THE TEMPLE OF GOD - SIXTH READING
THE TEMPLE OF GOD - SIXTH READING
WJH Now we have chapter 4 before us, which would seem to show us what was in the court, the different utensils which were there. All serve to prepare us for what is beyond it. Very few Christians truly accept that the door of the court is made of bronze.
M Most of the utensils which we find in the court are made of bronze.
WJH It is very exercising for young people to knock at the door of the court and to find that it is made of bronze. Before allowing them to enter, the doorkeepers will want to know if they are like the door, that is, if they have judged sin in the light of God’s judgment of it. Bronze represents what can endure fire.
M Do you say that because bronze was the metal used for the altar?
WJH Yes, the altar where the fire fell on the sacrifice was made of bronze. The serpent lifted up on a pole to carry the judgment was made of brass; God had said to Moses to make a serpent of brass. It is worth presenting oneself at this door. Just now, I am speaking particularly to the young. At the house, it is worth examining our lives to see if children are subject to parents. It is worth examining our dress, the books we read, the friends we cultivate, in order to have access to this wonderful court. The young think that the brethren should show them love and to pass over these things but they cannot do this in the presence of this door, since this would be to carry defilement into God’s court.
M You mean that no concession is possible in respect of this door.
WJH There is absolutely none. This door is made of bronze; there is no mention of the involvement even of wood in its construction. We have passed through exercises too deep to be making concessions; we have had to refuse sisters whose hair was cut. In Corinthians, it says that it is dishonouring for a woman to have cut hair. We cannot allow entry to the court to persons in a dishonouring condition.
PN We must be good doorkeepers.
WJH The doorkeepers’ service is very important. There were thousands of doorkeepers. If we allow entry to a brother simply because he is rich and well taught, we shall have defilement in the court. Here is what you find in the court — the altar, the brazen sea and the lavers. One enters the court when one is received into fellowship. If we understood it better, we would not hesitate to present ourselves at this door. The psalmist said, “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand” (Psalm 84: 10); he preferred to live for one day in these courts than for a thousand elsewhere.
M Would you say something about the altar? It is much larger than the one in the tabernacle.
WJH The altar in the holy place is for incense and is made of gold. The one outside, in the court, is for the sacrifices and, consequently, must be larger. No one except Christ has much incense. It would be something to be desired to have more but we have to admit that we do not have much. Brothers who pray publicly for almost half an hour certainly do not have enough incense for such a long time. The altar of incense is not large; the utensils employed there are the cups and not the bowls. If we were to remember that even a prince offered only a cup full of incense that would put an end to long public prayers. Each brother and each sister has an appreciation of Christ as the burnt-offering, the sacrifice of peace-offering or the oblation and, in certain ways, the sin-offering and the trespass offering. A large altar is needed for these sacrifices. Those who are in fellowship bring them. Every person who enters by this door comes bringing a sacrifice. We must not appear empty. We would have good meetings on Lord’s Day morning if we were to take this on spiritually.
CR Is there a difference between this door and self-judgment?
WJH “But let a man prove himself, and thus eat of the bread” (1 Corinthians 11: 28). He judges in himself what is not in accord with the holiness of God. Think of twenty brothers and sisters in Valence, all walking in self-judgment, who meet in the court in order to offer to God their appreciation of Christ on the brazen altar. We would have wonderful meetings and wonderful collections. Sisters would have their part there. “But of doing good and communicating of your substance be not forgetful, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13: 16). All that has its place on the altar. God places His altar in the middle of the court, where everyone in fellowship can see it and bring something to it, as did the widow with her two mites.
M Do the sacrifices brought to the brazen altar correspond to our tributes of praise at the breaking of bread?
WJH Yes and also what is put into the collection. These two kinds of sacrifice are brought to this altar. The apostle said to the Philippians that what they had sent was “an odour of sweet savour, an acceptable sacrifice, agreeable to God” (Philippians 4: 18). That was offered on this altar, as well as the sacrifices of praise and the sacrifices of thanksgiving of which the Scriptures speak. We would surely desire to offer these sacrifices. Paul received the collection but it was offered primarily to God. The widow put her two mites into the treasury of God. She was not concerned with what would be done with them; she gave them to God. That is how we act in regard of the collection.
M In relation to this altar, you have spoken about having an appreciation of the sin offering. Does this have a place at the breaking of bread?
WJH In Matthew and Mark, the passover, which involves the matter of sin and the judgment of God, is almost linked to the supper. In Mark it says, “And as they were eating. Jesus, having taken bread... broke it” (Mark 14: 22). They had not really finished, so that a strict demarcation cannot be made. It is as they ate the passover that Jesus took the bread. The psalmist gives us an encouragement which applies to everyone here. He says, “Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest... thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts” (Psalm 84: 3). There is a place at the altar for the sparrow. A sparrow is not of great value; five are sold for two farthings. Small as we may be spiritually, if we pass through this door of bronze, there is a place for us at the altar. The swallow is a bird of passage, which leaves one country for another. Most of us have done the same; we have wandered. But how ever far away we may have been, if we just come to this door of bronze and judge ourselves, we can approach the altar.
I Why is it difficult for some among us to judge ourselves and come to this door?
WJH J.B.S. answered that question — he said, ‘The more we love Christ, the more we hate sin.’ That is why it is difficult — we do not love the Lord enough. A Christian who does not judge sin does not really love the Lord in his heart. Think what you are missing if you continue on this way. To be at God’s altar is a wonderful privilege.
AG It is the same thought that made the psalmist say, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; prove me, and know my thoughts; And see if there be any grievous way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139: 23, 24).
