Holy Interruptions

. . . 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. - 2 Chron. 5:13b-14, ESV

This little snippet from the Scriptures hit me today. I'm sure that Solomon and his folks had things all planned out, to make it the most impressive event they could make it. This is, after all, the dedication of the Temple of God - it doesn't happen every day. Everybody has stuff to do, and they are trying to do their best.

And in the middle of the music and the festivities, God comes wandering in to interrupt things. This cloud, so like the could that filled the tabernacle once to keep Moses out, comes drifting in to fill the place up, and now no one can get anything done. These poor guys have priestly duties that no doubt they are supposed to be doing, but not now. Now is God's time. He has interrupted things.

Sure, Solomon will move things forward - he has a long prayer, something like a State of the Union address delivered to both God and His people - but not now. In this moment, everything has to stop, because God has taken over the NOW. It is His, and He has shown up on the scene. There was no doing anything except be still in the presence of the glory of God.

And I find myself thinking - how often do I let God do that to me?

I've got stuff to get done every day, appointments to keep, classes to prepare, sermons to write, phone calls to make, yada yada yada - and sometimes I'll feel this pressure on me, like a whisper in my brain, ". . . pray . . ." And too often, I blow it off, and keep being busy.

. . . pray . . . I'm here . . . talk to me . . .

As I read this passage, I think about the holy cloud of his glory settling upon them. If my body is the temple of God, could these gentle prodding’s be something the same? Could he be trying to interrupt me with the wonder and glory of his presence? If so, how crazy am I to miss that? How insane must I be to keep the motion going when the cloud has come to stop everything? Why am I busy with the Christ is calling me to peace?

Oh, God, please interrupt me again. Help me to be still.