We started the book with David in charge… Now David is dead, and his son Solomon is king. Solomon built the temple, and we didn't talk about it last week, but he dedicated the temple to The Lord. This week, he has an even bigger task. With the completion of the temple and all the furniture in place, the crowning event was about to take place, placing the ark into its permanent home.  To mark this significant occasion with the dignity and solemnity it deserved, Solomon assembled all the elders of Israel with the tribal and family chiefs. As God's anointed shepherd, he involved all Israel through its elders and chiefs in moving the ark and the temple's dedication. Lessons From The Ark Of The Covenant 1 Kings 8:1-2  1. We Are God's Covenant People The arc of the covenant was the only thing that was allowed in the holiest of Holies. What was in the arc of the covenant: The stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were engraved or written A gold jar full of manna, the food God had provided daily for Israel during the years in the desert Aaron's almond staff that supernaturally budded. However, the ark contained only the two stone tablets by Solomon's time. On top of the ark was the "atonement cover," on which the high priest sprinkled the blood of sacrifices once a year on the Day of Atonement. This symbolized the covenant that God had made with Israel. The cross symbolizes the new testament covenant with us.  This shows us that God desires to be in a covenant relationship with us. Your salvation was God's plan from the fall. He longs for a relationship with you! 1 Kings 8:3-5  2. God Wants His People To Move With Him The Tent of Meeting was the movable structure that provided a place of worship for the Israelites as they wandered about in the desert. After the Israelites settled in their homeland, David wanted to build a permanent house of worship for the Lord. Notice that the Tent of Meeting (traditionally called the Tabernacle) was also brought up. This was the original tent that had been at Gibeon. It, with its furnishings, was stored somewhere in the temple. When we become a people that move with the Spirit of God, we can see His Spirit break out in us all the time! 1 Kings 8:6-11  3. God Wants Us To See His Glory The priests, who alone were permitted in the temple proper, placed the ark in its appointed place, under the outstretched wings of the golden cherubim (v.6), the representations of those highly exalted angelic beings associated with the throne of God and his rule. The visible glory of the Lord filled the temple like a cloud after the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the temple. Whether the evidence is visible or not, God's glory is still present and at work wherever his Word is actively honored and obeyed. God was thereby graciously acknowledging Solomon's handiwork and indicating his intention of dwelling with his people. The glory cloud was the visible manifestation of the presence of God. The rabbinic designation was "the Shekinah Glory," from the Hebrew root meaning "to dwell." The concept of the manifested glory of God is a pervasive and essential theme in the OT and extends into the NT. Could you imagine if we could see God in our midst? Could you imagine if God’s glory broke out so much that it shut down our service? Well it is in the Bible so that means IT CAN HAPPEN! I want this to be where the Spirit of God moves, and his glory breaks out in his people every time we open the doors! What are our transformational moments? Do you have a covenant relationship with God? Are you taking God's presence wherever you go? Are you ready for his Spirit to break out?