2 Chronicles 7
Scripture 2 Chronicles 7:4-5 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the Lord. 5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. Thus the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
Observation-What does it say? After the nation of Israel worked to build the temple, and to fill it with all the different articles, including the altar, golden bowls, spoons etc., they brought forth an offering. A sacrifice offering that totaled approximately 26,000,000 pounds of oxen and 18,000,000 pounds of sheep. But before the sacrifice was accepted, Solomon prayed. Solomon pleaded with God that he would hear the nation of Israel when they cried out to him. God, in return revealed Himself to Israel in the form of fire.
Understanding-What does it mean? Dodger stadium, which is the largest stadium in the major league, holds 56,000 fans. As I was reading this passage, I got this picture of piling the field at Dodger stadium full of sheep and cows. After all of the field, and probably most of the field level seats, the left and right field pavilion, plus some of lodge level were filled three and four animals deep, we started a prayer service somewhere in China town. As P.E.T.A begins their protest for the unethical treatment of the animals, God sends His fire down on Dodger stadium and consumes the whole place. Not only would the fire be visible for almost one hundred miles, but the heat would be felt from quite a distance as well. It sort of brings a whole new meaning to the God being a consuming fire.
I am guilty of not realizing the power of prayer in my life. Multiple times through scripture, we are warned not to turn away from God because he is a consuming fire. Deuteronomy 4:23-24 tells us to not “forget the covenant of the Lord your God” because He is a jealous God. In Hebrews 12:28-29, the author tells us, “we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God” because He is a consuming fire. We are both warned of His power to destroy us, and to lift us up using the same phrase. In my opinion, I would rather see the fruits of kneeling before him and the result of turning away.
Life Application Jesus, help me to kneel before you everyday. Let me know the joy of not only bringing my requests before you, but also of hearing you speak. Help me to be part of the generation that sees your fire in glory, and not in rage. Help me to take joy in the discipline of coming before you.
-Tyler Galloway