God\'s divine presence.
God’s Divine Presence
Read 2 Chron. 7
“The priests could not enter into the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house.”
One of the Old Testament's remarkable events is God's presence with his people. The transcendent God of the universe, who cannot be contained in all of the heavens (2 Chron. 6:18), is one who chooses to dwell among his people. After the temple was finished, Solomon dedicated the temple to the Lord as the place where the people would worship and turn in times of trouble. In his prayer of dedication, Solomon beseeches God to hear the prayers of his people. Seven times in his prayer Solomon asks that God would listen and respond to the prayers of his people. This assurance of God’s response was not only given to the people of Israel but to any person, jew or gentile, who would come to the temple to pray. Solomon then bases this prayer upon the covenant God has made with David, that he would bless the nation of Israel and provide an eternal king.
After concluding his prayer, a remarkable event occurred. The glory of God descended and filled the temple. In fulfillment of the promise God made in his covenant, the presence of God was physically manifested. Throughout the Old and New Testament, God not only promises to watch over his people, but he promises to be with them. He does not remain in the distance, observing and intervening as a casual observer of our life. Instead, he is near. The term theologians use to describe this nearness is the imminence of God. This term is used to describe God’s personal involvement in creation and his personal involvement in our life. He is not indifferent but engaged. But this nearness is not just related to the mass of humanity; it is personal for each of us. When the glory of God filled the temple, God was affirming that he would be with his people and respond to any who came to him. He deeply cares about those he loves.
When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord descend upon the temple, it was an affirmation to them that God was faithful to his covenant. This is the same promise that he has given us. However, his presence is no longer in the temple to which we must go. Under the Mosaic covenant, his presence was connected with the nation and the temple. But in the new covenant, his presence is now in each person (Jeremiah 31:33). Under the Mosaic covenant, the law was written upon tablets of stone placed in the Ark of the Covenant, which was in the temple. In the New Covenant, his law is now written upon the hearts of his people. This promise was fulfilled when Christ came to dwell among us and sent his Holy Spirit to dwell in us. In Matthew 28:20, Christ promises his eternal presence with us. He will be with us “always, even to the end of the age.” In other words, he is present all the time at every place and circumstance.
There are times in our life when we feel alone and isolated from the world around us. When adversity strikes, we can feel abandoned and forsaken, even in a crowd. Yet it is in these times we are reminded of Christ's assurance that he is present with us, and just as he promised Israel to respond to their prayer, he promises us that he will respond to our prayers as well. In the Old Testament, his glory resided in the temple, but now his glory and presence reside in us! We become partakers of his divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). What a wonderful God we serve!
Read 2 Chron. 7
“The priests could not enter into the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house.”
One of the Old Testament's remarkable events is God's presence with his people. The transcendent God of the universe, who cannot be contained in all of the heavens (2 Chron. 6:18), is one who chooses to dwell among his people. After the temple was finished, Solomon dedicated the temple to the Lord as the place where the people would worship and turn in times of trouble. In his prayer of dedication, Solomon beseeches God to hear the prayers of his people. Seven times in his prayer Solomon asks that God would listen and respond to the prayers of his people. This assurance of God’s response was not only given to the people of Israel but to any person, jew or gentile, who would come to the temple to pray. Solomon then bases this prayer upon the covenant God has made with David, that he would bless the nation of Israel and provide an eternal king.
After concluding his prayer, a remarkable event occurred. The glory of God descended and filled the temple. In fulfillment of the promise God made in his covenant, the presence of God was physically manifested. Throughout the Old and New Testament, God not only promises to watch over his people, but he promises to be with them. He does not remain in the distance, observing and intervening as a casual observer of our life. Instead, he is near. The term theologians use to describe this nearness is the imminence of God. This term is used to describe God’s personal involvement in creation and his personal involvement in our life. He is not indifferent but engaged. But this nearness is not just related to the mass of humanity; it is personal for each of us. When the glory of God filled the temple, God was affirming that he would be with his people and respond to any who came to him. He deeply cares about those he loves.
When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord descend upon the temple, it was an affirmation to them that God was faithful to his covenant. This is the same promise that he has given us. However, his presence is no longer in the temple to which we must go. Under the Mosaic covenant, his presence was connected with the nation and the temple. But in the new covenant, his presence is now in each person (Jeremiah 31:33). Under the Mosaic covenant, the law was written upon tablets of stone placed in the Ark of the Covenant, which was in the temple. In the New Covenant, his law is now written upon the hearts of his people. This promise was fulfilled when Christ came to dwell among us and sent his Holy Spirit to dwell in us. In Matthew 28:20, Christ promises his eternal presence with us. He will be with us “always, even to the end of the age.” In other words, he is present all the time at every place and circumstance.
There are times in our life when we feel alone and isolated from the world around us. When adversity strikes, we can feel abandoned and forsaken, even in a crowd. Yet it is in these times we are reminded of Christ's assurance that he is present with us, and just as he promised Israel to respond to their prayer, he promises us that he will respond to our prayers as well. In the Old Testament, his glory resided in the temple, but now his glory and presence reside in us! We become partakers of his divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). What a wonderful God we serve!
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