Some Principles of the House of God

Psalm 132

"Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on mount Moriah, where he Lord appeared unto David his father, which he made ready in the place that David had appointed, in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite" (2 Chronicles 3:1)

There is much related Scripture which we ought to read, but must only refer to as we proceed, because of our limited space.

It needs no arguing among us, I think, that the center of God's presence among men, namely, the house of God, is a matter of first importance. I have said the center of God's presence, for the house of God embraces and relates to everything else which is o concern or interest to the Lord. The house of God is within a wider range of God's interests and concerns. Ultimately there will be wide ranges to which it ministers, to which God manifests Himself through it. It is the center of His presence.

From a consideration of its great type here in the Old Testament, the temple, we are able to learn something of the principles which constitute the foundation and basis of that central dwelling place of God.

The Triumph of Faith and Obedience

The passage which we have just read is a key to so much, both historically and spiritually. I begin by pointing out again that the first principle of the house of God, the dwelling place of the Lord, is the triumph of faith and obedience when all else has been brought down to the dust. All Abraham's hopes and expectations, and the promises of God and the covenant o God with him, centered in Isaac. Beyond and apart from Isaac, Abraham had nothing. And then God said, "Take now thy son ... Isaac ... and offer him ... for a burnt offering" (Genesis 22:2). In the words from Job: "Lay thou thy treasure in the dust" (Job 22:24). And the writer to the Hebrews makes a point of that - that he in whom all the covenant and promises were centered was being offered up by Abraham (Heb. 11:17-18). Looked at from one side only, Abraham was severing the very arteries of life, parting with everything of hope, prospect, possibility; all was, from that standpoint, brought to ashes. But for the intervention of God, Isaac would very soon have been reduced to ashes. In effect he was. So far as Abraham's heart attitude and obedience were concerned, Isaac was already in ashes. The wood was there for kindling, the altar and the knife were ready. But faith triumphed through obedience, and that very mount Moriah subsequently became the site of the temple, the house of God. The house of God is built on that sort of thing.

This foreshadows Calvary. From purely earthly standpoints Calvary was the end of all hope. It was  a laying of treasure in the dust; it was ashes; it was an end. We know how it was for those around that Cross: it seemed the end of everything. But on the part of the one central figure of that great universal drama it was faith's obedience unto death, yea, the death of the Cross; and the house of God was and is built upon that. It is a principle. It is the great reality, the great doctrine of Christ. But it is of practical application, namely, that the house of God can only be grounded and founded and built as that sort of thing goes on.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 2 - "The Laying Down of Life")