The Two Tabernacles.
I. A tabernacle is a frail temporary dwelling, generally of cloth, which men make for shelter by night, when they expect to be so short a time in the place that it is not worth while to erect a more substantial edifice. The body is frequently compared to dust. It is glorious as the starry sky, and yet as fading as a summer flower.
II. Thistabernacle. The house in which we now dwell is not our only dwelling-place. The design of the Spirit in this word is to preserve us from bestowing all our regard on this tabernacle while another is more worthy. When the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. "Blessed are the home-sick, for they shall get home."
III. Burdened.Our burdens are useful. They may be inventoried among the all things that work together for good. "The sorrows of earth will enhance the joys of heaven."
IV. "Not that we would be unclothed." Christians love life for many reasons. They love it with a deeper, more intelligent love than other creatures, because the gifts which are in their own nature sweet, are sweeter when they are received from a Father's hand. This disciple fully comprehends and clearly expresses what he likes and what he does not like in connection with living and dying. He is willing to meet the necessity of putting off this mortal coil, for the sake of the glory that shall follow, but he frankly confesses that the act of putting off is not agreeable. He not only submits to it, he bounds forward to meet it joyfully; but the cause of his buoyancy is above not of the fire and water of the passage, but of the large place to which the passage leads.
W. Arnot, The Anchor of the Soul,p. 288.
References: 2 Corinthians 5:4. E. Garbett, The Soul's Life,p. 396; T. Arnold, Sermons,vol. i., p. 237. 2 Corinthians 5:4; 2 Corinthians 5:5. T. M. Herbert, Sketches of Sermons,p. 177.