Can God Dwell With You?

When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,
“He is good;
    his love endures forever.”
—2 Chronicles 7:3

When you attend a college football game of a team you root for, you can’t help but be caught up in the celebration and excitement when your team winning a big game. In 2 Chronicles 7:1–7, 11, Solomon’s dedication of the newly constructed temple was the culmination of many years of planning and construction of the building that David had envisioned as a permanent place on earth for God to reside among His people. This was a significant achievement and all of Israel was represented at the dedication. The sacrifices, the praise and worship were all zealous and enthusiastic as everyone was wholeheartedly joyous that God would dwell among them. I pray that we show the same exuberance and joy over God dwelling with us, not in a building, but in our hearts! Amen!

When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying,

“He is good;

his love endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 7:1-3)

Following Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple that he had built, God signaled His approval by sending fire from heaven to consume the burnt offering and sacrifices. This was a dramatic sign to Solomon and everyone gathered at the temple’s dedication that God was pleased. After many years of worshiping God at the tabernacle (tent of meeting), Israel would now have a permanent place where they would worship God. The sign of God’s approval caused Israel to bow down in worship and praise of God, saying “He is good, and His love (mercy) endures forever”. This is a refrain that is also repeated elsewhere in scripture (see Psalm 100, Psalm 136, Psalm 118).

Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the LORD’s musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the LORD and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, “His love endures forever.” Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing. (2 Chronicles 7:4-6)

In addition to their praise and worship, sacrifices of atonement and fellowship were offered. The sheer magnitude of the animal sacrifices was astounding. While a portion of each sacrifice was offered to the Lord, there was also a portion that went to the priests and the people. Commentators have estimated that the amount of food that went to the priests and the people was enough to feed everyone for 2 weeks! The priests and the Levites took up their positions in the temple. The Levites took up their instruments and the priests began blowing trumpets and they repeated the refrain “His love endures forever”, and all of Israel stood to join in praise.

Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the LORD, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions.

When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace. (2 Chronicles 7:7; 11)

The middle of the courtyard was consecrated so that burnt offerings could be made there. The reason for this is because there was not enough room to hold all of the burnt offerings on the bronze altar that Solomon had built for this purpose. Solomon’s building project extended beyond the temple and included a royal palace for himself. When they were both completed, and he had done everything that he intended for the dedication of the temple to the Lord, the people went home. That night God appeared to Solomon in response to his prayer at the dedication of the temple.

One thing we can feel in this scripture detailing the dedication of Solomon’s temple, is the very high level of praise and worship and sacrifice that Israel exudes as they celebrate God’s approval of the temple. This would be a permanent place for God to dwell among His people, and for the people to come and worship Him. The joy in knowing God would be with them and among them set off days of celebration by Israel. There was not even room for all of the sacrifices to God on the bronze altar that Solomon had built, so he had the courtyard consecrated to accommodate more sacrifices! God sent fire from heaven to indicate He was pleased and would in fact dwell among His people at the temple. God still desires to dwell among His people, and He does so by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And He still desires the wholehearted and enthusiastic praise, worship and sacrifice of His people. So, let us dedicate ourselves to be a place where God is pleased to dwell and be with us. Amen

Blessings, Rev. Glenn