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THE SUBSERVIENCY OF A FAITHFUL MINISTRY TO THE ERECTION OF GOD’S SPIRITUAL TEMPLE
THE purposes of God, whatever difficulties may seem to obstruct the execution of them, are all accomplished in due season. The deliverance of his people from Babylon, and the rebuilding of the temple at Jerusalem, though in themselves the most improbable events, were effected with a facility the most surprising. The heart of Cyrus was moved to give the orders that were requisite; and though the constructing of the temple was retarded by unforeseen obstacles, yet afterwards, through the exhortations of the Prophets Haggai and Zechariah, that laborious work was finished in the space of four years.
We shall offer a few remarks upon,
I. The building of the temple through the instrumentality of the fore-mentioned prophets.
Many difficulties obstructed the progress of the work—
[Scarcely was the foundation laid, before an attempt was made to impede the work through the hypocrisy of pretended friends. The Samaritans offered to co-operate with the Jews in raising the intended fabric: but their design was to frustrate, rather than promote, the completion of it. And though this appears at first sight to be a strange mode of shewing hostility, yet it is indeed most common, both in political contests, and in the concerns of religion. Many will profess to desire the same objects, and will offer to concur in prosecuting them to a certain point, who, if their offers were accepted, would only defeat the ends proposed — — — The Jews, however, aware of the snares thus laid for them, determined to prosecute their work alone. [Note: Ezr_4:1-3.].
That device having failed, they were assaulted by the hostility of open enemies. Complaints were made against them to the governing powers, and they were represented as plotting to regain their liberty and independence. Their former endeavours to cast off the Babylonish yoke were referred to as proofs of their present disposition to rebel against the king of Persia [Note: Ezr_4:4-16.]. It is in this way that the servants of God have been assailed in all ages: our blessed Lord was calumniated as an enemy to C æ sar; and his Apostles, as “movers of sedition:” and, if at any period of the Church an occasion can be found against the people of God, the record of it shall be brought against them in all future ages, and the evils of one party (as of the Puritans, for instance) shall be made to characterize religion itself, and all who profess it: and a sense of duty and of regard for the public welfare shall be artfully pleaded as an apology for the measures, which in reality were dictated by nothing but a rooted aversion to the cause of God [Note: Ezr_4:14.].
This plan having too fatally succeeded, the Jews yielded to despondency, and for the space of fifteen years suspended the work in which they had engaged [Note: Ezr_4:23-24.]. A spirit of indolence and supineness soon prevailed among them, and would have operated to a total dereliction of the work, if God had not sent his prophets to rouse them from their lethargy. And indeed this is the greatest obstacle to every good work, since the longer it continues, the more entire is the ascendant which it gains over us.]
Through the preaching of the prophets, however, these difficulties were overcome—
[The Prophet Haggai justly reproved them for attending so carefully to their own accommodation, whilst the temple and the service of their God were altogether forgotten; and bade them carefully to “consider their ways [Note: Hag_1:2-5; Hag_1:7.].” The Prophet Zechariah also urged them to bear in mind how awfully their fathers had suffered for their neglect of God [Note: Zec_1:1-6.]; and then, by a variety of images which he had seen in visions, encouraged them with assurances of success in their labours [Note: Read attentively the four first chapters of Zechariah in this particular view.]. Thus were the people stimulated to exertion. But behold, no sooner did they resume their work, than their enemies renewed their application to the government to issue again their mandate to discontinue it [Note: Ezr_5:1-10.]. Whilst they were occupied only in building ceiled houses for themselves, no notice was taken of it: but as soon as they began to serve their God, their enemies were up in arms. And so it always is; zeal is approved in every thing except religion: but, as soon as ever it discovers itself in that, every effort will be made to repress it. This effort, however, was overruled, as similar efforts have often been, for the furtherance of the work it was intended to destroy [Note: Compare Ezr_6:1-10. with Php_1:12.]: and in the short space of four years the edifice was completed [Note: ver. 15.].]
The history thus viewed leads us naturally to notice,
II. The subserviency of a faithful ministry to the erection of God’s spiritual temple—
The temple of old was a shadow of that spiritual temple which is erected for God in the hearts of men; “being built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, and Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone [Note: Eph_2:20-22.].” The erection of this,
1. Is attended with the same difficulties—
[Who that begins truly to surrender up his soul to God, does not find many impediments from pretended friends? They will profess to approve of religion, and will propose to go with us to a certain length, that so they may have the greater influence to keep us from “following the Lord fully,” and from serving him with our whole hearts — — — If we are enabled to withstand their efforts, then we shall be assailed by open enemies, who will accuse us of evil designs against both the Church and State; and will call forth the power of the civil magistrate, or of our more immediate governors, to suppress our zeal. Not unfrequently will they become our greatest foes, who by their relation to us ought rather to become our firmest protectors — — — And too often do timidity and sloth induce us to relax our efforts, till, if God do not by some special act of providence or grace awaken us, we lose the time for working, and, like the foolish virgins, experience for ever the fatal effects of our remissness — — —]
But the work of God in the soul,
2. Is carried on and perfected by the same means—
[God has established an order of men on purpose to carry on this spiritual building in the world [Note: Eph_4:11-13.]. Paul and the other Apostles may be called “master-builders [Note: 1Co_3:10.];” but every pastor and teacher is engaged in the same work, according to the peculiar office that has been assigned him. “To impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that ye may be established,” and “to perfect that which is lacking in your faith,” and in every way to be “helpers of your joy,” is the great end of all our ministerial labours: and, if we would labour with effect, we must use the very same means as Haggai and Zechariah did.
We call you then, Brethren, to “consider your ways:” consider what has hindered you hitherto; and what has been the consequence of intermitting your exertions in the service of your God. Have you not reason to blush and be confounded for the little progress that you have made in the divine life? — — — Consider too, as Zechariah so largely recommends, the promises of God. What assurances of success are given you by your gracious God, if only you will put your hands to the work in good earnest — — — “Up then, and be doing,” every one of you; and “your God will be with you.” Yield not to discouragements of any kind; for “greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” And beware how you give way to carnal ease and indolence: surely it ill becomes you to be so intent, as most of us are, on earthly things, whilst the spiritual edifice advances so slowly. Let all inquire, what yet remains to be done in their own hearts, and, what may be done for God in the world at large: and let us, by “coming daily and hourly to Christ as the living foundation-stone, seek, as living stones, to be built up a spiritual house [Note: 1Pe_2:4-5.],” that shall be “the habitation of God, through the Spirit,” for ever and ever.]