“Now arise, LORD God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, LORD God, be clothed with salvation, may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness. LORD God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember the great love promised to David your servant.”
– 2 Chronicles 6:41-42
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
The Story of the Temple
Have you ever stepped into a space that just felt holy? Maybe it was a church, or even a cozy corner at home where you go to pray. There’s something special about places where we connect with God, spaces we set aside just to meet with Him.
Now, imagine being in the crowd gathered for the dedication of Solomon’s temple—a building like nothing anyone had ever seen before. But it wasn’t just a beautiful building; it had a bigger purpose: it was the place where God was going to dwell. Before this, God’s people had the tabernacle, a mobile meeting place for His presence, but now they had a permanent home for Him, because God has always wanted to dwell with his people.
In 2 Chronicles 6:41-42, Solomon prays for God’s presence to fill the temple, just like He filled the tabernacle. And guess what happens next? Fire falls from heaven, and God’s glory fills the temple. Can you imagine standing there, watching that? Seeing God show up in such a powerful way? It must’ve been mind-blowing.
What does this story have to do with us today? We’re not building temples anymore, right?
Well, here’s the best part—God’s desire to live among His people didn’t stop with Solomon’s temple. Because of Jesus, God’s presence now dwells IN us! We don’t need a fancy building or a special place, God’s Spirit lives in our hearts. 1 Corinthians 6:19 reminds us that our bodies are now temples of the Holy Spirit.
So, how do we “build a temple” for God today? It’s all about making space in our hearts and lives for Him to dwell. That could be through prayer, spending time in His Word, or even finding those quiet moments to worship throughout your day. When we create room for God, we’re inviting His presence to fill us, just like He filled the temple with His glory. It’s easy to get busy and forget that God wants to be close to us, but the story of the temple reminds us that when we make space for God, He’ll show up in ways that leave us in awe.
Reflect
Solomon’s prayer was bold—he asked for God’s glory to fill the temple, and God delivered in a huge way! Today, we can ask the same thing… for God’s presence to fill our lives. Where do you experience the presence of God? Where do you need to invite him in?
Prayer
Father, thank you for choosing to live in me. Your Word shows me that when I make space for You, You will fill my life with Your presence. Please help me to always be aware of Your presence and when You are moving. Thank You for always wanting to dwell with me and thank You for sending Jesus to make this possible! In Jesus name, Amen.