The temple of Jehovah.
I. THE HOLY TEMPLE.
1. Its material dimensions. The universe. "Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 23:24). "The Lord of heaven and earth dwelleth not in temples made with hands," but in that which his own hands have fashioned (Acts 17:24). He "filleth all in all" (Ephesians L 23).
2. Its inner shrine. Heaven, the habitation of his holiness (Deuteronomy 26:15; Isaiah 63:15), his dwelling place (1 Kings 8:43; 2 Chronicles 6:33), the throne of his glory (Psalms 11:4; In. Psalms 66:1), the place of his immediate presence (Psalms 16:11; Psalms 17:15), the abode of the redeemed (Psalms 73:24; Revelation 4:4), his temple proper (Revelation 7:15; Revelation 16:1).
3. Its distinctive designation. Holy, as being the temple of a holy God, which only the holy in spirit can enter, and in which holy services alone can be performed.
II. THE INDWELLING DEITY.
1. His name. Jehovah, the Self-existent and Immutable One. "I am that I am" (Exodus 3:14).
2. His attributes. Omnipresence, since he is in his holy temple (Exodus 20:24; Jeremiah 23:24); omniscience, since all are before him (Psalms 66:7; Proverbs 5:21; Proverbs 15:3).
3. His character. Gracious, since he condescends to receive the homage of worshippers, and to hold communication and correspondence with them.
II. THE SILENT WORSHIPPERS.
1. Their persons. "All the earth;" i.e. all the inhabitants thereof, if all are not as yet (Psalms 74:20; 1 Corinthians 10:20), all ought to be (Exodus 20:3; Exodus 34:14; Matthew 4:10), and all one day will be (Psalms 22:27; Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14; Revelation 15:4) worshippers of the one living and true God.
2. Their attitude. "Before him"—in his presence, beneath his eye, before his throne, at his footstool. God's worshippers should strive to realize the immediate presence of him whom they worship (Psalms 51:11; Psalms 95:2; Psalms 100:2).
3. Their devotion. "Silence;" expressive of reverence before his majesty (Psalms 89:7), of submission beneath his authority (Psalms 31:2), of trust in his mercy (Psalms 130:5), of expectant waiting for his utterances whether of commandment or promise (Psalms 85:8).
Learn:
1. That the highest glory of the universe is God's presence in it.
2. That man's truest hope springs from the vicinity of God.
3. That the finest worship may at times be inaudible.
4. That God oftenest speaks to those who are waiting to hear him.