_Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel._ A ROYAL PRIEST It is remarkable in connection with the dedication of the temple how the leading part was taken throughout by King Solomon. One would have thought that in the dedication of a sanctuary the leading men would have been the priests, Levites... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel._ UNACCOMPLISHED AIMS We are often conscious of inability to carry into effect cherished designs of the soul. As David vainly wished to build the temple, so do all noble souls project service which... [ Continue Reading ]
_Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord._ THE DEDICATORY PRAYER Now we approach the great prayer by which the temple was dedicated. The house itself was nothing. It was but a gilded sepulchre, an elaborate and costly vacancy. First of all, therefore, we stand convinced that however much we may... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who hast kept with Thy servant David my father that Thou promisedst him._ THE PROMISES OF GOD I. It has pleased God to deal with His people in all ages, by way of promise. II. His power is constantly engaged in fulfilling His promises. 1. His power is exercised in illustration and vindication o... [ Continue Reading ]
_But will God indeed dwell on the earth?_ OF THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD I_._ The truth of the assertion itself. That God must of necessity be omnipresent; ‘tis to be observed that if being or existence be at all a perfection, it will follow, that in like manner as continuing to exist through larger pe... [ Continue Reading ]
_This place._ MEDITATIONS IN A NEW CHURCH I_._ What the house of God is not. 1. In this place is no architectural type; it is no homage to the esthetics of form. Architecture is but a help and a convenience; it is not a religion. 2. “This place” is not reared in homage to any principle, so called... [ Continue Reading ]
_When thou hearest, forgive._ THE FIRST PRAYER IN SOLOMON’S TEMPLE Simple, touching, and beautiful were the words of the first prayer offered under the roof of Solomon’s Temple. Forgiveness is the first thing asked for. Solomon takes it for granted that forgiveness will be the great thing needed b... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy._ THY PEOPLE ENGLAND I_._ The conditions of national unity. When any one desires to understand what is meant by a nation, he had better look unto God’s people Israel first of all, for they fulfilled the two great conditions of national unity.... [ Continue Reading ]
_For Thou didst separate them._ SOLOMON’S PLEA I_._ The fact_._ “Thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth.” 1. That separation commenced in the eternal purpose of God. Or ever the earth was He had set apart unto Himself a people whom He looked upon in the glass of His forek... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice._ THE KING “BLESSING” HIS PEOPLE The great ceremonial of dedicating the temple was threefold. The first stage was setting the ark in its place, which was the essence of the whole thing. God’s presence was the true dedicati... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers._ THE TRAVAIL OF THE AGES This text plants us on the border-line between two generations. A king was dead. A king was born. Only a heart-throb divided the two reigns, but within the secrecy of that moment a new age began to be. Our text stati... [ Continue Reading ]
_At all times, as the matter shall require._ A GOOD PRACTICE FOR THE NEW YEAR But the marginal and more literal rendering of the last clause is, “as the thing of a day in its day shall require.” I. Living by the day, as the thing of a day in each day shall require, will wholesomely remind us of ou... [ Continue Reading ]
_On the eighth day he sent the people away; and they blessed the king._ THE EARTHLY FELLOWSHIP OF THE GOOD I. The fellowship of the good on earth is imperfect. Secular concerns, physical infirmities, incongruities of mind, temper, education, worldly condition, and other circumstances, expose it to... [ Continue Reading ]