The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 142

4. Tha.t it was for the worship of a holy people. The chnpiters were fashioned after n lily-cup. The columns, i.e., blossomed into pw-ity under the shelter of the sanctunry, and so proclaimed that holiness was to be the product of the temple semces nnd ritunl. They served accordingly ns memoranda both to priests and worshippers. It is said that on the front of the second temple words ~ve1·e inscribed, viz., these: " Rnow before whom thou nrt going to stand." In this first temple the two columns spoke to the same purport. To the priests they cried, "Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord" (Isa. Iii. 11) ; to the people they spoke, like the "n-inge with the ribband of blue," "Be ye holy unto yowr God" (Num. xv. 38, 40). 5. That it was for a people 11ea1,o'U,8 of good works. On the columns were 400 pomegranates. Pomegranates nre said to be emblems of fruitfulness. If so, they taught the Hebrew worshipper this last lesson-they served instead of this inscription, " Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits" (Exod. xxii. 29); or this, "He looked that his vineyard should bring forth grapes" (Isa. v. 2). II. But what lessons have J achin and Boaz for ourselves? Do they not speak to us (1) of the Chwrch, the "pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim. iii. 15) ; (2) of the Christian, who shall be "a pillar in the temple of God? " (Rev. iii. 12.) • I. Of the Church. The lessons these brazen columns had for the Hebrew people, the same they have for ourselves, with this difference, that they also speak to us by their fall. They image forth the stability of the Church-that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; that its strength is in God-its weapons are not carnal, but spiritual (2 Cor. x. 4; Matt. xxvii.i. 20; John xv. 4)_; that its object is holiness (Ephes. v. 27; i. 4; Titus ii. 12) and fruitfulness (John :xv. 8; 2 Cor. ix. 10; Phil. i. 11). But they have an additional lesson for us, derived from their de- struction. For why were these splendid works of art removed out of their place, broken up, and carried to Babylon~ (J er. Iii. 17, 21.) It was because their lessons were un- heeded, because the people were not pure and holy (J er. xxii. 8, 9; v. 31 ; Acts vii. 43). And so we learn-not that the Catholic Church will "likewise perish:'' that can never be (Matt. xvi. 18) ; of that it might be said, with a propriety of which the Latin poet was all unconscious, "Exegi monumentum aere perennius''-the columns lasted 423 years, the Church 1800 already-but that particular churches, if unfaithful, shall have their candlesticks removed out of their places (Rev. ii. 5). "If God spared not the natural branches," &c. (Rom. :xi. 21). 2. Of the Christian. He may learn hence-(1) To be rooted and grounded in faith and love (Eph. iii. 17; Col. i. 23). (2) Not to be can-ied about by every wind of doctrine (Eph. iv. 14; James i. 6; note on ver. 20). (3) That "God is owr refuge and strength" (Phil. iv. 13; Col. i. 11; 1 Peter v. 10). (4) That we are to "wear the white lily of a blameless life" (cf. 2 Peter iii. 14). (5) And to "bring forth much fruit," and (6) that if we overcome, we shall be pillars in the heavenly temple, not to be broken, or cast into the fire, or to. share in the destruction of Babylon (Rev. :xviii.. 2), but to "go out no more for ever" (Rev. iii. 12). Vers. 23, 24.-The Molten Bea and the Brazen Lavera. If the two pillars teach the lesson of purity, of personal holiness, how much more the sea nnd bases I For observe-- I. Sea and bases had the same end in view, viz., pwrification. The first wns for the cleansing of the prieata. The second for the cleansing of the sacrifice/l offered by the priests. 2. The extraordinary provision of water for the service of the temple. Under- neath the temple area was a great reservoir (it is snid to be some fifty feet deep), no doubt the same which exists at the present day, near the Mosque el Aksa (note on ver. 26). This was connected by an aqueduct (which can still be traced) with Solo- mon's Pools at Etham, near Bethlehem. 'Whether these great works were purely for the use of the temple, or whether the city also shared in their benefits, may be doubtful, but that the templo occupied the :first place in the scheme is beyond all question. From this subterranean sear--whether by pipes or by the labours of the Nethinim, we cannot be certU,in-both molten sea and brazen lnvers were filled, OB. VII, 1-51.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 139