by Arthur W. Pink
by Arthur W. Pink
Philologos Religious Online Books
Philologos.org
by Arthur W. Pink
June, 1943
SOLOMON'S TEMPLE.
[What follows is not designed for the careless and casual reader who hurriedly skims these pages merely to ascertain what is in them, but for refined minds that can appreciate the sublime and who will deem themselves well repaid for re-reading this piece more slowly and thoughtfully. We can say this the more freely inasmuch as it is no composition of ours—nor is our pen capable of reaching such heights—but rather that of one who wrote almost two centuries ago: James Hervey, a rector in a small parish in Northamptonshire. No one denomination can claim a monopoly of God's most faithful and eminent servants, nor have they been confined to Nonconformity. Some of His choicest ministers were bestowed upon the Church of England, as such men as Toplady, Berridge, John Newton, and a host of others since them prove.]
With immense charge and exquisite skill Solomon had erected the most rich and finished structure that the sun ever saw. Yet, upon a review of his work and a reflection on the transcendent perfections of the Godhead, how he exalts the one and abases the other! The building was too glorious for the mightiest monarch to inhabit, too sacred for unhallowed feet even to enter, yet infinitely too mean for the Deity to reside in. It was, and the royal worshipper acknowledged it to be, a most marvellous vouch-safement in uncreated excellency to “put His Name there.” The whole passage breathes such a delicacy and is animated with such a sublimity of sentiment: “But will God indeed dwell on earth? Behold! the Heaven and Heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee, how much less this house that I have builded!” (l Kings 8:27).
“But will”—a fine abrupt beginning, most significantly describing the amazement and rapture of the royal Prophet's mind. “God”: he uses no epithet, where writers of inferior discernment would have multiplied them; but speaks of the Deity as an incomprehensible Being, whose perfections and glories are exalted above all praise. “Dwell”—to bestow on sinful creatures a propitious lock, to favour them with a transient visit of kindness, even this were an unutterable obligation. Will He then vouchsafe to fix His abode among them and take up His stated residence with them? “Indeed”—a word in this connection peculiarly emphatic, expressive of a condescension, wonderful and extraordinary almost beyond all credibility. “Behold”!—intimating the continued, or rather the increasing surprise of the speaker, and awakening the attention of the hearer. “Behold! the Heaven”—the spacious concave of the firmament: that wide extended azure circumference, in which worlds unnumbered perform their revolutions, is too scanty an apartment for the Godhead. “Nay: the Heaven of heavens”—those vastly higher tracts, which lie far beyond the limits of human survey, to which our very thoughts can hardly soar; even these (unbounded as they are) cannot afford an adequate Habitation for Jehovah; even these dwindle into a point when compared with the Infinite of His Essence; even these “are as nothing before Him.” “How much less”—proportionate is this poor diminutive speck (which I have been erecting and embellishing) to so august a Presence, so immense a Majesty!
We are apt to be struck with admiration at the stateliness and grandeur of a masterful performance in architecture. And perhaps on a sight of the ancient sanctuary should have made the superficial observation of the disciples: “What manner of stones!” and “what buildings are here!” But what a nobler turn of thought and more just plane of things does it discover to join with Israel's king in celebrating the condescension of the Divine Inhabitant! That the high and lofty One who fills immensity with His glory, should, in a peculiar manner fix His abode there! Should there manifest an extraordinary degree of His benedictive Presence, permit sinful mortals to approach His Majesty, and promise “To make them joyful in His house of Prayer!” This should more sensibly affect our hearts than the most curious arrangement of stones can delight our eyes
Nay, the everlasting God does not disdain to dwell in our souls by His Holy Spirit, and to make even our bodies His temple! Tell me, ye that frame critical judgments and balance nicely the distinction of things, Is this most astonishing or most rejoicing? He humbleth Himself, the Scriptures assure us, ever to behold the things that are in Heaven (Psa. 113:6). 'Tis a most condescending favour if HE pleases to take the least approving notice of angels and archangels when they bow down in homage from their celestial thrones. Will He then graciously regard, will He be united, most intimately united to poor polluted man, breathing dust?—unparalleled honour! invaluable privilege! Be this my portion, and I shall not covet crowns nor envy conquerors.
Philologos | Bible Prophecy Research | The BPR Reference Guide | About Us