2 Chronicles 7:1, commentary and pictures

When Solomon finished his public prayer at the dedication of his temple, fire fell from heaven and burned up the burnt offering and sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house so the priests could not minister. The fire and the glory were a visible token that God hallowed the temple and accepted and approved its dedication to His service. Their coming showed that God had heard and answered Solomon's prayer for forgiveness and mercy toward His people when they turn, confess, and pray. This happened at the completion of the first temple in Israel's most prosperous age, the most magnificent building the world ever saw. The temple rebuilt after the captivity had no such token — no fire on its altar, no cloud filling it, no Shekinah between the cherubim, no ark or heavenly voice — proving its promised greater glory was not in outward magnificence but in the living presence of Christ in the flesh.

Temple Dedication Events

At the dedication of the temple, as soon as Solomon had made an end of praying aloud before Israel, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. The fire was miraculous, sent by the Lord in answer to Solomon's prayer, and with the filling glory it visibly confirmed His presence and His approval and acceptance of the dedication.

The dedication unfolded while united voices with instruments praised God through the temple, and the cloud of God's glory took possession of the house as it had formerly filled the tabernacle, so that the priests could not stand to minister. King Solomon stood on a brazen scaffold before the altar and blessed the people, then knelt with hands raised upward and poured forth earnest and solemn prayer to God. While he prayed the congregation bowed with faces to the ground, and after he ended his prayer the miraculous fire came from heaven and consumed the sacrifice.

The glory that filled the temple kept the priests from entering, and when the Israelites saw it they bowed with faces to the ground, worshiped, and praised the Lord for His goodness and for His mercy that endures. Then the king and the people offered sacrifices and dedicated the house of God to the Lord. This was Solomon's first temple, completed in the most prosperous period of Israel's history as the most magnificent building the world ever saw.

Divine Acceptance and Absence

The fire that fell and the glory that filled the house were a visible token of the divine presence hallowing the temple for service. It was a manifestation of supernatural power marking the dedication, and a divine sign of acceptance and approval. In that moment the Shekinah glorified the house set apart for God. The priests were kept from entering by that glory.

The sending of the fire showed that God heard and answered the prayer Solomon had just finished praying aloud before Israel. It visibly confirmed His presence and His approval of the dedication prayer. Those same signs confirmed that He had heard Solomon's prayer for forgiveness and would show mercy to those who turn to Him. They sealed the promise that when His people, after sin and defeat, turn to Him, confess, and pray, He will hear and forgive.

The temple rebuilt after Nebuchadnezzar's destruction and the captivity had no such dedication token. No fire from heaven descended upon its altar, and no cloud of glory filled its sanctuary. Nor was it hallowed by the Shekinah abiding between the cherubim, by the ark and mercy-seat and tables of the testimony, or by a voice from heaven making known God's will to the inquiring priest. This lack proves that its promised greater glory lay not in outward magnificence or supernatural power but in the living presence of Christ in the flesh.

Though afterward the house remained to all appearance the same, it was further adorned with gold and precious stones in grandeur and beauty. Worshipers of every nation still sought it as a palace glittering with gold and presenting grandeur and beauty. Yet God was no longer to be found there.