THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S
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2:20-22. This spiritual sanctuary is to be “ exceeding magnifical” and reflect the grace and glory of God throughout eternity. MONDAY, Sept. 6. 1 Kings 9:1-9. God’s Covenant with Solomon. After Solomon had finished his build ing operations, the Lord appeared to him again in a .vision as He had ap peared to him in the beginning of his reign. In this second vision the Lord told him plainly that if he and his descendants would fully and whole heartedly obey Him, his kingdom would be preserved unto him and his family forever. If, however, there should be departure from God and disobedience to His laws, the kingdom would be taken away and the house of the Lord no longer honored among the nations. The Lord graciously renewed to Solomon the promise and covenant He had made to David. In David’s last words, 2 Sam. 23:6, he says, “ Although my house be .not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure.” Who of us does not have some time to make use of David’s “ although?” We can always count on the veracity, fidelity and mercy of our covenant-making and covenant-keeping God. TUESDAY, Sept. 7. 1 Kings 10:1-3. The Visit of the Queen of Sheba. The Hebrew monarchy reached its climax in the reign of Solomon. The temple being completed, the remainder of his history concerns itself mainly with the description of his wealth and magnificence. His fame attracted vis itors from all over the world. Among them came the queen of Sheba, from distant Arabia, who ruled in her domain with a wealth and wisdom somewhat akin to Solomon’s. A great caravan accompanied her, laden with gold, spices and precious stones. The journey must have taken several months. She was not merely curious. She desired to
grandest and most spectacular ceremony ever performed under the ceremonial dispensation. Solomon’s dedicatory prayer is unequaled in sublimity and comprehensiveness. Israel looked back to this event as the culminating glory of the nation. Rival sanctuaries were abolished. Solomon stood as a royal priest, typical in some respects of our great High Priest. The glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. This was the visible sign of acceptance and indwelling. The house was nothing in itself. It was the presence of God which gave it significance. The tem ple itself and all its services and sac rifices were typical and transient. Everything in the old economy of shadow and ceremony passed away. Spiritual worship finds no expression and has no dependence on material things. God is spirit and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. God dwelleth not in tem ples made with hands. SUNDAY, Sept. 5. 1 Cor. 3:9-17. The Temple of God. There are five things of which the splendid temple of Solomon may he considered typical: 1. Heaven, the dwelling place of God, to which the pious Israelite al ways appealed even when having the tabernacle and temple. 2. The created universe, which is it self a glorious temple in which the glory and handiwork of its Maker are shown forth by day and by night. 3. The Person of the Son of God, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, who is the true and only meeting place between God and man. John 2:21. 4. The individual believer, who has become a member of the spiritual body of Christ. 1 Cor. 6:19. 5. The church of the living God now in process of completion, which, when finished, shall be for an habita tion of God through the Spirit. Eph.
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