The Glory Cloud Filled It and the Priests Could Not Continue With the Sacrifices

May You Be Filled With The Glory of God

Then KIng Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel . . . to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant from Zion, the City of David . . .
and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.
The priests then brought the ark of the LORD's covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the Cherubim.
. . . When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled His temple.
Then Solomon said, ''The LORD has said that He will dwell in a dark cloud; I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever."  I Kings 8:1-13

The magnificent temple of God had been built and Solomon was about to dedicate it. The priests placed the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Place after sacrificing a countless number of sheep and cattle. The priests then readied themselves to perform their duties but they could not, "because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled His temple." The "cloud" represented the presence and glory of God. As worship and sacrifice went forth, God filled the temple with His Presence. The "Cloud of Glory" came down.

During the travels of Israel in the wilderness, God filled the tabernacle Moses built with His cloud. He also led the Israelites in a Pillar of Cloud by day and a Pillar of Fire by night. The Bible gives this account: "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out -- until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels."  (Exodus 40:34-38).

Without the Presence and glory of God, signified by the cloud, the magnificent building erected for God by Solomon would have been an empty place of worship. Without the Pillar of Cloud leading them in the wilderness, the Israelites would never have gotten to their intended destination in the Promised Land. A temple without the "Cloud" is spiritually empty. A people without the "Cloud" will accomplish nothing that glorifies God.

God does not intend for us to enter our places of worship without His tangible Presence. He does not intend for us to live our lives without His tangible Presence. The "Cloud of Glory" is essential to everything we do as children of God. That is why Moses declared that he would not go without the Presence; and that is why David pleaded with God not to cast him away from His Presence.

So, is the "Cloud" with us in our places of worship? Are our lives overshadowed by the "Cloud"? Are our homes overshadowed by the "Cloud"?  Do we invite the "Cloud" into our jobs?
May your life be filled with the "Cloud of Glory." May you crave and dwell continually under the "Cloud."  Without the "Cloud," you and I are nothing but empty shells. The "Cloud" makes all the difference in our lives. May the "Cloud of Glory" overshadow you continually.

Prayer: Lord, without your Presence, my life will amount to nothing. Please fill me continually with your "Cloud of Glory" so that I can live and fulfill your purposes under your directives. Amen

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Source: https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2019/03/28/may-you-be-filled-with-the-glory-of-god

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