歷代志下 5:1；11-14
1 所羅門作完了耶和華殿的一切工，就把他父大衛分別為聖的金銀和器皿都帶來，放在 神殿的府庫裡。
11 當時在那裡所有的祭司，都已自潔，並不分班供職。12他們出聖所的時候，歌唱的利未人亞薩、希幔、耶杜頓和他們的眾子眾弟兄，都穿細麻布衣服，站在壇的東邊，敲鈸、鼓瑟、彈琴，同著他們有一百二十個祭司吹號。13吹號的、歌唱的，都一齊發聲，聲合為一，讚美感謝耶和華。吹號、敲鈸，用各種樂器，揚聲讚美耶和華說：“耶和華本為善、他的慈愛永遠長存！”那時，耶和華的殿有雲充滿，14甚至祭司不能站立供職，因為耶和華的榮光充滿了 神的殿。
你是否曾收到過一個勉強的或無力的感謝？或許是父母強迫孩子向你所說的感謝。這種感謝不是出於真正的樂意或真正對你的回應，而是出自於義務、礙於禮貌而不得不說的“謝謝你”。當我們這些現代人以這種心態向神獻上感謝的時候，我們就會缺少喜樂而注重教條的程序。我們可能會想，這並不是真正的感謝，因為這種感謝是被安排好的而不是自發的。然而，當讀到今天的感恩經文時，我們卻被經文中所描述的以色列民眾向神所發出的美好的、意味深長的、和準備充足的感謝而吸引。
神計劃好的聖殿在經過漫長的等待之後終於完工並且要打開大門迎接王的進入。這個聖殿不是一個舉行宗教祭祀的地方，而是神在他的選民中的聖潔居所，是位於以色列人日常生活中心的天和地會面的地方。號角吹出的甜美的樂曲以及鈸所發出的得勝的樂歌向人民宣告：這是向 神讚美和感謝的時間，所有的注意力都應當集中到 神那裡。同時，這些樂器也向人們宣告 神已經悅納了所有的祭品，而且因著恩典 神也與他的子民同在。
值得注意的是這種被音樂充滿的向 神的讚美和感謝，是由很多歌唱者“一齊發聲，聲合為一”而發出的。還應注意的他們齊聲所唱的是“耶和華本為善、他的慈愛永遠長存”。這遠不是被勉強的或儀式上的敬拜，而是神聖的、真心實意地向神發出的感謝，這感謝是為回應一個長久等待的結果，那就是 神遵守了他的諾言。雖然以色列人多次多方傷透 神的心，他仍然決定住在他們當中，為他們提供一條路使他們可以作為他的聖民站立在他面前。神住在他的子民當中，不是因為他們有多好，而是因為神自己的美好和憐憫。
這就把我們帶向另外長久等待的結果，而這個結果更加值得我們感恩。使徒約翰告訴我們耶穌基督與他的受造之物同住，而且當他住在他子民當中的時候，我們也看到了他的榮光，正是父獨生子的榮光，充充滿滿地有恩典有真理 （約翰福音1:14）。所以，我們今天更應該“聲合為一”地將感謝歸給神！就像神的榮耀曾經充滿他設計完美的聖殿，如今他的聖靈也充滿了他所愛的教會，這教會就是 神為他的子民所設計的完美的器皿。雖然我們都是罪人，在 神面前迷失，但是因為 “耶和華本為善、他的慈愛永遠長存”， 他將我們作為聖民帶回到他面前，並且他讓我們這些聖民都同住在耶穌基督裡。
神遵守了他的諾言，他在恩典中靠近我們，讓我們也以充滿喜樂和感謝的心來回應他！
歷代志下 5:1, 11-14
1 所羅門做完了耶和華殿的一切工，就把他父大衛分別為聖的金銀和器皿都帶來，放在神殿的府庫裡。
11 當時在那裡所有的祭司都已自潔，並不分班供職。 12 他們出聖所的時候，歌唱的利未人亞薩、希幔、耶杜頓和他們的眾子、眾弟兄都穿細麻布衣服，站在壇的東邊，敲鈸、鼓瑟、彈琴，同著他們有一百二十個祭司吹號。 13 吹號的、歌唱的都一齊發聲，聲合為一，讚美、感謝耶和華。吹號、敲鈸，用各種樂器，揚聲讚美耶和華說：「耶和華本為善，他的慈愛永遠長存！」那時耶和華的殿有雲充滿， 14 甚至祭司不能站立供職，因為耶和華的榮光充滿了神的殿。
Day 9
2 Chronicles 5:1, 11-14
1 So all the work that Solomon had done for the house of the Lord was finished; and Solomon brought in the things which his father David had dedicated: the silver and the gold and all the furnishings. And he put them in the treasuries of the house of God.
11 And it came to pass when the priests came out of the Most Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without keeping to their divisions), 12 and the Levites who were the singers, all those of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets— 13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
Have you ever received a reluctant or weak thanks, perhaps one forced out of a child by a parent (Now, say “thank you”!)? There might have been obligation behind it, responding to culture’s demands for a “thank you” but no true joy or thanks in response to you. In this scene of thank-soaked worship, our modern ears might miss the joy and focus on the formal procedures; we might think this is not authentic thanks because it is arranged and not spontaneous. Yet, we should be captivated by the beauty, meaningfulness and preparation here.
The long-awaited, God-designed temple is now finished and now it is time to open up the doors and welcome in the King. This was not a place to perform rituals but was the holy residence of the LORD in the midst of his chosen people, an intimate meeting place of heaven and earth located at the very center of Israel’s daily life. With trumpets sweetly blowing and cymbals triumphantly crashing, the time of praise and thanks was announced and all attention brought to God. These instruments also announced that God accepted the sacrifices and that by grace the LORD was present with His people. And that is what the thanks is all about!
Notice that this music-filled praise and thanks is given to the LORD as one or with one voice as unity of purpose connects the multitude of singers. Notice too that voices raise or lift up to address the LORD - He is good; his love endures forever. Far from reluctant or ritual praise, this is consecrated, heartfelt thanks in response to a long-awaited event - God has kept his word. Despite all the ways Israel has broken God’s heart he has still decided to dwell with them and draw them to himself, offering a way for them to stand before him as holy people set apart. God is dwelling with his people not because they are good but because He is so good and merciful.
This all points to another long-awaited event that deserves an even greater response of thanks! John tells us that Christ Jesus tabernacled with His creation and as he dwelt with people we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). How much then should we today give unified thanks in one voice raised up! As God’s glory once filled the perfectly-designed temple by grace, now His Spirit fills His beloved church - the God-designed vessel he is perfecting as His chosen people. Even though we were sinners lost from God, He is good; his love endures forever and in Jesus Christ he has drawn us to be with our God, to dwell together as his holy people.
He kept His word. He came to us in grace. Let us then respond joyfully and be filled fully.
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