As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’s house. When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” 2 Chron 7:1-3
Before Solomon’s prayer of dedication of the new Temple, the Scriptures tell us that they sacrificed “so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered” (2 Chron 5:6). Then immediately after his prayer, the Scriptures tell us that, “Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the LORD. King Solomon offered as a sacrifice 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.” (2 Chron 7:4-5). The sheer number of blood sacrifices are astounding!
The point must not be lost to us. God’s presence and glory cannot abide with His people without MANY dying in their place for their MANY sins. It is sin that keeps God from us and it is only when sin is dealt with that God can draw near to us. Christ’s death is greater by far than thousands upon thousands of blood sacrifices—“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb 10:4) and “You were ransomed with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19)
“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! Oh, precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow. No other fount I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”