CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.—
1 Kings 8:12. Dwell in the thick darkness—A deeply solemn gloom which impressed beholders with a mysterious awe. As on Sinai (Exodus 20:21 בָּעַרָפֶל) so here בָּעֲרָפֶל corresponding to the Greek ὀρφνός.
HOMILETICS OF 1 Kings 8:10-13
THE CLOUD OF THE LORD
I. Was the visible symbol of the Divine Presence in the midst of His people. The word shechinah, though not used in the Bible, is frequently employed by writers on sacred subjects to designate this remarkable appearance, the creation of His power “whose strength is in the clouds,” and of whom it is said that “clouds and darkness are round about Him, while righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne.” From various references to it in the Scriptures we gather that the Shechinah was an intensely brilliant light, enclosed in a pillar-shaped cloud; that, during the day, this cloud would be so dense as almost entirely to conceal the light, but that at night it would become so attenuated and transparent as to leave the light alone visible. It might be, also, that the approbation or anger of Jehovah would be indicated at certain times by the changing aspects of unusual brightness or darkness. The recorded appearances of the God of Israel in the form of a cloud may have suggested to many heathen writers the manifestations of their own deities in a similar form. Thus, we read of Jupiter enthroned on Mount Gargarus “veiled in a fragrant cloud”: of Minerva entering the Grecian army “clad in a purple cloud”: and that, when Apollo attended a celebrated warrior, “a veil of clouds involved his radiant head.” The first mention made of this remarkable spectacle—as if thrust out of space by some unseen hand—was on the memorable night of the exodus of the Israelites from their long vexatious bondage in Egypt. And it must surely have created a profound feeling of wonder and awe among that vast host of two millions and a half, as the mysterious glory-cloud floated down into their midst, and, proceeding to the front, majestically and silently assumed the leadership in their perilous journey. When the Tabernacle was reared and furnished to foster the spirit of worship, and to assist the growth and enlargement of the religious life, the cloud of the Lord covered and filled it with inexpressible glory. As Jehovah, in the old covenant, chose a visible dwelling among His people in token of their election, so also He verified His presence in this Temple of Solomon in a way cognizant to the senses—that is, through the CLOUD, which is the medium and sign of His manifestation, not only here, but all through the Old Testament. (Compare Exodus 16:10; Exodus 20:21; Exodus 24:15-16; Exodus 34:5; Exodus 40:34; Leviticus 16:2; Numbers 11:25; Numbers 12:5; Isaiah 6:3-4; Ezekiel 1:4; Ezekiel 1:28; Ezekiel 10:3-4; Psalms 18:10-12.)
II. Indicated that the glory of the Divine character is beyond the comprehension of the human mind. The cloud concealed and veiled the majesty of Jehovah as well as revealed it. “The Lord said that He would dwell in the thick darkness” (1 Kings 8:12). Cloud and darkness are synonymous words. The throne within the Temple, on which the Divine presence was concentrated, stood in the back part of the most Holy Place, which was perfectly dark. “The cloud is, then, on the one hand, the heaven-descended sign of the presence of the self-manifesting God; on the other hand, it declares that God, in His being, spiritually and ethically, is so far above and different from all other beings, that man, in his sinful and mortal nature, cannot comprehend nor endure the sight of Him.” The glory of Jehovah that is unseen infinitely surpasses that which is visible (1 Corinthians 13:12; Job 38; Exodus 2:20,32).
III. Is the true consecration of every Christian sanctuary. Every Christian sanctuary is erected in the name and for the glory of Jehovah, and is intended for His dwelling place, His permanent home (1 Kings 8:13). But the true consecration of the building is the manifested presence of God to the hearts of the worshippers. The Shechinah of the old dispensation was ever closely associated with the Tabernacle. It was not a spectacle simply to excite and gratify the amazement of the people, but was intended to assist them in the worship of the one living and true God (Exodus 40:38). A sanctuary is to be consecrated, not with holy water and the mummery of Pagan rites and ceremonies, but with prayer and thanksgiving, with the Word and blessing of God. Wherever Jehovah manifests His glory, there is the consecrated Temple for His worship.
