Building to the Glory of God - 2 Chronicles 1-5

 2 Chronicles 2:4-7 (ESV Strong's)

4 Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God and dedicate it to him for the burning of incense of sweet spices before him, and for the regular arrangement of the showbread, and for burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, as ordained forever for Israel. 5 The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. 6 But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? 7 So now send me a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.

Building To The Glory of God

Solomon is about to build the Temple.  David had it in his heart to build a magnificent Temple for God to dwell in, but God told him no.   But, God did tell David that his son, Solomon, would build it.  Here, in this section we see that promise of God coming to fruition.   Solomon will construct a Temple for God.  But, as he does, he needs help.  It is fascinating that he reaches out to a foreign king to give him both the materials he needs and the expertise he needs.   Solomon reaches out to Hiram, King of Tyre.  By the time we get to the prophet Ezekiel’s day, God will send a prophetic message to Tyre:

Ezekiel 26:3 (ESV Strong's)

3 therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.

Yet, at this point, Solomon is reaching out to Hiram.   When he does reach out, Solomon takes great pains to show Hiram the “why” of the project.  He needed. Hiram to provide the “who, the what and the how,” but Solomon made sure the the king new the “why.”   We ought never to be afraid, no matter our endeavors, to make sure others know the “why” of our work.   We are all building something.  We are building something to the glory of God.   That was the point David had and the point Solomon wanted to finish.   In fact, note what happens at the end of the building project:

2 Chronicles 5:13-14 (ESV Strong's)

13 and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD,

“For he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever,”

the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

When we start with the “why” at the beginning we can make sure we get the the “why” at the end.