If we accept the interpretation that the second Isaiah has given us the prophecies of the restoration, we may regard this chapter as a description of Israel after the return from the Chaldean captivity, and, further, the condition of worship in the reign of the Messiah.
We place before you the whole matter as a plea for God’s house in the present day.
I. THE LOCATION OF WORSHIP. “Mine house.” With God every where, what need is there of setting apart any particular spot for worship? While all creation is God’s magnificent temple, why should we consecrate any particular place of building for the purpose of worship? We have a promise in the Book itself (Jer_31:33-34). But we must suppose conditions of thought, and degrees of poetry, which do not exist, in order to worship God in the general terms implied in these statements. We infer from the history of public worship that God has adapted its forms to the state of mankind in the various periods of the periods of the past. To-day worship its forms to the state of mankind in the various periods of the past. To-day worship must be conducted with a view to the position of the religious thought which prevails.
1. The first essential element of worship is concentration. The circumstantial in religion must be flamed to centre thought upon God in His nearness to man. The patriarch’s altar, the tabernacle of Moses, and the temple of Solomon did this. In the teaching of Christ we meet with an expansion of the geography of worship. The temples on Moriah and Gerizim were doomed, both by the force of circumstances and the Incarnation. God in Christ became the consummation of the central idea of God. But Christ was human as well as Divine. We find Him both in the synagogue and the temple. He drew His disciples together, sometimes into a house, other times on the mountain slopes, or in secluded spots, for instruction and fellowship. He introduced a simplicity into worship which indicated a more spiritual thought than that which obtained when gorgeous ritualism formed its environment. The time had arrived when He would introduce a method by which we would worship the Father “in spirit and in truth. ‘ But never has Jesus Christ hinted at the probability that such a worship would consist of abstract thought, universal observation, or individual reflection, apart from the offices of time and space. When God and man meet they must meet somewhere. Although the necessity for a restricted spot had passed away, and the whole earth became a consecrated temple, when the eternal Son chose it as His imperial palace, yet the limitations of the spiritual man, while dwelling in a tabernacle of clay, suggest the setting apart of places for worship. In an age when life is at a higher pressure than ever it has been, and consequently, an age when our thoughts are agitated, scattered, embittered, and inflamed, of what incalculable value must the house of prayer be.
2. Our next point is association. We have been told that there is such a thing as abstract thought, but where is abstract life? How far can one go on the path of life without the aid of others? It seems absurd that people should assume so much piety as not to require any association or assistance. If the Hall of Science is needed, why not the Hall of Prayer?
3. Our third plea for the house of prayer is memorial. Every place of worship in England is a witness to the Being of God, and to His providence and salvation. “Mine house” is a significant designation, showing His acceptance of the gift. It is the language of love in response to the gift of love.
II. THE ESSENCE OF WORSHIP. “House of prayer.” Prayer is a comprehensive term, having devotion as its central idea. There would have been an appropriateness in calling it the house of praise, for from no other house has so much and so grand music ascended to heaven. It might have been called the house of preaching, because the word is gone forth out of Zion to the ends of the earth. But why did God name it the house of prayer? Under the old dispensation, sacrifice occupied the most prominent place in the services, but even then its name was the house of prayer. Reverence for God is the first step of the ladder. Waiting upon God is the next step. (T Davies, M. A.)
And make them joyful in My house of prayer
My house of prayer
Jesus Christ, when in a sublime act of indignation He drove out the desecrators of the temple, applied the words to the outer courts of that noble material building. But He Himself has taught us not to limit the phrase, but to give it the widest possible meaning. It is not for us to speak of God’s house of prayer as if it were restricted to any one locality, or as if it described any particular kind of structure. God’s house of prayer may be found anywhere, everywhere. Wherever the human heart reaches out with holy longing towards the Divine Father, and craves the blessing of His presence; wherever He unveils the glory of His truth and the beauty of his love, responding to the eager desires of His pleading children, there is His house of prayer. It may be grand in form, or poor and mean; there may be no material structure at all, but the solemn temple of Nature itself, yet shall it; be consecrated for worship by the prayers which ascend to God. Yet, we still find it necessary to establish and set apart places of worship, and because we frequent them for this holiest of purposes, we speak of each of them as a house of prayer. As it is necessary that we should consecrate one day out of the week for the special purposes of religion, so we find it desirable to meet at some regularly appointed spot to engage with our fellows in acts of devotion. And the reasonableness becomes apparent. We want such places for convenience’ sake. If social religion is to have any existence at all, if the communion of the saints is to be a reality, if there are to be united praise and prayer and instruction in Divine truth, then men and women must know where they are to gather for these purposes. Further, it is not merely a matter of convenience; it is helpful to our spiritual and daily life. We want as places of worship some which are unassociated with our secular affairs--places which seem to stand away from the cares and worries and strivings of our common life--where we can give our minds and hearts a season of rest--an opportunity of calmly, and without distraction, contemplating and estimating the character and meaning, the worth or worthlessness of the work we are doing in the world. Of course this might be done at home, in the shop, in the office, in the chamber, but not so effectually, not so thoroughly, as in the quiet place specially devoted to religious worship. There, seeming to stand at a distance from worldly avocations, we judge them and our relation to them more impartially and honestly. (W. Braden.)
