Homiletic Review 2 Chronicles 7:1-10 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices… The light and fire, "the glory of the Lord," that came down were symbols. I. Something SUPERNATURAL. Solomon with all his wisdom, and Huram's artisans with all their skill, could not have invented that. The king was as impotent before it as the lowest slave from his provinces was before him. So there is an "unprogrammed" part of the service which is being conducted by the powers of another world. Strange forces have made the edifice their dwelling. II. That glory was not merely a supernatural phenomenon, something sent from God; IT SYMBOLED GOD HIMSELF. Shekinah means dwelling. When our version reads, "I will dwell among Israel," the Hebrew says, "I will shekinah among them." God is here. III. THE DIVINE PRESENCE CAME IN RESPONSE TO A MAN'S CONSECRATION PRAYER; its great Amen. IV. THE SHEKINAH REMAINED IN THE TEMPLE. Though the outer glow of it was withdrawn, a gleam of it lingered within the Holy of Holies, illumining that windowless apartment, dropping its softened light upon the ark of the covenant, with its tables of the law, its golden mercy-seat, and the cherubim of life. So God will remain with us; and the sign of His presence will be that a light falls upon the Bible, our ark of covenant, making its laws of righteousness gleam into our consciences, its assurance of grace fill us with peace, and its promise of life glow in our hopes until we enter that temple where "the Lamb is the light thereof." (Homiletic Review.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. |
    |