It's All About The Presence
When all the work Solomon had done for the temple of the LORD was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated -- the silver and gold and all the furnishings -- and he placed them in the treasuries of God's temple.
. . . The priests then brought the ark of the LORD's covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. . . . The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place.
. . . The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: "He is good, His love endures forever."
Then the temple of the LORD was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God.
2 Chronicles 5:1-14
. . . The priests then brought the ark of the LORD's covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. . . . The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place.
. . . The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: "He is good, His love endures forever."
Then the temple of the LORD was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God.
2 Chronicles 5:1-14
At great expense, the magnificent temple had been built by Solomon. It was a fitting temple for our great God. Much gold and silver had gone into it. There were 70,000 carriers, along with 80,000 stonecutters who had served as the labor force supervised by 3,600 foremen. Everything was now in place, as had been directed by the LORD. It was now time to dedicate the building. There was music and worship and the priests were all poised to undertake their priestly duties.
But interestingly, the Bible says: "the temple of the LORD was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God." The "Cloud" signified the very Presence of the Almighty God. The presence of the "Cloud" was a sure sign that God had taken absolute delight in what His children were offering to Him. God was delighted in the worship that was being offered to Him. The Presence of God was so strong that the priests could not perform their assigned duties!
Question: What if the "Cloud of Glory" had not appeared? What if all the singing and priestly duties had been performed in the gold and silver surroundings of the temple but the "Cloud" had not appeared in their midst? The answer is obvious: It would have signified that God was not pleased and so He would have nothing to do with what was going on.
The Presence of God with His people is the most significant factor in our individual and corporate worship. Moses would simply not move without the Presence of God. He said to God: "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" (Exodus 33:15-16). David pleaded with God not to cast him away from His Presence (Psalm 51:11). David was aware that his life would amount to nothing without the Presence.
Let's remember to make it all about His Presence. Let's desire to please Him over and above everything else. Let's ensure that all we do with our individual lives and corporate gatherings as Christians is meant to so honor God that He will bless us with His tangible Presence at all times. If we make it all about Him, His "Cloud of Glory" will overshadow us at all times.
But interestingly, the Bible says: "the temple of the LORD was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God." The "Cloud" signified the very Presence of the Almighty God. The presence of the "Cloud" was a sure sign that God had taken absolute delight in what His children were offering to Him. God was delighted in the worship that was being offered to Him. The Presence of God was so strong that the priests could not perform their assigned duties!
Question: What if the "Cloud of Glory" had not appeared? What if all the singing and priestly duties had been performed in the gold and silver surroundings of the temple but the "Cloud" had not appeared in their midst? The answer is obvious: It would have signified that God was not pleased and so He would have nothing to do with what was going on.
The Presence of God with His people is the most significant factor in our individual and corporate worship. Moses would simply not move without the Presence of God. He said to God: "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" (Exodus 33:15-16). David pleaded with God not to cast him away from His Presence (Psalm 51:11). David was aware that his life would amount to nothing without the Presence.
Let's remember to make it all about His Presence. Let's desire to please Him over and above everything else. Let's ensure that all we do with our individual lives and corporate gatherings as Christians is meant to so honor God that He will bless us with His tangible Presence at all times. If we make it all about Him, His "Cloud of Glory" will overshadow us at all times.
Prayer: Father, may all I do bring pleasure to your heart. May it never be about me, but about you alone. Amen.
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