And all the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the feast in the seventh month, the month of Ethanim. Sermons
"A bowl of solid silver, deftly wrought, I. THE FASHIONING OF THE PILLARS. Made of bronze cast in the earth. None but the initiated would expect such an issue from such a process. Picture the anxiety of those in charge when the morea was constructed, when the metal was molten, etc. Apply to the anxiety and care of those rearing the spiritual temple. 1. They were the product of human skill. This skill was devoutly recognized as the of God. Compare ver. 14 with the description of Bezaleel's artistic "gifts." If wisdom of that kind is from God, how much more is the highest wisdom needed for the upbuilding of the true temple (1 Corinthians 3:12-17). Turn to the promises of the Holy Spirit to the apostles, and of wisdom to all who seek. Refer to times of difficulty and anxiety in which only this heavenly help could avail the teachers and rulers of the Church. Observe such expressions as that in which Paul speaks of himself as "a wise master builder." Indicate special gifts still required by those who succeed to this work. "If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God," etc. 2. They were the result of marvellous diligence. Years and generations of effort had made these artificers what they were, and now daily they applied themselves to their toil, nor was it without reward. Nothing great can be attained in this world without work. God has not made things pleasant by ordaining that the way to them should be easy, but He has made them precious by ordaining that the way should be hard. The hardships endured by miners, pearl divers, agricultural labourers, etc. The strenuous toil of the student, the man of business, the explorer, the scientist, etc. No wonder that in the highest sphere diligence is essential. It is required for the upbuilding of our Christian character; e.g., "Give diligence to to make your calling... sure," etc. "Work out your own salvation," etc., "Not as though I had already attained," etc. Similar diligence is required by the Church for the evangelization of the world. Contrast the diligence shown in other pursuits with the indolence in this. 3. They were the product of combined effort. The wealth of Solomon was added to the skill of Hiram. Observe the diversity of workmen essential for the designing, moulding, fashioning, uprearing of these pillars. Each did his own work, did it heartily, completely. All was not equally honourable, easy, remunerative; yet none neglected his share of the toil. Speak of the millions now constructing God's spiritual temple; how the various races of men, how the differing sects of Christians, how the peculiar tastes and gifts of individuals, are rearing "the house not made with hands," "the habitation of God, through the Spirit." II. THE SYMBOLISM OF THE PILLARS. 1. Stability (Jachin). In this the temple was a contrast to the tabernacle. Yet even the temple and all that was material of the old worship passed away to make room for the spiritual realities which abide eternally. In Hebrews 12:27 we read of "the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain." Show how, amidst the fall of empires, the Church has lived, in spite of all that evil powers could do (Matthew 16:18). Speak of the safety, for time and eternity, of those who are in Christ (John 10:28), etc. 2. Strength. The Church needs more than endurance, it wants vigour. Resistance must be supplemented by aggression. Far more than the Jewish Church the Christian Church is to be characterized by this. The apostles were not merely to hold their own, but to go "into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Only the active Church, only the active Christian, has a robust and wholesome life. Let "Boaz" stand beside "Jachin." 3. Beauty. The lilies and pomegranates adorning the pillars not only showed that there should be beauty in the worship of God, and that the noblest art should be consecrated to Him, but symbolized the truth declared in Psalm 96:6, "Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary." Strength needs beauty to adorn it. Beauty needs strength to support it. Illustration: the ivy clustering round the oak. Let the courageous man be gentle; the stalwart man tender; the sweet girl morally strong, etc. If we would have it so, we shall find those graces in the holy place of God, the sacred place of prayer, whether public or secret, for strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Emblems of stability and strength, yet exquisite in their beauty, let Jachin and Boaz, in the porch of the temple, remind us of what God would see in the Christian Church, and in every Christian character. - A.R. 1. God knows and accepts the generous purpose of the heart. "God is a Spirit," and all within the realm of mind is most real to Him. He knows as a fact whatever is felt in the heart, sanctioned by the judgment, determined by the will, anticipated by the imagination. In the count of God, thoughts are