12/05/2013

When God shows up...

SCRIPTURE:
1 Kings 8:11
And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.

OBSERVATION:
Solomon has completed the temple.
He has brought the ark up from the City of David.  And in the majesty of the most amazing building that has ever been built in Israel, an even more amazing event occurs.

God shows up in such a way, that the priests are overwhelmed with the presence of His glory.  The couldn't even finish doing their priestly things.

2 Chronicles explains a bit more:

2 Chronicles 5:11-14 NIV
The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord . Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.

After everything is set in place, the priests begin to sing.  120 musicians and singers begin to praise God.  And as they say how good God is, God just shows up and stops everything because of His awesomeness.

APPLICATION:
How many times I'm just going about my business, and a thought will come into my head.  And the thought is just the right thought at the right time.  And I begin to praise Him for just the way He showed up.  And I am overwhelmed with emotion.

The disciples had the same thing happen to them.

Matthew 17:1-8
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.   Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”   While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”   When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”  When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

Jesus had just put a thought in their heads.
"There will be some who won't die until they see my glory"

And then boom...they witness God being God.  And they have to stop what they are doing because of the awesomeness if the moment.

PRAYER:
Interrupt us. 
Show us your glory, your majesty.
Whatever we are doing, let it be with the high praise of you on our lips and minds and hearts.
You are good, and your love endures forever.