Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests. Sermons
I. ALL SHOULD PLEDGE THEMSELVES "not to forsake the house of our God." Those who are first in position, influence, capability should be leaders in caring, for God's house. Distinction of rank is lost in the unity of dedication. The service of God will call to itself all the variety of human faculty. Where there is the heart "to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our God," there will be found an office or a post for each one, from the nobles to the children. II. THE BOND WHICH BINDS US TO THE HOUSE OF GOD AND HIS SERVICE should be regarded as THE MOST SOLEMN AND IRREVOCABLE. 1. We should be ready to give our name and take upon us the vow of a public profession. The Jew placed himself under the oath and curse. We are in a dispensation of liberty, but our liberty is not license. The bond of love is the strongest of all bonds. We are made free by the Son of God; but our freedom is the surrender of our all to him, that we may take his yoke upon us, and bear his burden. 2. We shall separate ourselves from the world that we may be faithful to God. We cannot serve God and mammon. We must be free from entanglements, that we may be good soldiers of Jesus Christ, enduring hardness. 3. Our consecration to God will include the consecration of our substance. With ungrudging liberality we shall fill the "treasure house of our God," that there may be no lack in his service, that every department of Divine worship may be praise to his name. While the proportion of contributions was a matter of written prescription under the law, for the guidance of the people in their lower stage of enlightenment, let us take care that with our higher privilege, and our larger knowledge, and our more spiritual principles, we do not fall below their standard. Our hearts should not require any formal rule; but it is well to systematise our giving for our own sake, for human nature requires every possible assistance, and habit holds up principle and fortifies feeling. The effect of a universal recognition of duty in giving to God's house would be immeasurable. Any true revival of religion will certainly be known by this test. The larger hearts will secure a larger blessing in the future. - R.
And we will not forsake the house of our God. Why should we say of "the habitation of God's house," "We will not forsake it"?1. God has clearly ordained public worship. He made man to be social — social in virtue of his sorrows, joys, wants, affections, and relationships. He also made man to be social in things spiritual. The isolation of selfishness is sin. Union is cherished by communion, and communion strengthened by public worship. Jesus honoured the temple. The faithful in every age have desired to dwell in the house of the Lord. 2. The special manifestations of the Divine presence, vouch-salad in the congregations of the saints, ought to endear to us such privileged scenes. 3. As the sanctuary has been the place of the Lord's rest, so has it been the scene where He has imparted the richest gifts to His worshippers. 4. The servant of God will love the courts of the Lord, and not forsake them, because in them he tastes most of heaven below. You cannot form a better conception of heaven than by fixing on the happiest Sabbath, and the happiest hour of worship on the happiest Sabbath, you ever enjoyed in the assembly of the saints. (Canon Stowell.) : 1. That we will never cast off the profession of our faith, nor make a defection from the truth and ways of the gospel, for any cause, nor upon any account whatsoever. 2. That we will not neglect the ordinances of Divine worship, nor be wanting in our attendance on them whenever we are called, and have an opportunity of appearing before God in His house.(1) Jesus Christ, as Lord of His own house, has appointed divers ordinances to be observed.(2) There must be an assembly of people meeting together for the public administration of these holy ordinances.(3) There must be some proper and convenient places appointed and agreed upon for such religious assemblies where they can be had.(4) There are particular times and seasons for the holding these religious assemblies.(5) There are certain persons whose work and duty it is to go before others in these holy administrations. 3. That we will promote as far as in us lies the interests of religion, and spread the kingdom of Christ in the world. II. IT IS NOT ONLY LAWFUL, BUT MAY BE USEFUL AND EXPEDIENT FOR CHRISTIANS IN SOCIETIES TO ENGAGE THEMSELVES TO GOD, AND THE DUTIES THEY OWE TO HIM AND ONE ANOTHER. III. OFFER REASONS BOTH FOR MAKING THIS RESOLUTION AND OBLIGING OURSELVES TO MAKE IT GOOD. 1. Because it is God's house.(1) To forsake God's house would be to forsake our own mercies.(2) To leave this house is to forsake the place which God Himself hath chosen and where He delights to dwell.(3) To forsake this house is to forsake God Himself. We cannot quit the inheritance of the Lord but in effect we go and serve other gods. 2. Because our particular good is lodged in the public interest. 3. This is the noblest way of imitating the great God Himself, and conforming to the example of our blessed Saviour. 4. This makes men real blessings to the world. Such men really are the strength and security of a nation. For their sakes God sometimes preserves others from those judgments which their crying sins would otherwise pull down upon their guilty heads. Sodom had been preserved for the sake of ten righteous men, could so many have been found in the place. 5. This will be our rejoicing and comfort another day. Application: Having made this resolution, we must oblige ourselves to make it good. Because of the inconstancy and deceitfulness of our hearts. Such engagements will help to fix us more firmly in the interests of religion, and make us more successful in resisting all temptations to apostasy. Hereby we are rendered more capable of serving the interests of religion. A force when united becomes the stronger. The joint concurrence of many gives a great advantage to a design, and a better prospect of success. (Matthew Clarke.) I. THE RESOLUTION ITSELF: "We will not forsake," etc. This resolution includes — 1. Constant and regular attendance. 2. A lively interest in its welfare and prosperity. II. THE GROUNDS OF THIS RESOLUTION. 1. Our gracious union with God. All connected with God should be dear and sacred to us — His Word, ordinances, people; therefore His house. 2. Our clear and imperative duty. Public worship is of His own appointment. 3. Our public profession. 4. The special advantages we shall derive from it. Exaltation of desires; soul elevation; enlargement of mind; soul enrichment with all spiritual blessings in Christ. "A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand," etc. "They that wait upon the Lord," etc. 5. The connection of the house of God with the celestial world. It is "the gate of heaven."Application : 1. Where professors are indifferent to the welfare of God's house, it is an unfailing indication that the heart is not right with God. 2. Let the subject inspire the sincere friends of Christ to more ardent zeal for the diffusion of the Divine glory. 3. How suited is God's house to every description. The reckless here are warned, the supine aroused, the inquirer directed, the mourner comforted, the faithful established, etc. (J. Burns, D. D.). The Formation of the Old Testament Canon Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories The Second Commandment Ezra-Nehemiah |
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