The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 175

C!OWD of a long series (900 years long, perhaps) of mirnculous Divine manifesta- t10ns. But look on it now as prophetic of a more glorious future, as imaging forth ~ the men of that age higher forms of Divine manifestation that in the fulnees of time should come to pass. I. THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST. When the eternal Son of the Father laid aside the "form of God," and took upon Him "the likeness of sinful flesh," He filled the temple of a human body with the Divine glory. God cume to dwell in very deed" amongst men upon the earth." The Infinite Unseen submitted to the conditions of a finite visible personality. The Light insufferable, "whioh no man can approach unto," veiled itself in a cloud of mortal flesh. "We beheld his glory," &c. (John i. 14). When the second temple was being built, many of the people were troubled at the thought that it would be so inferior to the first. The old men who had '' seen the first house" wept (Ezra iii. 12; Haggai ii. 3). But the prophets of the time were commissioned to comfort them with the assurance that, though the old symbolic grandeur was gone, the glory of the latter house should be greater than that of the former. It would contain no ark, no mercy seat, no SLechinah, no heaven-kindled fire, no Urim and Thummim, no prophetic spirit; '' Ichabod '' would be written on its walls. But a nobler Presence than had ever been seen on earth before would irradiate it in the coming time : " Behold I will send my messenger," &c. (Mal. iii. 1); "Yet once, it is a while, and I will shake the heavens," &c. (Haggai ii. 6, 7). Every time the Lord Jesus," the bright- ness of the Father's glory," entered the temple-as a babe in Hie mother's arms, as a boy girding Himself for His "Father's business," as a man in the fulness of His Divine authority, purging it from defilement, expounding in it the law of acceptable worship, ma.king it the centre of Hie beneficent healing ministry-He verified in some new form these prophetic words. The manifestations of the present Deity in the olden times "have no glory in this respect by reason of the glory that excelleth," even "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of J eRns Christ." Do we ask, "Will God in very deed dwell?" &c., the answer comes back to us," Great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifest," &c. (1 Tim. iii. 16), " Immanuel, God with us" (Matt. i. 23). That outshining radiance in the temple was dazzling, almost repellent, deepening the sense of distance, creating fear; this Divine apocalypse is in.finitely at· ctive, gives un- mistakaLle proof of sympathetic personal nearness, awakens grateful, trustful, and adoring love. II. THE GIFT OI' THE SPIRIT. The manifestation of God in the person of His Son was preparatory to the richer grace-the actual impartation of Himself by His Spirit to the individual i:ouls of men (see Eph. iv. 8 sqq.; 2 Cor. vi. 16). The dispensation of the Spirit is the ultimate fact. In this God communicates Himself in the highest form of revelation, and the most intimate fellowship of which man is capable. The "dwelling" of the Holy Ghost in every new-born soul, in every assembly of true spiritual worshippers, in the II one body" of the universal Church, is pre.figured in the scene before us. The day of the dedication of the temple :finds its n.ntitype in the II day of Pentecost." Place these manifesta- tions side by side. AI3 you trace the lines CJf comparison between them, how glorious does the Christian fact appear I The one was material in its nature-a bright and beautiful vision for the eye, appealing indirectly through the senses to the soul; the other intensely spiritual-a. bleEsed overpowering influence, seizing at once on the minds and hearts of the people, the flowing in of a Divine life. And though there was something for the eye and ear, its form was such as to suggest most strikingly that living word of truth and holy fire of love which the heart alone can .know. The one was diffuse, general, indiscriminate-a bright, scattered cloud filling the place ;-the other was distinct and personal. The Spirit of God deals not with companies of men, but with isolated souls. 'fhere was a separate tongue of flame on the head of each. Not the place merely, but the men, each according to hie own individuality, was "filled with the Holy Ghost." The one manifestation concealed more than it revealed. It was the sign of God's presence, but it made the people feel that He is indeed a" God that hideth himself." They CB, VIII, 1-66.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 175