2 Chronicles 2:7 (NIVUK)
7 ‘Send me, therefore, a man skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, and in purple, crimson and blue yarn, and experienced in the art of engraving, to work in Judah and Jerusalem with my skilled workers, whom my father David provided.
This chapter is full of echoes of the similar sections in Exodus where God gives the instructions for the building of the Tent of Meeting. There, God endows two craftsmen, Bezalel and Oholiab with great skill (see Exodus 31 & 36) to ensure that the tent reflects his own beauty and points to him. Perhaps in our church tradition we are a little wary of beauty, wary of the dangers of vanity and lusting after beautiful things or people, and these concerns are valid, but temptation is always a twisting of something good. God is beautiful and beauty in creation reflects him, and should be celebrated not abused. Beauty reminds us of God’s creativity and moves us to awe and wonder, and that is good.
Thank you Father for the beauty we can find all around us. Help us to treasure and celebrate it rather than abuse it, and to value art and craft as expressions and reflections of your creativity.
Photo by Roselyn Tirado on Unsplash
Leave a Reply