Invoke glory
It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; –2 Chronicles 5:13
We come into our story today with Solomon ending the building of God’s temple. This, of course, would be a type and shadow of the infilling of the Holy Ghost in the New Testament when God takes up residence within the body or temple of the believer (1 Corinthians 6:19). But let us briefly look at what happens in this text. First, notice that the trumpeters and singers were as one. Not only were the musicians one accord with other musicians, but the singers were one accord with other singers. Even further, the musicians and singers (plural) were one accord, making one sound (singular) of praise and thanks!
Next, they (plural) lifted their voice (singular), further declaring the unity occurring here. The lifting up of their voice could have a few meanings: fervency. That is to say, passionate intensity of gratitude began to stir within them, filling them so that they began to burst forth from them in the form of unified praise. Have you ever taken a moment to give God some glory and noticed the swelling that starts in your stomach and the uncontrollable desire to lift your hands toward him? They also lifted their voice up, perhaps because they saw the Lord high and lifted it much like the prophet in Isaiah 6:1.
Now having invested time in praise and worship, note what begins to come from their mouth; “For he is good; for his mercy endureth forever!” When was the last time you surrendered to the Lord’s goodness and decided to become one accord with those around you in the house of God? As you sit where you are, look around you at all the opportunities of people you can worship with today. We are all here for one purpose: to see the Lord’s glory! Looking at the last part of our verse, we find “… that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD.” Father, let it be so!
The text of this post is pointing the finger at YOU right now. Do YOU want God’s presence desperately enough to go and get it; to invoke glory? Are YOU willing today, in this place on this day, to join with your fellow believers and praise God until his presence inhabits the temple? If you are, you can expect this; “So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God” (2 Chronicles 5:14). The anonymity has been removed meaning you cannot hide in the sea of faces in this place. You are personally accountable for what you have just read. Now it is up to you, are you hungry for the Lord, or does something else consume your appetite today?
