feet and the light to our path'' (Psa. cxix. 105; cf. Prov. iii. 5, 6). 5. The ark, the pride of Israel, on two occasions became its plague. The men of Bethshemesh looked into it, and died. Uzzah put forth bis hand to steady it, and was smitten for his error (2 Sam. vi. 7). So the ark teaches the much-needed lesson of reverence-reverence for God and the things of God. It also suggests that dishonour done to God, or disregard of His law, bas a sure retribution. If we stifle our convictions or quench the Spirit's light, the law written within may hereafter become the "instrument to scourge us." 6. In the second temple there was no ark. A stone is said to have taken its place: The venerable relic of the wildernes·~ life, the sacred chest, and its still more sacred contents, both perished in the sack of Jerusalem (2 Kings :r.xv. 9 sqq.) May we not see here a lesson against impenitence ? Over how many souls may " Icbabod " be written l' The ark of God is taken I The soul is led captive of tha devil. The heart of flesh, the " fleshy tables " on which the Spirit loves to write, bas given place to a heart of stone-a heart as cold, as hard, as senseless, as void of all grace and blessing as this stone which stood in the oracle in the room of the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-The Pwrposes of the Temple. The three chapters thus introduced describe the erection and dedication of Solomon's temple. Magnificent as the building was, arcbit~cturally a~d artistically, it deserves m<?re consid~ra~ion as that which was the divwely appowted centre of true worslup. Its significance to Christians can hardly be overrated. Thi~ the Epistle to the Hebrews clearly _shows. While it stood it was for all nations a witness for Jehovah ; ancl now that w sub- stance it has passed away, the spiritual truths it embodied ar? a heritag~ for us. Essentially it was one with the tabernacle, the erection and ntual of winch wor11 OH, VI, 1-88.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 117
directly reveoJed by God on Sinai. Neither in principle nor even in minute detail were the directions of J ehovab about its construction to be disobeyed. From the ark of the covenant down to tho hooks for the curtains the command ran, "See that thou me.ke all things according to the pattern showed thee in the monnt." There are far-reaching issues ever flowing from the smallest details of Divine law. Great meanings are wrapped by God in trifling things. (Give examples of this.) Solomon was right in superseding the tabernacle by the temple. The tent was suitable for the wandering life of an unformed nation, but the stately and stable temple for an organized people whose pilgrimage had ended. God's utterances both to David and Solomon, and the presence of the Shechinah on the day of con- secration, prove that the erection of the temple was according to the will of God. The temple had meanings which no other building subsequently erected could have. It was " a shadow of good things to come." It symbolized much that was revealed in the person of Christ (Heb. ix. 11, &c.), and much that is now existing, not on earth, but in heaven (Heb. ix. 24, &c.) But, though its symbolism is a thing of the past, some of its purposes and uses are things of the present, known in the places set apart by Christian men for the worship of God. To some of those we now refer. I. THE TEMPLE WAS A PLACE OF SACRIFICE (2 Chron. vii 12). The sin-offering typified the atonement made by the Lamb of God, who once was offered for the sins of the world. This is the fact made known by the ministry of the Word and represented by the broken bread and outpoured wine of the Eucharistic feast. No time and no place can be more suitable than the sanctuary for the acknowledgment of sin, and the expression of faith. There each Christi.an sings- " My faith would lay her hand On that dee.r head of Thine."
II. THE TEMPLE WAS A PLACE FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE. Solomon used it thus (eh. viiL) Incense typified it. In Isaiah lvL 7 we read, !' My house shall be called a house of prn.yer, for all people." The Lord Jesus refen-ed to this when the temple was used for other purposes (Matt. xxi.. 13). Describe the praise of the temple. Many there understood the words, " Praise ye the Lord ; for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is comely." Show the advi1n- tages of united praise, the promises given to combination in prayer, e.g., sympathies enlarged, weak faith invigorated by contact with stronger faith, &c. III, THE TEMPLE WAS A PLACE FOB THE CONSECRATION OF PERSONS AND THINGS. There priests were set apart; there sometimes prophets were called (Isa. vi.) ; there dedicated things were laid before the Lord (2 Chron. v. 1). Show how in modern days this is still true of the assembly of God's people. Men are there roused to a sense of responsibility, and there consecrate themselves to the service of God. Resolutions and vows are made there which carry with them the impress of Divine approval. The cares of life, its purposes, its companionships are there made to appear in their Godward aspect. Through the worship of the sanctuary heavenly light fails on daily toil, and men learn to call nothing that God be.a cleansed com- mon or unclean. IV. THE TEMPLE WAS A PLACE FOB REMEMBERING THE LAW OF THE LORD, Tho temple was incomplete until the ark of the covenant was brought in; ancl " there was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a oovenant with the children ot' Israel "(1 Kings viii. 9). Show the importance of organized Christian worship e.s a perpetual witness for tho law of God. In the busy week there are temptations to forget it; to put expediency in the plaoe of righteousness, &o. The whole tone of English society is raised by the faithful exhibition of God's requirements each sabbath day. v. THE TEMPLE WAS A PLACE FOR THE UNION OF THE PEOPLE. The Psalms of the Ascents (Songs of Degrees) show this. The people overlooked their socin.l dis- tinctions and the tribes ignored their tribal jealousies when thoy CLSccmletl tho s:1crecl hill to unite as o. nation in the worship of -the one truo God. J croboam was shrewd 118 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [cu. YI. 1-88.