The Book of 2 Chronicles

Word Study

"altar of brass," Hebrew mizbeach nechosheth. The first furnishing named is "an altar of brass," the great altar of burnt offering where the sacrifices were made, standing at the entrance to the house. It was the first thing a worshipper met: there was no approach to God except by sacrifice.

"molten sea," yam mutsaq (יָם מוּצָק), the great cast basin. Then comes "a molten sea," an enormous bronze basin holding thousands of gallons, resting on twelve oxen facing the four directions, and "ten lavers" for washing. The purpose is stated plainly: the lavers were to wash the parts of the burnt offerings, "but the sea was for the priests to wash in." Two great needs are pictured here in order: first the altar, for atonement by blood; then the water, for cleansing. A sinner cannot come to God without sacrifice, and those who serve God must be washed. The twelve oxen bearing the sea, facing every direction, suggest that this provision of cleansing was for all Israel, indeed a testimony to all the earth. Sacrifice and washing, blood and water, stand together at the door of God's house, the two things every worshipper needs to draw near.

Explanation

Solomon made the temple's main furnishings for worship. First was the huge bronze altar where sacrifices were offered, the place of atonement at the entrance. Then he made the "molten sea," a massive bronze basin holding thousands of gallons, resting on twelve bronze oxen facing outward in all four directions, along with ten smaller basins called lavers. These held water for washing: the lavers were used to rinse the parts of the burnt offerings, and the great sea was where the priests washed themselves. Together the altar and the water provided for the two essentials of approaching God, sacrifice for sin and cleansing for those who serve.

Gospel Focus

The altar and the water together preach the gospel of how sinners come to God: by blood and by washing. The altar pointed to the sacrifice for sin, fulfilled once for all at the cross, "we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Ephesians 1:7). The sea and lavers pointed to cleansing, and strikingly, from the pierced side of Jesus "came there out blood and water" (John 19:34), the very two things pictured here. We are justified by His blood and cleansed by His washing, "the washing of water by the word" (Ephesians 5:26), "the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). Note the order: first the altar, then the water; first atonement, then cleansing. And note that the priests had to wash before they served; those who would minister to God must be clean, "Draw near with a true heart... having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:22). The twelve oxen facing outward hint that this cleansing was meant to reach all the earth, and in Christ it does. Come first to the altar of His sacrifice, be washed in the cleansing He provides, and draw near to God with a true heart, redeemed and made clean.

Word Study

"shewbread," Hebrew lechem happanim (לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים), the "bread of the face/presence." Moving inside the holy place, the Chronicler names three golden furnishings. First, "the golden altar", the altar of incense, which stood before the veil and on which fragrant incense was burned, a picture of prayer ascending to God, "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense" (Psalm 141:2). Second, "the tables whereon the shewbread was set", the bread of the Presence, twelve loaves representing the tribes, always before the LORD, a picture of God's people in fellowship and communion at His table.

"candlesticks," menoroth (מְנֹרוֹת), lampstands. Third, "the candlesticks with their lamps... of pure gold", the lampstands that gave light in the holy place, burning continually "before the oracle" (the most holy place). All were "of pure gold," for what stands nearest to God must be of the purest worth. Prayer, communion, and light: incense rising, bread abiding, lamps shining. These golden vessels within answer to the altar and water without; having been atoned for and cleansed, the worshipper is brought into a life of prayer, fellowship, and light in the presence of God.

Explanation

Solomon made all the sacred vessels for the interior of the temple out of pure gold: the golden altar of incense, the tables that held the shewbread (the bread of the Presence), and the lampstands with their lamps that burned continually in front of the most holy place. Where the bronze altar and water basins stood in the courtyard for sacrifice and washing, these golden furnishings stood inside the holy place for the ongoing worship of God, the incense of prayer, the bread of fellowship, and the light of the lamps, all made of the purest gold befitting the nearness of God's presence.

Gospel Focus

The golden furnishings within picture the life of those who have been brought near to God, and each points to Christ. The golden altar of incense speaks of prayer, and of Christ our Intercessor, for "much incense" is offered "with the prayers of all saints" before the throne (Revelation 8:3), and Jesus "ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25). The shewbread, the bread of the Presence always before God, speaks of communion and of Christ Himself, who said, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35), on whom His people feed and in whom they have fellowship. The lampstands of pure gold speak of light, and of Christ, "the light of the world" (John 8:12), whose light now shines through His church, "ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14); indeed the seven golden candlesticks are the churches (Revelation 1:20), called to burn continually before God. Notice that all these were "of pure gold", what belongs nearest to God must be pure. Having come by the altar and the washing, the believer enters a life of prayer, communion, and shining light in God's presence, all found in Jesus, our Intercessor, our Bread, and our Light. Let your prayer rise like incense, feed on Christ the bread, and let your light shine before men.