The Daily Lectionary
With Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Sanctuary of Reverence
Psalm 84; 2 Chronicles 29:1-11, 16-19; Hebrews 9:23-28
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Lent 3)
Introduction
With Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Sanctuary of Reverence
Psalm 84; 2 Chronicles 29:1-11, 16-19; Hebrews 9:23-28
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Lent 3)
Introduction
In this thematic exploration of Psalm 84, 2 Chronicles 29:1-11, 16-19, and Hebrews 9:23-28, we delve into the profound reverence for sacred spaces and the transformative power of true worship. Psalm 84 beautifully expresses the soul’s yearning for God’s dwelling place, illustrating the deep comfort and joy found in His sanctuary. This is echoed in 2 Chronicles 29, where King Hezekiah’s restoration of temple worship symbolizes a pivotal return to divine favor and spiritual cleansing. The narrative shifts in Hebrews 9, where the earthly temple and its rituals are transcended by the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. This section underscores the fulfillment of redemption and the establishment of a new covenant, not just in a physical sanctuary, but in the hearts of believers. Together, these passages weave a tapestry of divine presence, redemption, and the eternal significance of spiritual worship.
A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 84
How Lovely is God’s Dwelling Place
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 84
How Lovely is God’s Dwelling Place
Psalm 84 is a heartfelt homage to the splendor and sacredness of God’s abode. Traditionally attributed to the sons of Korah, it reflects a deep yearning for the presence of the Lord and a joyful celebration of being in His holy temple. The Psalm vividly captures the bliss and peace experienced by those who dwell in God's presence, contrasting the fleeting pleasures of the world with the eternal joy found near the Almighty. As we read and reflect upon this Psalm, let us immerse ourselves in its profound longing and recognition of the beauty of God's dwelling.1 How lovely is your dwelling place, *
O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the LORD; *
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, *
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
4 Happy are those who live in your house, *
ever singing your praise. Selah
5 Happy are those whose strength is in you, *
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 As they go through the valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs; *
the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength; *
the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; *
give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9 Behold our shield, O God; *
look on the face of your anointed.
10 For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere. *
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
he bestows favor and honor. *
No good thing does the LORD withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts, *
happy is everyone who trusts in you.
Heavenly Father, in the beauty of Your dwelling place, our hearts yearn and even faint for the courts of the Lord. In Your presence, O God, we find joy and peace, for a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
We come before You, acknowledging Your majesty and grace, seeking the warmth of Your love and the light of Your guidance. Like the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, may our souls find rest and comfort in You, our Lord, our King, and our God.
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house, ever singing Your praise. Grant us the strength to walk through the valleys of life, turning them into places of springs, filled with Your blessings and grace.
O Lord of hosts, hear our prayer. Listen, O God of Jacob. Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of Your anointed.
For in Your presence, we find strength and truth. In Your love, we find hope and salvation. No good thing do You withhold from those who walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in You. May our hearts and souls always yearn for Your living presence, finding joy and fulfillment in Your eternal love.
Be with us today and every day in Jesus Christ, Who taught us to pray:
“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”
2 Chronicles 29:1-11, 16-19 presents a pivotal moment in the history of ancient Israel, showcasing the reign of King Hezekiah, a ruler distinguished by his devout commitment to restoring the religious practices neglected by his predecessors. This passage begins with Hezekiah ascending to the throne and immediately embarking on a mission to purify and repair the Temple of the Lord, which had fallen into disrepair. Verses 1-11 detail Hezekiah's vigorous efforts to cleanse the temple, reestablish proper worship, and renew the covenant with God, emphasizing his call to the Levites and priests to consecrate themselves and the temple. The subsequent verses, 16-19, describe the thorough process of purification carried out by the Levites, highlighting their dedication to removing all defilement from the sanctuary. This narrative not only chronicles a significant religious reformation under Hezekiah's leadership but also serves as a powerful testament to the importance of faithfulness and the renewal of one’s commitment to divine mandates in the face of spiritual neglect.29 1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old; he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 2 He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, just as his ancestor David had done.
3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. 4 He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east. 5 He said to them, “Listen to me, Levites! Sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and carry out the filth from the holy place. 6 For our ancestors have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God; they have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the dwelling of the Lord, and turned their backs. 7 They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps, and have not offered incense or made burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore the wrath of the Lord came upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. 9 Our fathers have fallen by the sword and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not now be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence to minister to him, and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.”
16 The priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and they brought out all the unclean things that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord; and the Levites took them and carried them out to the Wadi Kidron. 17 They began to sanctify on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the Lord; then for eight days they sanctified the house of the Lord, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. 18 Then they went inside to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the rows of bread and all its utensils. 19 All the utensils that King Ahaz repudiated during his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and sanctified; see, they are in front of the altar of the Lord.”
