2 Chronicles 7

Solomon had prayed the prayer for the dedication of the new temple. Now what would God do? Would the Lord fill this sacred space with His presence as He had filled the tabernacle in the days of Moses?

“As soon as Solomon had finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven,” and consumed the sacrifice that was ready to be offered. And then “the glory of the Lord” came down from heaven on the temple, and the people fell on their faces and worshiped the Lord.

They celebrated together for seven days. The king led God's people in offering up massive numbers of sacrificial animals to the Lord and in rejoicing before God together as His nation. When all the work of dedication was completed, the people returned to their homes “joyful and glad of heart.” God had blessed His people with great prosperity.

The Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and spoke to the king. God had heard Solomon's prayer at the dedication of this holy place. The temple in Jerusalem would be the place where all Israel could gather together to call upon the Name of the Lord.

But there was a problem. God would hear the people and God would bless the king if they would repent and obey. What would happen if they ignored the Lord and His Word? They would be cast off.

Our New Testament Temple is built on the firm foundation of the righteousness and blood of Jesus, the final and perfectly acceptable sacrifice who has made peace for us with God. Nonetheless, the Lord still cares about obedience. If we ignore His Word He may remove His lampstand from us for a season. We don't want that. We want to be the light of the world, as Christ has said we are.

What can we do if we have wandered far from the Lord's ways and do not know the way back to the heavenly Jerusalem? God's Word to Solomon is still powerful: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” May the Lord hear our cry, heal His church of all her iniquities, and send help from heaven for the towns and nations where we dwell as we wait for the gift from heaven of a new land of perfect righteousness.