things, desires deeds, purposes performances. As a man "thinketh in his heart, so is he"; and God knows not only the tangible world, but that ampler, richer world which is veiled to the senses. The artist knows that his glowing picture tracing the line of beauty with purple of Tyre and gold of Ophir is but a soiled, blurred reproduction of his dream. So is it with all life. We feel a thousand times, and some baffled ones feel with special grief, how the practical life has come short of the large purpose. The contrast is depressing indeed. But the grand truth in all this is the ideal, is the real; the intentional, the actual; and all these non-suits of life stand accepted and rewarded before Him. 2. Again, the sense of unrealised desire is an index of character we may regard with some satisfaction. We live in the presence of a world of infinite need; the infinite love of Christ expands our heart; and we feel the hope and inspiration of immortality. What wonder that purposes should be born of such sentiments transcending the possibilities of this encumbered life and inelastic world! The power of an endless life works in us, and it is not strange that our desires and designs should outrun these narrow means, rude instruments and fading years. 3. Another manifest consolation in the midst of unfinished work is, what we are not allowed to do will yet be done. David was not to build the temple, but God had a builder in reserve. 4. Finally, wounded by disappointment may we not be comforted in this: that our apparently abortive desires really facilitate the work we have at heart? David proposed and Solomon executed; and this is frequently the order still. One man schemes and another operates; one generation invents and another executes; and if one had not dreamed the other had not executed. It has been said that Lord Falkland's life was sacrificed in "an indecisive action"; so thousands of the noblest servants of the race have fallen in indecisive actions, but if they had not fought bravely and fallen thus, we had never celebrated the decisive battles, the magnificent victories! (W. L. Watkinson.) (1) (2) (3) II. THAT GOD IS PLEASED TO ACCEPT THE SINCERE, THOUGH UNWROUGHT, PURPOSES OF THE HEART. David did not withhold or withdraw. In his heart and mind he saw in intention a beautiful temple erected to the honour and glory of God, and God accepted the will for the deed, because nothing more than purpose was within his power. Many poor, devoted, godly men and women have resolved to do great things, if only, etc.; weak ones, if only they had strength given; enthusiastic workers, if only doors should open, etc. But the purposes have remained unaccomplished, and God has said to each and all, "Thou didst well that it was in thine heart." III. THAT THE GOOD PURPOSES UNWROUGHT BY ONE MAN MAY BE TAKEN UP AND COMPLETED BY ANOTHER. Solomon did what David could not. He completed what David began. No man is indispensable. Workers die, but God's work goes on. We enter into other men's labours, are heirs of the affluence of the ages. Responsibility is commensurate with privilege and opportunity. Let us, above all, seek to have our hearts right with God, filled with love for His works, ways, and word. (F. W. Brown.) 1. The finest things in this world's history have been the world's great failures. Nor should you be surprised to hear that spoken in church, where we worship a crucified Man. There are some failures more beautiful and useful to mankind than a thousand triumphs. It is impossible to weigh the value or to judge the legitimacy of a hopeless but heroic sacrifice. Those who die in a forlorn hope are remembered long years after their attempts have failed. 2. Then, be it remembered, failures have made success possible. One success comes after many failures, one victory after many defeats. The work of every great discoverer and inventor, every legislator and reformer, rests on the unrecognised work of unknown predecessors. Our national liberties were won for us, less by the men whose names are blazoned on our historic rolls than by the men who dared too much and were beaten, who died and made no sign. 3. Again I say that the men who "succeed" are not the men who deserved most, or contributed most. We speak of "Solomon's Temple," and but few remember that it was David who gathered the materials. Solomon's was but the executant hand. the son administered the father's will. David's ideal became the accomplished work of his successor. And we call it "Solomon's Temple," but its foundations were laid in David's heart. The way of the world is to render tribute to the man who lays the coping-stone. Men lightly say of the idealists and would-be reformers, "Their efforts went for nothing; things got no better for all their trying." Not so. No true work perishes; the good of it remains. Every noble life (as Ruskin so finely says) leaves the fibre of it interwoven for ever in the work of the world. Oh, there is a fine rebuke to despondency, if you will but take a long view of the past. 4. Finally, failure