Grow! Pray! Study! The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection's Daily Guide ~ Tuesday, 18 February 2014 "The Lord's glory filled the Lord's temple"

Grow! Pray! Study! The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection's Daily Guide ~ Tuesday, 18 February 2014 "The Lord's glory filled the Lord's temple"
Daily Scripture: 1 Kings 8:1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, with all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers’ households of the children of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of Yahweh’s covenant out of David’s city, which is Zion. 2 All the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 3 All the elders of Israel came, and the priests picked up the ark. 4 They brought up Yahweh’s ark, the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent. The priests and the Levites brought these up. 5 King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle, that could not be counted or numbered for multitude. 6 The priests brought in the ark of Yahweh’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, even under the cherubim’s wings. 7 For the cherubim spread their wings out over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles above. 8 The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary; but they were not seen outside. They are there to this day. 9 There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 10 It came to pass, when the priests had come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled Yahweh’s house, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for Yahweh’s glory filled Yahweh’s house. 12 Then Solomon said, “Yahweh has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. 13 I have surely built you a house of habitation, a place for you to dwell in forever.”
Reflection Questions:
King Solomon built a glorious Temple in God's honor in Jerusalem. When the building was completed, the king led a solemn dedication, and commissioned the priests to bring into the Temple all of the sacred objects from the Tabernacle. God honored the newly built Temple by filling it with his glory.
King Solomon built the Temple for God and God's kingdom. What's the difference between a structure that is a personal monument to the human leader who inspires and directs its construction, and a building built for God? In what ways can you tell the difference? What do you believe God approved of as Solomon dedicated the Temple?
The Temple carried out more elaborately the Tabernacle in the desert's design. The chest, or "ark," was the center point—its design suggested it was God's throne, as Israel's true king. In John 20:12, the gospel writer evoked the ark and its angels in describing the tomb from which Jesus had risen. We value flags, monuments and other national and family symbols. In what ways do you see it as similarly important to have appropriate physical symbols to honor God's presence in our lives?
Today's Prayer:
Lord God, I pray with the writer of Psalm 30: "I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths. You changed my mourning into dancing. Lord, my God, I will give thanks to you forever." Amen.
~~~~~~~
Insight from Brent Messick
Brent Messick is Resurrection’s Managing Executive Director of Operations.
Read and Reflect:
(Head)
It took seven years to build the great Temple and to decorate it with allof its gold and elaborate furnishings. But the Temple, with its magnificent structure and all of its beautiful furnishings and decorations, is just an empty shell without God’s presence and without the people.In today’s reading, King Solomon and the people of Israel prepare to dedicate the Temple to God. In order to consider the Temple complete, they must bring in the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant to its resting place in the Temple. The Ark holds only the two stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments that Moses had placed there at Mount Horeb. It has been traveling with the Israelites in the Tent of Meeting since their exodus from Egypt to the Holy Land.King Solomon and the leaders of Israel conduct a formal service where they bring the Ark out of the tent and into the Temple. The Ark represents God’s presence and the place where God may dwell among the people. The people honor God and give thanks by offering sacrifices of sheep and oxen too numerous to count marking the joy and solemnity of this occasion. Many people in Solomon’s time were very wealthy and were eager to share their wealth to consecrate the Temple and to honor God.God graciously accepts what is done and testifies acceptance of it when a cloud fills the Temple. This visible emanation of divine glory puts an honor upon the Ark as a representation of God’s presence; it testifies acceptance that the Temple and its furnishings were completed for God; and it shows that God is pleased with the great assembly of the people.
Finally, we read Solomon’s prayer that the glory of God had lived in a cloud of darkness, but now we can experience God’s divine presence in the sanctuary forever.
Prayer and Meditation
(Heart)
Psalm 30:
A psalm of David. A song for the dedication of the Temple.
I will praise you, LORD!
You saved me from the grave and kept my enemies from celebrating my death.
I prayed to you, LORD God, and you healed me, saving me from death and the grave.
Your faithful people, LORD, will praise you with songs and honor your holy name.
Your anger lasts a little while, but your kindness lasts for a lifetime.
At night we may cry, but when morning comes we will celebrate.
I was carefree and thought, “I’ll never be shaken!”
You, LORD, were my friend, and you made me strong as a mighty mountain.
But when you hid your face, I was crushed.
I prayed to you, LORD, and in my prayer I said,
“What good will it do you if I am in the grave?
Once I have turned to dust, how can I praise you or tell how loyal you are?
Have pity, LORD! Help!”
You have turned my sorrow into joyful dancing.
No longer am I sad and wearing sackcloth.
I thank you from my heart, and I will never stop singing your praises, my LORD
and my God.
Be, Do & Go
(Hands)
Sometime today, take 5 minutes and be still. Take a moment to make a list of all of
the areas in your life where you find sin. After making this list, say this prayer:
Gracious God, please forgive me for my sins and my transgressions. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit and use the power of your Holy Spirit to wash away my sins. Please wash my soul clean, wash my heart clean and wash my mind clean. After you cleanse me with your Holy Spirit, then please fill me with your strength. For I am broken and I am weak, and I need your strength to help me resist the temptation to sin. And, finally, dear God, please fill me with your love. And I pray that I may love you back with all of my heart, with all of my soul and with all of my strength. Amen.
After you have said this prayer, crunch up your list of sins and throw them in the
nearest garbage receptacle.
For Discussion:
Use this section to help prompt discussion with your spouse, children, small group, etc.
1. King Solomon built the Temple for God’s Kingdom. Are church buildings important? Why
or why not?
2. The Israelites dedicated the Temple by offering sacrifices. Why is it important to
give our offerings to God?
3. Jesus referred to his body as a temple. How can God’s glory fill our earthly temples
and shine through us?
~~~~~~~