1st Kings 8:1-21 A DEDICATION To dedicate a building does not affect or change the value of the building itself in any way. It establishes in the minds of people what the use of the building is to be, and sets it aside for that purpose. That affects us as to what can be done there and what uses would be inappropriate. The real aspects of dedication were stated by Solomon when he addressed the people and said, "Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes, and to keep His commandments, as at this day."
The tabernacle was designed by God to be a portable place for His presence to be seen by the children of Israel as they journeyed to Canaan. Now there was a change because peace had come to the nation and the temple was designed to be a permanent dwelling place for God's presence to be known by the people. All of the representatives of the nation gathered in solidarity to bring the ark into the temple from its temporary place on Mt. Zion. Solomon waited to move the tabernacle and all its furnishings to the temple until the Feast of Tabernacles had come. No longer were the people dwelling in tents so the feast was a time when people gathered to remember where they came from and lived in temporary booths for a week. It was an appropriate time to conclude the tabernacle gathering and establish temple worship. The people of God today are in a temporary wilderness journey like "a pilgrim band in a foreign land who are marching from Calvary" to the place where we will "dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Some time previously Aaron's rod that budded and the pot of manna must have been taken out of the ark because at this time only the tables of stone were in it. The ark brought into the temple was a testimony to the presence of God there in the midst of His people. The carrying poles remained in the ark signifying the final move of the ark was still in the future. That was when it was taken into heaven according to Revelation 11:19. That probably happened when the Israelites were taken as captives to Babylon.
The cloud signifying the presence of the Lord in the tabernacle for the five hundred previous years, now moved to, and settled in, the temple. When the Lord is present with His people there is evidence of some kind. The work of the Holy Spirit is not able to be disguised when God's people are in fellowship with Him and each other. There is a unity that is "good and pleasant" As well when we worship and serve in unity, that is meaningful. When the Lord Jesus was here, He was "made flesh and 'tabernacled' among us." John wrote that "we beheld His glory ... full of grace and truth." God also dwells in the body of each believer which is the "temple of the Holy Ghost." We are able to glorify God in our bodies and spirits which are His.
Solomon realized that God now dwelt in the temple and called on all the people to understand what this meant. The desire of David was now fulfilled. A house for the Lord was now in place and the glory of the Lord in the cloud made plain the fact that God had moved in. The reaffirmation of the covenant made between the Lord and Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David were seen in the "dark cloud" of the divine Presence.
What God promises is always done. He told David the house would be built by David's son, not him and it happened just that way. The Lord did not choose a city in which to put His house but He chose a man with a heart for God to build it. Now the work was done. A building wasn't what made the temple the dwelling place of God. It was why it was built and for whom. The people among whom God wanted to dwell and with whom He had made a covenant made that place a building set aside for God. The same glory that came upon that building could be removed if God moved out. The presence and power of God today is not limited to a building, but "where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them."
Our buildings for church purposes are just that. The house of God is the people. It is in that place we find spiritual leaders who go before the people of God to lead us in His ways. Buildings are not the focus of God's attention. His power and presence are not confined in any way to a structure. It is up to us who are in the "house of God" to commit ourselves to the work of the Lord and continuing to build His house through faithful Gospel preaching and teaching of the word of God.
1Kings 8:10-11. “And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.”
THE PRESENCE OF GOD. It happened before, now it has happened again; The infinite God has chosen to dwell with men. Not that it has limited Him in any way That within walls men made He is obligated to stay. But in an act of marvelous grace, He visibly manifested His willingness to be in a place consecrated – A place for His people to meet Him – there to bring Offerings of their appreciation and their praises to sing – A center of worship where they come together Occupied with their Lord God whenever they gather – They sense the value of fellowship with God and each other. As the family of God, all the sisters and brothers Each one gifted by God in some unique fashion Gives back to the Lord some of what God Himself gave them. The unity of those who gather there to Him Multiplies the value when they offer as one, The sacrifices of praise, thanksgiving and goods – And God is publicly honored by us as we should – Those looking on can see the reality and worth Of worshiping the Father in spirit and in truth; Though unseen by eyes, the evidence is clear, God’s presence is felt even when we are here. And His glory is seen when we His Word obey; Committing ourselves to Him in what we do and say.
“Holy God, who dwells unseen among the people: there seemed yesterday to be the sign of the cloud among Thy people who gathered here. The man who came for the first time seemed impressed to hear the Word of God honored and taught – not just some form followed. ‘Hear Thou in heaven, forgive our sins, give us souls for Thy glory.’ In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”