And just like that, we’ve passed beyond the borders of another book, (2nd Samuel), and are journeying through the Chronicles and will soon enter the Kings.

We left David yesterday standing on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite at the altar he built. This was no quiet worship experience. David and the elders are dressed in sackcloth and they SEE the angel who is carrying out the devastation.

This angel seems to corner David up on Mount Moriah and it is he who commanded Gad the Seer to tell David to build the altar at the threshing floor.

“David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And when David prayed, the Lord answered him by sending fire from heaven to burn up the offering on the altar. Then the Lord spoke to the angel, who put the sword back into its sheath. When David saw that the Lord had answered his prayer, he offered sacrifices there at Araunah’s threshing floor. At that time the Tabernacle of the Lord and the altar of burnt offering that Moses had made in the wilderness were located at the place of worship in Gibeon. But David was not able to go there to inquire of God, because he was terrified by the drawn sword of the angel of the Lord.” 1 Chronicles‬ ‭21‬:‭26‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This was QUITE the event. Fire from heaven. A visible angel with a sword so menacing even the courageous warrior David is afraid.

The plague is stopped. The angel disappears from the text and we’re left with David and the Elders of Israel in sackcloth around a stone altar on a threshing floor with a smoldering fire.

“Then David said, “This will be the location for the Temple of the Lord God and the place of the altar for Israel’s burnt offerings!”
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭22‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This becomes the project of David’s old age. He collects gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. He even had the stone-workers begin quarrying and cutting the stones. And it’s a good thing too because the building is going to be so huge it’ll take years to cut them all. It’s as close as David is allowed to get to building a House for the LORD.

“But the Lord said to me, ‘You have killed many men in the battles you have fought. And since you have shed so much blood in my sight, you will not be the one to build a Temple to honor my name. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign. He is the one who will build a Temple to honor my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will secure the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’”
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭22‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The LORD confirms the Covenant with Solomon but I think this promise points ultimately to Christ, the Son of God and Prince of Peace. He will truly be the One Who reigns in peace and Who builds the Temple (the Church) to honor the name of the LORD.

Over the next days we will see David pass the throne to Solomon and then all of these materials and logistics will come together to build the most glorious structure the world had ever seen. We’ll also notice a shift in tone. We’ve read a LOT of battles and bloodshed. That is almost done. Just a few loose ends to tie up, then we will have a season of restful reading on wisdom and beauty.

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PSALM 99

This psalm has a refrain of Yahweh’s holiness. And it is loaded with Ark and Presence-of-God imagery. There are only 9 verses. Let’s see if we can outline the structure.

1. Yahweh is King over all people, enthroned in Zion on the Ark of His Covenant. People are exhorted to exalt and praise Him.
   • This segment (v1-3) ends with “He is holy.”
2. Yahweh loves and establishes justice, equity, and righteousness. The people are commanded to exalt Him and worship at His “footstool” (1 Chr. 28:2 equates the Ark with God’s footstool.)
   • This segment (v4-5) ends with “He is holy.”
3. Yahweh spoke to His priests and prophets, He both punished and forgave them. The people are commanded to exalt the LORD and worship “at His holy mountain” (Zion).
   • This segment (v6-9) ends with “Yahweh our God is holy.”

There is a definite pattern here. Each section exhorts the listener to “exalt” Yahweh.

1. First, because He is the great King
2. Second, because of His righteous justice.
3. Third, because He interacts with humanity in both truth and love (punishing and forgiving).

Each section also ends with a reference to Zion. This is where Yahweh chooses to place His throne and where He is to be worshiped.

1. First, the Ark. Or, more specifically, the Mercy Seat or “Atonement Cover.” It’s the lid of the chest with the golden cherubim. Everyone knows that it is located on Mount Zion.
2. Second, the Ark as God’s “footstool.”
3. Third, God’s “holy mountain” (Zion).

Each section ends with the statement: “He is holy.” The Lord is holy. His throne (the ark) is holy. Mount Zion is holy.

Holy means set apart. Separate.

And Yahweh is separate. Alone. Unique. There is no other being like Him. He is uncreated. Utterly good and right. Infinitely powerful. Totally unselfish and tenderly loving. And He’s the only One of His kind. Once you begin to understand this about Him, He becomes endlessly fascinating and wondrous. He is flawless. Perfect.

Callous, hard-hearted, and (dare I say?) dim-witted indeed is the person who can behold Yahweh and not understand what all the fuss is about.