The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 25 May 2023 – TOPIC: DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE
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THE DAILY FOUNTAIN
DAILY DEVOTIONAL OF THE
CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DATE: THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2023
TOPIC: DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE
8:1. Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the City of David, which [is] Zion.
8:2. Therefore all the men of Israel assembled with King Solomon at the feast in the month of Ethanim, which [is] the seventh month.
8:3. So all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.
8:4. Then they brought up the ark of the LORD, the tabernacle of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that [were] in the tabernacle. The priests and the Levites brought them up.
8:5. Also King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him, [were] with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude.
8:6. Then the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy [Place,] under the wings of the cherubim.
8:7. For the cherubim spread [their] two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles.
8:8. The poles extended so that the ends of the poles could be seen from the holy [place,] in front of the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day.
8:9. Nothing [was] in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
8:10. And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy [place,] that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
8:11. so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.
8:12. Then Solomon spoke: “The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud.
8:13. I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell in forever.”
8:14. Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.
8:15. And he said: “Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled [it,] saying,
8:16. ‘Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel [in which] to build a house, that My name might be there; but I chose David to be over My people Israel.’
8:17. “Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
8:18. “But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.
8:19. ‘Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’
8:20. “So the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised; and I have built a temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
8:21. “And there I have made a place for the ark, in which [is] the covenant of the LORD which He made with our fathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.”
THE MESSAGE:
King Solomon finished the temple, dedicated it with an elaborate ceremony which featured bringing up the ark, the tabernacle of meeting and holy furnishings; generous sacrifices; joyous praise and thanksgiving. The ark of God was put in the MOST HOLY place by the Priests. Inside it were two tablets of stone containing God’s commandments. The glory came down after all these steps were completed. To experience the glory of God as a present day temple of the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:16b), we must undertake the same steps taken by the Priests in the physical temple. This means putting the Scriptures (which contains God’s instructions) inside your life and ensuring that God’s presence fills your life daily through holiness, devotion and prayers. Failure to do this will make you a temple in name, without God’s presence and glory. There are no shortcuts.
When the glory came, the owner of the temple took over and Priests could not minister. May we live to experience God’s glory in our lives to the intent that God will be in complete charge of our decisions and actions in Jesus’ Name. Note that Solomon praised God for fulfilling the promise made to his father David and for its accomplishment. Learn to always thank God for fulfilling His promises to you and for your achievements.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to prepare my life daily in order to experience Your glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen
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