The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 123

enough to see that it would be impossible for two separate kingdoms to exist while all the people met in the one temple. Hence the calves at Bethel and Dan, and hence in our Lord's day the temple on Gerizim. Show how in the Christian Church the rich and the poor meet together, and how essential Christian principle is to fuse together the various classes of society. There are many disintegrating forces at work-the capitalists and the working classes, for example, are seriously divided. Common meeting-ground cannot be found in the home, but in the Church. The recognition of the one Fatherhood precedes the realization of the one brotherhood. Christians are, unhappily, divided amongst themselves. Sectarianism has increased the division of society. Relief is to be found not in form, but in spirit; not in union, but in unity. As we worship together and work together, the oneness of which we dream may become a reality. VI. THE TEMPLE WAS A PLACE FOB THE REVELATION OF GoD (see vers. 10, 11; 1 Chron. v. 13; vii. 2). His presence is not confined to any temple made with hands ; but wherever His people meet, there He reveals Himself as he does not do unto the world. " Where two or three are gathered together in My name there am I in the midst of them." It was when the disciples were assembled with one accord for prayer that the Holy Spirit came. So may our assemblies be blessed ; and sinners will :find pardon, the careworn will find rest, the doubters will :find faith, the weakly will find strength, and the despondent will find hope in the houae of the Lord our God.-A. R. Ver. 7.-Building in silence. This was due partly to the reverential feelings of those engaged in so holy a work. 11 The Lord is in his holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before him." If we are upbuilding Christian character in our- selves, or in our children ; if we are helping to rear the spiritual temple of God, such reverence, as opposed to thoughtlessness, flippancy, &c., should characterize us. The silence of the building was not only the outcome of devout feeling, but it was 0.ike the temple itself) symbolical of spiritual truth; as we propose to show. A noble temple is being reared (1 Cor. iii. 16, 17; Eph. ii. 22; 1 Peter ii. 6). This temple is imperishable and unassailable ; that of Solomon's was pillaged (1 Kings xiv. 25; 2 Kings xii 17), polluted by the unworthy (2 Kings xxi. 4-7), burnt by the enemy (2 Kings xxv. 9). The erection described in our text teaches us something of the work which is still carried on by the builders of the true temple. I. THE BUILDERS OF GoD's HOUSE ARE OFTEN DOING A SECRET WORK, Picture the workmen in the quarries, the moulders in the clay, the artist with his graving tool, &c. Their names were unknown, they were unrecognized by the multitudes who would worship in the temple they were helping to build. Illustrate from this the work of mothers influencing their children; of visitors to haunts of sin and sorrow, whose ministry of love is not known to their nearest friends; of literary men in obscure rooms who are influencing the destinies of a people, &o. Draw encouragement from this, e.g., that we do not see all the good that is going on in England and abroad, in the Churches and outside them. So Elijnh was cheered by the revelation that there were seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal, when he thought he alone was left to witness for Jehovah. Refer to the Lord's teaching about the secret progress of His kingdom; the leaven hid in three measures of meal ; the seed cast into the earth and left buried by the man who sleeps and rises, unconscions that it is springing and growing up he knows not how. II. THE BUILDERS OF Goo's BOUSE DO VABmD WORK. Enumerate some of the different kinds of labour and of skill which were required for the temple. Show that the work varied in dignity, in arduousness, in remunero,tiveness, &c. None of it, however, was without its value or final effect. Describe the multitudinous forms of Christian activity, and the advantages of such diversity. It demands self. abnegation, it calls forth all graces and gifts, it makes one Christian dependent on another, and so evokes sympathy and gives place for co-operation, &o. Let none despise his own work, nor envy another his. III. THE B'O'ILDEBS O'JI' (;loo's HO'O'BE DO TllEIR WORX WITH CAREFUL COMPLETE• Ott, VI, 1-88,] TRE FIRST BOOK 0-F KINGS. :ltt