SCRIPTURE PASSAGES 

Hebrews 8:1-2

1 Corinthians 6:19

2 Chronicles 5:1-14 

OVERVIEW 

One of the great meta-narratives of the Scriptures is God creating space for humanity and Himself to be in a shared existence. This starts in the Garden story. The original temple. Adventists see the Sabbath as a Temple in time or a shared space in time. After the Exodus, God instructs Moses to build a structure that would represent where the Divine and people could meet. In the New Testament Paul and other writers see the New Covenant as being embodied in the person of Jesus as the bridge between the Divine and humans. In Revelation, John shows Jesus standing at the door and knocking, desiring community with humans.  

The temple becomes a focal point of all of these intersections between the divine and the created. David and Solomon understood the importance and gave great thought to the Temple of God. Today we are going to be focusing on helping students see where God has met us in the past so that they can understand that God wants to be present with them now and for eternity.  

OPENING ACTIVITY: TRANSPORT THE ARK

Supplies: 3 ping-pong balls per team, 2 straws per team, 1 cup or toilet paper roll. 

In this game students will be transporting the ark of the covenant from one end of your space to the other.  

Students should grab the end of the straws between their thumbs and first fingers. Then without touching the ball with their hands, they will balance the ball on the straws and move across the room to the cup at the other end and place the ball in the cup. They should then run the straws back to the next person on their team.

If you drop the ball, you restart. Because, of course, the ball is the holy ark of the covenant! It can’t be dropped. First team to get three balls in the cup wins! 

DISCUSSION 

• What did you like or not like about this game? 
• What was hard or easy about this game? 
• How would you have treated this game differently if it were actually a meaningful object for your church or family?
• How would this have been different if you were doing this game in front of a crowd of people who expect you not to mess up? 

FINAL QUESTION

Have you ever been responsible for an object that has spiritual significance for your family or church? Something that had historical meaning to them? What was that like? Tell the story. (Leader if you have a story about this, please have it ready? Maybe you helped serve communion or have a special family Bible) 

TRANSITION 

Today we are going to be looking at one of the significant milestone moments in the Old Testament. If you were a Hebrew living in ancient times this would have been a big deal. People have been looking forward to this event for hundreds of years and for the next 400-800 years this event would be etched into the writings of the prophets. King David and King Solomon had been planning on a permanent home for the wilderness tabernacle. A place in the ‘holy land’ that would be where God and humans could intersect and interact.  

So today we are going to be looking at the final moments of Solomon finishing that temple and the special artifact that was the last piece transported into the temple. 

BIBLE STUDY GUIDE 

Before we turn to the story and to the Old Testament, let’s first begin to talk about how this might have significance to teenagers today. As we talk about the temple and the most Holy Place of the temple, let’s think about what that means today. 

Read Hebrews 8:1-2.

Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

Read 1 Corinthians 6:19. 

19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

DISCUSSION

• Who is the High Priest that the writer of Hebrews is referring to?
• What is the role of the High Priest in the most holy place? (One answer should include being an intercessor between God and Humans.) 
• What do you as teenagers think it means for your body to be a temple of the Holy Spirit (God)?
• How does this impact you physically, emotionally, spiritually? How often do you think of yourself as a temple? 

I saw a video that made an interesting point about the importance of a temple. In Eden, before sin, God and humans were able to interact. There was no barrier or distance between God space/realm/dimension and humans. Think of this as the green realm. Stick with me here. After sin that changed. There was now a distinct difference between those realms. Think of God being in a blue realm and humans living in a yellow realm. God’s goal was and is to get back to green. So there are times and spaces where we clearly see Blue and Yellow mixing in the Bible. One of those spaces is the Tabernacle and Temple in the Old Testament. That is why this is such a central part of the Old Testament story.  

Try to put yourself into the shoes of someone living in Solomon’s time. What you are doing is creating a permanent Green Zone. A place where God and Humans (through the priests) can be together! If you move forward to the time of Daniel, think about how devastating it would be to have the Green Zone destroyed! How could you interact with God? His space on earth had been burned by an enemy. That is why it was so important to rebuild the temple. Why people in Jesus’ time were so protective of the temple. 

All of that is needed context for today’s text and discussion. Before we read our passage for today what are your thoughts? 

Read 2 Chronicles 5:1-14.

 1When all the work Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated—the silver and gold and all the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of God’s temple.

2 Then Solomon summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. 3 And all the Israelites came together to the king at the time of the festival in the seventh month.

4 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, 5 and they brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The Levitical priests carried them up; 6 and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.

