November 15, 2025

Did you know that all the remains in the Ark of the Covenant are the stone tablets? By the time Solomon placed the ark in the temple, all that remained in it were the tablets. What happened to the rest of it, Aaron’s staff, the show bread, and the manna? If the Philistines took them out, how did they get them out without dying? Isn’t it funny how a straightforward verse can cause so much curiosity? At least that’s my experience when reading the scriptures. 

There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. 2 Chronicles 5:10

The temple was finished, and all the dedicated items were brought in. The ark was brought up, and a multitude of people gathered before it for the innumerable number of sacrifices. Then they placed the ark in its designated location, the priests exited the holy of holies, and the singers and musicians began worshiping and praising God. The glory of the Lord filled the temple, and His presence was so powerful that they could no longer stand. 

We are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God; how can we stand? Because we don’t get out of the way. Our minds are too focused on other, unimportant things to empty our vessels so that He can come in. I know He’s always there, but when do you actually feel his presence? It’s when you empty yourselves of all the worldly cares and focus your attention on Him. Stay in constant communication with Him, but make sure to set aside dedicated time to empty yourself so God can fill your temple with His presence and put you on your face, just as He did the priest when the temple was dedicated. 

So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God. 2 Chronicles 5:14

November 14, 2025

Some of the furnishings for the temple were bigger and more abundant than what was used in the tabernacle. Solomon used every bit of gold, silver, brass, and other things that had been dedicated to God; it wouldn’t have been right for him to use them elsewhere, so he made sure that all of it was made into utensils and other items for use in the temple. The scale of the temple was much larger than the tabernacle that Moses had put together, and so the areas for sacrifices were also larger. God didn’t want anyone to have excuses for not bringing their offerings; the number of people had grown, and there needed to be a sufficient number of priests with plenty of room to handle the number of people coming into the temple daily. We are so fortunate that Jesus came as our offering for our sins; not only was he the perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins, but he also did away with the need for a priest and the slaughter and burning of all the animals. Can you imagine having to bring your cow to church? Make it a point to ask forgiveness for your sins daily and start your day fresh and clean. If you think you don’t sin, you might be delusional. You may want to seek forgiveness for deceiving yourself.

Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out. 2 Chronicles 4:18

November 12, 2025

Solomon began building the temple in the fourth year of his reign. It probably took the people those first few years to gather all the necessary materials and craft the decorative objects and utensils. All of the walls were overlaid in gold, and precious stones were added for extra sparkle, making it extraordinary; it must have been a sight to see. The Holy of Holies was a gigantic 30-foot square with the Ark of the Covenant and two standing cherubim with their wings spread, touching one another with a total wing span of 30 feet. The cherubim's heads faced the Ark as a reminder that they, too, worship God and should not be the objects of our worship. The images that came to mind likely don't compare to the temple's actual magnificence. Imagine how luxurious the new heaven and new earth will be when we reach our eternal life; our lives will not be ordinary, but instead spent in true luxury beside our Savior. 

And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim. 2 Chronicles 3:6

November 12, 2025

Have you ever wondered why Darius, King of Persia, was willing to help rebuild the temple, or why his heart was full of kindness towards the Israelites captive in his country? I stumbled upon a tidbit of information that answers that question in the Matthew Henry Commentary, where he elaborates on Solomon's use of resources from Huram, King of Tyre, to build the temple. Perhaps I'm the only one who didn't know, but it seems to be well-known historical information that wasn't detailed in the Bible, at least not to my knowledge, but did you know that Queen Esther and King Ahasuerus had a daughter and a son? The son was Darius King of Persia! According to 2 Chronicles 2, the original temple built by Solomon utilized building materials from Tyre. The same country assisted in the rebuilding of the temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel after the Babylonian exile. The fact that Darius was willing to help with the temple makes so much more sense now; he was part Israelite through his mother, Hadassah, also known as Esther. God is good at filling in the gaps of our knowledge when we pray for Him to expand our understanding. Why does that excite me so much? It confirms that God heard my prayer and was faithful in answering it. Ask for more spiritual knowledge; God is faithful in answering our questions and curiosities. Remember, this information comes from historical sources not mentioned in the Bible, as far as I can tell.

