MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 35:4-19
THE HOUSE OF THE LORD
The instructions for the building and furniture of the Tabernacle were detailed in Exodus 25, &c. In this recapitulation, notice—
I. That the provision of the house of the Lord was obligatory. The command for worship, the time of worship, and the building for worship emanated from the same divine authority. Has, then, the obligation for the latter ceased? No! Christians should be cautious how they speak of the abolition of the Mosaic dispensation. Much of the terrible pest known as antinomianism is based on erroneous notions on this subject. True, as a dispensation it is abolished, inasmuch as we live under the dispensation of Christ. But many of the leading principles, provisions, and commands of the latter are based upon those of the former, and what has not, either by divine ordination or the necessities of the case been abrogated, is binding still. The law of our text—provision for public worship—has never been abolished, was sanctioned by Christ, practised by the Apostles, and has been recognised by the Church universal ever since. The command of our text is based—
1. Upon necessity.
(1.) The worship was a common worship, and therefore necessitated a place where people could meet together.
(2.) The worship was of perpetual obligation and frequent practice. Some provision must, therefore, be made against contingencies of weather, &c.
2. Upon utility. Private houses could not always be in a state of readiness, and must from their very nature lack those appliances without which order and decency would be impossible.
II. That the Lord’s house should be the result of the people’s free and generous will, Exodus 35:5. The principle held as good then as now, “The Lord loveth a cheerful giver,” &c. The people were not taxed for it. No Church rate was levied. No hand was laid on national property. To wrest contributions from unwilling and grudging hands for God’s service, is to overthrow the principles on which such service is founded, and to offer what God cannot accept. Here, as afterwards, such as had “a mind to work” were invited to work; such as were inclined to give were encouraged to give. No compulsion was used. God wanted a house. Moses told the people so. The voluntary principle was called into play, and was on this its first appearance successful, as it has been ever since, as it will be as long as the work is left to the faith and love of those to whom the appeal is made (Psalms 110:3).
III. That the Lord’s house was to be built and furnished intelligently, Exodus 35:10. The Jews built their Tabernacle with distinct reference to the purposes for which it was to be used. The “wise hearted,” therefore, and not merely the wealthy and the tasteful, were in special request. The necessity for “wise heartedness,” in building and furnishing God’s house, has not vanished with the “shadowy dispensation.” Let Christian architects and Church officers bear this in mind. If our tabernacles are specially for the teaching of God’s word, they should be so constructed that the preacher should be seen and heard by all.
IV. That the Lord’s house was to be complete.
1. The building was to be complete. “His tent, covering, taches, boards, bars, pillars, sockets,” &c., &c., were all to be finished and in their place. No man thinks of moving into a house until the house is complete. Is, then, that which is not good enough for man, good enough for man’s Maker? Christian men! let not the infidel and the worldling say as they pass by our slovenly and unfinished buildings, “These men began to build a tower for their God and were not able to finish.” We can finish our temples of mammon, our temples of gaiety, our temples of learning: let us not leave unfinished the sanctuary of our God.
2. The accessories were to be complete. The inventory here is perfect, down to the very pins and sockets. It may be said that this belonged to the “ceremonial law.” Well, is the abolition of that law in its technical details a reason why “beggarly elements” should be introduced into the Christian Churches, and ministers hampered, congregations inconvenienced, and the work of God generally retarded for the want of needful arrangement. Let trustees of Churches see to it that everything in the pulpit, choir, pews, and vestry, that is requisite for the decent, edifying, comforting worship of God, is provided. And let vergers, chapel-keepers, pew-openers, see that everything is in its place before the minister and congregation arrive.
3. The funds were to be complete. When the Tabernacle was “opened” it was out of debt. Christians did not learn from Jews the habit of spending money for God which their children would have to provide. It is a scandal to men, who would under no circumstances allow men to call themselves their creditors, to make them God’s creditors. If a congregation is poor, let them be satisfied with a modest building till they are rich enough to provide a more magnificent structure.
