10When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD.
The Temple, the earthly place that the LORD manifested His Presence, was completed. All the furnishing and decorative grandeur was there. The priests bring the Ark of the Covenant in and place it where it is supposed to be. When they withdraw, the LORD shows up in a cloud of glory, filling the Temple. The LORD did not need a place to dwell, since the whole universe could not contain Him. But the people needed to know that the LORD was with them. We are weak and often need visible signs of His presence. We need the answers to prayer. We need the small things that let us know we are not alone. One of the most discouraging things in life is the feeling of being alone.
The Arnold Journey 