At that time Solomon held the feast for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt. And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for they had kept the dedication of the altar seven days and the feast seven days. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the prosperity that the Lord had granted to David and to Solomon and to Israel his people. 2 Chronicles 7:8-10.
What a magnificent celebration! Solomon had spent enormous energy building the tabernacle for the LORD. 2 Chronicles overviews how Solomon established his rule over Israel, built the temple and consecrated it to the LORD. These first nine chapters are the celebration of God’s goodness to David, Solomon, and the people of Israel.
Much of these initial chapters encompass Solomon’s request asking for wisdom to rule God’s people well. God rewards him with wealth and riches and peace. By chapter seven, Solomon and the people have celebrated the dedication of the temple by offering hundreds of animals, he held a feast for seven days and God’s people worshipped.
The last statement in verse ten is such an encouragement:
On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the prosperity that the Lord had granted to David and to Solomon and to Israel his people (2 Chronicles 7:10).
What a magnificent description of true worship, or better, the result of true worship: “… joyful and glad of heart for the prosperity that the LORD had granted….”. What an amazing result when the LORD is the center of life and worship.
This marked the inauguration of a new form of relationship with God. The temple now centralized the presence of God at the center of Israel’s existence. This dedication formalized worship into a religious system that had all kinds of rules, regulations, and procedures on how they were to approach the God of heaven. These helped Israel to always remember to come humbly before a holy God, so they had to come to Him on His terms, not their own.
In spite of the procedures, formality and regulations, people still came away with joyful hearts because they were “for the prosperity that the LORD had granted” to them. This may be oversimplistic for some, but the heart of worship is relationship with God the Father. Regardless of the form, structure, and regulations, those who are caught up with the relationship are the ones that will walk away with “a joyful and glad heart” because God, in His kindness, has granted them to flourish.
True worship is not about the rules and regulations. Jesus said it best, “God is spirit and those who worship Him, must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24).
Let me encourage you to be a true worshipper of Christ. Worship has far more to do with my attitude of heart than the forms and structures. If you are walking away from our (formal) worship time on Sunday, with a joyful and glad heart you are a true worshipper of Jesus.
Pastor Brad
