2 chronicles chapter 4 describes the furnishings of the temple. Most of my life I was only able to look through the store window and see desirable things, without any resource to purchase them. To me, access to the tantalizing prizes was impossible. The thing that strikes me in this chapter is the dramatic difference between outside and inside the temple. Virtually everything outside the Temple was made of bronze and was used for washing, cleansing and atonement. In contrast, all of the implements inside were gold and were wholly dedicated to worshiping God. Bronze is an alloy metal, meaning is it made from different metals in combination; it always symbolizes judgment. It can be polished to look shiny, but it will tarnish and oxidize on its own. Gold is pure and is associated with that which is set apart for God. It does not tarnish or corrode.
The chapter begins by describing the courtyard in front of the Temple; “He made a bronze altar” on which the sacrifice was offered. This was the largest object in the courtyard. Beside that, “He made the Sea of cast metal, circular in shape… The Sea stood on twelve bulls, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south and three facing east. The Sea rested on top of them…and its rim was like the rim of a cup, like a lily blossom“. This was used by the priests for ceremonial washing of their hands and feet. It was approximately 15 feet across and 5 feet deep. That is a huge amount of water. Perhaps that was to emphasize the point that these priests were defiled just being in the presence of the people. The chapter continues by describing, “Ten basins for washing… In them the things to be used for the burnt offerings were rinsed“. The sacrifice was required to be spotless and without defect. The front of the Temple has two tall bronze pillars and even the outer doors of the Temple were “overlaid with bronze“. The people could not enter the Temple, It was reserved for the priests alone, but I imagine any time the door opened everyone strained to see what was beyond their reach.
The rest of the chapter describes the furnishings inside the Temple. “The golden altar; the tables on which was the bread of the Presence; He made ten gold lampstands… He made ten tables and placed them in the temple… He also made a hundred gold sprinkling bowls… pure gold wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and censers; and the gold doors of the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and the doors of the main hall“. The people remained separated from the Holy Place by their sin. It was not until the sin of mankind was paid in full on the cross that we have access to the very throne of God. Jesus the Lamb of God was the perfect sacrifice, once and for all but He was also the perfect High Priest. Hebrews 4:14 has great news for those of us that have been on the outside. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess… Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need“. We do not need money, power or even a special title to enter into God’s presence. All I need to do is believe that Jesus died for the forgiveness of my sins. Friend, if you are on the outside, please enter in. Don’t walk away and don’t settle for shiny things that will fade.