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 music, 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; so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God (2 Chron. v. 13, 14). THE CLOUD IN THE TEMPLE. What vast preparations were made for the special day referred to in these words, how eagerly it was looked forward to, and when it came at last with what rejoicing it was ushered in! In the little cloud rising out of the sea, we had a remarkable proof of the efficacy of prayer; and now in the cloud of glory that filled the temple we have a striking illustration of the power of praise, and how well pleasing it is to the Divine Source of all true melody, of whom it is said, "He will joy over thee with singing." I. A dedication service of thanksgiving and praise. The solemn religious assembly, which is here so minutely described, took place at the opening and dedication of Solomon's magnificent temple, to the service of the one living and true God. The most complete arrangements were made for the grandest display of the power of music that was ever given in connection with the worship of Jehovah in Old Testament times. The best trained voices in the land, accompanied with a great variety of musical instruments, did their very utmost to heighten the effect of this memorable celebration, and to make it quite an era in the annals of God's ancient people. D The temple was the glory of the nation, the opening of it was the greatest event in the splendid reign of that illustrious monarch Solomon. It was a grand musical display, but it was far more than that; for music was now elevated to its noblest place in this world, and the heart of the entire nation must have been stirred to its depths by a service of song in the house of the Lord which seemed to partake more of heaven than of earth. No one who was present would ever forget this solemnity. The memory of it would linger with them for ever, and be to them a foretaste of a higher form of worship among the shining ranks of the redeemed, and of music which mortal ears only heard once in this world, when "suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men." This great occasion of national homage and rejoicing would be to all who were present "as one of the days of heaven upon earth." Nor can it fail to have a special interest for all who regard the worship of God as inseparably bound up with the highest interests of a people, and as a bond of union between all true worshippers in earth and heaven. Cast your minds back to that redletter day in the annals of ancient Israel, when the gates of the temple were thrown open for the first time, and the tribes, forming as yet an unbroken whole, gathered from all parts of the land to take part in the grandest dedication service in the history of the nation. Let us catch the spirit of the day, and enter into its stirring scenes. |