2 Chronicles 5:12-13 Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brothers… (with 2 Chronicles 7:1-8). — Temple glories: — The two passages of Scripture which I have read to you give you two pictures. In the first you have the cloud, in the second you have the fire; and in these two together you have the sacred mystic symbols of the presence of the Eternal God in the midst of His people. I. THE FIRST OF THESE PASSAGES affords me the first head of my discourse. Let us note — 1. The occupation in which the people were engaged. They were praising God — (1) Unanimously. (2) Heartily. (3) Scripturally.They sung that old psalm, "His mercy endureth for ever." 2. While thus engaged the cloud filled the sacred places. 3. Then a solemn awe fell on all that were gathered that day. 4. The suppliants felt they might pray more earnestly because they prayed surely. II. The first text has had REFERENCE TO THE PAST. The next dwells specially upon the future. After praise, joined with solemn prayer and sacrifice, the fire came down. 1. How much the preacher wants this fire! Oh! I have heard a man preach a sermon to which an angel might have listened for its faultless truthfulness, but it lacked fire; but I have known another whose ministry was faulty in many respects, but yet he spoke like a man that meant what he said, with his heart boiling over at his eyes, and men were moved and many souls were saved. 2. But we need this fire upon the hearers too. How well people listen when they come to hear something! What a noble effect is produced when once the fire comes upon a congregation! ( C. H. Spurgeon.). Parallel Verses KJV: Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) |
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