Habakkuk 2:20 - Homiletics

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.