7 The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 8 The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its carrying poles. 9 These poles were so long that their ends, extending from the ark, could be seen from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

11 The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. 12 All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. 13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:

“He is good;

his love endures forever.”

Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, 14 and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.

 DISCUSSION

• Can you imagine what this would be like? A national gathering like this? What might you compare this to? (In the USA last Monday was MLK day, you could show pictures of the march on Washington) 
• Why does the writer make sure that we see that leaders were a big part of this service?  
• Think about the Tablets in the Ark. And that the writer mentions the covenant God made coming out of Egypt (Exodus 23 and 24) where God promises to give them possession of the Promised Land if the people keep his commandments. How does this fit in with our world? What has God promised us through Jesus? What is our end of the new Covenant? How does us being the temple fit in that? 
• If you’re a musician you probably tuned in on that part of this chapter. What would that have been like. How do you think the lines of that song were sung? 
• Notice the cloud that signified the presence of God (Green Space). How can we see God’s presence today? How have you seen God’s presence this week? How have you contributed as a ‘temple’ to creating God spaces at school, home, work?  

Today as we close I hope we can spend some time reflecting on God’s desire for personal relationship with humanity. In different times and ways God continues to help us connect with Him. Think about that for a moment. The all powerful Creator of the Universe, works to create a space in which to be with you! And while it will be even better in heaven, we don’t have to wait for heaven to experience a piece of Eden. So relish it and lean into that thought. AND make sure you help others find that space as well.  

APPLICATION  

 Some Adventists have referenced the Sabbath as a “Temple in time.” They are referring to the Sabbath as something that can help us reconnect our thoughts and priorities to the presence of God. What are some ways that Sabbath can be a ‘Green Space’ for you, and how can that impact your week? 

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

2 Chronicles  5:2-14

LEADER’S NOTE

For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.

You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.

Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.

Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.

DOWNLOAD THE HANDOUT

OVERVIEW

Have you ever been to the dedication of a building? If not, I can probably fill you in on the basics: there’s a whole bunch of well-dressed, important people who usually cut a ribbon and give a few remarks regarding the purpose and future use of the new structure. Of course, the grandeur of the event will depend on how big/important the new building will be. In fact, in 2010, the world welcomed the largest building ever made: the Burj Khalifa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Khalifa), with a ceremony that cost millions of dollars, boasted some of the most influential figures and heads of state, and was broadcast around the world for millions of viewers. It was the event of the decade, and the Burj Khalifa is one of the wonders of the modern century.

Going back a few thousand years, the wisest and wealthiest king of Israel once held an opening ceremony that would give the UAE a run for its money. Gathering all the leaders of his nation, King Solomon of Israel made a spectacular and reverent ceremony to open the new temple and welcome the presence of God (both literally and by way of the Ark of the Covenant) into it.

Sometimes it can be easy to get lost in the grandeur, pomp, and even length of these types of ceremonies. Sure, the temple built under the reign of Solomon is considered to be the most grandiose temple in Israel’s history, and it must have been a sight to behold. People came from far and wide to see it. But it was not the influential figures, the imposing structure, or the pomp of the ceremony that made it so special. It was the presence of the most influential being there; the owner of the house: God. The dedication ceremony and the building itself would have been a meaningless sacrilege had God’s presence not been invited into that temple.

It is easy to get caught up in the material awe of spectacular moments in our lives. However, we must always remember that without God at the center of these moments, they are just as meaningless as an empty temple.

Cutting the Ribbon

Have you ever been to a dedication ceremony of a building? What was your experience?

2 Then Solomon summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. 3 And all the Israelites came together to the king at the time of the festival in the seventh month.

4 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, 5 and they brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The Levitical priests carried them up; 6 and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.

7 The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 8 The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its carrying poles. 9 These poles were so long that their ends, extending from the ark, could be seen from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

11 The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. 12 All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. 13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:

“He is good;

his love endures forever.”

Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, 14 and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.

1. What was the purpose of the ceremony being held in this passage?
   1. The festival of the seventh month.
   2. Christmas.
   3. The dedication of the temple.
   4. Groundbreaking ceremony.
   5. The building of the temple.
   6. The festival of the tents.
   7. A diplomatic meeting.
   8. Other.

2. Where was the Ark of the Covenant to be placed?
   1. In the courtyard of the temple.
   2. In the palace of King Solomon.
   3. In the Most Holy Place.
   4. In the Holy Place.
   5. In a place where no one could see it.
   6. It moved around depending on the day.
   7. Somewhere where everyone could touch it.
   8. Other.

