Housing God's symbols.
The fitting old place was a temple; the fitting place now is a heart. The old economy was an elaborate picture-teaching of spiritual truths and relations. It is urged that, as man is a composite being, and can never transcend his bodily conditions, his religion must always be as composite as himself. it must have its visible symbols, and they must have their fitting earthly, material, surroundings. On the other hand, it is urged, as by the Hindus, that precisely what man has to do, precisely what has to be the issue of life, is full deliverance from the sensible and material, from all reliance on form, symbol, sacrament, or other outward help; and absolute absorption in, and satisfaction with, spiritual and eternal realities. To many this must seem a dream; and it may confidently be affirmed that the majority of men will never transcend their dependence on material symbols. Religion for humanity will always have its shrines, its sacraments, and its services. And if this be so, then adequate and efficient material helps will be sought by all devout souls. And this is illustrated in David's anxiety.
I. THE PITTING PLACE FOR DIVINE SYMBOLS. David had to deal with a sacred ark, which was the symbol of Jehovah's presence as the supreme King of the nation. Clearly what was befitting to the King was a dwelling-place. But David had restored that ark to a nation that had at last gained settled permanency. The sense of security led to the idea of building a palace for David. How natural that David should thing of building a palace for his supreme and sovereign Lord! A movable tent was no longer in harmony with the national life. The houses built for God, the churches and chapels of today, ought to represent that sense of God and of God's presence which they have for whom they are built. If the house holds the symbols which God gives, it is the symbol of God which man creates. It represents his thought of God.
II. THE FITTING PLACE FOR THE REALITY REPRESENTED BY SYMBOLS. For symbols are never realities, and never must be thought of as such, or treated as such. They are only symbols. The Divine presence is a spiritual reality. And that must have its shrine. That shrine is a human heart. "To that man will I look, and with him will I dwell, who is humble and contrite in heart." The heart-temple must be worthy of its real presence.—R.T.