IV. Is sometimes manifested in overwhelming majesty and glory (1 Kings 8:10-11, compared with 2 Chronicles 5:13-14). The darkness was so insupportable, and the heavenly glory so overpowering, that the priests staggered under the awful manifestation, and were not able to minister. It is worthy of note, too, that the power of God came down while the worshippers were in the act of praising (ib. 1 Kings 8:13). When we rise to the highest pitch of sincerity and fervour in the worship of the Most High, it is then we receive the most memorable benedictions. The existence of the church to-day is a triumphant evidence of the continuance of the Divine presence and the special manifestations of the Divine glory. And, though we have not the pillar of fire glittering over the church as in days of yore, the power of God is realized in the person and government of the Holy Ghost, whose glory has been displayed in different periods of the church’s history in a way every whit as wonderful and imposing, and with more extensive results than in the days when the mysterious outward sign attended the Israelites “throughout all their journeys.” The miraculous effusion of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, and the remarkable revivals which have occurred since that day, are signal examples and distinctive pledges of the plenitude and omnipotency of spiritual grace with which the church may expect to be visited in the present day. God is still in the midst of His people. When the world is convinced of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; when believers are earnest in prayer and diligent in seeking the salvation of souls; when the careless and giddy are arrested in their whirl of gaiety, and become serious with thoughts of eternity; when the callous are melted, the obstinate persuaded, the doubting re-assured, and the despairing cheered; when the soul is humbled under a sense of personal unworthiness, and overwhelmed with views of the glory, the condescension, and the love of God; when the false confidences of the heart are shivered, and we are enabled to rely only on Jesus; when love glows with intense heat, and, under its fervid, constraining influence, we are led to consecrate ourselves afresh to God and to His great service—then have we unmistakable evidences of the presence and mighty operations of the Divine Spirit, that the cloud of the Lord is filling His Temple and descending into the midst of His worshipping people, in all the glory of His transcendent charms, in all the generous encompassing fulness of His outpoured blessing. Nothing short of the felt, spiritual presence of God—God realized in the heart by the energy of the Spirit—can be an effectual safe-guard against sin. The Jews saw the glory-cloud, the symbol of God’s presence and guidance and power; it was “in sight of all the House of Israel throughout all their journeys;” it filled the Temple specially and solemnly dedicated to His worship; yet they sinned—sinned grievously and repeatedly. An awful commentary on the insufficiency of the most imposing outward symbolism to regenerate and sanctify corrupted human nature! It is the revelation of Christ to the heart by the Spirit that can alone accomplish the sin-destroying work.
LESSONS:—
1. The Temple is the place of glorious revelations.
2. It is in the highest moods of worship that the greatest blessings are read.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES
1 Kings 8:10. By a cloud did God often both represent His glory, and cover it: signifying thereby that it was both invisible and unapproachable.
—The cloud—the visible symbol of the Divine presence, the Shechinah of the Targums—which had been promised before the ark was begun (Exodus 29:42), and had filled the Tabernacle as soon as it was completed (Exodus 40:34), and which had probably been seen from time to time during the long interval when we have no express mention of it from a little before the death of Moses (Deuteronomy 31:15), to the present occasion, now once more appeared in full magnificence, and took, as it were, possession of the building which Solomon was dedicating. The presence of God in the Temple henceforth was thus assured to the Jews, and His approval of all Solomon had done was signified.—Speaker’s Comm.
1 Kings 8:10-13. It is impossible that mortal, sinful man should see or comprehend the Holy and Infinite One. I can experience His merciful presence; but presumption and folly it is to wish to sound the depths of His Being. The eye of faith beholds in darkness the glory of the Lord; in the night of the cross, the light of the world; through the dim veil of the flesh, the only begotten Son of God, full of mercy and grace.—Lange.
—The glory of the Lord appeared in a cloud, a dark cloud, to signify—
1. The darkness of that dispensation in comparison with the light of the Gospel, by which, with open face, we behold, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord.
2. The darkness of our present state in comparison with the vision of God which will be the happiness of heaven, where the divine glory is unveiled. Now we can only say what He is not, but then we shall see Him as He is.
1 Kings 8:11. The holy angels clap their wings upon their faces, as it were a double scarf—or as a man doth his hands before his eyes, when he beholdeth an exceeding great light—before the brightness of God’s presence, that would else put out their eyes. Pellican saith, by the priests being driven out by this cloud appearing was showed that the time should come when this priesthood should minister no more by carnal rites in this place.—Trapp.
—Not veneration for the Divine majesty alone forbids delay in the presence of the Divine glory; not merely a holy dread thrills through the priests, so that they draw back; but the glory of the Lord, like a consuming fire, is that before which unholy man cannot exist, to which he cannot approach without being destroyed. Hence the High Priest was obliged to prepare his entrance into the holiest by first enveloping with the smoke of burning incense the symbol of the sin-covering power of prayer—the cloud which embodied the glory of the Lord.—Keil.
1 Kings 8:12. Perceiving both priests and people struck with horror and wonder at this darkness, Solomon reminds them that this was no sign of God’s dislike or disfavour, as some of them might possibly imagine; but a token of His approbation and grace and special presence among them.—Pool.