Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. All the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.
When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark, and they brought up the ark of the Lord and the Tent of Meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The priests and Levites carried them up, and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.
The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its carrying poles. These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.
When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.
Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.”
– 1 Kings 8:1-13
Devotion
This was a significant moment for Israel as the ark of the covenant was brought to the temple. The ark symbolized the presence of God. Even more, as we see this scene unfold, a cloud descended on the ark and filled the Most Holy Place, demonstrating the presence of God residing in that location. For Israel, the presence of God was a big deal. This moment was historic for the nation.
At the moment of Christ’s death the curtain that separated the Most Holy Place was torn in two. This symbolizes that the presence of God is now with us. The Holy Spirit resides in the heart of every believer. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “ Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” The problem is that sometimes we can find ourselves taking His presence for granted. Instead of God’s presence being a significant reality like it was for Israel when the ark was brought to the temple, we tend to forget or ignore Him throughout our day. Do not forget, the presence of God is with you today.
The Big Question
Do you live each day conscious of the fact that the Holy Spirit is dwelling within you? How can you remind yourself of God’s presence today?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence reflecting on what you have learned.