The Book of first kings

Chapter 8a

[1] Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.
[2] And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.

1) Procession (Vs 1,2)

Solomon assembles all the leadership in Israel for the dedication of the temple

This temple was 7 ½ yrs in building and preparations had been made for a much longer period

The temple building used a workforce of some 180,000 workmen

Great discipline & dedication shown in following exact plans of all furnishings for the temple

(I K 6:38) says the temple was complete in the eighth month of the year

Now in the seventh month(11 months later Feast of Tabernacles Lev 23:34) the time has come for dedication

Join the procession, imagine the scene, as scores of people lining the countryside are rejoicing

All the dignitaries of state and religion are present, thousands have gathered

The Ark is to be brought into the temple, The temple w/o the ark is like a candlestick w/o the candle

The Ark is the crowning moment for the Temple

[3] And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.
[4] And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up.
[5] And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.
[6] And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.
[7] For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.
[8] And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.
[9] There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

A. The Ark of the Covenant (Vs 3-9)

The white robed priests take up the consecrated structure called the Ark and bear it toward home

We do not know the path of the procession, nor the many psalms sung on the procession

But the tabernacle is moved and all the holy vessels are brought up to the temple

These same were set up by Moses in the wilderness & David pitched them in Zion Untold and unnumbered sacrifices are offered along the path of the procession

The priests arrive with the Ark, pass thru the porch, through the holy place, through the veil

Into the Most Holy Pace where they situate the Ark under the wings of the cherubims

As the Ark was brought in only the 2 tables of stone, God gave Moses, were inside

We don’t know about Aarons rod or the golden pot of manna but they were probably carried in

[10] And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,

B. The Arrangement of Consecration(Vs 10a)

As the priests came out of the most holy place and according to 2 Chr 5:11-13

The Priests were all sanctified (set apart) The Levites are set to make spiritual music

The musicians and singers were one and began to plan & sing in thanks and praise to God

They said “For he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever” .............. “that then”

[11] So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

2) Possession

C. The Aura of the Cloud (Vs 10b,11)

“That the cloud filled the house of the Lord”

Not just the Most Holy Place but the entire House was filled with the glory of God

So great was this cloud that the priests could not stand to minister, the singers couldn’t sing

This cloud is no less than the Shechinah glory of God

The cloud of His glory is His Divine Presence, His Divine Stamp of approval

God approves of the structure, furnishings, sacrifice, the service and the obedience of the people

This cloud is the same that:

Overshadowed Israel in the wilderness Ex 13:21,22

God used to speak with Moses & people Ex 16:10 about manna

God used to speak with Moses & people Ex 19:9

Stood by door of tabernacle Ex 33:9,10

Stood in the holy place Lev 16:2-4

In Ezekiel’s vision Ez 10:4

Overshadowed the virgin Mary Lk 1:35

On Mt Transfiguration Lk 9:34,35

Received Jesus up at the Ascension Acts 1:9

Rapture (Heb 12:1) I Thes 4:17 together with them in the clouds

Second Coming of Jesus Lk 21:27, Rev 1:7

D. The Announcement of the Crowning

Our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Ghost (Jesus took upon Him the likeness of flesh, filled it w/ glory)

Jesus is the Ark in our soul, crowning of our lives.....His Holy Spirit fills us

Vessels brought in are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith meekness, temperance

When we get to praising Him and crowning Him, His glory will crown and fill the house