Bring on the Cloud of Glory!

“Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, and stored the silver, the gold, and all the vessels in the treasuries of the house of God. Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ houses of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.

“And they brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the Levitical priests brought them up.  And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.

“And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves, without regard to their divisions, and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, ‘For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,’ the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.” 2 Chronicles 5:1-2,5-7,11-14

All the planning, all the careful labor, years of toil and sweat and anticipation, and the day had finally arrived. Moving Day. The ark of God brought into the Most Holy Place set off sacrifice, praise, music, and joy like no other.

Every day we live and move, we have a choice whether to carry the ark of God’s splendor into our hours. Before us is time and space for spiritual devotion, required work, needed service, people to love. When we apply ourselves in holy vigor, and complete our tasks of mind and hand as unto the Lord, we receive the indescribable blessing of His pleasure and favor. Songs of soul break forth, joy and delight abound, and His glory shines for all to see. (Colossians 3:23-24)

Would we invite Him into our days? Would we employ His insight in our thinking and planning, His care and strength in our industry, His Spirit’s fruit in our ministry to others? How much more efficient, effective, and lasting would be our endeavors if filled with the cloud of the Lord?

Lord on high, envelop me with Your palpable presence. Unify my heart to exalt You in word and deed. Keep me singing of Your enduring love all the day, and so glorify Your name in the temple of my body and life. (Psalm 86:11; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)