Magnificent Prayer #322
Magnificent Prayer #322
When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying,
“He is good; his love endures forever.”
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
2 Chronicles 7:1–4
After the prayer, the fire!
When Solomon finished praying the fire came down from heaven. That fire is the symbol of the Holy God. When Solomon had prayed, the holy Flame was in their midst.
But not only is the flame the symbol of the Holy; it also typifies the power which can make us holy. Nothing can cleanse as effectively as fire can. Where water fails, fire succeeds. After an epidemic water is comparatively impotent, so we commit disease infected garments to the flames. It was the great fire of London which delivered London from the tyranny of the bubonic plague.
And so it is with my soul. God, who is holy flame, will burn out the germs of my sin. Our God is a consuming fire.
Come to my soul, O Holy Flame! Burn away my wickedness, consume it utterly!
JOHN HENRY JOWETT
Pray About It: After Solomon prayed, the fire came. The fire that cleanses more than any disinfectant. The fire that consumes everything in its way that can be destroyed. The fire that purifies silver.
Our prayer closets should be like kilns, where we, the clay, allow the heat of God’s presence to make us clean, purified pots, ready for His use.
Allow that heat to work today as you pray. Watch for the flame in your midst. Let all sin go.
Thou Christ of burning cleansing flame, send the fire.
Thy blood bought gift today we claim, send the fire.
Look down and see this waiting host, give us the promised Holy Ghost.
We want another Pentecost,
To make our weak hearts strong and brave, send the fire.
To live a dying world to save, send the fire.
Oh, see us on Thine altar lay our lives, our all, this very day
To crown the offering, now we pray, send the fire.
WILLIAM BOOTH
From the book
