The Holy Vessels of God
Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD. ~1 Chronicles 22:19
The word for "vessels" in the Bible describes a container that held water, wine, or grain. There were vessels that were set aside for specific services. These vessels were made of gold and silver. Vessels are a metaphor describing the Christian life. We are to be vessels unto honor for the Lord.
There were vessels for the temple.
The temple was the place where ceremonies were held and sacrifices were made. Of the many articles that were placed in the temple, the vessels of gold and silver spoke highly of the utensils that were dedicated to the worship and service of the Lord. These vessels would hold wine that was poured out as a drink offering to the Lord. They were acknowledged and respected by the priests, and they only had one specific usage: to glorify God! After you and I got saved, our bodies became vessels that are to be set aside for the service and glory of God. The content of each life is the Holy Spirit of God. His indwelling presence is a constant reminder that we are to glorify God in our body and in our spirit, which are His.
There were vessels that were taken.
The Jews became careless and carnal in their service and worship of God. They resorted to blended worship where there would be the keeping of the ceremonies, feast days, and sacrifices as described on the Jewish calendar, but they also worshipped the same gods as the pagans around them. Over time, the care of the temple and the holy vessels became a formality and lost its fervency. God raised up the Babylonians to invade Jerusalem, and consequently the vessels of gold and silver were taken out of the house of God and transported to Babylon. Vessels that are not being kept clean and used for God’s glory are vessels that are taken: taken over, taken out, and taken away.
There were vessels that were tainted.
Belshazzar took the vessels of gold and silver and brought them into a banqueting reveling that he hosted. He desecrated these vessels by filling them with wine, drinking out of them, and praising the gods of gold, silver, brass, wood, and iron. He made them unfit for the service of God. He tainted them by using them for things other than their intended purpose. When we live for self and hold back our body and spirit for selfish purposes, we also become tainted and unfit for God to use. We become vessels unto dishonor.
There are vessels that are treasured.
Paul said, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels; that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” This treasure is the Holy Spirit Who is preeminent on our life. His power is what makes the difference for every vessel. He is the means by which every vessel can be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master’s use. His power is our treasure! He enables us when we lack strength. He equips us in spite of our limitations. He is essential for overcoming the inadequacies that we know that we have. He makes a human vessel a holy vessel.
Keep your vessel clean! Keep your vessel ready! Keep your vessel useful! Keep only the power of the Holy Spirit as the sole content of your vessel.
Have an honorable God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Chronicles 32-34