The Most Holy Place I Kings 1:6

6Then the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place.



Solomon has just finished building this magnificent temple for the glory of God. The temple, though richly beautiful, was like a body without a soul, or a candlestick without a candle, or (to speak more properly) a house without an inhabitant. There was something missing. The Ark of the Covenant had not been brought into the Temple. The Ark represented the presence of God. The work was over; the House was finished; it now needed to be complete. It was time for the presence of God to fill His House!

Solomon summoned the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel as well as the congregation of Israel itself. Everyone was expected to be there. This was an important event for Israel and Solomon made sure that everyone knew to be there.

The sacrifices were made and 6Then the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place.

There are a couple of things that stand out in the passage. First of all, the people did everything that they did out of respect for Solomon for all that Solomon had done in having the Temple built and now dedicated to the Lord. However, many were there to worship God for all that He had done for them as a people and as a nation.

When you and I come into the presence of the Lord we too need to come in thanksgiving and adoration for all that God has done and wants to do for us as individuals and for us as a church and as a nation. This solemn act of worship was done because the ark was brought into the Temple. You and I are the Temple of the Living God and our responsibility is to worship God with every decision that we make; allowing His presence to fill our lives as His Temple or dwelling place.

When you and I come into His presence in prayer, we need to be like Solomon and the children of Israel; we need to come to Him in thanksgiving and in honor of Him for all that He wants to do in us and for us. When we come into His presence in that kind of matter, there is nothing that God will not do for our benefit and His glory!

May we all come into His presence as the Ark was brought into the inner chamber of the sanctuary, the most Holy place!