Glory is an elusive term, isn’t it? Meant to express majesty, it can mean many different things. When I think of glory, I think of my neck tipped back while taking in a waterfall too high to fit in one gaze. Eyes squinting to capture the wild shimmering of sunlight coming off of a lake that’s between alpine mountains, and I am awe-stricken. Soft at the knees, breathing slowed. The goosebumps sliding down my arms give away what my tears confirm: I am utterly overtaken by something in the living world—the world I inhabit—whose grandeur exceeds comprehension. All I can do is bask in beauty, which almost hurts to behold. The beauty is too lavish for words.
These moments, far bigger than my small human frame, disrupted my attention and left a mark. I felt small, overwhelmed even, and yet safe as I took in what kept altering me. This same feeling is found in our reading today. All the priests were doing came to a halt as God’s otherworldly presence filled and shrouded every corner of a man-made space, a space that could not contain Him. Arms raised, King Solomon prayed to God, and His glory was made palpable in the temple at that moment. God was present in heaven and on earth, and the people present could only worship the glory they encountered.
God’s character is too splendid to process in merely human terms. When I grasp a glimpse, I am left undone. His glory is His essence, that is, His never-changing, ever-present majesty interacting with us, welcoming us to Himself. His intent to reside with us is too lofty a reality for human comprehension, His splendor is too great for words. While we go through highs and lows or shifts in the ground we stand on, God always is. Sometimes we stumble as we try to face life’s twists and turns, but His presence is ongoing and unchanging.
We are removed from Solomon’s prayer by a few millennia, but we’re only a breath away from the God whose presence filled that temple. I feel small but also safe with the God who is present and unchanging with a glory that is so overwhelming. How do we remain the same in light of such a reality? We can’t. And what a relief it is that as we are also called to be a temple where He chooses to dwell.
“Sometimes we stumble as we try to face life’s twists and turns, but His presence is ongoing and unchanging.” What Paola said in the devotional today is something I needed to hear as I navigate this season in my life. I am so grateful and blessed that God has brought me back to Him and is now using me as His dwelling place, filling me with His glory. I can’t agree more with Solomon’s prayer, “there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below” (1 Kings, 8:23)! Hope you all had an amazing Friday! ❤️
Loved reading Solomon’s prayer today and the reminder that God is a promise keeper, He hears our prayers, forgives our sins and governs accordingly! What peace knowing God is in control of it all “For He is good, for His faithful love endures forever” 2 Chronicles 7:3 Happy Friday She’s ☮️❤️ to you all as we go into our weekend- I pray you feel Gods presence this weekend!
Yes Amen I loved reading it as well
Beautiful. Thank you for the reminder of God’s glory – how awesome and breathtaking He is. Indeed, we cannot stay the same once we’ve seen his glory.
I pray I never take for granted the fact that the Holy Spirit dwells within me. Through all the changes in and around me, that truth doesn’t change.
Last fall I did a study on the book of Leviticus. As I read thru these scriptures today, the one that I can’t get out of my mind is I Kings 8:5. (I know, I’m a little weird). When I was doing the study on Leviticus, we talked a lot about the sacrifices. The innocent animals being killed. I am not a hunter, I don’t like the idea of killing anything (except maybe on occasional spider or ant) but the idea of so many animals being slaughtered that they couldn’t even count them??? How much sin were they committing?, how many animals had to die because of people’s decisions? Can you hear the bleating?, the mooing? All these animals had to be pure, unblemished. It would have broken my heart to see all these innocent animals lined up, waiting their turn. The stench. The sights. The blood, the body parts, the cries of the animals. Would I have been more mindful of my own sin if I had to sacrifice something to atone for them? would it have stopped me from some of my decisions if I knew I had to kill an innocent animal in front of the whole congregation? But, to be in God’s presence we have to be pure, undefiled. So God made a way for us to be able to experience His very presence, His glory. Thru the sacrifices of innocent and pure animals, and then thru the ultimate sacrifice of an innocent and pure man, Jesus. I am so thankful today that we don’t have to have sacrifices any more.
Wow was this something to think about
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Dear sisters, a song came to mind this morning as I followed the study, “Surely the Presence of the Lord is in This Place”. We may not be in a church but we are gathered as a community of believers from all over, surely His presence is with us as we gathered to read, comment and pray for each other. It’s a beautiful song to listen to, if you have time, maybe listen and sing along.
Foster Mama – prayers for your goddaughter and for your small group.
Catherine – prayers for healing and peace as those new cells fill your body.
Amanda – I hope things are getting better for you and your family.
Rhonda – thank you for all the encouragement to each of us.
Julia – I so like your prayers each day!
Tina – Hugs to you! LOL did you send your crazy weather to New England? RAIN and yet more.
Sharing in prayer for those who comment and are quietly reading. May you all find peace and rest this weekend.
Donna Wolcott I haven’t heard that song in so long. It’s a beautiful song. Thank you for reminding me of it.
The repetition of the phrases, “hear from heaven” and “hear from heaven Your dwelling place” really stood out to me for some reason. It’s repeated over and over again in 1 Kings 8. Interestingly enough, in what has become known as “The Lord’s prayer” in Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus instructs those listening to His sermon on the mount to start off praying with – “Our Father in heaven”. I think the importance of it is to recognize who we are speaking to. First He is our Father, second – He is in heaven …in glory seated on the throne. King of Kings and Lord of Lords, not to be taken lightly. It is good to be reminded regularly that God is the one God, the only God, the Lord of all creation and He reigns on high. He is to be highly esteemed and worshiped wholeheartedly as mentioned in 1 Kings 8:23.
Father God, help me always to be mindful of who You are, what Your position is and where You reign. Help me to magnify and glorify Your name.
Have a blessed Friday sisters! My back pain has lessened somewhat but is still there, appreciate your prayers – please continue today, that it might all be gone.
Praying for your requests.