will put iron into your blood, and make a man of you. I suppose that David was all the better man because he had cherished an ideal that was never to be realised by himself. I suppose that it helped to purge the blood of battle from his robes, and to mellow his old age. I am sure that it lifted and purified his thoughts. "He did well that it was in his heart," The best thing in your life is your finest failure. That is the Trinity-high-water-mark of your life: not the greatest thing done, but the greater thing that you tried to do and could not do. Thank God, this world's judgment is not the final court of appeal. Wordsworth did not feel himself a failure because the British public would not read his poetry: he bated not one jot of heart or hope, but pressed right onward. (B. J. Snell, M. A.) I. OUR MASTER IS MOST GENEROUS WITH HIS APPRECIATION. He does not seem to be afraid of spoiling us. He is too good and wise a Father to pamper us, but He is not stingy with His commendations, as if there were fear of puffing us up, or making us presumptuous. He has other ways of preventing those excesses, but wherever He sees an opportunity to praise, the praise is ungrudgingly given.1. God did not blame David for any error of judgment. A harder master would have found fault with his servant for his ignorance. Nor does He charge him with presumption. There is no sort of blame. God regarded the motive; since that was pure He approved, so far, the purpose. David thought that it seemed incongruous that while he dwelt in a house of cedar, God should abide within mere curtains. He was jealous for the Lord his God. 2. Moreover, it is evident from this that God never despises the day of small things. So far, it was only in the heart, and, as we know, it was to get very little further. Only in the heart, and yet God could approve, though He Himself knew that the purpose was now to be restrained. You have in your heart many a holy desire, many a blessed aspiration, many a noble ambition. God says to you that He does not despise the day of small things. This is just a seed-corn in the heart, and it may seem to die, to spring up to glorious harvest, or it may actually die. It matters little which if God is in it. 3. Notice next that God actually commends what He eventually forbids. II. GOD ALWAYS US SOME PERFECTLY RIGHTEOUS REASON FOR DISAPPOINTING HIS PEOPLE. It must he admitted that David's plan appeared not only honourable and reasonable, but most commendable. Nathan, "who was a prophet of the living God, a specially far-seeing and faithful prophet, approved the plan. This he did, not because it was the king s plan, for when occasion demanded he could rebuke King David to his face. Said he, "Do all that is in thine heart, for God is with thee." Yet for all that, God steps in and says, "No." Can you understand this? Of one thing we are certain; God does not break off our threads just out of caprice. It is something other than whim that causes God to step in and blast our gourds. He is not arbitrary. You know that in David's case there were reasons. The time had not fully come, for one thing. The throne was not sufficiently established yet; peace was not by this time perfectly secured. But there was also a personal unfitness. God said to David, "Thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood." That was God's reason, and a sufficient one. In any ease you like to quote there is a reason, though it may not be apparent. There is a reason, a right good reason in every case, why the Lord says, "No, I prefer that this purpose of yours shall be nipped in the bud. You would like to see it grow, but I like to have some buds on My table sometimes." There is a charm about a half-grown flower, is there not? I wonder who of all this congregation needs just such a word as this. You hoped for a nobler service. You did well that it was in your heart, but the Lord is right, you are better in the humbler position; be content to serve Him there. III. THE LORD NEVER LEAVES HIS DISAPPOINTED ONES WITHOUT COMPENSATION. He never takes away a blessing without giving another in return. If He empties one hand, He fills the other; if He does not allow the plan to come to maturity, He gives some blessing that more than makes up for the denial. None like He can interweave mercy with judgment. What did David get? We have seen what he missed and might have mourned. 1. He gave him credit for originating and cherishing this holy des" . "Thou didst well that it was in thine heart." God's "Well done" is the best compensation that even heaven can give. 2. Then David had the pleasure of preparing for the erection of the temple, the special joy of collecting the material and, as I suppose of designing the building and certain of the vessels. 