May 2022

Part of the prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple (2nd Chron. Cha 6 v 41)‘. . . . let thy priests, O Lord be clothed with salvation and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.’ Or perhaps – 'in Thy goodness.' We find a similar expression in Psalm 132 v 9 where it says: ‘Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.’ 

The quotation from 2nd Chron comes at the end of Solomon's prayer at the dedication of his Temple. The priests were a special class of people in Israel. Not just descended from Levi – but specifically from Aaron, and were set aside for the work of the Tabernacle – and now, in this new Temple. 

It was God's intention that the whole nation should have been a nation of priests but their sin at Sinai when they built the golden calf changed all that. Now priesthood was reserved only to the descendants of Aaron. Here in the closing words of this prayer we have the king's desire for these priests. They were, after all, special people with special privileges! 'Clothed with salvation.' But also 'let thy saints rejoice in thy goodness.' 

Who were these saints? Surely, the people of God – the rest of the tribes – the Israelites in general. There would have been a great euphoria that day throughout the land, when the people were aware of their special calling as the children of God. This is the king's desire for his people's spirituality – set apart for God and delighting in the goodness of their God. 

When we turn over to the New Testament to Peter's 1st letter what do we read there about God's people: 1Pe 2:9 ‘But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you: out of darkness into his marvellous light.’ What do we find here? That the privilege forfeited by Israel has now been granted to the Church. Aaron's descendants were not royal – they were not of the tribe of Judah but we are a Royal Priesthood. 

Are we not like Solomon's priests clothed in salvation? The people were to rejoice in God's goodness. Is the thought here that they should ever be mindful of their special position as God's people because of His goodness to them? We are both priests and saints! 

What does Peter say? ‘…that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;' (ESV) Like the saints of old, we should rejoice in God's goodness but also be telling forth – the excellencies . . . . Exalting His Name in our praises to God, speaking well of Him to our fellow believers and proclaiming it to the world around in our preaching, by our lives and our witnessing.