Faith in God and the Sanctuary
By Stephen N. Haskell
THERE are two elements in faith that are essential if we would receive the blessings that come as a result of faith. We must believe that God is a personal being, dwelling somewhere in particular. The habitation in which God dwells is called a sanctuary. This was illustrated by the ritual service in connection with the earthly sanctuary. The people were commanded to bring their offerings to the door of the sanctuary (Lev. 17: 1-7); for there God would meet them. Ex. 29: 38-43; Deut. 12: 5-14, 17, 18. If they failed to do this, it was evidence that they were idol worshipers. One essential feature in their worship was to recognize God’s personal presence in a particular place, that is, in the sanctuary. Lev. 17: 7-9. This thought is further shown in the prayer at the dedication of the temple. Solomon acknowledges that God dwelt in heaven; but while heaven was his dwelling-place, God’s eyes were ever open toward this house, for his name was there; it was his dwelling-place on the earth, and represented his dwelling-place in heaven. So when the people prayed, they were to look toward the temple. 1 Kings 8: 27-30. When a man trespassed against his neighbor, if he turned his face toward the Lord’s house, he received pardon. Verses 31, 32. If the armies of Israel were smitten before their enemies, and would make supplication before the temple, God heard them. Verses 33, 34. In time of drought, if the people would pray toward the temple, confessing their sins, God would send them rain. Verses 35, 36. If they were smitten with pestilence, famine, blasting, mildew, locusts, or any plague or sickness, if they would spread out their hands toward the temple, God would hear and deliver them. Verses 37-40. If strangers from a far country should pray toward the temple, God would vindicate his word and save them. Verses 41-43. When Israel went out to battle, to insure victory they were to pray toward the city; for the temple was in the city. Verses 44, 45. When they had sinned and repented, they were always to pray toward God’s dwelling-place. Verses 46-50. What object-lesson could God give that would more forcibly impress his people with the personality of God in him, the sanctuary above? This dwelling-place was in Jerusalem, and in the temple Solomon built. God answered Solomon’s prayer by filling the house with his glory, the object being that all the people of the earth might know that the Lord is God, and that there is no one else. Verses 56-60. See also 2 Chron. 6: 12-42; 7: 1-3. Jehoshaphat obtained a great victory when he pleaded this promise at a time of great helplessness, appealing to the fact that this was God’s sanctuary, built for his name. 2 Chron. 20: 5-30. Daniel prayed, “His windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day.” Dan. 6: 10. If there was any virtue in this,—and there certainly was,—does it not mean something to us? Rom. 15: 4. We have not a sanctuary on earth, but in heaven, where Christ is minister, at the right hand of God, the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, and not man. Heb. 8: 1, 2. We should direct our prayers to him, believing “that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Is it not, then, necessary when we pray that our hearts be lifted up to heaven? Jesus “lifted up his eyes to heaven” and prayed. John 17: 1. God would have his people pray, “everywhere lifting up holy hands,” without wrath or doubting. Any effort to direct the mind to the human body as the antitypical sanctuary, or to any other object on earth, is to turn the face toward idol worship. Every ray of light received comes from the heavenly courts, and the human body becomes the spiritual temple only as it receives these rays of light from a knowledge of Christ’s work in the heavenly sanctuary.—S. N. Haskell, in Southern Watchman.