The Pulpit Commentary — Haggai — Section 38

" Lord, now lettest," etc. ~uke ii. 29), and as you behold the other, Anna, " giving tbanke to God, and speaking of the Redeemer to all who looked for redemption in Jerusalem" (Lu~e ii. 38), do you not see the promise realized," I will fill," etc. (ver. 7)? 2. When he Rtta1_ned the age of twelve y~Rrs, we find him again in that temple, sittin~ as a learner, beanng those who gave instruction there, and asking them questions, We can form no idea as to the nature of the questions he proposed to the masters in Israel• but when ~e think of those teachers as being confounded by the questions and answer; of that Gahlie,an Youth, when we remember how that all who heard him were astonished nt his understanding, and when we reflect upon the Divine light and knowledge which was then communicated, we see how that on the day when the sorrowing parents were Rearching diligently for their lost Son, God was fulfilliug the promise made ages beforo to his people, "I will fill," etc. (ver. 7 ; Luke ii. 42-51). 8. Whenever be entered that temple it became filled with the glory of the Lord. This was so, no matter whether he approached it for the purpose of performing some of his mighty works, or to !rive utterance io his wondrous words, or to drive from the shrine those who were desecrating it and causing it to become a den of thieves. Never did he enter it without imparting to it a glory such as was unknown to the temple of Solomon. That temple in all its glory could not bear comparison with this second, when this latter house was favoured with the visits and the holy influence of the Christ of God; and it was not until they who ought to have rejoiced in the light he imparted and in the halo his presence shed had rejected and crncified him that the glory departed from this temple as from the former one, and that irreparable ruin Wll8 brought upon the house which had been repeatedly filled with the glory of the Lord. II. VIEW THIS DIVINE PROMISE AS HAVING ITS APPLIOATION TO EVERY SANCTUARY IN WHICil Gon IS WORSHIPPED IN SPIBIT AND IN TRUTH. Every such structure is as much God's temple as the Jewish temple ever was. The Christian worshipper may adopt, in reference to the sanctuary to which it is his happiness to repair, such utterances as Ps. l.xxxiv. 1; 1.xv. 1, 2; cxxii. 1, 2; and he can apply to these modern sanctuaries the grand old promise of his God, ".And I will fill," etc. (ver. 7). There is but one essential in order that any sanctuary may be filled with glory, even the presence of Christ, not the visible, but the spiritual, presence of the Divine Redeemer. Let this be wanting, and it is immaterial how m.e.,,crnificent may be the structure reared or how imposing the outward form. Vestments may be worn, the whole assembly may assume a reverential aspect, the music may he of the most attractive character, the pulpit may be occupied by one who may charm and captivate by his eloquence; yet if the presence of Christ is not realized, the house will not be lighted up with the true glory; whereas much of this may be wanting, but if Christ's presence is realized, glory shall fill the place. What a contrast there was between this temple and the upper chamber in which the chosen disciplee were assembled, waiting for the fulfilment of the promise of their risen Lord! .And yet, on the second sabbath after the Ascension, a glory filled that upper chamber such as was unknown to the Jewish temple, simply because be who had been driven from the temple, and who, during hie appearances there, had been inva1iably rejected by its worshippers, was a welcome Guest in that upper room. His presence was fully realized there, and hence the place was filled with the Divine glory, and was rendered "the very gate of heaven." The spiritual presence of the Divine Redeemer thus constitutes the true consecration of any building reared for Christian worship and teaching ; this is what is needed in order .that any sanctuary in our own day may be filled with God's own glory. Then, clothed with true sincerity of spirit, partaking of his love, his purity, his spirituality, his consecration, walking as he walked, honestly, uprightly, coneisteotly, and eo fulfilling the conditions upon which hie manifestation depends, may we feel him n~ar, as in the sanctuary, dear to-~ by ~allowed as~ociatione, we engage in acts of worship; near us the Imparter of a D1 vino hfe, the Inspirer of all our songs, our prayers, our words, our toils; the Bestower of large blessings upon us and upon all who come within the range of our influence. "Now therefore arise, 0 Lord God," etc. (2 Chron. vi. 41).-S. D. H. Ver. 8.-T/.e wr,.secration of wealth. "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, eaith tbt': Lord of host8." I. THE D1v1NE ll!GHT '.l'O EVERY'.l'lllNG WE POSSESS. God is our Sovereign, and as OH. 11, 1-23,l THE DOOK OF HAGGAJ.