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CHRIST THE DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS
MANKIND are apt to imagine that God is pleased with what is grand and magnificent in their eyes; hence the many splendid edifices that have been raised to his honour: but a contrite heart is a more acceptable residence for God than even the temple of Solomon itself [Note: Isa_66:1-2.]. The Jews, on their return from Babylon, began to rebuild their temple; but they, who remembered the former temple, wept aloud [Note: Ezr_3:11-13.]. To encourage them to complete the structure, the prophet was sent to declare, that, however inferior this should be to the former in point of magnificence, it should exceed that in glory; for that the Messiah himself should adorn it with his own personal appearance.
Let us inquire,
I. Who is the person here spoken of—
The prophet does not speak of desirable things, as silver and gold [Note: Some, indeed, put that interpretation on the text: but it is not probable that such an event would be so solemnly introduced; or that such a fact ever took place in the degree supposed; or that, if it did, the glory of their temple could by such means be brought to exceed that of the former, considering how many things there were in the former, of which the latter was destitute.]. He refers to Christ’s advent, and appearance in the flesh. Christ is here properly called “the Desire of all nations [Note: All nations indeed do not actually desire him, because they know him not: but they may be said to desire him, just as the whole creation is said to be waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, &c. Rom_8:19-21. or, as Mount Zion is said to be the joy of the whole earth, Psa_48:2.]”—
Many in all nations do desire him—
[The Jews, by means of their captivities, or flight, were scattered through the Assyrian, Chaldean, Persian, and other empires, and since the establishment of Christianity there are Christians in every part of the globe. Amongst these, there is indeed found a considerable difference with respect to clearness of knowledge and fervour of affection; but the desire of them all accords with that of the Apostle [Note: Php_3:8-10.].]
All nations, if they knew him, would desire him—
[He has in himself all imaginable excellencies, as God, as man, as mediator. Would we desire a mighty Saviour? he is God over all [Note: Rom_9:5.]. Would we desire one in our own nature? he was made flesh [Note: Joh_1:14.]. Would we desire one that had testified his love? he has died for us [Note: Eph_5:2.]. Would we desire one that from his own experience might sympathize with us? he has been tempted like us for this purpose [Note: Heb_4:15; Heb_2:18.]. If any hear of him, and desire him not, the reason is plain [Note: 2Co_4:4.]—.]
He did in due season honour the temple with his presence—
[The season of his appearance there was foretold [Note: He was to come while the temple was standing; Mal_3:1 and the text. About forty years after his death it was utterly demolished.]. At the appointed time he was brought thither by his parents [Note: Luk_2:27.]: at twelve years old he sat there among the doctors [Note: Luk_2:46.], and afterwards it became the frequent place of his resort.]
The prospect of this event was peculiarly consoling on account of,
II. The consequences of his advent—
The presence of Christ in the temple “filled it with glory.” It rendered the latter temple far more glorious than the former [Note: Hag_2:9.].”
He more than supplied all those things which were wanting in this temple—
[Though many of the sacred vessels were restored to the Jews by Cyrus, there was much that was irrecoverably lost. The Shechinah, the bright cloud, the symbol of the Deity, was withdrawn: the ark, with all that it contained, was missing [Note: viz. a copy of the law, the pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded.]: the urim and thummin, or breast-plate, whereby the high-priest discovered the Divine will, was also gone: the fire, that came down from heaven, was extinguished. These defects however were more than supplied to the latter temple by the presence of Jesus. Instead of a shadowy resemblance of the Deity, it had God incarnate: it had the true ark, containing infinitely richer memorials of Divine love [Note: The Jews no longer need the law to instruct them, the rod to confirm their faith, and the manna to shew them how their fathers were sustained: since Jesus himself possessed all that was necessary for their instruction, confirmation, and nourishment.]: it had a divine Instructor, who revealed all his Father’s counsels: nor could it need the fire to render the sacrifices more acceptable, since Jesus was about to offer one sacrifice for all. Thus did it excel in glory, even in those very particulars wherein it appeared most defective.]
He also exhibited in it a brighter display of the Deity than ever had been seen in the former temple—
[The glory of God did indeed fill the temple of Solomon [Note: 1Ki_8:10-11.], but in Christ it shone with brighter, though less dazzling splendour. Behold the condescension of the Deity, in that he not merely dwelt with man, but became man! Behold the wisdom, in every discourse that Jesus uttered [Note: Joh_7:46.]! Behold the power, in in his miraculous cures, and irresistible operation on the minds of men [Note: Mat_21:12.]! Behold the grace, in his treatment of the adulterous woman [Note: Joh_8:11.]! Such an exhibition of the Divine perfections in the temple far overbalanced every defect.]
Application—
[Wherever Christ dwells, he imparts a glory. And has he not yet a temple to which he will come [Note: Mat_18:20; Mat_28:20.]? Will he not vouchsafe his presence in his ordinances? And will not his presence in them make them glorious [Note: Isa_60:7; Isa_60:13.]? Will he not also make the souls of his people his habitation [Note: 2Co_6:16.]? And will not the soul, in which he takes up his residence, be transformed [Note: Isa_55:13.]? Let him then be “the desire of our hearts; nor let us ever be satisfied till we possess that privilege [Note: Eph_2:21-22.]—.]