Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-12-10
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR DECEMBER IS.

INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR DECEMBER IS.
Subject: Solomon Dedicates the Tenn.
pie, Kings 8-Golden Text, Ps.
122:1-Commit Verses 10, IL
Read Kings Chs. 5-8.
TINIE.-1O04 B. c. PLACE.-Je-
rusalem.
EXPOSITION.-I. The Gathering
at Jerusalem to Dedicate the Temple,
I, 2. Great national gatherings for
religious purposes were one of the
marked features of the life of God s
chosen people Israel. Not only had
they their three regular yearly feasts
(Ex. 23:14-1O but there were special
gatherings for special occasions like
this (cf. Josh. 1872; 24:1; 1 Chron.
28:D. Sometimes, as in the case be-
fore us, the regular and the special
were combined (cf. Ezra 3:1-6). The
Israelites when walking with God
took plenty of time for due acknowl-
edgment Of Gods goodness, and for
the cultivation of their moral and
spiritual life. The dedication of the
temple occupied seven days, and was
/ Immediately followed by the regular
| yearly Feast of Tabernacles e Chron.
7:8-1O. There were In all fourteen
| days Of confession of sin (for the
Day Of Atonement occurred on the
tenth day of this month, Lev. 1927.
which would be the third day of the
seven days of the dedication), of
thanksgiving and worship and prayer.
No wonder that God manifested Him.
self to them in such a glorious way.
The immediate purpose of this great
national gathering of all the leading
people of the nation was that they
might bring up "the ark of the cov-
enant" with due honor. All the SEN
ators of the nation were there, but
none of them presumed to touch the
ark that stood for Gods presence in
their midst. God had appointed that
only 'the sons of Kohath" should
bear the ark (Nu. 4, Is b.. On this
occasion the most important of the
sons of Kohath, the descendants of
Aaron. the priests themselves, bore
the ark (cf. Josh. 3:6 IA, Is; &C;
De. 31:9; 1 Chron. Is: 2, 11-15).
Not only the ark, but the entire
tabernacle, which up to this time had
been at Gibeon, was brought up Sac
rifices and offerings expressing con-
fession Of sin, trust in atonement
through blood, conservation and COM
munion with God, were offered in
countless profusion. BY the "oracle
of the house" is meant the most Holy
Place reserved for the ark (ch. 6:19-
22). In this most Holy Place the
avk was placed under the sheltering
wings of the Cherubim (cf. ch. 6:27;
En-. 25:20-23). At the time the rec
ord contained In this book was writ
ten everything still remained just as
1t was arranged the day of dedication
". 81. The ark contained the two
tables of stone which Moses had
hewed out at Horeb, and on which
Jeh,vah Himself had written "the
ten words" Cor commandments (De.
1918, r. W. These ten words"
wete Gods covenant with Israel (Ex.
34:27, 2S, r. W. Hence the ark
that contained them was called 1.-The
ark of the covenant" With the law
of God perfectly kept within, and its
scat dUONe,
where God met His people (Ex.
25:20-22), 1t was remarkable type
Of Christ. These ten words We're also
called 1.-The testimony" because they
were Gods witness to the truth and
to His will. There was absolutely
nothing else in the ark but these two
tables of stone. Besides the ark, in
the tabernacle, were the pot of
mama (Ex. 1888, 34) and Aarons
rod that budded (Nu. 1910, ~. AS
these were by divine commandment
so closely associated with the ark of
testimony, the author of the Epistle
to the Hebrews regards them as being
In it. (The Greek proposition trans
lated "in" has a wider meaning and
use than our word "in.D Only the
law which Jehovah Himself had
written was actually inside the ark.
The complete Mosaic law (not merely
the ten words) written out in full by
the hand of Moses, was beside the
ark of the covenant, in the tabernacle
(De. 31:26), and afterwards in the
temple, where it was found when the
temple was being repaired in the days
of Josiah Il X. 22:1-20).
III. The House of Jehovah Filled
With the Glory of Jehovah, 10, II,
62, 63. When everything was com.
plete, and the temple was left emp.
tied of all else for God Himself, He
came down and filled it with His
own ineffable glory. When every
thing is in place, and we have pre-.
sented ourselves to God to be His
temple, and have taken off our hands,
He will come and fill us too with His
glory. "The cloud" that filled the
house of the Lord" was the Shekinah
glory of His own awful presence Gle.
1872; Elk. 1921; 14:24; 1910;
24:16-18; 2 Chron. 5:1S. 14). When
the conditions are met to-day, God
just as really and manifestly, and far
more blessedly, fills His house with
His glory. In a similar way Jehovah
had filled the tabernacle with His
glory when that was set up, and ev-
erything finished according to. His
word lex. 40:34, 35). And He again
filled the temple when Solomon had
finished his prayer e Chron. 7:1-3).
We have far more abiding privilege
than Israel; for 1t is ours to constant
ly behold the glory of God in the
person of Jesus Christ e Cor. 1913;
A:6; Jno. 1:14).