- Lesson 10 in the BaptistWay Press Connect360 unit “Solomon: No Ordinary Kind of Wisdom” focuses on 2 Chronicles 7:1-10.
As soon as Solomon finished praying, fire came from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings and sacrifices. God’s glory filled the Temple so completely the priests could not enter. When they saw the consuming fire and glory of the Lord, the people bowed, worshiped and gave thanks to their God. They also offered a massive number of sacrifices since it was such a grand celebration.
God’s glory and fire were also associated with the dedication of the Tabernacle and the priests. When they had finished assembling the Tabernacle, God’s glory filled it in the same way. During the day, the cloud settled there and at night it was a fire. When the cloud lifted, the people would pack up the Tabernacle and carry it until the cloud settled. That is how God led the people and provided them with his presence and glory at that time (Exodus 40:34-38). When they dedicated Aaron and his sons to the priesthood, God’s glory appeared to them also. Then, God burned the offerings himself to show his full acceptance of them (Leviticus 9:23-24).
Consuming fire
God also burned offerings to show who he was and the acceptance of others he appointed. When God called Gideon to defeat the Midianites, Gideon asked for a sign that it was truly the Lord. Then Gideon went away to prepare some food and returned with meat and unleavened cakes. The angel told him to lay the food on a rock and pour broth over it. Then, the angel touched it with the end of his staff and fire sprung up from the rock and consumed it. By that, Gideon knew the angel of the Lord had appeared to him (Judges 6:11- 24).
When Elijah was proving God’s power over the god of Baal, he said, “You call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God” (1 Kings 18:24). Before Elijah prayed, he dug a trench around his altar. Then he drenched the offering with water, along with the surrounding wood and stones, as he filled the trench. When the prophets of Baal cried out, nothing happened. But when Elijah called on the name of the Lord, God sent fire from heaven that burned up not only the sacrifice, but also the wood, stones and dust, as it licked up the water in the trench. By that, everyone knew the Lord was God, and they fell on their faces, and praised him (1 Kings 18:25-39).
The Temple and sacrifices today
God still fills his temple with glory and consumes its sacrifices today. But because Jesus became our sacrifice, we no longer offer animals. Hebrews 9:26 says, “He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
Also, the temple is not a building, but a body. First Peter 2:5 says, “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
So today, believers are God’s temple. and instead of offering sacrifices for our sins, we offer our lives for God’s service. When we offer ourselves to him as a living sacrifice, God begins to consume us. Hebrews 12:29 says, “Our God is a consuming fire.” The fire God ignites in our hearts begins to burn away our desire for the things of this world and increase our desire for spiritual things.
Compiled by Stan Granberry, marketing coordinator for BaptistWay Press.
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