Why Build A House For God?

by Robertson, A. B. | Category: General | Mar 1968

When explaining to Huram, king of Tyre, his need for a cunning workman and materials, Solomon said,

"Behold, I build a house for the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to Him, and to burn before Him incense of sweet spices, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel" (2 Chronicles 2.4).

Solomon understood that there were responsibilities he and the Israelites only could discharge-matters of worship, and the continual presentation of sweet savour offerings and fragrance of incense. Only the people of God could do this; it was one of the privileges of priesthood and nationhood given to them by God at Sinai (Exodus 19.6).

The house built by Solomon was for God and to be dedicated to Him. The pattern was shown to David and the necessary materials were gathered over many years. It was to be God's dwelling-place among His people in the land of promise where He could receive their worship and homage. Solomon listed the essential functions of the new house. These were (1) the burning of incense, (2) presenting the continual shewbread, and (3) offering the continual burnt offerings. And these services were to be collectively rendered and to be "an ordinance for ever to Israel". The Tabernacle services and the initial instructions to the priests and people were preserved in the services of the house.

Burning of incense

This was done twice daily in the Holy Place (Exodus 30.7,8), when they put out the lamps in the morning, and again when they lit them in the evening. Their daily service in the Holy Place was performed in the fragrance of the incense. This odour was found only there, and God was careful that there should be nothing like it elsewhere; it was holy and specially for Him.

The incense was burnt on the altar of incense which stood in the Holy Place, but according to Hebrews 9.4 this altar belonged to the Holy of Holies. While we can see the grace of God in placing the altar where priests could serve in the daily burning of the incense, we can also see God's desire that the fragrance of incense would not wait till the once-a-year opening of the Holy of Holies on the day of Atonement. The incense was offered in association with the praying of God's people (Luke 1.9,10), and it is delightful to contemplate the fragrance of the perfume going up to God at this time.

In our Lord's personal communion with God He used widely differing expressions, depending on the circumstances of His experience. The regular "night and day" communion obviously differed from the outpouring of His heart in the anguish of His passion. The expressions of the Psalms were all known to Him, from the gentle phrases of appreciation to the strong crying and tears. He continually communed in prayer with His God. but the awareness of circumstances was reflected in the form and content of His prayers. Those prayers were preciously fragrant to His God and Father.

The daily incense was a compound of four ingredients called sweet spices, as distinct from the chief spices used in the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30.3~38). These ingredients were stacte, onyche, galbanum, and frankincense, in equal weights the whole' "seasoned with salt"-the same expression being used in connexion with the meal offering. These were all resins from plants and trees some easily found, but frankincense was exotic. The sap of the' plants made the resin or gum. This may suggest that the inward excellencies of the Lord Jesus were a special delight to God The perfections and virtues of the humble Carpenter of Nazareth were fragrant to His Father. Our Lord meditated daily on the perfect law of God, He loved the things of His Father. He was a Man sensitive and yielding to all God's will.

It is of interest to refer to the incident in Numbers 1646-50 Following the disaster of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, Aarnn was instructed to take his censer, and coal from the altar, and put incense thereon and run through the camp. This served to atone for the people, otherwise the plague would have destroyed the whole nation, so great was the offence of their sin. The fragrance of Christ covers the offensive odour of our sinful humanity. Essential as repentance is before God, it is the savour of Christ that He looks for. He is in God's presence for our acceptance, for we are nothing in ourselves.

The continual shewbread

See Leviticus 24.5-9. The daylight shining through the easterly facing screen of the Tabernacle showed the table with its twelve loaves of shewbread covered with frankincense. The lamps shone at night, so the table with its bread was always illuminated. This display in the Holy Place was for the eyes of God. The language of the shewbread is the language of the meal offering, and the frankincense is the "memorial", like the handful of fine flour of the meal offering on the altar of burnt offering. The number of the loaves is suggestive of the twelve tribes of Israel. The loaves were similar in size to the two loaves of Pentecost. Our order and position in divine service are divinely chosen. We are reminded of Balaam, who said, "He (God) hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel" (Numbers 23.21), and, "H6w goodly are thy tents, 0 Jacob, thy tabernacles, 0 Israel! As valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river side, as lignaloes which the Lord hath planted, as cedar trees beside the waters" (Numbers 24.5,6). The twelve tribes had become the people of God, and in their divine order and service they were perfect.

The burnt offerings

The offering of the burnt offerings was a daily service, the lambs, meal, and drink offerings being offered twice daily. On sabbaths and other special days, continual burnt offerings were offered. The burnt offering was an acceptance offering. It spoke of the continual fragrance of Christ, this time in His total and ultimate sacrifice, by which God's people are accepted before Him.

It is the high privilege of God's people today to present a special savour of Christ before God. This is "an ordinance for ever", to hear Christ to God in all we are and do. If we fail in our order and service collectively to supply what is typified in the bringing and burning of incense, the offering of frankincense, and the food of His altar in continual burnt offering, then God will be robbed. The purpose of the house of God was clear to Solomon. This is the purpose of a house for God today.

Robertson, A. B. | Mar 1968
General