It is truly wonderful that God should condescend to dwell with men on the earth. Well might Solomon say, at the dedication of the temple, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” (1 Kings 8:2727But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? (1 Kings 8:27)) But God’s delights are with the sons of men, and it is His pleasure to have an habitation among them.
It is of importance, however, to have clear thoughts about the matter, and to understand properly the true character of the house of God, and on what it is founded. The first mention of such a thing in scripture is in Exodus 25:8,8And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8) “Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” Having redeemed Israel and taken them to be His own people, He desired an habitation in their midst. This was quite an advance on anything known by the saints of God before. God visited Adam in the garden before sin entered, and later held communion with Abraham at his tent door, but never did He take up His abode with them.
God in His grace suited His dwelling-place to the circumstances of His people. While they were pilgrims, He was content to walk “in a tent and in a tabernacle” (2 Sam. 7:6, 76Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar? (2 Samuel 7:6‑7)). When they became firmly established in the land, with all enemies put down, He gave the pattern of a house to be built by the son of David for His name (1 Chr. 28:1919All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern. (1 Chronicles 28:19); 1 Kings vss. 3-5). When it was completed, He filled it with the cloud of His presence, as formerly the tabernacle in the wilderness.
But all this was suited to a people called to a portion and inheritance in the earth, and will be restored in another day, when that people are reinstated in the favor of God. Meanwhile another order prevails. Israel having proved utterly unfaithful, God has set them aside, overturning their temple and the whole system connected with it. He has no material house on earth while Israel is scattered and broken. The Lord Jesus hinted at the change that was coming in the words, “The hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father” (John 4:2121Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. (John 4:21)). Still more plain were His words in Matthew 23:38,38Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (Matthew 23:38) “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” This was sealed by the divine action at His death, in rending the veil of the temple in twain from the top to the bottom (Matt. 27:5151And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; (Matthew 27:51)). The destruction of the city and the sanctuary followed a few years later.
During this present period, God has a house on earth of another character altogether. His saints form His habitation, as we read, “Ye are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Eph. 2:2222In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)). “Ye, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:55Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)). This order was brought in on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down from Christ glorified. The waiting saints became forthwith, not only Christ’s body, as already shown, but God’s house. A weighty truth, surely, for every Christian to duly understand! Ever since that memorable day, God has had a spiritual house on earth, in which He has dwelt by His Spirit. Not that this has always been entered into. Alas! by those who have borne the name of Christ, faith in the abiding presence of the Spirit of God soon grew feeble in the church, and as a result, human expedients were resorted to on every hand. Human leaders were set up, liberty in the assembly died out, and the whole tone of Christianity became lowered. The house of God is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:1515But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15)). This should always have been remembered; evil would then have been allowed no place within the sacred circle.
But the Holy Spirit remains in the church, though so sadly ignored and slighted. Wherever there is faith to act upon it, He always meets the saints with blessing. He is ever present to lead and guide for Christ’s glory and our own edification. It is ours to look to Him in simplicity of faith, with the flesh in us judged practically. Many can testy to the deep blessedness of this. And beyond doubt, this is one of the great truths of Christianity to which God would have the notice of His people specially drawn in this day. If the all-sufficiency of the Spirit’s presence were pressed on every hand, many things that faithful souls frequently deplore and grieve over before God, would “drop off like autumn leaves.” There is nothing like the realized presence of the Spirit of God to keep persons and things in the places assigned to them by God.