20240911

missing inventory

1 Kings 8:1-21 (JDV)

1 Kings 8:1 At that time Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, all the tribal heads and the ancestral leaders of the Israelites before him at Jerusalem to bring the ark of Yahveh’s covenant from the city of David, that is Zion.
1 Kings 8:2 So all the men of Israel were assembled in the presence of King Solomon in the month of Ethanim, which is the seventh month, at the festival.
1 Kings 8:3 All the elders of Israel came, and the priests lifted up the ark.
1 Kings 8:4 The priests and the Levites brought the ark of the Lord, the tent of meeting, and the holy utensils that were in the tent.
1 Kings 8:5 King Solomon and the entire congregation of Israel, who had gathered around him and were with him in front of the ark, were sacrificing sheep, goats, and cattle that could not be counted or numbered because there were so many.
1 Kings 8:6 The priests brought the ark of Yahveh’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the most holy place beneath the wings of the cherubim.
1 Kings 8:7 Because the cherubs were spreading their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubs covered the ark and its poles from above.
1 Kings 8:8 The poles were so long that their ends were seen from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they were not seen from outside the sanctuary; they are still there today.
1 Kings 8:9 Nothing was in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had put there at Horeb, where Yahveh made a covenant with the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt.
1 Kings 8:10 When the priests came out of the holy place, the cloud filled Yahveh’s temple,
1 Kings 8:11 and because of the cloud, the priests were not able to stay ministering, for the glory of Yahveh filled the temple.
1 Kings 8:12 Then Solomon said: Yahveh said that he would dwell in total darkness.
1 Kings 8:13 I have indeed built an exalted temple for you, a place for your dwelling forever.
1 Kings 8:14 The king turned around and blessed the entire congregation of Israel while they were standing.
1 Kings 8:15 He said: Blessed be Yahveh God of Israel! He spoke directly to my father David, and he has fulfilled the promise by his power. He said,
1 Kings 8:16 “Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city to build a temple in among any of the tribes of Israel, so that my name would be there. But I have chosen David to rule my people, Israel.”
1 Kings 8:17 My father David had his heart set on building a temple for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
1 Kings 8:18 But Yahveh said to my father David, “Since your heart was set on building a temple for my name, you have done well to have this desire.
1 Kings 8:19 Yet you are not the one to build it; instead, your son, your own offspring, will build it for my name.”
1 Kings 8:20 Yahveh has fulfilled what he promised. I have taken the place of my father David, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahveh promised. I have built the temple for the name of Yahveh, the God of Israel.
1 Kings 8:21 I have provided a place there for the ark, where Yahveh’s covenant is that he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.

missing inventory

When Solomon had the ark brought to the temple in Jerusalem, only the two tablets of stone were in it. Aaron’s rod and the jar of manna were missing. Perhaps someone alone the way thought that these items might be valuable or bring good fortune. At any rate, the real value was not in the symbols of God’s presence and power – it was in the presence itself.

LORD, may we cling to your person, not to symbols of your power.