Let’s return to the story of the glory filling Solomon’s temple. Before the glory filled God’s house, there were several important things that took place:
2 Chronicles 5:6 “Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude.”
1. An incredible amount of sacrifice was brought before the Lord.
2 Chronicles 5:11 “And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course:”
2. The priests who led the people in worship were ALL sanctified, and they were coming out of the holy place-a “secret place” where they met intimately with God. Each minister in that “church” was personally seeking and meeting with God.
2 Chronicles 5:13-14 “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.
3. They praised and worshipped as one. Each person was wholly giving God their attention, honoring Him, lavishing Him.
The story of Solomon’s temple and the story of Mary washing Jesus’ feet have many things in common:
John 12:3 “Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus,…”
1. She brought a great sacrifice before the Lord.
John 11:1 “Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)”
We see here that the Mary who anointed Jesus’ feet was Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha.
Knowing this fact allows us to see a little more of Mary’s character:
Luke 10:39-42 “And she had a sister called Mary, which also SAT AT JESUS’ FEET, (emphasis mine) and heard his word.
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
From this passage, we see how Mary was also like the priests in Solomon’s day:
2. She was consecrated to God. She was a seeker of Jesus, and she f0und that secret place of communion with God at Jesus’ feet.
Finally, Mary’s story connects with Solomon’s temple in this description:
Mark 14:3 “And while he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster cruse of ointment of pure nard very costly; and she brake the cruse, and poured it over his head.”
3. She was concerned only about Him. Everyone else was eating and talking. She gave Jesus all her attention, honoring, blessing, worshipping and lavishing her perfume on Him. Her whole heart, soul, mind, will, and being was worshipping and magnifying Him.
Both of these stories teach us how to bring Him proper worship, whether it is the whole church, or when we approach him alone.
He desires:
1. Sacrifice.
2. Consecration and a heart that seeks him.
3. Worship that sees no one but Him.
Instead of demanding God to fill His house with glory, we must begin by filling His house with our worship.
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