Reverence For The House Of G.o.d
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
A Jewish Synagogue. "Ye shall keep My Sabbaths, and reverence My sanctuary." Lev. 19:30.
1. Why did G.o.d instruct His people to build a sanctuary?
"And let them make Me a sanctuary; _that I may dwell among them_." Ex.
25:8.
2. How did He tell them to regard this dwelling-place of G.o.d?
"Ye shall keep My Sabbaths, and _reverence My sanctuary_: I am the Lord."
Lev. 19:30.
3. What does the Lord say of things dedicated to His service?
"Every devoted thing is _most holy_ unto the Lord." Lev. 27:28.
4. When G.o.d met Moses at the burning bush, why did He tell him to take off his shoes?
"And He said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, _for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground_." Ex. 3:5. See also Joshua 5:15.
NOTE.-The presence of G.o.d made the place holy. Wherever G.o.d meets with His people, that place is holy.
5. When the tabernacle was reared anciently, what occurred?
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
Jesus Cleansing The Temple. "Take these things hence; make not My Father"s house an house of merchandise." John 2:16.
"Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and _the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle_." Ex. 40:34. See 2 Chron. 5:13, 14.
6. Why should all show respect for the house of worship?
"_The Lord is in His holy temple_: let all the earth keep silence before Him." Hab. 2:20.
NOTE.-A failure to recognize this fact leads many to treat the house of worship without due respect. Nothing seems more appropriate to divine worship than that a sense of awe and silence should pervade the place of worship, and that only the sound of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving to G.o.d should be heard within its walls. Both upon entering and just before leaving the house of G.o.d it is highly appropriate and a most excellent practise for each worshiper to bow the head for a few moments in silent prayer.
7. How did Christ manifest His regard for the sanct.i.ty of G.o.d"s house?
"And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves; and would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And He taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves."
Mark 11:15-17.
NOTE.-This cleansing occurred at the close of Christ"s public ministry. There was a similar cleansing also at the beginning of His ministry. See John 2:13-17.
8. What punishment did G.o.d bring upon Nadab and Abihu for offering strange or common fire in the tabernacle service?
"And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He commanded them not. _And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord._" Lev.
10:1, 2.
NOTE.-This, like the two cleansings of the temple by Christ at the beginning and close of His ministry (John 2:13-17; Matt.
21:12-16), shows that G.o.d is particular in regard to the worship and conduct of the worshipers in His house. No performance or exercise should be permitted in any church or building especially dedicated to G.o.d"s service which is not in keeping with its sacred character, or conducive to reverence for G.o.d and for holy things.
It should not be made a place for feasting, visiting, or worldly entertainment and amus.e.m.e.nt.
9. For what purpose are we exhorted to have grace?
"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, _whereby we may serve G.o.d acceptably with reverence and G.o.dly fear_: for our G.o.d is a consuming fire." Heb. 12:28, 29.
10. In what spirit did David say he would worship?
"But as for me, I will come into Thy house in the mult.i.tude of Thy mercy: and _in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple_." Ps. 5:7.
11. What instruction has Solomon given respecting our conduct in the house of G.o.d?
"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of G.o.d, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil." Eccl. 5:1.
12. How extensively has G.o.d said He would be honored?
"For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto My name, and a pure offering: for My name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts." Mal. 1:11.
13. For how many did G.o.d design that His house should be a house of prayer?
"Even them [the sons of the stranger] will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar; for Mine house shall be called _an house of prayer for all people_." Isa. 56:7.
NOTE.-The fifty-sixth chapter of Isaiah contains a prophecy relating to New Testament times. It is plain, therefore, that Christ enunciated a general principle, applicable to all houses dedicated to G.o.d"s service, when, quoting this prophecy, He said that G.o.d"s house should be a house of prayer for all nations. See margin of Mark 11:17.
14. Who is present in all a.s.semblies met in Christ"s name?
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, _there am I in the midst of them_." Matt. 18:20.