Sun.’s Devo - Bringing the Ark into the Temple

Read: 1 Kings 8; 2 Chron. 5:1-14; 6:12-42
It was time to bring the ark into the temple of God. Solomon brought the presence of God into the Temple on the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles is the feast where they were to build temporary booths where they would live for seven days. The booths were made of four different species of plants and was constructed in such a way that when they lay down at night they could see the sky and the stars. They were reminded that this earth was their temporary home and their real home was with God. How appropriate that Solomon would set up the Ark on this feast. It was a picture of how God’s presence was going to live in this beautiful place for a specified time. But the real home was not on this earth. As beautiful and precious life seems to us, it is a token of what eternal life is going to be. This is not our home. Our home is so much more splendid and glorious.
God instructs us also that he lives in thick darkness. This reminds me of that period of three hours while Jesus hung on the cross. His father came down in that thick darkness and comforted his son.
Solomon bowed in the presence of all the people and prayed a powerful prayer explaining the importance of the temple and Jerusalem. But, most importantly, he spoke of the power of prayer. We may not live in Jerusalem or even have a temple to pray in, but we have the temple of God inside us and we can access that temple anytime. God hears the humble and earnest requests from anyone who calls on his name. If someone wrongs another person, if we are being defeated by our enemies, If we are going through a drought or a famine or a plague, we can pray and God will hear us. God will listen to the prayer of a non-Christian who is hungry and in need of Him. Forgiveness and redemption are ours through prayer from a sincere heart.
Lord, we rest in your unfailing love and goodness. Thank you for bringing your presence into the temple of our hearts.