January 7, 2008

• Bible Reading: Things To Look for in a Church–What We Find in Solomon's Temple #1: God's Glory

  On my way to writing "Things to Look for in a Church," I stumbled across the story of the building, completion and dedication of the temple in II Chronicles. I had read the parallel account in I Kings not so long ago, but at that time it didn't really hit me in the same way this time around. (That is the beauty of the living Word of God...) So before I share my list of "Things to Look for in a Church," I will share some observations about the temple which might better inform our thinking about the Church. Many of these overlap but I have chosen to leave them as is since I believe each one deserves its own separate emphasis. This is the first of what I believe will be six or seven posts.

  What We Find in the Temple:

  GOD'S GLORY
  

  
  

  The glory of the LORD filled the house of God.
  II Chronicles 5:14; 7:1

  Solomon's temple was as an house of habitation for God, and a place for His dwelling for ever. In I Kings and II Chronicles, we read that the glory of the LORD filled the house of God. The priests could not minister, the children of Israel bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever."

  From the Westminster Confession:

  God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them: he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom, are all things; and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, and upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth. In his sight all things are open and manifest; his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain. He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands. To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, he is pleased to require of them.[1]

  
  Do we have a sense of the glory of God in our midst? Have we ever been so captivated by the glory of God that we cannot help but stop what we are doing and fall facedown at His feet in worship and praise befitting the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Have we come to know God more as a buddy or the man upstairs rather than the LORD God, God Almighty, the awesome God, the mighty God, the LORD of hosts and the King of glory?

  For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods (Psalm 96:4).

  Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah (Psalm 24:8-10).

  Have we lost the sense of God's all-surpassing magnificence and holiness?

  ...I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts (Isaiah 6:1-5).

  Do we fall on our faces to the ground when we come into God's presence? This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake (Ezekiel 1:28b).

  Have we ever witnessed what Paul described in I Corinthians 14? Falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth?

  Prior to the times God's glory filled the temple, we find that God's people were engaged in praise, thanksgiving and prayer:

  It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying , For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; 14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God (II Chronicles 5:13-14).
  
  Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house (II Chronicles 7:1).
  

  We cannot manipulate God and nor can we expect His glory to come in response to our praise, thanksgiving and prayer, nonetheless these are means by which we might encounter the glory of God in our midst. We might ask how much time in our gatherings with other believers is devoted to concentrated and concerted prayer and worship? How much time is spent in idle talk with one another and busy activity which disregards God? How often do we give God our undivided attention?[2]

  On another note, regarding the glory of God, we might also ask, How much of what happens in the church today and in our own lives actually revolves around man's glory and man's strength and ability so that God's glory is obscured? How much do we rely on worldly means rather than on the Holy Spirit? How much do we trust in the plans of men rather than in the power of God?

  Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. 13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water (Jeremiah 2:11-13).

  Have we become so self-assured, so enchanted with our own sufficiency that we have become arrogant and lukewarm toward God and find ourselves saying, we are rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing?
  
  
  From the Shorter Catechism:

  Q46: What is required in the First Commandment? 

  A46: The First Commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify Him accordingly.

  Q47: What is forbidden in the First Commandment?
  A47: The First Commandment forbiddeth the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying the true God, as God, [and our God,] and the giving of that worship and glory to any other which is due to Him alone.[3]
  

  
  
  Have we become fools by relying on the wisdom of men rather than the foolishness of God?

  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools...(Romans 1:21-22).
  
  Christ [is] the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men...27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord (I Corinthians 1:25, 27-31).
  

  
  Have we become so proud and so self-reliant that we have little need of God, and consequently there is little opportunity for His glory to break through? Do we rely on and trust in our own strength and sufficiency rather than resting and relying on Christ and standing still so we might know He is God and see His glory and His salvation?

  ...for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee...Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you (II Chronicles 20:12, 15b-17).[4]

  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it (Isaiah 40:4-5).

  How might we be quenching and hindering the manifestation of the glory of God in our churches?

  I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images (Isaiah 42:8).

  * * *

  
  
  Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake (Psalm 115:1).
  
  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21).

  And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen (Psalm 72:19).

  Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth (Psalm 108:5).

  ____________
  
  [1] Westminster Confession, Chapter II. Of God, and of the Holy Trinity available at http://www.ccel.org/creeds/westminster.htm.

  [2] The gathering of God's people for the dedication of the temple was a time when all the children of Israel were focused exclusively on the person of God. Of course, as we engage in all our daily activities, we can and should be mindful of God in all we do, living in a spirit of continual worship and prayer to Him. My point here is that at times when the church gathers together we are not all that focused on God, and that may even include some Sunday morning worship times. We come together for congregational meetings, social activities, potluck meals, small groups and so on. We find that focus on God during a congregational meeting may amount to little more than the traditional obligatory prayers to open and close the meeting. Much of what we do when we gather with other believers for fellowship amounts to fellowship quite different than what is described in the New Testament. "Food, fun and fellowship" may result in a full stomach but leaves us with an empty spirit. Are the meetings of God's people all that different from the gatherings of unbelievers, i.e-sports teams, book clubs, craft groups, support groups or bridge clubs? How often do we sit or kneel down with other believers, and stop focusing on ourselves (!) and begin to offer praise, thanksgiving and prayers to God?

  [3] Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647) available at http://www.ccel.org/creeds/westminster-shorter-cat.html.

  [4] If you have been reading along in II Chronicles you will recognize that this is once instance of God's glorious deliverances of His people when they sought Him, rested on and relied on Him and cried out to Him for His help rather than relying on their own strength or on human alliances. Those times when God's people did NOT say those four most dangerous words, "I can handle it" (please see here for more on that).

  • 10:35 AM
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