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v19200
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19205
* The furniture of the temple.
- Here is a further account of the furniture of God's house.
Both without doors and within, there was that which typified the
grace of the gospel, and shadowed out good things to come, of
which the substance is Christ. There was the brazen altar. The
making of this was not mentioned in the book of Kings. On this
all the sacrifices were offered, and it sanctified the gift. The
people who worshipped in the courts might see the sacrifices
burned. They might thus be led to consider the great Sacrifice,
to be offered in the fulness of time, to take away sin, and put
an end to death, which the blood of bulls and goats could not
possibly do. And, with the smoke of the sacrifices, their hearts
might ascend to heaven, in holy desires towards God and his
favour. In all our devotions we must keep the eye of faith fixed
upon Christ. The furniture of the temple, compared with that of
the tabernacle, showed that God's church would be enlarged, and
his worshippers multiplied. Blessed be God, there is enough in
Christ for all.
19227
* The ark placed in the temple. (1-10) The temple filled with
glory. (11-14)
#1-10 The ark was a type of Christ, and, as such, a token of the
presence of God. That gracious promise, Lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world, does, in effect, bring the ark
into our religious assemblies, if we by faith and prayer plead
that promise; and this we should be most earnest for. When
Christ is formed in a soul, the law written in the heart, the
ark of the covenant settled there, so that it becomes the temple
of the Holy Ghost, there is true satisfaction in that soul.
19237
#11-14 God took possession of the temple; he filled it with a
cloud. Thus he signified his acceptance of this temple, to be
the same to him that the tabernacle of Moses was, and assured
his people that he would be the same in it. Would we have God
dwell in our hearts, we must leave room for him; every thing
else must give way. The Word was made flesh; and when he comes
to his temple, like a refiner's fire, who may abide the day of
his coming? May he prepare us for that day.
19241
* Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple.
- The order of Solomon's prayer is to be observed. First and
chiefly, he prays for repentance and forgiveness, which is the
chief blessing, and the only solid foundation of other mercies:
he then prays for temporal mercies; thereby teaching us what
things to mind and desire most in our prayers. This also Christ
hath taught us in his perfect pattern and form of prayer, where
there is but one prayer for outward, and all the rest are for
spiritual blessings. The temple typified the human nature of
Christ, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
The ark typified his obedience and sufferings, by which
repenting sinners have access to a reconciled God, and communion
with him. Jehovah has made our nature his resting-place for
ever, in the person of Emmanuel, and through him he dwells with,
and delights in his church of redeemed sinners. May our hearts
become his resting-place; may Christ dwell therein by faith,
consecrating them as his temples, and shedding abroad his love
therein. May the Father look upon us in and through his
Anointed; and may he remember and bless us in all things,
according to his mercy to sinners, in and through Christ.