3. What was occurring while the Ark was being carried to the Temple?
   1. People were singing.
   2. Everything was silent.
   3. Burnt offerings were being sacrificed.
   4. One cow was sacrificed.
   5. People were partying.
   6. King Solomon was giving a speech.
   7. God’s presence came upon the crowd.
   8. Other.

4. What is the significance of the contents of the Ark of the Covenant?
   1. It was empty.
   2. Most of the original items were missing.
   3. Only Aaron’s budding staff was in there.
   4. Only the Ten Commandments were in there.
   5. The law of God would withstand time.
   6. The covenant between God and His people was being renovated.
   7. The law of God would not carry over into the new temple.
   8. Other.

5. What was the significance of what the praise singers were singing?
   1. They were praising God for the new temple.
   2. They praised God for his forgiveness.
   3. They praised God for his unconditional love.
   4. They were praising Solomon and the temple builders.
   5. Praising God invited His presence.
   6. Praising God reinforced the commitment between God and His people.
   7. The praise songs were the most important part of the ceremony.
   8. Other.

6. What was the symbolism of God’s entrance into the temple?
   1. He entered in person.
   2. He didn’t come.
   3. He came as a cloud.
   4. It meant He officially blessed the new temple.
   5. The cloud’s presence meant He would protect His people.
   6. The cloud stopped the ceremony from happening.
   7. He came to bless King Solomon.
   8. Other.

7. What does the story of the temple dedication tell us is the true importance of our temples?

8. How can we consciously invite God into our spaces and our lives?

SUMMARY

When we see spectacular things or experience once-in-the-lifetime experiences, it is so easy to get caught up in the awe and glory of it all. Can you imagine being at the dedication ceremony for the new temple of Israel? It would have definitely been a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Many would say it was because of seeing the important figures, the splendid building, or even the ornate relic of the Ark being carried in. But none of this made that experience so glorious as the symbolic and reverent praise that called upon the spirit of God to enter a place where He could abide with his people.

At the end of the day, it is our hearts and our fervent worship that make our churches, our homes, and our lives true temples of God. A building is just a bunch of stones without God, and not even the Ark and the slabs of stone inside of it would be anything of real value without God’s blessing and presence over it. We must make the conscious decision to invite God into our space, and we will see how the glory and benefits of His presence far outweigh any material pomp in our lives.

APPLICATIONS

The story of the dedication of the temple is so important for those of us who are wanting to look beyond the material glory of spectacular worldly moments/items. It is always a necessary part of studying to sit back and meditate on how a story or lesson applies to us today as youth or even youth leaders. Below you will find three applications that can benefit the youth in your group and help them meditate on the Word shared today. These applications work both individually and in a group.

1. DEDICATION CEREMONY.

A dedication ceremony is usually a public event; something that marks the purpose of the building in front of the eyes of many. When we think about the temple of our hearts and bodies, the dedication ceremony could be akin to the baptismal ceremony: a public declaration that we will serve God. Are you looking to make this dedication, or do you know anybody who is thinking of taking this public next step?

• If so, I encourage you to spend time in prayer and meditation regarding this life changing decision. Only we can make the choice to dedicate ourselves to God.
• But when we do so, we reap the benefits of His constant presence in our lives, like a cloud of comfort that hovers over us wherever we go.

2. TEMPLE WORSHIP.

I think most of us can agree that our local church will never measure up to the grandeur of Solomon’s temple, no matter how gorgeous the building is! However, one important aspect of how the ancient temple was run were the Levites and all their work that maintained the temple at the best possible standards to honor God.

Today, we are all Levites working collectively to make sure our places of worship are in the best condition they can be for worship. God does not care if we worship in a log cabin or a modern church with all the latest appliances, as long as His people work together to invite His presence into their space.

• As a youth group, make a conscious effort to lend a hand anytime it is needed at your local church in the upcoming year.
• If we pitch in, the benefits will be reaped on both sides: the adults at church will appreciate the aid, and we will learn and serve God at the same time!

3. PRAISE AND ADORATION.

One large aspect of the dedication ceremony of the new temple was the sacrifices and the praises offered to God while the ceremony was occurring. People praised God for His endlessly enduring love. Praise and adoration continue to be a very important aspect of our church services today, and they are a great way for us as youth to get involved with dedicating both our physical temples (our church) and our personal temples (our minds) to God.

• Whether the praise team, the prayer team, or other worship teams call your name, find a way to worship God as part of a group, and you will reap the blessings soon after!