Joyfulness worship
I. THERE SHOULD, BE A NATURAL ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE TWO. I reach this conclusion by remembering two things.
1. That we, as human beings, have in us the capacity for joy.
2. That the religion we profess, when rightly understood, is a joy-producing religion.
II. WORSHIP IS THE EXPRESSION OF OUR NOBLEST RELIGIOUS FEELINGS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. It is not a mere ceremonial act, an observance of prescribed ritual on certain days and in appointed places. It is the going forth of the man towards God. Therefore, our joy must utter itself, ought to utter itself, when we enter into the courts of His house. I believe that the Divine Father has no sympathy with those who would turn His house of prayer into a place for gloomy, and unhappy thoughts, and who would exclude from His service everything pleasant and beautiful. They misunderstand and libel Him by their desire for dreariness If God has taught us anything with distinctness in the outer world of nature it is that He loves all that is pleasant and sweet and joyous. Is there n t something joy-exciting in the very thought and act of worship? This has been the thought of most peoples.
1. The Greeks who worshipped gods of uncertain passions and dispositions, nevertheless seem to have made the worship a season of joy--“they wreathed themselves with flowers, they anointed themselves withsweet perfumes, they surrounded their temples with every attraction, they invoked every pleasure they could think of, they sought to make the hour of their worship a charming and beautiful hour. Their joy in this respect was of a sensuous character, more animal than spiritual, and we do not need to imitate them; but even the heathen had the idea of indulging in gladness in the presence of their gods.
2. The same emotion was constantly expressed by the Hebrews. We often regard the religion of the Jews as harsh, stern, dreary, a constant pressure upon the minds and souls of the people. Never was there a greater mistake, as a careful study of their numerous festivals and rites would prove. Remember the worship-literature of the Jews, that magnificent collection of psalms which is one of the most precious treasures handed down to us from the past. It is full of jubilance. Expressions of personal sorrow there are in abundance; but even they are turned into subjects of song.
3. If it was possible for Jews to enjoy worship, if it was natural for them to give expression to gladness of heart when coming into the Divine presence, is there not more abundant reason why we, as Christians, possessing a fuller and purer and more intimate revelation of God, should rejoice before Him?
III. FOR THOSE WHO SEEK TO WORSHIP GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH THIS JOY IS ASSURED BY THE PROMISE, “I will make them joyful in My house of prayer.” Our anticipation of the worship of God’s house, and the manner in which we present ourselves to Him, should be gladsome. Why? Because we go expecting to meet God, and receive the gracious fulfilment of the promise. Our hope of blessing to come already fills us with delight. When we have entered into the engagements of Divine worship, if we have been in the right spirit of desire, God has drawn near us and fulfilled our largest hopes. He has apparently devised the means by which this shall be brought about through the three exercises of our worship--our praise, our prayer, and our study of His truth. These seem in themselves calculated, ordained, consecrated for the very object of exciting our joy.
1. Think of the very act of praise. What does it mean? That we are recalling to mind the Divine mercy, and tenderness, and compassion, and love which have come into our life. We praise God for what He is; for what His works reveal Him to be; for what He has done for us; and you cannot do that without some inspiration of gladness filling your soul. Praise itself springs from and excites to joy.
2. The same glorious result is wrought by means of prayer. That man who has never yet held conscious communion with his God in prayer, has never yet experienced one of the noblest and purest joys of which his nature is capable.
