2 Chronicles 7 tells of the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. “When Solomon finished praying, fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests were not able to enter the Lord’s temple because the glory of the Lord filled the temple of the Lord. All the Israelites were watching when the fire descended and the glory of the Lord came on the temple.” [vs1-2 HCSB]
How glorious that must have been. I cannot even imagine what it must have been like to the onlookers at that moment when the fire came down and the glory of the LORD filled that temple.
But the Bible speaks of another temple. “For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: ‘I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” [2Corinthians 6:16 HCSB]
And again, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?” [1Corinthians 6:19 HCSB]
And it speaks of another fire as well. “Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit….” [Acts 2:2-4a HCSB]
As glorious as it was when the glory of the LORD filled Solomon’s temple, how much more glorious is it when God fills us – living temples — with the power of His Holy Spirit.
