Daily Devotional for Monday, March 10

The Summons and the Sermon

“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,” 1 Kings 8:1.

King Solomon called all of Israel to a great celebration. After seven years, the Temple was finally completed. What a joyous and long-awaited occasion for God’s people.

            Israel assembled in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah at the site of the magnificent Temple. The dedication took place in conjunction with the Feast of Tabernacles. The priests and Levites brought the ark and all the holy vessels from the Tabernacle in Gibeon and offered great sacrifices to God. The altar was not sufficient to hold them all. The priests carried the ark of the covenant into the Holy of Holies and placed it between the cherubim’s wings. The staves were removed from the rings of the ark, signifying the ark was home to stay. When everything was in place, and all the priests had come out into the court, the orchestra and choir of Levites and priests played and sang praising the Lord, saying, “For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud: . . .for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God” (2 Chronicles 5:13, 14). Jehovah was in their presence. Then, Solomon preached to the congregation, rehearsing the blessings of God and His faithfulness in fulfilling every promise to His chosen people. 

            Each of us is invited to a similar gathering every Sunday with a local congregation at one of the Lord’s New Testament churches. We assemble to worship the Lord in song, bring our sins to the altar, thank Him for His blessings and hear the Word of God proclaimed. What a celebration it is when God meets with His churches. 

REFLECTION

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord” (Psalm 122:1).

Karen Meigs