2 Chronicles 5:14 (NKJV) so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.
Imagine the glory of the Lord filling the temple in the Old Testament! The High Priest in the Old Testament risked dying in God’s presence in the Holy of Holies. We need to remember that nobody was able to enter into the Holy of Holies where the presence of God resided except the High Priest in the Old Testament.
In fact, the High Priest had to ensure that the sacrifice of the animal was completed within the God given law or else he would die in the Holy of Holies. This is the reason why there was a rope tied to his ankle to pull him out of the Holy of Holies because nobody else was able to enter to bring him out.
When the opening Scripture says the house is filled with the glory of God, it is describing His presence. God will inhabit and fill His house with His glory. This can refer to the church today, whereas in the Old Testament, it was referring to the Holy of Holies inside the temple of the Lord.
We need to remember that we are to approach the King of kings and come into His presence in humility. In the era of the New Covenant, we have the privilege of entering His presence freely and boldly, but it is because Christ was the perfect sacrifice. We need to adore and love Him for all that He has done for us.
Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
God is an omnipresent God. He is everywhere regardless whether we feel it or not because He is God. Nothing is able to limit or confine God. However, there is the manifested presence of God where the Bible talks about the glory in the midst of people. This is a time where the manifested presence or an almost tangible presence of God is in our midst. We know it is the presence of God. It is difficult to describe in words but you just know it is His presence. It is especially true for those who experience it in their private worship. This is the time where we have come to meet with the King.
In the Old Testament, only the High Priest could experience His presence inside the Holy of Holies. We are blessed today as Christians living under the New Covenant that we can enter boldly into God’s presence and experience Him 24/7, and it is through Christ that we can boldly enter into His house and be filled with His presence.
Sermon Series: ICS Worship Culture (Part 3)
祂的殿里充满了祂的荣耀
历代志下5:14甚至祭司不能站立供职、因为耶和华的荣光充满了神的殿。
想象一下旧约时代上帝的荣耀充满圣殿的场景！旧约中的大祭司冒着在上帝的面前死亡的风险，进入至圣所。我们需要记住，除了旧约中的大祭司，没有人能够进入上帝的所在的至圣所。
事实上，大祭司必须确保根据上帝的律法完成动物的献祭，否则他将在至圣所中死亡。这就是为什么他的脚踝上绑有一根绳子，以便将他拉出至圣所，因为没有其他人能够进入那里将他带出来。
当经文中说上帝的荣光充满了神的殿时，它描述了上帝的同在。上帝将居住并以祂的荣光填满祂的殿。这也可以指今天的教会，而在旧约中，它指的是圣殿内的至圣所。
我们需要记住在谦卑中接近万王之王，并进入祂的同在里。在新约时代，我们获得特权自由大胆地进入祂的同在里，但这是因为基督完美的献祭。我们需要敬慕和爱祂，为祂替我们所做的一切感恩。
希伯来书4:16所以我们只管坦然无惧的、来到施恩的宝座前、为要得怜恤、蒙恩惠作随时的帮助。
上帝是全能的上帝。祂无处不在，无论我们是否感受到，因为祂是上帝。没有任何事物能够限制或局限上帝。然而，上帝的同在也会显现出来，就是当圣经谈到上帝荣光在百姓中间时。这是上帝显现的时候，或者说是几乎能够触摸到上帝就在我们中间的时候。我们知道这是上帝的同在。很难用言语描述，但你就是知道那是祂的同在。对于那些在个人敬拜中经历过这种同在的人来说，这尤其真实。这是我们来与君王相遇的时候。
在旧约中，只有大祭司才能在至圣所内经历上帝的同在。作为在新约下生活的基督徒，我们今天很幸福，我们可以大胆进入上帝的面前，24小时/7天无间断地体验祂的同在，而正是通过基督，我们可以大胆地进入祂的殿，被祂的同在充满。
讲章系列：ICS敬拜文化（第三部分)
Image Source: pixabay.com