A Grander Theme: Come Meet With Me
One Year Bible (July 21)
2 Chronicles 4:1-6:11
A GRANDER THEME: “Come Meet With Me"
There is a worship song that I have loved for years. It is called, “Meet with Me” ...
“I’m here to meet with you. Come and meet with me. I’m here to find you. Reveal yourself to me.” (Hiebert)
As I read 2 Chronicles, I hear this song playing in my head, and I am reminded of how much effort God has gone to in order to make it possible for HIS people to “Come to Him”.
While I Chronicles tells a GRANDER SCHEME, “Come Back to Me”...
2 Chronicles tells a GRANDER THEME... “Come Meet With Me”.
This book is filled with the beautiful design and building of the Temple. Special care and description are given to every minute detail. In today’s reading, we hear the details of the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant being carried by the priests into the inner sanctuary of the Temple-The Most High Place. It is placed below the wings of the cherubim.
All the priests purified themselves to “Come and Meet” with the Lord. Now the Levites, who were musicians, were dressed in fine linen robes; they stood at the east side of the altar playing and singing.
Was their music slow and somber?
Were they singing “old hymns”?
Was there a majestic organ playing?
Let’s just read the description of “The Temple Troupe” that day…
There are cymbals, lyres, harps, trumpets, and other instruments. (5:11-13) Does this sound stately and somber to anyone?
The people raised their voices and praised the Lord in unison to GIVE PRAISE TO THE LORD.
“He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” (5:13a)
“At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of God…
I have placed the Ark, which contains the covenant that the LORD made with the people of Israel.” (5:13-14; 6:11)
The celebration was not a celebration until the Ark of the covenant was brought home to rest in the Temple. The Holy of Holies was not HOLY until God’s presence resided there. Until this moment the Temple was just an empty shell…
However, when the priests purified themselves, the people worshipped to usher in the presence of God, and the ARK resided there… everything changed!
The Thick Cloud filled the Temple…Now there would be a fire and a light that would never burn out…
As we were finishing the study in I Chronicles about ‘The Mercy Seat” I learned something new about the Temple. I had never asked the question or connected the dots before this time.
Do you remember the connection between Abraham and David both encountering God at “the altar” in the very same location?
There was something else very important that both encounters had in common. This commonality is seen in the worship “at the altar” in the Temple as well.
With both Abraham and David, God sent down fire (representing HIS holiness and power). This fire consumed the sacrifice.
But what about the fire that burned day and night, 24/7 on the altar in the Temple? I knew that it was the priests' responsibility to attend to this and that only purified priests could enter this area.
We are told that the priests were to attend to this fire so that it would never go out.
But were they the originators of the fire?
According to the Bible, the fire on the altar was LIT directly by the hand of God and was not permitted to go out. (Leviticus 6:12-13)
No strange fire could be placed upon the altar. It was the priests’ job to put wood on it daily to ensure that it did not go out. However, they didn’t light the fire. God did! I had never thought about that part before…
As we read about all the effort, plans, and intricate details going on in building the Temple by Solomon, I wonder if he realized “Who lights the fire”?
I am reminded that Solomon was given all Worth, Wisdom, and Wealth! Every single intricate detail that we are reading about came through God’s provision in Solomon’s life. It was a time of peace, as well, which enabled him to complete this calling…
Later in his life, Solomon fell into pride and idolatry as did his father before him? Did he forget "where the fire comes from"?
Perhaps, the Chronicler is writing the people coming out of exile this message of their heritage so that they can remember.
What about us? Do we get wrapped up in all the duties?
Do we fail to remember the message of the Mercy Seat?
Who lights "YOUR FIRE"?
And are you watchful to "Attend to your FIRE"?
“The Lord our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire…” (Deut. 5:24)
What good is a Temple without God's presence, and what good are we as HIS Temple without the fire of the Holy Spirit constantly shining in our lives?
Come and Meet With Me...
"As I wait, you make me strong. As I long, draw me to your arms. As I stand and sing your praise. You come. you come, and you fill this place. Won't you come? Won't you come and fill this place?"
(Meet with Me, Lamont Hiebert)
