A Grander Theme: Let Your Fire Fall

One Year Bible (July 22)

2 Chronicles 6:12-8:10

A GRANDER THEME: “Let Your Fire Fall"

Have you ever worshipped singing, “Lord, let your fire fall”?

Do we as a people know where this originated or what it means?

The Bible is filled with stories involving “Fire” and today’s passage has another powerful message for us bout God's Fire…

All Solomon's work sounded so grand and spectacular. But, in essence, when all was said and done, the priests would “only bring the wood”, the people would bring “the sacrifices”, but God alone held the power of “The Fire”.

Our readings are filled with historical data of even the smallest detail about what Solomon added to the Temple. “Send me cedar, cypress, and red sandalwood logs from Lebanon” …. “A master craftsman who can work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as purple, scarlet, and blue cloth. He must be a skilled engraver”.… (2 Chronicles 2: 7-8) As you can see, he planned out each detail!

As we read this passage today, it is difficult to read because we know how the end of the story turned out for Solomon…

He was a master builder who forgot THE MASTER BUILDER.

When the palace and Temple were completed, Solomon was still building…Unfortunately, he was building idols for his many wives!

This son of David forgot the most important lesson that God had taught his father and then his father’s son…

What good was the ornate detail, the bronze, cypress, and all of the grandeur without “The FIRE” or the presence of God?

What Glory was to be found without “The Glory of His Presence”?

God sent fire from above to consume the sacrifice. “The Fire” in the altar, continuously burned to represent the presence of God in the Holy of Holies of the Temple.

Listen to Solomon’s prayer to God (the longest prayer in the Bible), “Now, I have built a glorious Temple for you, a place where you can live forever.” Does the word, “I” jump out at you? “I became the King, and I sit on the throne, and I have built the Temple…”

Eye Spy a few too many “I’s”.…

Finally, Solomon is on the right track, “But will God really live on earth among people? Why even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!”

Bingo! Now, Solomon is putting into words the true essence behind all of the Temple. The true essence of the Temple resides in the UNLIMITED, UNHINDERED, UNFATHOMABLE POWER OF GOD. God’s presence is described and pictured as FIRE!

First, we see that “THE FIRE” on the Temple Altar was aimed at retaining God’s presence. It would ward off all kinds of evil. This Fire was PURE, RIGHTEOUS, and UNBRIDLED POWER.

Can you see why Uzzah was killed when he caught the falling Ark of the Covenant? FIRE, baby... FIRE!!!! This was God’s PRESENCE and POWER residing with man through HIS covenant!

We also have seen in our OT studies that those who had the “Ark of the Covenant” had PROTECTION, POWER, and BLESSING from God. His PRESENCE resided with HIS people.

In the NT we see The Holy Spirit is described as “a mighty rushing wind that filled the entire house, and then tongues of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them”. (Acts 2)

This was the Day of Pentecost. What a change of direction this was… In the OT, THE FIRE could not even come in contact with a sinful human. But after the Propitiation of sins through “The Blood Sacrifice” man was reconciled to God.

Seeing the OT through NT eyes helps us to see the bigger picture concerning the Temple as we read about it in 11 Chronicles. We see its MAJESTY, MAGNIFICENCE, and MEANING.

But did the people really stop and see the Power of the FIRE of their God?

The book of 2 Chronicles tells a long list of kings who viewed this magnificence but chose to worship idols instead. They turned their backs on God and walked away to serve the power of demons…

Even though they knew “About God’s Power” they were lacking “God’s Power in their Lives”.

Do you remember John the Baptist’s prophecy about the Messiah that He would baptize “with the Holy Spirit and fire”? (Mt. 3:11-12)

Are our prayers filled with “Eye Spy Big I” or, are we singing, “Lord, let your fire fall”?