So, what do you think Joash and Zabdi were doing about 3,000 years ago? You know . . . these were guys with fairly typical families; Joash worked in the olive oil business and Zabdi labored in the vineyards. What do you remember about them? What was the primary issue on their minds? Basically, what do you remember about what was going on in their lives?
Or how about Jehdeiah, the donkey keeper? Or Obil, camel custodian extraordinaire? Either one stand out in your mind?
What, you haven’t heard of any of these people?
Not to worry! While none of these names were particularly unusual in the 900-950 BC era, I’m betting these people are not high on anyone’s recognition meter. And though these particular people are mentioned in 1Chron 28, we’re really not told much about them or what they thought or felt about things. I’m guessing they were fairly normal guys, pretty much like my buddy the printer, or my friend the coffee shop manager, or the salesman I’ve come to know and love. You know, common, every day people just trying to get by.
Yet, around the year 950 B.C., right in the midst of all of these common folk, a major event was being planned and carried out. Officials and experts gathered before the king, and began work on would ultimately become their long-awaited place of worship. Weights and measurements were made, building plans were drawn, and detailed specifications were reviewed and tweaked. G_d’s plan for His chosen people finally took root, and the Hebrew people would finally have the permanent temple they had long prayed for.
Insofar as your memory goes, the story of the temple construction is probably a bit more familiar than the lives of Zabdi and Obil. After all, camel custodians just didn’t get much print space in the Bible. In contrast, the Biblical books of First Kings and First Chronicles meticulously describe the construction plans G_d gave to King David, and the care and attention to detail that King Solomon and others expended to construct the temple that G_d had them build.
We do not get to read about the details of the daily lives of those scores of people NOT involved in the planning and building of the temple. Nevertheless, we can be reasonably sure that they lived lives relatively similar to ours. Normal people, working hard, doing their best to enjoy life and raise healthy, happy families. People like Joash and his olive oil, and Jehdeiah and his grapes . . . others with common names like Sacar, Petullethal and Zadok. A man named Jeriah is written to have had “2,700 relatives, who were able men and heads of families”, yet we don’t know any particulars about them. 1Chron. 26:32. Who were these men and women? How many children did each one have? What sicknesses did they face? Were any worried about the boy down the street paying too much attention to their daughter? How much attention did they pay to this great construction event that was happening?
This past week I was privileged to have met with several “able men” and review preliminary plans, drawings and specifications for the proposed construction improvements to the Cowcatchers Restaurant. As you know, a great event is upon us. It certainly seems at this point that G_d will be providing a permanent place of worship for the Riverside Community Church, and is guiding those people He chose to design and build our long-awaited permanent place of worship. Similar to what is described in 1Kings and 1Chronicles, as you read this blog people are meeting, negotiating, measuring, calculating and drawing plans and specs to convert the Cowcatchers Restaurant into a holy place of worship. We anticipate, hope and pray that we will be moving into our new home by the end of this summer. Thanks to our Lord, all seems to be running according to plan.
The follow-up thought that jumped out at me, however, is what are all the rest of us supposed to be doing while this planning and construction is going on? I’m not a construction guy . . . I have no clue about the difference between dimensional tolerance and pressure differential. Heck . . . I just learned what a “leach field” is! So what does G_d want people like you and me to do while this architecture, engineering, and construction stuff is going on?
We don’t get to read many stories in the Bible about the common man’s experience during the temple construction period. Yet, we know there were many common folk out there. It's a safe bet that during the seven-year period of construction, people not involved the actual construction project presumably went about their normal lives. I love the verse in 1Kings 4:20: the “people of Judah and Israel” “ate, drank and they were happy.” Personally, I find no problem with eating and drinking. I tend to do those things relatively well. But, is that it? Is that all I need to do? First Chronicles offers a hint . . . Before King David died and before King Solomon began construction, it is said that all of the Hebrew people willingly gave of their possessions and sacrifices, and “ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the Lord” (1Chron 29: 17b & 22).
Ah-hah! Sacrificing, praying, giving, and living “in the presence of the Lord!” Though you and I and others may not be gifted with construction-related know-how, we DO have a role in this project! Please do not let the silence in not hearing a hammer or not seeing a bulldozer lull you to sleep about this project. Riverside needs you and me NOW! Our prayers and sacrifices are welcome! Living daily “in the presence of the Lord” is not only welcome but needed! Indeed, the Bible is clear that ALL of the people’s way of life was a key component to G_d’s blessing of the temple construction project.
So, come one, come all! A deal with the bank is under final negotiations and about to close, and construction is about to begin!!! Let us ALL join in the fun! This summer, give what you can through prayer and sacrifice, and do so “willingly and with honest intent” (1Chron 29: 17). And though neither your name nor mine will be listed in the historical written chronicle of those who helped design, plan, negotiate and build the Riverside holy place of worship, we can take great comfort in knowing that our Lord will always know the intent of the “commoners’” hearts. And really . . . what can be better than that?
Shema
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