We’re into 1 Kings 8: the Temple has been built, Solomon has gathered all the people together, and the Ark is installed in the Holy of Holies:

Then the priests brought the Ark of the Covenant of GOD to its place in the Inner Sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the cherubim. The outspread wings of the cherubim stretched over the Chest and its poles. The poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the entrance to the Inner Sanctuary, but were not noticeable farther out. They’re still there today. There was nothing in the Chest but the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb where GOD made a covenant with Israel after bringing them up from Egypt. (1 Kings 8.6 – 9, MSG)

Then this:

When the priests left the Holy Place, a cloud filled The Temple of GOD. The priests couldn’t carry out their priestly duties because of the cloud—the glory of GOD filled The Temple of GOD! (1 Kings 8.10 – 11, MSG)

God shows up, and “the priests couldn’t carry out their priestly duties…” Wow. What if that happened on a Sunday morning? We used to attend a church where the pastor was proud to announce “three identical services” on Sunday. What he meant was that one could come at 8, 9:30, or 11, and the order of worship was the same, the choir would be there, the sermon was the same. It’s a feature, no doubt, but I always wondered what would happen if God showed up in a tangible way at, say, 9:30. “Identical” might go away!

Perhaps revisiting the Annie Dillard quote I have shared before is in order:

On the whole, I do not find Christians, outside of the catacombs, sufficiently sensible of conditions. Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies’ straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping god may wake someday and take offense, or the waking god may draw us out to where we can never return. ― Annie Dillard, “An Expedition to the Pole” from Teaching a Stone to Talk (1982)

The rest of the chapter is Solomon blessing the people and praying a very long prayer. I think it’s noteworthy that Solomon recognizes that God doesn’t live at the Temple:

Then Solomon spoke: GOD has told us that he lives in the dark where no one can see him; I’ve built this splendid Temple, O God, to mark your invisible presence forever. (1 Kings 8.12, 13, MSG)

Can it be that God will actually move into our neighborhood? Why, the cosmos itself isn’t large enough to give you breathing room, let alone this Temple I’ve built. Even so, I’m bold to ask: Pay attention to these my prayers, both intercessory and personal, O GOD, my God. Listen to my prayers, energetic and devout, that I’m setting before you right now. Keep your eyes open to this Temple night and day, this place of which you said, “My Name will be honored there,” and listen to the prayers that I pray at this place. Listen from your home in heaven and when you hear, forgive… (1 Kings 8.27 – 32, MSG)

He closes with a blessing and a challenge to the people:

Blessed be GOD, who has given peace to his people Israel just as he said he’d do. Not one of all those good and wonderful words that he spoke through Moses has misfired. May GOD, our very own God, continue to be with us just as he was with our ancestors—may he never give up and walk out on us. May he keep us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared, watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down for our ancestors. And let these words that I’ve prayed in the presence of GOD be always right there before him, day and night, so that he’ll do what is right for me, to guarantee justice for his people Israel day after day after day. Then all the people on earth will know GOD is the true God; there is no other God. And you, your lives must be totally obedient to GOD, our personal God, following the life path he has cleared, alert and attentive to everything he has made plain this day. (1 Kings 8.56 – 61, MSG)

Remember God’s promises which have been fulfilled. May God continue to be with us and “keep us centered and devoted to him…” THEN “all the people on earth will know GOD is the true GOD…” As always, the purpose of God’s blessing “us” is that we remain obedient to him and “the world may know.”

Our Father, who is in heaven… (Matthew 6.9)

God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us. (Selah) That Your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! for You shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations on earth. (Selah) (Psalm 67.1 – 4, emphasis mine)

God’s response to Solomon’s prayer is recorded in 1 Kings 9. Stay tuned.