The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 173

pure gold of the Mpporeth. Exhibit the necessity of mercy to men who are prone to evil and forgetful of good. Illustrate it from God's dealings with Israel, and Christ's goodness to His disciples. The publican struck the keynote of true prayer when he exclaimed, "God be merciful to me, a sinner I" Compare Psalm li. Show how the sense of our want of mercy grows with our sensibility to the sinful- ness of sin. Paul the apostle au example of this : " of sinners I am the chief." III. THE ARK DECLARED THAT AN ATONEMENT MADE MER0Y POSSIBLE. Describe the day of atonement; the sacrifice offered ; the high priest entering the holy of holies with the blood which he sprinkled on the mercy-seat. Even he could only draw near to the mercy-seat after the sacrifice (compare Heb. ix.) " Without the shedding of blood there is no remission." Apply tllis to the sacrifice of " the Lamb of God,'' who was "wounded for our transgressions," whose "blood cleanseth from all sin." Describe him as the High Priest in the Holiest of all, having opened the way for all sinners to the abounding mercy of God. IV. THE ARK ENCOURAGED MEN TO DRAW NEAR TO Goo. The law (represented by the tables) was broken; but the mercy of God (represented by the capporeth) was revealed; and the atonement (represented by the sprinkled blood) was provided; so that God fulfilled His promise about the mercy-seat. " There will I commune with thee." Apply the teaching of this subject to those conscious of guilt, burdened by son-ow, &c. "Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we =y obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."-A. R. Vers.10, 11.-The Presence oftheLordintheHouse of the Lord. The Shechinah, which is here refen-ed to, was a most brilliant and glorious light, usually concealed by a cloud; a fit emblem, therefore, of Jehovah, the God of light and of glory, who is veiled from His creatures. As the visible symbol of the Divine presence, '' the pillar of cloud and fire," had gone before Israel in the wilderness, proving their guide and defence. Suddenly and mysteriously it appeared in the new temple of Solomon, at the festival of dedication, giving Divine sanction to the work, and assuring all beholders that Jehovah had made that His dwelling-place. Not only was the holy of holies fillfld with the cloud, but the holy place also, indeed, the whole building was permeated by it, so that all the building was henceforth holy. The signs of th Divine presence are different now, but the reality of it may be con• scio11Sly felt. " Where two or three are met together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." The New Testament counterpart of this manifestation is found in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, when " suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a l"ll6hing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting" (Acts ii. 2). Compare these two manifestations: the sp~endour. o_f .the temple, with the poverty of the upper room; the nan-owness of national reJ?1cmg, with the breadth of world-wide preaching, &c. Let us seek the changeless mward truth underlying the changeful outward form which embodies it. I. THE PREPA.B.ATION FOB THE DIVINE PRESENCE. Read the account of that which, on the part of the people, had preceded this display. 1. Sacred memories were recalled. The worn tent, the ark, the holy vessels, had just been brought in (ver. 4), and g~orious 7et tender. associations were connected with ~9:ch. The revival of old 1IDpress10ns made m youth, &c., makes the heart sensitive to the Spirit of God. Give examples. 2. Divine law was enthroned. "Nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone" (ver. 9). Disobedience to Go.i's co=ands, for• getfulness of them, unnts us for seeing Him. It deteriorates character, debases the heart. '' Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? he that bath clean hands and a pure heart," &c. 8. God's claims were recognized. By the completion of the temple, by the multitudinous sacrifices (ver. 5). The willingness to give our- selves up to God prepares us to see Him as our God. Not the intellectual research, but the reverent submission discovers Him. " Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven." "He that doeth the will of my Father shall know of the doctrine." " We besee.c~ you, ~her~: fore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye pre£1ont yourselves a hvmg sacrifice, OH, VIII, 1-66,] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 175