Expository Commentary
Verses 1-2 introduce us to King Hezekiah of Judah, who began his reign at the age of twenty-five. The text notes that he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem, with his mother’s name being Abijah, daughter of Zechariah. These verses commend Hezekiah, stating he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, just as his ancestor David had done. This establishes Hezekiah as a righteous king, contrasting with many of his predecessors who had led Judah into idolatry.
Verses 3-7 detail Hezekiah’s early actions as king. In the first month of his reign, he opened and repaired the doors of the Lord's Temple, which had been closed by his father, Ahaz. Hezekiah addresses the Levites, emphasizing the need to sanctify themselves and the Temple, to remove the defilement brought by previous generations. These verses underscore Hezekiah’s commitment to reversing the neglect of religious practices and reestablishing proper worship in Judah.
Verses 8-11 continue Hezekiah’s speech to the Levites. He highlights the wrath of the Lord that has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem due to their abandonment of Him, resulting in turmoil and scorn by other nations. Hezekiah then calls the Levites to service, urging them not to be negligent but to join him in forming a covenant with the Lord to turn away His fierce wrath. This appeal is a call to renewal and rededication to the covenant with God.
Verses 16-19 describe the actions taken by the priests and Levites to purify the Temple. They begin from the inner part of the house of the Lord and move outward, removing all the impurities they found. They then take all the unclean items to the Kidron Valley. Finally, the narrative recounts that they completed the work of consecrating the house of the Lord in eight days. This part of the passage emphasizes the thoroughness of the purification process and the Levites' dedication to restoring the sanctity of the Temple.
Overall, these verses in 2 Chronicles 29 demonstrate a significant moment in Judah's history, marked by King Hezekiah’s dedication to restoring the worship of the Lord. This chapter not only reflects Hezekiah's faithfulness but also serves as a call to repentance and a reminder of the importance of maintaining a right relationship with God. It underscores the consequences of neglecting such a relationship and the blessings of earnestly seeking to reestablish it.
Hebrews 9:23-28 presents a profound theological discourse on the sacrificial work of Christ and its significance in the framework of the New Covenant. This passage delves into the comparison between the earthly sanctuary and the heavenly one, emphasizing the necessity of Christ's sacrifice in the heavenly realm as opposed to the repeated, symbolic sacrifices of the Old Testament. The text underscores the finality and sufficiency of Christ's offering, highlighting His role as a mediator who enters the heavenly sanctuary once for all, thus securing eternal redemption. The passage culminates with a reflection on the eschatological return of Christ, not to deal with sin again, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him. This segment of scripture is pivotal in understanding the transition from the Old Covenant's rituals to the New Covenant's fulfillment in Jesus Christ.9 23 Thus it was necessary for the sketches of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves need better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; 26 for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Expository Commentary
Verse 23: This verse begins by contrasting the earthly copies of heavenly things, which were purified with the sacrifices and rituals of the Old Testament, with the heavenly realities themselves. The "better sacrifices" refer to Christ's offering, emphasizing its superiority and necessity for the true purification of the heavenly things.
Verse 24: Here, the author of Hebrews stresses the uniqueness of Christ's work. Unlike the high priests who entered man-made sanctuaries (the Holy of Holies in the temple), Christ entered heaven itself. This act was not a symbolic gesture but a real and efficacious entrance into God's presence, signifying a direct and personal mediation on behalf of humanity.
Verse 25: This verse draws a parallel between Christ's sacrifice and the annual sacrifices of the high priest on the Day of Atonement. Unlike these repeated sacrifices, Christ's offering was once and for all, highlighting the definitive nature of His work.
Verse 26: The author dispels any notion of Christ needing to suffer repeatedly, as was the case with the repetitive animal sacrifices in the Old Testament. Instead, Christ's once-for-all sacrifice at the climax of history effectively removes sin, marking a pivotal moment in the divine plan of salvation.
Verses 27-28: These concluding verses draw an analogy between human mortality and Christ's sacrifice. Just as humans die once and face judgment, Christ was offered once for the sins of many. The focus then shifts to eschatology: Christ will return, not to deal with sin (as that has been accomplished), but to bring salvation to those who await him.
In summary, Hebrews 9:23-28 highlights the supremacy and finality of Christ's sacrifice compared to the Old Testament rituals. It emphasizes the unique nature of His priestly work, His direct intervention in the heavenly realm, and the ultimate hope of His second coming. This passage is crucial in understanding the transition from the Old Covenant's repetitive sacrifices to the New Covenant's eternal redemption through Christ's singular and sufficient offering.
Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]
The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Commentaries are by Kenny Sallee, ThM, aided by ChatGPT.
The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year B. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2024, we will be in Year C. The year which ended at Advent 2023 was Year A. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Commentaries are by Kenny Sallee, ThM, aided by ChatGPT.
The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year B. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2024, we will be in Year C. The year which ended at Advent 2023 was Year A. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
