…and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,” the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. [1] (II Chronicles 5:13-14 ESV)
Fear Not and Stop Working?
I was supposed to be doing homework. It was some sort of written assignment, in mid Spring. My teachers had allowed me to miss a week of school to help drive my grandparents from Florida to Michigan. And while in the car, if not taking my turn behind the wheel, I was writing, reading, or arithmaticking.
On this particular day, we left the highway and parked the car as close as we could get to Cape Kennedy. Because an engine for the space shuttle was being tested.
The engine was as big as a house. And not one of those tiny houses. A two-story monstrosity with rocket fins instead of rainspouts.
And after an interminable countdown, someone threw the switch. I was in the middle of a sentence. Probably some teenaged attempt at creative writing. But it was my work, my job, my calling at that time.
But the explosive air-shattering glorious wonder of that shuttle engine drove all thought of work from my mind, my pen, and my eyes.
I stared in wonder. Every bit of my attention held by the flames. Every bit of my intentions altered momentarily by my amazement. Every bit of my duty, responsibility, and obligation obliterated by the power, energy, and excitement of that engine.
That is what Solomon’s temple-workers experienced. They still had work to do. The temple had been completed, but the opening ceremony had only just begun. And they had further work… ministerial work… holy work…
But it all stopped when they were suddenly aware of God’s presence.
For them, it was signaled by a cloud. Maybe smoke. Maybe mysterious vision-altering atmosphere. But it was not the cloud that awed them. It was God’s Presence.
We foolishly think they had it better than us… because God’s presence was physically visible.
But I think we have it better. We have the Spirit of God assuring us of God’s reality and power and love. We have the full knowledge of Jesus’ salvific work assuring us of God’s justice and grace and love. We have the Biblical record assuring us of God’s presence and providence and love.
And maybe… just maybe… that is a reason to look up from our work and be amazed instead of bored; awestruck instead of stuck; worshipful instead of dutiful.
Fear not, and stop working.
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (2 Ch 5:13–14). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.