3. God gives a corresponding blessing to that which He removes. David said, "Lord, I want to build Thee a house," and God replied, "'Tis good, David, that is a kind thought. It cannot be, however, but I tell you what — I will build you a house instead." God said, "I will build thee a house," not a structure of stone and wood and gold and silver, but a living house, a posterity that should ever sit upon His throne. God pays us in our coin sometimes, and if He seems to rob us with one hand He pays us with the other, and pays us in a corresponding fashion. 4. Then the greatest compensation of all was this, the assurance that the work that David could not do should nevertheless be done. "Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house, but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto My name." That sufficed; there could be no murmuring after that. (T. Spurgeon.) I. IT WAS WELL THAT DAVID IN HIS PROSPERITY REMEMBERED GOD AS THE AUTHOR OF ALL PROSPERITY. This proved David's own piety. But others, besides himself, were concerned in what David did. He was a king, and had the interests of a people to promote. And it was well that such were his thoughts, because it proved that David knew the real foundation of happiness; that happiness of his subjects, which it was his duty to consider. The house of God is the main instrument of religion. Without it, religion can hardly exist, certainly can only be in a languid state, unless there is a place where the word of God be regularly proclaimed, to teach the ignorant, to satisfy the inquirer, to warn the careless, to edify the devout and godly. And without religion, what is human life? We might compare it to a dream, except for the awful difference, that a dream leaves no consequence behind. David, therefore, judged well, rightly understood the welfare of his subjects, when he resolved to build an house to God's name, and so provided, as far as in him lay, that the rich among his people should walk in the fear of God, and live to his glory.II. IT WAS WELL, BECAUSE HE THUS GAVE PROOF, UNDERSTOOD HIS WEALTH AND HONOUR TO BE TALENTS FOR WHICH HE MUST GIVE ACCOUNT. It was well that he did not incur the reproof due to one who is "rich to himself, and is not rich towards God." And, further, it was well, it showed a right state of mind, a concern for the real welfare of the community under his charge, that he desired to raise a temple where "the rich and the poor might meet together," and worship the Maker of them all. III. THE DIVINE TESTIMONY TO A CHARACTER. Judge concerning yourselves by this analogy. All religion must be judged of by its fruits; by the conduct to which it leads. David was approved, because he set himself strenuously to promote God's glory; because, having been placed upon the throne of Israel his first thought was to honour the God that is above. (J. B. Sumner, D. D.) People David, Israelites, Levites, SolomonPlaces Brook of Egypt, Egypt, Holy Place, Horeb, Jerusalem, Lebo-hamath, Most Holy Place, ZionTopics Assembled, Ethanim, Eth'anim, Feast, Festival, Month, Seventh, Solomon, ThemselvesOutline 1. The feast of the temple12. Solomon's blessing 22. Solomon's prayer 54. Solomon's blessing 62. His sacrifice of peace offerings Dictionary of Bible Themes 1 Kings 8:2 4951 month Library 'The Matter of a Day in Its Day''At all times, as the matter shall require.'--1 KINGS viii. 59. I have ventured to diverge from my usual custom, and take this fragment of a text because, in the forcible language of the original, it carries some very important lessons. The margin of our Bible gives the literal reading of the Hebrew; the sense, but not the vigorous idiom, of which is conveyed in the paraphrase in our version. 'At all times, as the matter shall require,' is, literally, 'the thing of a day in its day'; and that is … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The King 'Blessing' his People Blighted Blossoms The Next Words Are, which Art in Heaven. ... In the Dungeon of Giant Discourager Whether the Old Law Enjoined Fitting Precepts Concerning Rulers? Sanctification. The New Temple and Its Worship The Law Given, not to Retain a People for Itself, but to Keep Alive the Hope of Salvation in Christ Until his Advent. "If we Confess Our Sins, He is Faithful and Just to Forgive us Our Sins, and to Cleanse us from all Unrighteousness. If we Say We Entire Sanctification The Whole Heart The Gospel of John Scriptural Types. Its Meaning The Promises of the Law and the Gospel Reconciled. The Fact of the Redeemer's Return had a Spectacular Setting Forth on the Mount of Transfiguration. How to Make Use of Christ for Taking the Guilt of Our Daily Out-Breakings Away. The Doctrine of God Every Thing Proceeding from the Corrupt Nature of Man Damnable. The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate, The Song of Solomon. The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was Typified in the Lives of Joseph and Solomon. Links 1 Kings 8:2 NIV1 Kings 8:2 NLT 1 Kings 8:2 ESV 1 Kings 8:2 NASB 1 Kings 8:2 KJV 1 Kings 8:2 Bible Apps 1 Kings 8:2 Parallel 1 Kings 8:2 Biblia Paralela 1 Kings 8:2 Chinese Bible 1 Kings 8:2 French Bible 1 Kings 8:2 German Bible 1 Kings 8:2 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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