The Presence

1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5; Psalms 99; Romans 3 

“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…’”

1 Kings 8:10-12

God chose a pillar of cloud to guide his people in Sinai, and a dark cloud to reveal himself to Moses, yet in leaving God’s presence Moses’ face shone with the glory of God. The unapproachable light of God’s presence was surrounded by a dark cloud. This hiddenness of God is a theme in Scripture and becomes an invitation to boldly press into his presence and seek his face. The writer of Hebrews challenges us to have confidence to enter the most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19). What was once hidden is now made open by the incarnation and atonement and is “a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body….” (Hebrews 10:20). Those who offer their bodies to God as the temple of his Spirit experience the indwelling glory of God through the Spirit and the ongoing transformation from glory to glory. Solomon’s temple was only the beginning and prepared us for the Gospel.”

“Lord God, I choose to press into your presence, for your glory.”