The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 124

NESS, How exact the measurements, how perfect the finish of work, which only required to be brought together in order to make e. complete whole. Piece joined piece in the woodwork, and every separate casting found its appropriate niche, Nothing but painstaking accure.cy could have insured such a result. Yet probably no workman knew the whole design; he was only intent on finishing his own appointed work, Observe the carefulness of God in little things, whether in crea• tion or in moral law. Small infringements of Divine ordinances bring lamentable results. IllUBtrate from the consequences of disobedience to natural law in pain, disee.se, &c. .Axgue from this to the higher in mental and moral spheres. Care- lessness is not tolerated. How much lees in concerns of the soul. Negligence is sin, " How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? '' There must be care in laying the foundations of heavenly hopes (see Matt. vii. 24-27). Care also is required in doing work for our Lord. "But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon" (1 Cor. iii. 10-16). IV, THE BUILDERS OF GOD'S HOUSE ARE MORE ANXIOUS FOB. THOROUGHNESS THAN Ji'OR NOISE, No sound of hammer or axe was heard to call the attention of passers by to the noble work going on ; but all the inhabitants of the kingdom saw the effects of the quiet labour. Quietude is hard to obtain in the activities of the pre• sent day, yet God's servants must have it. Christ saw His disciples were excited, and said, "Come ye yourselves apart into the desert and rest awhile." Moses needed the solitude of Midian and of Sinai; Elijah the loneliness of Horeb, &c. Great souls are fashioned in silence. Our lonely times are our growing times. Exemplify by reference to a man laid aside by illness, to a. mother or wife who is for a time absorbed in ministry to some invalid. The busy workers need quiet most. They wait on the Lord, and so renew their strength. Some of the best work done for Christ is silent. It is not proclaimed by large organization, or applauding crowds, but lies in the whispered counsel, the interceding prayer, &c. V. THE BUILDERS OF GoD's HOUSE WILL SEE THEIR LABOUR ISSUE IN THE DIVINE IDEAL. The work was widely distributed, secretly done, &c., but ell was tending to an appointed end-the temple. The building existed in the mind of the master builder before it had material existence. So with God's work. A Divine purpose is controlling all, appointing all; and out of what seems confusion and contradic- tion He will bring forth "the new heaven and the new earth." Fe.ithfully doing each one what lies to his hand, we shall all find that what we have done has its place and results ; that our " labour is not in vain in the Lord." Forgotten and obscure workers will have their reward from Him who noticed the widow's mite, and gratefully accepted Mary's offering. We shall do more than we expect, if w~ do what we can. VI. Tm;: BUILDERS OF GoD's HOUSE FIND THEIR REWARD IN THE GLORY OF THEIR GoD. Describe the temple-complete at last-resounding with songs of praise, crowded with worshippers, overwhelmed by the Divine presence-and use it as a type of the temple not made with hands, where the redeemed serve God dn,y aud night. The wish of God's noblest servant is that God may be glorified whether by life or by death. Apply the idea of silent working to what God is doing in each Christian heart by the discipline of life and the influence of the Holy Spirit. It is felt within, bat it is not known or heard witbout.-A. R. Ver. 28.-The Mystery of the Cherubim. That the che111bim were symbolio no one denies. They are so often mentioned in Scripture that their meaning hn,s been frequently discussed. Enumerate some of the opinions held. The view we accept is that they were symbolic representations of redeemed humanity. They were intended to inspire men with hope of redemption, from the day when the Lord placed them nt the cnst of the garden of Eden, till the vision of John (Rev. xxi.) is fulfilled in the "new heavens nnd new earth," wherein the cherubim arc no longer seen, hnvi11g Yuni~lic<l bef0re the reality they symbolically representod. In the cherubim we nrc reminded of the following- L TIIE PERFEc·rrnG OF uullA.NITY, Some obscurity lingers o.bout tbo forms or  HO THE FIRST Boot. OF RINGS. [oe. VJ, 1-88.