WJH He wishes to enter by this door and he is ready to see his ways exposed before God, so that he should be able to come to where God is, to where the brethren are.
The second great element is the sea, the brazen sea. It held three thousand baths. It was for the priests in which to wash. Beneath it, there were three hundred oxen, “cast when it was cast”. “And under it was the similitude of oxen, encompassing it round about, ten in a cubit enclosing the sea round about, two rows of oxen, cast when it was cast.” It is a wonderful suggestion — three hundred oxen,
made in a single casting with the sea. Its circumference was thirty cubits and there were ten oxen per cubit. It stood on twelve oxen which faced outwards — “three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east”. I believe that we are more indebted to this bronze sea than we think. It represents the patient service of Christ for our continual purification. The sea is for the washing of the priests. The Lord says to Peter, “Unless I wash thee, thou hast not part with me” (John 13: 8). No one can enter this wonderful edifice if he has not been washed by the Lord. It is not a matter of being washed from our sins but of the defilement which we contract in the world. After having laid aside His garments, the Lord girded Himself with a towel and patiently washed the feet of His disciples. It is a very great service and it has to continue. That is the thought presented by the three hundred oxen.
Ques Does the ox suggest patience?
WJH That is the important point. In Scripture, it is a matter of the work of the ox. It says, “much increase is by the strength of the ox” (Proverbs 14: 4).
CR What is the thought relating to the Lord’s use of the towel with which He was girt to wipe the feet of the disciples?
WJH He had consideration for their well-being in wiping their feet. Think of the Lord washing our feet! Peter says, “Thou shalt never wash my feet”. He thought it too humble a service for the Lord. But the Lord says, ‘You cannot enter this wonderful house if I do not wash you’. That is the great value, dear brethren, of reading the Scriptures, particularly in our homes and in reading meetings. The Lord is there to purify us patiently “by the washing of water by the word”. These twelve oxen encourage you when you see them. It may be that you cannot see the three hundred down below but you can see the twelve. There are three who face north. Their faces look outward; they observe each brother and each sister coming from the north, from the place of tribulation and distress. The Lord knows how these things depress us and often defile us. These three oxen consider each one of those who come from the north in order to serve them patiently, to revive them and to purify them. Most of us know what it is to come from the north.
Rem “Come to me, all ye who labour and are burdened” (Matthew 11: 28).
WJH Think of bereavement, illness, unemployment. How these things test us! The Lord patiently considers those who come from the north, to bring His refreshing and purifying word to their heart, in order to liberate them to enter and serve God, whatever the circumstances. Sometimes we hear a brother give thanks after having lost a member of his family and it is wonderful. I have heard a brother give thanks after six months of unemployment; his spirit was in contact with the Lord. It was not something natural.
Ques What does the water refer to?
WJH “The washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5: 26); this passage teaches us what this means. The Lord speaks to us, purifies us, refreshes us by His word; that is what this means. It is the objective of reading meetings. They are not for looking into certain subjects in the Scriptures but for serving one another patiently, so that we are purified and refreshed. Three, then, are turned towards the west; their eyes scan the west. This is very important for elderly brothers and sisters.
The west means the movement of the day towards its end. Old age approaches and little time remains to us. These oxen take account of these brothers and sisters in order to revive their spirit, to encourage them in their weakness and to liberate their hearts for the service of God, even although they are old. It is a very great service.
JM Without this service, elderly brothers and sisters would be unable to continue to the end.
WJH They would grow weary. Anna did not leave the temple, although she was nearly a hundred years old.
Then there are three which face the south. They observe all those who are prospering, whether materially or spiritually. These three oxen see the brethren who are prospering; these need help. If they are prospering in material things, they are in great danger. “Lest I be full and deny thee, and say, Who is Jehovah?” (Proverbs 30: 9). These three oxen observe the brothers and sisters who come from the south and bring to their hearts the purifying efficacy of the word of God so that they are able, none the less, to serve God, even if coming from the south.
Rem They would take account of the women “who ministered to him of their substance” (Luke 8: 3).
WJH That is very good. Gaius and Zacchaeus were also rich but their wealth did not prevent their entrance into the temple. The Lord looks on such brethren and helps them.
Then there are three facing the east. This is a word for the children, for those at the beginning of life. That is the meaning of the east, the place where the day begins. The Lord considers these children, these young boys and girls. He loves to serve them all patiently with a view to their participation in the service of God. It is not simply that they should not go to hell; there is little said in the Scriptures about hell for that matter. These young boys and girls are to enter into the temple.
LPN In summary, whatever our situation or age, we always need to be supported and it is good to be aware of this.
WJH The Lord puts Himself at our disposal with all the patience typified by the oxen. The Lord loves to see the children in the temple. Think of Samuel! It says that he “lay in the temple” and Jehovah called him three times saying, “Samuel, Samuel” but Samuel did not recognise the voice. Think of Jehovah’s patience towards Samuel! That should encourage the young people to move forward and to pass through this door.
PN Does the fact that there are twelve oxen convey the idea of God’s administration in relation to the things we are considering? Each of these four groups consists of three oxen. Does this show what is complete?
WJH Twelve expresses perfect administration. Three represents a complete testimony to the fact that the Lord considers children, rich brethren, elderly brothers and sisters and those in pain and sorrow in order to serve all, so that they can serve God. It is a wonderful day when a young person begins to give thanks. When the Lord was in the temple down here, the children cried out saying, “Hosanna to the son of David”. It was not a long thanksgiving. The Pharisees said to Him, “Hearest thou what these say?” Jesus replied, “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise” (Matthew 21: 16). The Lord had heard. I think that the older brethren need to remember that the Lord wants to hear the young.