2 Chronicles 2:9 - Homilies By T. Whitelaw

A wonderful great house.

I. ITS BUILDER . The temple of Solomon was constructed by Solomon the son of David; the temple of the Christian Church by Jesus, David's Son, but also David's Lord, the Only-Begotten of the Father, whose name is "Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace" ( Isaiah 45:13 ; Hebrews 3:3 ).

II. ITS MATERIALS . The temple of Solomon was fashioned out of gold, silver, precious stones, etc.; the temple of the Christian Church out of lively stones, or believing and regenerated souls ( 1 Peter 2:5 ).

III. ITS SITE . The temple of Solomon stood on Mount Moriah, where Jehovah had appeared to Abraham and afterwards to David, its walls reaching down to and rising up from the solid rock; the temple of the Christian Church rests upon the immovable rock of Christ's Person ( Matthew 16:18 ; Ephesians 2:20 ), in whom the clearest and fullest revelation of the Father has been made to men ( John 1:18 ; John 14:9 ).

IV. ITS CONSTRUCTION . The temple of Solomon had two apartments—a holy place and a holy of holies, the former for the worshipping priests, the latter for the worshipped God; the Church of Jesus Christ has only one chamber, the separating veil being done away, in fact rent in twain, by the sacrifice of the cross ( Matthew 27:51 ; Hebrews 10:20 ).

V. ITS ADORNMENTS . The temple of Solomon was radiant with gold and silver and decorations of carved work; the Church of Jesus Christ is rendered beautiful by the inward graces of the Spirit ( Psalms 149:4 ; 1 Peter 3:3 ).

VI. ITS PROPORTIONS . The temple of Solomon was, after all, hut a small structure; the temple of the Christian Church is a spacious house of many mansions ( John 14:1 ).

VII. ITS USES . The temple of Solomon was designed as a habitation for Jehovah's symbolic presence; the Church of Jesus Christ is a habitation for Jehovah himself through the Spirit ( Ephesians 2:22 ).

Learn:

1 . The glory of the Christian Church.

2 . The superiority of the gospel dispensation.

3 . The nobler privilege of New Testament believers.—W.