3. And shall I add the same of the other exercise--the study of His truth? As the man who, digging for gold, is flushed with delight when his toil is rewarded by some rich nugget; as the student of Nature, when investigating her secrets, is gladdened as he perceives the traces of some new law, or a possible combination of well-known causes that will produce a new result, so Christians know the thrill of satisfaction that springs from a fresh realization of the meaning of Divine truth. God stands revealed in clearer light, and all the wonders of His work for man through the history of the world, and especially in the person of Christ, are understood and loved as they were never understood or loved before. These awakenings to joy are always taking place in God’s house. One comes there perplexed concerning his path of duty, and to him there is uttered some wise precept, which makes the way clear once more. Another is troubled concerning the terrible mystery of life, its inequalities and sorrows; but to him is revealed the Fatherhood of God, and that means perfect love and assurance of blessedness for man as the ultimate issue of all things. Does not that oppressed soul rejoice? And how many, conscious of unforgiven sin, venture into the holy place. And they see a vision of Calvary with its sacred Victim; the heavens seem to open for them, and they behold the ascended Christ, the Mediator. Who shall measure the joy of these? (W. Braden.)
Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people
God’s house
The thing here spoken of is God’s house, described--
I. BY ITS APPROPRIATION UNTO HIM. “My house.”
II. BY ITS EXTENT OF RECEIPT IN RESPECT OF OTHERS. “For all people.”
III. BY THE EMPLOYMENT OF ITS INHABITANTS. “It shall be called a house of prayer.” (J. Owen, D. D.)
The Church of Christ
I. CHRIST’S CHURCH OF SAINTS, OF BELIEVERS, IS GOD’S HOUSE.
II. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST UNDER THE GOSPEL IS TO BE GATHERED OUT OF ALL NATIONS.
III. THERE ARE ESTABLISHED ORDINANCES, AND APPOINTED WORSHIP FOR, THE CHURCH OF CHRIST UNDER THE GOSPEL. (J. Owen, D. D.)
Public worship
I shall endeavour to make it appear that the best homage which we can pay to God is that which is most public.
I. THIS IS THE WAY OF GIVING THE GREATEST HONOUR TO GOD. When a multitude of people meet together to worship the Almighty, and to set forth His praises, it makes some little figure of heaven; it raises our minds to more magnificent conceptions of God, and more fully represents Him to us as the Governor of the world: whereas, if we look upon Him as only intending our private interest, as busied only to serve our present wants, we may be thought to conceive of Him rather as an idol than as that infinite Being whose care and providence are extended to the concerns of the whole creation. To worship God truly is to make Him known to be the Lord of the universe, the common Parent, Preserver, and Benefactor of all mankind; and therefore public assemblies are the best signification of His glorious perfections and vast dominion. They who cannot use their minds to any abstracted ways of thinking, may be wonderfully confirmed and heightened in their acknowledgments and thoughts of a Deity, when they see how the learned and the rich and the honourable, and the greatest persons upon the earth, do bow and kneel before their Maker, and humble themselves in the dust of the sanctuary to witness their profound veneration of an infinite wisdom, power and goodness.
II. THE NATURE OF RELIGION IS SUCH THAT IT ESPECIALLY REQUIRES A PUBLIC EXERCISE. Christians are not to look upon themselves as single persons, of distinct and separate interests; but as members of the same mystical Body, as parts of the same spiritual Society; that they are redeemed as a Church, and are to glorify God as a Church; that their chief blessings are those they enjoy in common.
III. THERE IS NOTHING THAT SO MUCH PROMOTES A SPIRIT OF UNIVERSAL CHARITY AS A DUE ESTEEM AND PRACTICE OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. What can bring us to a greater concern for one another, and more unite our affections, than a frequent meeting at the same place of worship, and joining together in the same duties of religion?
IV. FREQUENTING PUBLIC WORSHIP, WITH THAT PREPARATION AND WITH THOSE DISPOSITIONS WHICH IT REQUIRES, IS THE BEST WAY WHEREBY WE MAY ATTAIN TO SOLID PIETY, We have many times a Divine truth more strongly imprinted on our minds, or more fully confirmed unto us, when our hearts are tender and devout, than when our heads are exercised in the deepest thinking. It is further observable, that men are generally much more subject to impressions and affections when they are assembled than when they are alone. (T. Mannigham, D. D.)
God’s house the house of prayer foe all people
1. In order to the realization of the glorious scene in which the world shall finally be seen prostrate before God in prayer, the first and earliest step necessary was the revelation of the Divine existence; “for he that cometh to God must believe that He is.” “How shall they call upon Him of whom they have not heard?”