V. That the Lord’s house should be beautiful (1 Chronicles 16:29). It was only a tent, but it was the best tent in the whole camp. It was reared for the best purpose, the people therefore constructed it of the best materials they had, and on the best plans. True, it may be said that God is everywhere and may be worshipped anywhere. But everywhere is the temple God has erected for Himself, and has He not lavished magnificence and beauty on that temple? Look at its roof, its floor, its aisles! Let nature, then, be the model upon which churches should be constructed for the higher worship of the great Creator. And if the Jews thought it worth their while to make God’s house as splendid as their means would allow, let not Christians fall below their standard. There may be exceptions. The people may be poor. Churches may have to adapt themselves to circumstances. But let them be of the very best that can be afforded; and let those beware whose objection against the beauty of the Lord’s house is merely the selfish one, cost.
Remember—(i.) That God’s house is for His worship, not for lectures or theatrical displays. (ii.) That God’s house is for the preaching of His Word; (iii) and therefore, that God’s house demands our best efforts for its completion, and our reverent behaviour at its services.
—J. W. Burn.
ILLUSTRATIONS
BY
REV. WILLIAM ADAMSON
Moral Law! Exodus 35:1-35.
(1.) The ceremonial law was like a scaffolding around a building which is being slowly and gradually raised. When the building is completed, the scaffolding is taken away. But the moral law is like the rafters, deep sunk in the building itself. These cannot be taken away without the ruin of the whole structure of revelation.
(2.) The ceremonial law is like the bright petals of a blossom, which drop off to make room for the fruit. But the moral law is like the stem, which upholds both blossom and fruit. For God is holy—God is good; and therefore the law of holiness and goodness must, like God, endure for ever.
“Thy God is good, His mercy nigh,
His love sustains thy tottering feet;
Trust Him, for His grace is sure,
Ever doth His Truth endure.”
—Zehn.
Nature’s-Tabernacle! Exodus 35:4. Rightly considered, all nature is the tabernacle of God, constructed for His worship. The tabernacle of the wilderness has been called by an eminent writer a miniature model of the whole earth, just as he calls the people of Israel a miniature pattern of all nations. Every man has a part assigned to him in the erection and adorning of this wonderful tabernacle, whose floor is the green fields, whose walls are the rocks and mountains, and whose roof is the ever-changing sky. Every man who does a day’s work is a fellow-worker with God, in carrying out His great design in creation—in improving the face of nature—changing the wilderness into a garden, developing the latent resources and capabilities of the earth, converting its crude materials into shapes of beauty and forms of usefulness, in making the world fairer and richer, and better fitted to be the home of redeemed man, and the shrine of the Most High God. Therefore “Excelsior.”
“In happy homes he saw the light
Of household fires gleam warm and bright;
Above the spectral glaciers shone,
And from his lips escaped a moan—
‘Excelsior!’ ”
—Longfellow.
Love’s Service! Exodus 35:5-19.
(1.) He was busy preparing the home. All his thoughts day after day were on its beauty and decoration. And as the work advanced towards completion; as the rooms became richly yet chastely adorned in floor, and ceiling, and wall; as the garden parterres assumed an orderly and blooming appearance, he spent hours in wandering from room to room, and terrace to terrace, thinking—of what?—of whom! Of her whom he loved—on whom he had lavished his fondest affections, and for whose residence in that house he had been so busily occupied in preparation. He regretted none of these costly offerings at “Love’s Shrine.”
(2.) God bad condescended to be Israel’s God. He had promised to come and dwell with them. And they were building Him a house wherein to reside. Some there might be who grudged the costly beauties of the tabernacle, but most of the pious in Israel, who loved God with all their heart, would delight in making sacrifices for Him whom they loved. And as the home grew more and more ready for His Divine indwelling, how that love would fill their spirits with bright prospects of sweet fellowship and loving communion with Him when the house of God was ready. So the fabric of our soul’s holiness is being daily upreared and adorned for the Apocalyptic consummation.
“The mansion of creation’s Architect;
The palace of the Everlasting King;
Its gates of pearl, its edifice of gold;
Its very streets of pure crystalline gold.”
—Bickersteth.
Midianite-Mines! Exodus 35:5. The Old Testament allusions to gold, silver, and other valuable metals, derive new interest from Captain Burton’s researches in Midian during the last six months. He has returned from his first expedition with twenty-five tons of specimens—including torquoise, alabaster, and sulphur. He also brought for the Egyptian Khedive, Midianite coins, inscriptions, fragments of glass and pottery; as well as a variety of relics from the thirty-two ruined cities which still exist in the land. He found evidences of ancient mining operations everywhere, traces of gold to an important amount, quartz threaded with veins of silver. Everywhere were evidences of great operations anciently conducted by practised miners—probably slaves—under skilled engineers. The stones
“Of purest crystal are from gloomiest mines,
The tenderest pearls are won from roughest seas.”
