In the House of the Lord by William Covert

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 5, 1910

In the House of the Lord

By William Covert

WILLIAM COVERT

WHEN the Lord brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, he proposed that they build a sanctuary that he might dwell among them. Ex. 25:8. As soon as the sanctuary was built, the Lord, by the presence of his glory, took possession of it, and so he dwelt among them in their dedicated place of worship. The place was always sacred because of his presence, and in consideration of this sacredness, every one who connected with the place was required to preserve this sacredness. Special instruction was given about how worshipers were to appear before God. Every article of clothing worn by them was to be cleansed. Ex. 19:10, 11. And at another time one said the heart of the individual was to be sprinkled by the Spirit to cleanse the conscience, while the body was to be washed with pure water. Heb. 10:21, 22.

If these things were essential in the time of Moses and in the days of Paul, then they are essential to-day, for God does not change. What was required of men in the way of holiness in those times is required now, because men's needs now are the same as their needs were then.

Our place of worship is a sanctuary to us, and is holy unto the Lord. Anciently

God said to his people, “Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.” Lev. 19:30. But is not the same obedience and the same reverence required of us for the same reason that made these things necessary for Israel?

The most sacred place on earth to the Christian is the dedicated church house, where he meets with God in his Sabbath worship. There should be set rules as to the time and the manner of this worship, and all should be religiously observed in this house. Indeed, the Sabbath can not be sacredly observed apart from sacred order, and none who disregard the sacredness of God's house can keep the Sabbath holy. The worshiper should devoutly regard the time, the place, and the object of worship, for nothing pertaining to the holy idea can be treated carelessly without doing violence to the great principle of reverence for God. The appointed day for worship, the time of that day, the place where the worship is to be rendered, must all be recognized by God's people in order to worship him in the beauty of holiness.

The house of worship becomes a holy, consecrated spot to the one who from Sabbath to Sabbath meets God there to worship him. God's holy presence is there, and angels are also there, so that the place becomes to all what Jacob said the place was where he slept with a stone for a pillow: “How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” It was a sacred place because God met with him there, and also the angels of God were ascending and descending.

But we may say as much for the house of worship which we have dedicated to God as Jacob said of the Bethel where he erected the pillar and poured the anointing oil on the top of it.

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