2. But does He take an interest in the affairs of the world? If not, prayer to Him is useless. In answer to this inquiry Sinai rises to view. God is there, legislating for sinful man. Listen to His law as He proclaims it, and mark how much of it relates directly to your welfare. Apart from the Gospel, nothing in the universe displays the Divine benevolence so much as the giving of the law.
3. But is the great God accessible? That He takes a benevolent interest in human affairs is evident. If, however, the terrors of Sinai are not laid aside--if that is a specimen of His usual state--who can venture to approachHim? The temple on Sion is an answer to the inquiry. “Let the people build Me a sanctuary,” saith God, “that I may dwell among them.” This was another stage, a vast advance in the Divine condescension. To show His own sense of its importance, He supplied the model, and selected the spot, and superintended the erection of the building. When completed, the Majesty of Heaven came down and visibly possession. When it was rumoured abroad that the Lord of Heaven had a house upon earth, did not the guilty race come to cast themselves at His feet and sue for mercy?
4. But, it might have been asked in the next place, “Will He pardon? Accessible He may be, but is He propitious?” Approach and read the inscription over its gates, “The house of prayer.” Then there is hope for the penitent. Let us enter and ascertain. On crossing the threshold and looking around, we find that it is distributed into three parts. We find ourselves at first in the court of the temple; here the principal objects are a great altar of sacrifice, and a laver in which the sacrifices are washed. “What mean that cleansing water, and that bleeding lamb?” They say, as plainly as they can, that if without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.” and that the victim whose blood is shed must be spotless. We advance, find ourselves in the second part, the holy place. Here the principal objects are a golden candlestick, a table of shewbread, and an altar of incense; and what mean these objects? They denote that the sacrifice is accepted, that God propitiated, that He is waiting to illuminate and anoint His worshippers with His Spirit, to feast their souls on living bread, and to accept their praises as grateful incense. “But what means that mysterious veil which conceals the third part of the temple, the holiest of all?” It denotes that sinful man can fully approach a holy God only through a Divine Mediator, and that that Mediator is not yet come. But we know what is within. There stands the ark of the covenant, and the mercy-seat resting upon it, denoting mercy resting on faithfulness; and there are the cherubim overshadowing the mercy-seat, intimating the reverence with which even mercy itself should be sought, and the profound mystery which it involves. “But what means that mass of dazzling light above?” It is the symbol of the Divine presence. And why dwells He there?” that men may come and fall down before Him, and that He may commune with them from off the mercy-seat. He makes it His rest, that men may come to Him, and make it their rest. Numbers through successive ages availed themselves of His grace.
5. But everything there--gracious as it was, calculated as it was to bring all people in humble prostration before God--existed only in type and promise. It may be asked, therefore, in the next place, “Have those types been accomplished?” The fulness of time arrives, and, behold, God sending forth His Son! Calvary appears; there, as our Substitute; He is making an infinite compensation for our demerit. The day of Pentecost arrives--behold in its scenes a proof that our Advocate has entered on His office of intercession above, and that His sacrificial plea prevails. Is it then still asked if the ancient promises have been fulfilled? Let the tears of the sinner, the joy of the saint, the success of the Gospel in every subsequent age, bear witness.
6. But, again, admitting that God is thus accessible and gracious, is He thus accessible and gracious to all? Is the Gospel Church less open and free than the Jewish temple? Its gates are never to be shut, night nor day! Its blessings are to be offered without money and without price. “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.” “O Thou that hearest prayer, to Thee shall all flesh come.”
7. And is there ground to conclude that this sublime result shall be realized? “I have sworn by Myself, the word hath gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall swear.” Conclusion--
(1) To this point everything in the mediatorial government of Christ is tending with the directness and force of a law. To this end, therefore, every event in His Church, every movement of His people, should be intentionally subordinated.
(2) The question will be entertained, then, by every Christian mind, How may this sacred place be made most effectually to subserve this great end? By making it literally a house of prayer. The very presence of a church or chapel is to be viewed as a perpetual protest against all prayerlessness and irreligion.
(3) Here everything is to be done with the view of leading to prayer.
(4) Here, too, the salvation of the world, and whatever may be instrumentally necessary to that salvation, should be made the subject of prayer. (J. Harris, D. D.)
