The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 174

&o. 4. Earnest pr(JJ!Jers were offered. Solomon's prayer, which follows, wa.s but the formal and public utterance of many secret prayers on the part of himself and others. See how often he spoke to God about this building, and how often God spoke to him. He and his people prayed above all things that the special glory of the tabernacle might be granted to the temple. Now the prayers were answered. "A.sk and ye shall receive," &c. The apostles expected the Holy Spirit ; but in order to receive the fulfilment of the Lord's promise, "they continued, with one accord, in prayer and supplication." II. THE EFFECTS OF THE DIVINE PRESENCE. We do not refer to the special and immediate effects of the cloud, but to the moral and religious effect of the presence thus symbolized. 1. It restored eignifica;nce to old symbols. The ark had lost much of its sanctity in the eyes of the people, as the conduct of Uzzah showed. This naturally arose from its frequent removals, its uncovering, its capture by the Philistines, and most of all from the absence of the Shechinah. Now the old veneration was restored to it, because its real significance was re-established. Apply this thought to churches, to their organizations, to their sacraments, &c. How often these are like the cloudless ark. They want the realized presence of God to make them vivid with life. 2. It testified to God's acceptance of the new building. Reverence and awe fell on all the worshippers. True " consecration " arises from the signs of the Divine presence given to the faithful. The conversion of a sinner, the uplifting of a fallen disciple, &c., these are the evidences we look for that worship and work, place and people, are accepted of God. 3. It confirmed the faith of some, and inspired faith in others. From childhood they had been told of the appearance of the glory of the Lord in olden days. Now, for the first time, they saw it, and doubt vanished before the light. A. great turning to God on the part of the unrighteous, or some similar spiritual evidence of the Divine power amongst us, would do more than all controversy to destroy scepticism. 4. It pro- claimed God's readiness to hear prayer. With what confidence Solomon colJ.!d pray after this I The realization that God is near us is our highest encourage- ment to speak to Him. " Because he hath henrd me in time past, therefore will I call upon him as loni; as I live." If such be the glory and bliss of God's presence on earth, what will it be to stand before His throne in heaven ?-A. R. Vers. 10, 11.-The Glory-cloud.-Navar did Solomon appear so much "in all his glory " as on this memorial day of the dedication of the temple. The solemnities of the service, the procession of the sacred ark from the city of Do.vicl into its resting-place, the robed priests, the rapturous multitude, the unnumbered sacrifices, the music and the songs, must have formed altogether a. marvellous spectacle. But of all the incidents of the day none could be compo.red with that of the sudden appearance of the Shechina.h-the glory-cloud. This introduced a new superno.tural element. The rest was human-man's handiwork, man's wor- ship, man's glory; this was Divine- the miraculous sign of the present and approving God. It raises the scene above comparison with any similar scene in the history of o.ny other nation. Other peoples ho.ve reared their gorgeous temples, and kings and priests have gone in solemn pomp and circumstance to consecrate them. But what shrine has ever been honoured like this? Altars to false gods innumer- able have been reared, but where has been the fire from heaven to kindle their sacrifices ? Idol temples dedicated-where the radiant cloud of the Divine pre- sence ? The priests were too much dazzled by the shining splendour to continue their ministrations. Solomon might well be fillea with adoring wonder. " But will God indeed?" &o. (var. 27). Many Scripture examples of the way in which miraculous revelations o_f the presence of God overawe the spirits of men: Jacob at Bethel, Moses before the burning bush, Elijah at the mouth of the cave, the disciples of Christ on tho Mount of Transfigw·ation, &c. Solomon's, however, was not so much au emotion of fear, but of sacred reverence and glad surprise. The appearance of the cloud set the see.I of Divine acceptance on the temple and its service, linking it with all the glorious associo.tions of the past-the climax and 174 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [OH. VIIL 1-66.