686. 1CH 22:16. DAVID’S ADDRESS TO SOLOMON, ON BUILDING THE TEMPLE
1Ch_22:16. David’s Address to Solomon, On Building the Temple
"Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise, therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with thee."’971Ch_22:16.
Our text is the address of David, king of Israel, to his son and successor, Solomon. David had purposed to erect a house for Jehovah’s worship; but on account of the wars which had distinguished his reign, God transferred the honor to Solomon; 1Ch_22:6. But though he could not carry out all the desires of his heart in that matter, yet he prepared the way for the erection, and that in a most liberal and devoted manner. See 1Ch_22:14, &c. He concludes this description by the urgent appeal of the text: "Arise, therefore," &c. Observe,
I. The sublime object contemplated.
II. The earnest appeal addressed. And,
III. The pious prayer presented.
I. The sublime object contemplated.
It was the building of a temple, for God’s honor and praise. Its history, the costliness of its materials, its amazing extent, the labor experienced in its erection, and the end for which it was reared, show how great and sublime that object was.
But that dispensation was only a shadowy and typical one. Solomon was an eminent type of the Lord Jesus. His reign, of the gospel dispensation; and his temple, of the church of the Redeemer. What, therefore, is the object to which our ardent and devout attention is now called? It is the erection of the church of the Lord Jesus. The building up of a spiritual temple, for the sacerdotal ministrations of the great High Priest of our profession.
Now, look at this object, in connection,
1. With the materials employed.
In the case of Solomon’s temple, there were precious stones, and silver, and gold. In this, the materials are living human beings; intellectual, thinking, immortal spirits. 1Pe_2:5, and Eph_2:19, &c.
Now, the forming of these materials into a temple for God, involves all that is majestic, and grand, and momentous! It includes the calling of men from darkness to light, &c. Their conversion, regeneration, and holiness. Their consecration to the highest and purest service. Their moral dignity’97spiritual blessedness’97and eternal glory.
Look at it,
2. In connection with the well-being of our world.
Through the entrance of sin, the earth has been cursed, and become the dominion of Satan, and the territory of the kingdom of darkness. Pollution, misery, and woe, becloud its horizon, and curse its inhabitants. Oppression, suffering, and crime, despair and death, stalk in fearful steps, through our world.
Now, as the temple of the Lord Jesus rises up, darkness gives place to light.
Sin gives place to holiness.
Pollution to purity.
Oppression to freedom.
Suffering to enjoyment.
And death, to life and immortality.
The wilderness blossoms as the rose, and becomes as the fruitful field, yea, even as the garden of the Lord. Heaven is brought down to earth, and paradise is regained and restored.
Look at it,
3. In connection with the Redeemer’s glory.
He came to bruise the head of Satan’97to destroy the works of the devil’97to set up his own spiritual empire, &c. And in the joys of the redeemed, and the acclamations and songs of his people, to receive a revenue of honor and glory. Now, in the erection of his spiritual temple, this is secured. Here he witnesses the travail of his soul,’97here he sees the purchase of his blood,’97here he beholds the triumphs of his grace’97the trophies of his truth’97the monuments of his love’97and the completion of his temple will swell the Saviour’s spirit with ecstasy he hath not yet known, and fill the universe with songs of acclamation and praise, which ear hath never yet heard. From myriads’97 as countless as the stars of heaven, or as the drops of the morning dew’97shall be sung, "Worthy is the Lamb," &c. Rev_5:12. Notice,
II. The earnest appeal addressed. "Arise, therefore, and be doing." Now, this appeal involves this great truth,
1. That the temple of the Saviour is to be reared by human instrumentality.
This was true of Solomon’s temple; and equally so of the church of the Lord Jesus. All the dispensations of religion have been so connected. The Patriarchal’97Mosaic’97and Prophetical, &c. To prepare the way of Christ and the gospel, was committed to John the Baptist.
Now, the institutions of the Christian dispensation are committed to the Redeemer’s church. There is not now a successive priesthood. Jesus is the great High Priest of our profession, &c.; and all believers are priests unto God.
In the ranks of agency, first stands forth the Christian ministry; then the Evangelists and Deacons of the church; but immediately united with these, the whole body of believers.
All Christians are to shine, &c.
All are to be as salt.
All are to testify for Christ, &c.
All to witness for the truth.
All to labor in the cause of love and mercy.
Every Christian is to be the Lord’s, in all his powers, and energies, and talents, and influence,’97the Lord’s entirely, and forever.
2. To the duties of this instrumentality, the church should be actively excited.
"Arise, therefore," &c. Even the servants of God are liable to fall into a state of apathy and formalism. The things of time and sense absorb their attention’97earthly cares interfere,’97the indolence of our nature’97temptations of the enemy, &c. Now, nothing can meet these deadly influences, but a spirit of holy and heavenly excitement.
The excitement of holy love.
The excitement of burning zeal.
The excitement of spiritual devotion.
The church must be awake, and lively, and intensely concerned, or the work of the Redeemer’s cause will not, indeed cannot, be carried on. Hence, we are to "consider one another, and provoke one another to love and good works," &c.
3. The spirit of active excitement must ever be associated with holy labor and effort.
Now, the working part is the real department to which we are called. It is well to contemplate the scenes of joy and glory prophecy depicts. It is well to be accurately acquainted with the instrumentality needful. It is well to devise and set up the essential apparatus; to determine, and purpose, and aver our resolutions. But all will be of no practical avail, without the toil and the doing. "And be doing."
It is the preaching, and the praying, and the teaching of the young,’97and the distribution of tracts,’97and the exhortation,’97and the laying out of our means, &c., by which the great work of religion must be carried on. The church must be a diligent, faithful, working church.
And this doing must be discriminate,’97in our proper and legitimate sphere.
And cheerful,’97with a ready heart and willing spirit.
And earnest,’97with all our hearts.
And constant and persevering,’97not weary in well-doing.
And united,’97as one army,’97or as the drops in the wave. "Striving together"
Observe,
III. The pious prayer presented.
"And the Lord be with thee."
Now observe,
1. The object of the prayer.
The presence of the Lord. All, without this, will be inefficient. Even the wisdom of Solomon, in connection with royal influence and rule, are vain without this. This should ever be impressed on our minds. We need many things,’97men and money, &c.; sanctified intellects and eloquent tongues, and burden-bearing shoulders; but with all, and above all, the Lord’s presence. "Not by might," &c. "Paul planteth," &c. "Let no man glory in men," &c.
2. The certainty of its realization.
The Lord will be with his people.
We have abundant promises.
We have countless instances.
The whole history of the church, &c., The delight God has in his people, &c.
Application
1. Are we interested in the great object?
2. Are we laboring for God, and the church, and souls? Is there not a necessity for the exhortation? "Arise," &c.
3. Do we rely on the presence and blessing of God?
4. Can we offer the prayer of the text, for all who are laboring in the cause of God?
Autor: JABEZ BURNS