The Progressions Of God's Dwelling Part Five

Next, an important place where God spoke to the children of Israel was inside
Solomon’s temple. The story starts in 2 Samuel chapter 7:2 with King David. He
says, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a
tent.” The Lord God spoke with King David in 1 Chronicles 22:8. In that verse, He
says to David, “You have shed much blood and have waged great wars; you shall not
build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood in my sight on the
earth.” Adonai had a better idea. Instead of using David, He decided to use his
son, Solomon. Then further, in 1 Chronicles 22:6, David called for his son Solomon
and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. Through many
wars, which King David fought in, it has made him disqualified in building a
Temple for their God. David said to his son, “My son, I had planned to build a
house to the name of the Lord my God. But the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
I have shed too much blood.” The shepherd and king had reigned over all of Israel
for 40 years- 7 years in Hebron, and 33 years in Jerusalem. Before David’s death,
they anointed Solomon as the Lord’s prince. In Chronicles 3:2, King Solomon began
building the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on top of Mount Moriah, (where the
current Temple Mount presently stands).

The Lord had always spoken between the two cherubim on the mercy seat, and He
spoke to King Solomon and the people in various ways. After the temple was built,
“the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not
stand to minister because of the cloud for the glory of the Lord filled the house
of God.” In chapter 6 verse 1, Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would
reside in thick darkness.” Another reference is in chapter 7 of 2 Chronicles.
After King Solomon had ended his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed
the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the
temple. The priests could not enter because the glory of the Lord filled the
Lord’s house. When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory
of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the
ground. They worshipped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good for
his steadfast love endures forever.”

These progressions of God continuing with humanity really are remarkable. Just
like King Solomon praying and the Shekinah Glory of God manifesting itself in the
temple, the Lord God can answer our prayers. However, it will not be in the same
manner as Solomon. God can still answer our prayers through various means, though
they will possibly be through dreams and visions or supernatural acts in our life.
Elohim can also answer prayers that are big or small.

By Michael Jones