2 Chronicles 5:1-14

The work on the temple was finally complete and all was ready to bring the furnishings, the dedicated utensils and especially the Ark of the Lord into the temple.  This was a momentous and long awaited day that was celebrated with an extraordinary number of sacrifices as well as constant worship and praise of the Lord.  This was one of the greatest days in the history of the nation of Israel.  The temple provided a permanent place of worship for the nation and was a clear demonstration that the nation had arrived in The Promised Land.  They were not going to be moving from place to place anymore.  This was their home and the Lord was their God and He alone would be worshiped in this nation.  God delights in the praise of His people and He was honored by their worship.  God calls all of us to worship Him through our lives.  We no longer have a temple to represent the presence of God since the Holy Spirit abides in all who have trusted Christ.  We are His temple and worship should be the focus of our lives.

THE ARK WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH SACRIFICE: Solomon had learned a very valuable lesson from the mistake of David in how the Ark was to be carried.  Solomon followed the instructions of God’s Word and the Ark was carried by the Levites instead of being placed on a cart as David had done.  In addition, Solomon had sacrifices beyond their ability to count offered before the Ark as it was being carried to the new temple.  This is a very clear reminder that the presence of God requires the shedding of blood because of the sinfulness of man.  These sacrifices were only a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice that Christ would offer in Himself.  The sins of man require the shedding of blood to enjoy the presence of God.  The temple was only a small taste of God’s presence just as the sacrifices of lambs were only a small taste of Christ’s sacrifice.  However, one day, due to the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf; we will enjoy the eternal and complete presence of God.

THE ARK WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH SONG: This was an occasion of celebration.  The entrance of the Ark into the temple was motive for singing, playing instruments and praising the Lord.  We were made to worship and praise the Lord, so we are never as happy as when we are fulfilling that purpose.  God is please when we do that for which he created us.  As the Ark came to rest and the people began to break out into song with their voices and their instruments, the Lord made His presence known in the form of a cloud that came and filled the temple.  This manifestation of the glory of the Lord was a demonstration that He was pleased with what Solomon and the people had done.  God’s presence filled the people with awe and they were unable to continue with their songs.  God is not to be taken flippantly; there are those who claim to experience the presence of God in a personal way apart from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  This and many other passages demonstrate the lunacy of these claims.  When we come into the presence of God, we will fall on our faces before Him in worship.