr 5:12). The east side is the side where the sun rises. It is the side where the door of the tabernacle is, the closest to the people. When the carriers of the Levites have done their service, now the singers come forward. When the Lord Jesus has been given the central place in our lives, we become singers. This also applies to the local church. If the Lord Jesus is central there, this will be reflected in the hymn of praise.

The singers are standing at the altar. The names “Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun” mean successively “one who gathers”, “faithful” and “choir of praise”. This is reminiscent of the church gathering around the altar (a picture of the Lord’s Table) to faithfully praise the Lord as a choir of praise. The church does this as “sons” of God and “kinsmen” of each other and of the Lord Jesus. The “fine linen” indicates that they are made pleasant in the Beloved (Eph 1:6).

Besides the Levites there are also priests. The number of priests is one hundred and twenty. This number reminds of the one hundred and twenty disciples who are in the upper room after the ascension of the Lord Jesus (Acts 1:15), to wait there for the “promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4), which is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The priests blow “in unison” on the trumpets and “in unison” make their voices heard (2Chr 5:13). We also see this unanimity in Acts 2. After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the church there is also unanimous (cf. Rom 15:5-6). They do everything together (Acts 2:44 ; 46).

In their praise we hear the reference to the kingdom of peace. It is a song of praise that will never cease: “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Then the house of the LORD is filled with the glory of the LORD. Not during sacrifice, but during singing about His lovingkindness, the answer comes from heaven in the form of the cloud. God’s lovingkindness is seen in His glory, of which the cloud is the expression. God is enthroned upon the praises of His people (Psa 22:3b).

The cloud filling the house here led the people out of Egypt (Exo 13:21-22) and through the wilderness (Exo 40:36-38). We also see this cloud of God’s glory with the Lord Jesus on the mountain of glorification (Mt 17:5), at the erection of the tabernacle (Exo 40:34-35), after the ordination of the priests (Lev 9:23), at the origination of the church (Acts 1:9 ; Acts 2:2) and at the temple of Ezekiel (Eze 43:4). At the rebuilding of the temple by Zerubbabel after the return from exile we do not see this cloud of glory.

The priests cannot stand in the presence of God to serve (2Chr 5:14). They are overwhelmed by the presence of God’s glory in the temple. This is the situation in the Old Testament. For us it is a great privilege to behold the glory of the Lord with an uncovered face (2Cor 3:18). Under grace we are not driven out of the presence of God, but we may enter it and see the glory of the Lord Jesus there (Jn 17:24). In a way, we too cannot remain standing when we see the Lamb That was slain standing “as if slain” (Rev 5:6 ; 12): “And the elders fell down and worshiped” (Rev 5:14). Where He is, man and his service disappear.