And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me. 2 Chronicles 2:3

November 11, 2025

Before Solomon began to reign as king, he gathered the captains, judges, governors, and chief fathers to accompany him to Gibeon, where the tabernacle was set up, so that he could honor God by offering sacrifices there. At this time, the tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant were not together because David had brought the Ark to Jerusalem and placed it in a tent. While he was sleeping, God came to Solomon in a dream and instructed him to ask for anything he desired. He responded by requesting wisdom. Because he hadn’t asked for wealth, but had asked for something spiritual, God gave him what he asked for, and also made him the wealthiest man who has ever lived. His net worth was estimated to be over $2 trillion. 

If you haven’t yet prayed for wisdom like Solomon, why haven’t you? Not to gain material wealth, but to know God, His ways, and to understand the scriptures. One prayer that I prayed is that God would fill in the gaps of my understanding, and He granted me the answer to that prayer. Now, I weave bits of that information into my devotions and have a clearer understanding of the prophecies that seem to be coming to fruition. Just know that when Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun, he wasn’t kidding. The lies blind us, but the truth is hidden in plain sight. Pray for wisdom and discernment today. If you think your eyes are open, keep digging, because I guarantee you that they aren’t. Just know that if you keep Jesus close to your heart, you will be just fine whether or not you see the truth. 

Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like. 2 Chronicles 1:12

November 10, 2025

The final day of King David’s reign was full of his generosity, thanksgiving to God, and the anointing of his son Solomon to the throne. Because the temple was a palace for God, David encouraged the people to help Solomon because the task at hand was a significant undertaking for a young man. He drew from his own resources, providing gifts for the construction and the decorative appointments for the temple of God. He then encouraged others to give back generously because nothing they had in their possession wasn’t already God’s. David then prayed a beautiful prayer and offered sacrifices to God, because he was grateful for all that God had done for him. Then he anointed Solomon as king and died, having lived a long life; Solomon began his reign. If we could get it in our minds that everything we own was graciously given to us, not by chance or for anything we have done to earn it, but because God gave it to us, we should be willing to give a portion of it back for the furthering of God’s kingdom here on earth. If we fail to give back generously and from our hearts, we are likely to have it all taken away. I know what you’re thinking; evil people prosper, but when their lives end, they will be tormented, but we, on the other hand, have chosen the narrow path here in this lifetime to live in a wonderful eternity. We are not the same. We are chosen and loved; remember that when you begin to feel greedy and selfish. Give as often as you should with a grateful heart and love for our Almighty God. 

Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. 1 Chronicles 29:9-10

November 9, 2025

King David gathered representatives from all tribes and those who had served him throughout his reign and appointed Solomon as their next king. David was near his death, but still had enough energy to meet with his people. He was clear that Solomon would be the one to build the temple and gave him the plans that God had given him. We can compare the building of the temple to God creating us as the temple of the Holy Spirit. God has a plan for us, and all the specifications are outlined in the scriptures. He gave us Jesus as our foundation, but to build it, we need all the materials, each of which requires a certain amount of skill to fashion before they are included in the temple, similar to refining the gold for the candlesticks and other essentials. The plan God has for us includes our refinement; no one gets to bypass that process. However, it cannot begin until we accept the gift of having Jesus as our Savior and foundation; you must start there first. The refining can be harsh, but it is necessary for a pristine temple. However, we shouldn’t fear the process because we have the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as well as the angelic beings, watching over us as we walk out our salvation. We are not alone in this and must trust the process. If you are experiencing challenges, remember that they are part of your refinement, and you will emerge as pure gold.

And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. 1 Chronicles 28:20