“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 all the men of Israel assembled before the king at the feast… And the Levites took up the ark,.. the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent… And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel… 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. The cherubim spread out their wings over the ark… There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests had consecrated themselves,.. 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 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 5:2-8,10-14
King Solomon had completed everything for the house of the Lord. He constructed and arranged it not just for orderly worship and sacrifice, but for the preeminence of the presence of the Lord. The beauty, and joy in song of the leaders, welled together in magnificent praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. And the God of grace responded to this blessing and honor and praise offered Him with the favor of His glory manifest to the people.
When we abide in Christ and use what He’s entrusted to us for His purposes and reflection, or completed a specific assignment He’s anointed, the Lord fills the temple of our lives with His Spirit of wisdom and wonder. In turn, we cannot help but respond with gratitude and blessing turned back to him and toward others. The rhythm of a yielded and grateful life spins out continual glory to God. (2 Chronicles 6:1–4)
Does this describe us? Are we living for ourselves, or spending our efforts, love, and resources to raise high the name of the Lord? What aspects of our mindset, desires, attitudes need the filling of His presence today? Would we ask for Him to bless our service in such a way that a disarming, indescribable, magnificent glory from God blazes from all we do and say?
Lord Jesus, so fill my life with your Spirit and power that only Your praise is sung, Your love is expressed, and Your glory is seen.
As the rain and snow 