Its Work in the Temple by J. O. Corliss

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 19, 1911

Its Work in the Temple

By J. O. Corliss

History of the Jewish Priesthood—No. 8

Its Work in the Temple

J. O. CORLISS

Seventy years before the establishment of Israel’s monarchy under Saul, and before the sanctuary was at Shiloh, Eli, a descendant of Ithamar, was high priest and judge over the people. His two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were serving in the priesthood. At that time the priests had come to share in the wild, licentious spirit of the age, with but here and there an exception to rise above it. In this state they betokened no approach of a better time, and the people complained in bitterness of the priestly profligacy. 1 Sam. 2:17.

Eli scarcely restrained his unruly sons except in case of their open adulterous acts, and then but mildly said: “Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.” Under the circumstances the priestly office was but empty parade, profaning the name of Jehovah, and obscuring Heaven’s design in behalf of mankind. The time had come for divine protest, and a messenger was sent to rebuke Eli. He was told that from that time on no old man would be found among his posterity, and that he would see “affliction of the tabernacle, for all the wealth which God would have given Israel.” 1 Sam. 2:32, margin.

A certain sign was then announced: Hophni and Phinehas, the unrestrained offenders, were both to die in the same day. This word followed: “And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed forever.” Verse 35. From such references as 2 Sam. 7:11, 19, 25-29; 1 Kings 11:38; Ps. 89:3, 4, and many others, it would seem that King David was the “faithful priest,” or judge of the people, whom God had in mind. It is quite evident that David so understood it; and upon this reliance alone, he remodeled the services of the sanctuary, and regulated the duties of the priesthood. 1 Chron. 24:3; 6:31, 32; 13:7, 8.

David a Type

The fact that David, of the tribe of Judah, being king, was appointed to stand at the head of the earthly priesthood of his day, makes him a beautiful type of, and prelude to, the heavenly Prince of Peace, whose earthly pedigree is traced back on the one side to David, through kings, and to the same source through priests on the maternal side. And yet many vicissitudes awaited the priesthood after the days of David and Solomon, before it was to merge into that heavenly service, through the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The temple at Jerusalem was planned by David, but was left to be built by Solomon. Every detail of its service was clearly provided for (1 Chron. 28:2, 11), in all probability under the direction of divine prompting. Verse 19. In time.

however, the example of Solomon, especially in the matter of polygamy, bore baneful fruit. In common with other Oriental monarchs, the kings of Judah indulged in this hateful sin. 2 Chron. 24:2, 3. It spread to every class of people, and the priesthood became a center of superstition and vice. The prophet states the condition thus: “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy [belch forth, Hebrew] falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means [that is, by false prophesying]: and my people love to have it so.” Jer. 5:30, 31.

Among the plural wives of that time some were from among the pagan nations, and their presence tended to paganize the religion of the Jews. Heathen impurities were introduced until Jerusalem was described as “the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it.” Eze. 24:6. A temple of Baal rose almost, if not directly, within the precincts of the Hebrew temple. 2 Kings 11:18; 2 Chron. 23:17, 18. Thus pagan worship was permitted side by side with the ancient rites.

Superstition was the order of the day. Gold and silver statues were erected everywhere. Altars stood at the corners of the streets. On the roof of the temple were erected little altars where the heavenly bodies were worshiped. Sacred white horses were also dedicated to the sun, in imitation of Persian and Assyrian customs.

King Ahaz, while in Damascus, saw an altar that pleased him, and sent the pattern of it to Urijah the priest, with orders to duplicate it. The high priest did as he was told; and when Ahaz returned from Damascus, he viewed the new altar with great pleasure, and offered sacrifices upon it. He then rearranged the furniture of the temple, placing the altar of David in an obscure place, and removed a Sabbath booth, another part of the furniture, and sent it to the king of Assyria. 2 Kings 16:10-18. Near the end of the reign of Ahaz, the great doors of the temple were closed, the lamps were not lighted, and no incense was offered. The temple was neglected, and high places were erected in all the cities of Judah, upon which was burned incense to false gods. 2 Chron. 28:24, 25.

In the Days of Herod

Passing over much that doubtless would be interesting, we come to the days of Herod and his reproduction of the temple. The succession to the high priesthood had been broken, never to be renewed. That office was open to the highest bidder, and was at one time ministered by the obscure Hananel from Babylon. Others of the same sort followed, as Joshua, son of Phabi, and the sons of Boethus. The functions of the priesthood were at last in the hands of those who could not, if they had so desired, point the worshiper to Him who “taketh away the sin of the world.” The true design by which to point men to Christ was lost. It is not strange, therefore, that when the great antitype of those ordained sacrifices came to the world, he was looked upon as out of place among the Jewish people, who were really “his own.” Having lost sight of the real purpose of their ministry, the priests of Christ’s day were easily persuaded to reject the object of their entire system, and unite with the civil power in putting him to death.

In this they did more than they knew. They offered the one great sacrifice which was to restore and perpetuate the true sanctuary service. It would not be strange if another earthly priesthood should afterward arise in an attempt to rob the heavenly High Priest of his claim, and his people of their rights, thus casting the truth to the ground, to the detriment of all the world.

Mountain View, Cal.