2 Chronicles 35:3
To the Levites who taught all Israel and were holy to the LORD, Josiah said: "Put the holy ark in the temple built by Solomon son of David king of Israel. It is not to be carried around on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel.
To the Levites who taught all Israel and were holy to the LORD
The Levites were a tribe set apart for religious duties, specifically for teaching and maintaining the worship practices of Israel. Their role as teachers is emphasized in passages like Deuteronomy 33:10, where they are tasked with instructing Israel in the law. Being "holy to the LORD" signifies their consecration and dedication to God's service, as seen in Numbers 8:14-19. This phrase underscores their responsibility to uphold and disseminate the spiritual and moral laws of the covenant.

Josiah said:
King Josiah was one of the few righteous kings of Judah, known for his reforms and dedication to restoring proper worship (2 Kings 22-23). His leadership is marked by a return to the covenant and a desire to purify the nation from idolatry. His instructions to the Levites reflect his commitment to reestablishing the temple's central role in Israel's spiritual life.

Put the holy ark in the temple built by Solomon son of David king of Israel.
The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object in Israel, symbolizing God's presence and covenant with His people (Exodus 25:10-22). Its placement in the temple, built by Solomon, highlights the continuity of worship from David's reign through Solomon's temple construction (1 Kings 8:1-11). This act signifies a return to the divinely ordained order of worship, as the temple was the designated dwelling place for God's presence among His people.

It is not to be carried around on your shoulders.
This instruction refers to the proper handling of the Ark, which was originally transported by Levites using poles (Exodus 25:14). The prohibition against carrying it on shoulders suggests a cessation of its movement, emphasizing the stability and permanence of worship centered in the temple. This reflects a shift from the tabernacle's mobility to the temple's fixed location, aligning with God's promise of a permanent dwelling place (2 Samuel 7:5-13).

Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel.
Josiah's command to serve both God and the people underscores the dual responsibility of the Levites: to lead in worship and to minister to the community. This service is rooted in the covenant relationship, where obedience to God is linked with the well-being of the nation (Deuteronomy 10:12-13). The call to service reflects the broader biblical theme of servant leadership, exemplified by Christ, who came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Josiah
The king of Judah who initiated religious reforms and restored the observance of the Passover.

2. Levites
The tribe set apart for religious duties, responsible for the care of the temple and instruction of the people.

3. The Ark of the Covenant
A sacred chest that held the tablets of the Law, representing God's presence with His people.

4. Solomon's Temple
The temple in Jerusalem built by King Solomon, a central place of worship for Israel.

5. Passover
A significant Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt, which Josiah reinstated.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Proper Worship
Josiah's command to place the Ark in the temple underscores the need for reverence and proper worship practices. As believers, we should prioritize worship that honors God and aligns with biblical principles.

The Role of Spiritual Leaders
The Levites were tasked with instructing and serving the people. Today, spiritual leaders are called to guide, teach, and serve their communities, ensuring that worship and doctrine remain true to Scripture.

God's Presence and Our Service
The Ark symbolized God's presence among His people. As Christians, we are called to serve God and others, recognizing that His presence empowers and guides us in our daily lives.

Restoration and Renewal
Josiah's reforms and the restoration of the Passover highlight the importance of returning to God's ways. We should seek personal and communal renewal, aligning our lives with God's Word.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the placement of the Ark in the temple reflect the priorities of worship in your own life?

2. In what ways can you support and encourage the spiritual leaders in your community, similar to the role of the Levites?

3. How does understanding the historical and spiritual significance of the Ark enhance your appreciation of God's presence today?

4. What steps can you take to ensure that your worship practices are aligned with biblical teachings?

5. How can the account of Josiah's reforms inspire you to pursue spiritual renewal in your personal life and community?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 25
Describes the construction of the Ark of the Covenant, emphasizing its sacredness and role in Israel's worship.

1 Kings 8
Details the dedication of Solomon's Temple, where the Ark was originally placed, highlighting its importance in Israel's religious life.

Deuteronomy 10
Discusses the role of the Levites, reinforcing their duties and responsibilities in serving God and the community.

Hebrews 9
Reflects on the significance of the Ark and the temple in the context of the new covenant through Christ.
The Great Passover of JosiahT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 35:1-19
The Preferable ServiceW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 35:3-7
People
Aaron, Asaph, Charchemish, Conaniah, David, Hashabiah, Heman, Hilkiah, Jeduthun, Jehiel, Jeiel, Jeremiah, Josiah, Jozabad, Levites, Necho, Nethaneel, Samuel, Shemaiah, Solomon
Places
Carchemish, Egypt, Euphrates River, Holy Place, Jerusalem, Megiddo
Topics
Ark, Backs, Build, Built, Burden, Carried, Carry, Consecrated, David, Holy, Instructed, Levites, Longer, Sacred, Sanctified, Servants, Serve, Shoulder, Shoulders, Solomon, Taught, Teachers, Teaching, Temple, Transported
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 35:3

     7306   ark of the covenant
     7769   priests, NT types
     7793   teachers
     8218   consecration
     8270   holiness, set apart
     8271   holiness, purpose

2 Chronicles 35:1-3

     8151   revival, corporate

2 Chronicles 35:1-6

     7390   Levites

2 Chronicles 35:1-19

     7245   Judah, kingdom of
     8466   reformation

Library
Cheer Up, My Comrades!
The first thing is to get every man into his proper place; the next thing is for every man to have a good spirit in his present place, so as to occupy it worthily. I will suppose, dear friends, that in the providence of God you are in your place, and that by the direction of God's Spirit you have also sought and found the precise form of usefulness in which you ought to exercise yourself. To-night it shall not be my business to arrange you; but assuming that it is well for you to keep where you are,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 26: 1880

The New Temple and Its Worship
'And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo: and they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15. And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16. And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Importance in Luke's History of the Story of the Birth of Christ
IT needs no proof that Luke attached the highest importance to this part of his narrative. That Jesus was indicated from the beginning as the Messiah -- though not a necessary part of his life and work, and wholly omitted by Mark and only briefly indicated in mystical language by John -- was a highly interesting and important fact in itself, and could not fail to impress the historian. The elaboration and detail of the first two chapters of the Gospel form a sufficient proof that Luke recognized
Sir William Mitchell Ramsay—Was Christ Born in Bethlehem?

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
"Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before Me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place."--2 Kings
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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