I saw the Lord standing upon the altar.
The Lord arising to judgment in His Church
God will no longer tolerate sin, nor allow sinners to trifle with His majesty.
I. Dwelling-place of The Most High--His Church.
1. No Church is His without Him (Revelation 3:2-3; Revelation 3:9).
2. High privilege to have Him so nigh (Deuteronomy 4:7).
3. Continuous realisation of His presence by Israel (Exodus 40:38).
4. Peculiar abiding-place in Holy of Holies (Exodus 25:20-22).
5. And afterwards incarnate in the Holy One (John 1:14).
6. Future tabernacling (Revelation 21:3).
But in text God is still in temple.
II. His presence in the church realised.
1. Always by a spiritual discernment (1 Corinthians 2:14).
2. Some times by outward signs (1 Kings 8:10-11; 1 Kings 19:12). His Word, ordinances, blessings, visitations, etc.
3. But in text, “I saw the Lord.,” Thus Moses (Exodus 33:18), Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1) (Acts 7:56; Acts 9:3, etc.).
III. The Lord come out of his abiding-place. No longer “dwelling between the cherubim” (Psalms 80:1), but “ standing upon the altar “ (unusual place), near the worshippers, ready to depart.
1. Because of spirit of infatuation. Israel often acted as if God were bound to remain while semblances only of religion existed (Numbers 16:3; Matthew 3:9; Matthew 5:20).
2. God’s judgments often begin at house of God (1 Peter 4:17). Hence, early official act of Jesus Christ (John 2:15), repeated before His death (Mark 11:15).
3. Our expectancy and duty (Mark 13:33, etc.; Revelation 22:20).
IV. The Lord uttering his judgments against sin.
1. Spared not His own Son, “made sin” (Zechariah 13:7).
2. Spared not the heathen (Amos 1:2.), nor religious professors (Amos 6:1), not any, great or small (Amos 9:1; Hebrews, “capitals,” and other parts).
3. Note remarkable parallelisms.
4. Observe the many “I wills” of judgment and power.
5. Yet “remembering His mercy.” A remnant to be saved.
Application.
1. Ministerial duty.
2. If the Lord be among us, is His presence honoured?
3. Our acknowledgments. (W. W. Tyler.)
Great sins, great calamities, great efforts
“This chapter commences with an account of the fifth and last vision of the prophet, in which the final ruin of the kingdom of Israel is represented. This ruin was to be complete and irreparable; and no quarter to which “the inhabitants might flee for refuge would afford them any shelter from the wrath of the Omnipresent and Almighty Jehovah.” The prophet in vision sees the Almighty standing upon the altar, and hears Him give the command to smite the lintel of the temple door, that the posts may shake; in other words, to destroy the temple.
I. That under the righteous government of God great sin exposes to great calamity. How terrible the calamities here referred to! The Israelites, when threatened by the Assyrians, would flock in crowds to Bethel and implore protection from the golden calf. But the very place where they sought protection would prove their ruin. Jehovah says, “Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword,” etc. The sin of these Israelites in their idolatrous worship was great. They were the descendants of Abraham the friend of God. Yet they gave themselves up to idolatry. Hence these terrible calamities. The greater the sin the greater the punishment “Unto whom much is given, much will be required.”
II. The consciousness of approaching calamities will stimulate to great efforts for escape. “Though they dig into hell, thence shall Mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down.” There are here supposed attempts at escape. There is the supposed attempt to get into hell--Sheol, the dark realm of shadows, where they could conceal themselves. There is an attempt to climb Mount Carmel, 1200 feet in height, there to conceal themselves under the shadows, intricacies, and the crowded forests of oaks, pines, laurels, etc., and also in the deep caves running down to the sea. Men in view of great dangers always seek refuge. On the great day of retribution sinners are represented as crying to the rocks and mountains to fall on them.
III. The greatest efforts to escape must prove utterly futile when God has given the sinner up. “Though they dig into hell, thence shall Mine hand take them.” Whatever the efforts of the sinner in the prospect of approaching danger, there is no escape for him. God is everywhere, and everywhere all-seeing, all just, and almighty. Conclusion. The only way to escape utter ruin is to renounce your sin and commit yourself unto the safe keeping of Him who is the Redeemer of mankind. (Homilist.)