Religion-Sphere! Exodus 35:6-11. The Levitical economy teaches that the whole life is one, that true religion is the proper use of man’s whole being, and that it is not a thing merely of the Sunday and the sanctuary. By our Lord’s life on earth He imparted to the whole earth a heavenly character—made every spot of common ground an altar, every common mean a sacrament, every action of daily life a worship. Religion has its place in everything; even in our daily labours which we pursue. The inspiration of Aholiab in his trade shows the true design and meaning of work. Macmillan remarks, that natural, as well as spiritual talents, are the good gifts of God, that the right use of the powers of the artist, the musician, the poet, the artisan, the mechanic, the day labourer, is due to the inspiration of the Spirit.
“ ‘O dreary life!’ we cry, ‘O dreary life!’
And still the generations of the birds
Sing through our sighing, and the flocks and herds
Serenely live, while we are keeping strife
With Heaven’s true purpose in us, as a knife
Against which we may struggle!”
Stone-Stability! Exodus 35:9.
(1.) Gems are steadfast and enduring. They are not composed of perishable materials—not even of rocks that wither and crumble away; but of that which endures. Jewels, as a class, are the most lasting of all earthly objects, the most beautiful, as well as the most imperishable, form in which matter appears. Gold will wear away, silver will tarnish, and wood will decay. The granite stone itself will disintegrate. But jewels will continue unchanged for thousands of years. They are, therefore, expressive types of stability and permanence.
(2.) Gospel truths have this virtue. They are no vague hopes, or shadowy dreams; but solid substantial realities, more enduring than the everlasting hills themselves. They are truths which will last when the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll and vanish away. They will come out of the last dread conflagration, when the earth and all therein shall be burnt up, all the purer, clearer, and more enduring for the fiery ordeal. Were Gospel truths destitute of this stability, they might retain their literary brilliancy, but they would lose their saving and consoling potency. It enabled Paul to say, “I know in whom I have believed.”
“The earth shall pass away,
The stars shall fall,
The heavens roll together
Like a parchment scroll;
But TRUTH shall live for ever,
And through endless ages give
Her blessings to the sainted,
And fail them never, never.”
Tabernacle-Furniture! Exodus 35:10-14. Amongst the existing memorials of ancient Rome is the triumphal Arch of Titus, reared to commemorate the capture of Jerusalem by that famous general. It represents in its basreliefs the golden candlestick, the table of shewbread, and other sacred articles which formed part of the spoils of the temple. These trophies were borne conspicuously in the triumphal procession with which Titus and his army were honoured on their return to Rome. The sculptures on the arch represent the procession, the figure of the candlestick being the most prominent of the sacred symbols.
“Their glory faded, and their race dispersed,
The last of nations now, though once the first,
They warn and teach the proudest, would they learn,
‘Keep Wisdom, or meet vengeance in your turn.’ ”
—Cowper.
Divine Delectation! Exodus 35:10, &c. In the Canticles of Solomon we are told that He feedeth among the lilies.
(1.) Material! The Creator, it has been well observed by Macmillan, receives enjoyment from the beauties of creation. We are told authoritatively that He takes pleasure in the works of His hands; that for His pleasure they are and were created. Those countless objects of wonderful loveliness, in situations where no eye but His own can behold them, are sources of Divine delectation. Such are the wild flowers in pathless deserts, and on inaccessible mountain peaks.
(2.) Moral!, As the artist delights in exercising his talent in depicting the landscape—as the architect finds pleasure in exerting his skill in uprearing the gorgeous minster: so God not only delights in the scenes and objects of nature, in the formation of which He has exercised His divine wisdom and power, but also in the “beauties of holiness,” designed and upreared by His grace. In this respect God desired and delighted to see the Wilderness Tabernacle beautiful and glorious—as the emblem of the Church and Christian “comely with the come liness” which He has put on them.
“To-day I saw a dragon-fly
Come from the wells where he did lie,
An inner impulse rent the vail
Of his old husk; from head to tail
Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.
He dried his wings; like gauze they grew;
Through crofts and pastures wet with dew,
A living flash of life he flew.”
—Vernon.