Temple Cleansed Again
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its assigned position, and found to be an exact fit. In prophetic vision,
Isaiah was shown that this stone was a symbol of Christ. He says:
“Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and
let Him be your dread. And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone
of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel,
for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many
among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared,
and be taken.” Carried down in prophetic vision to the first advent,
the prophet is shown that Christ is to bear trials and tests of which
the treatment of the chief cornerstone in the temple of Solomon was
symbolic. “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion
for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure
foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”
Isaiah 8:13-15
;
28:16
.
In infinite wisdom, God chose the foundation stone, and laid it
Himself. He called it “a sure foundation.” The entire world may lay
upon it their burdens and griefs; it can endure them all. With perfect
safety they may build upon it. Christ is a “tried stone.” Those who
trust in Him, He never disappoints. He has borne every test. He has
endured the pressure of Adam’s guilt, and the guilt of his posterity,
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and has come off more than conqueror of the powers of evil. He has
borne the burdens cast upon Him by every repenting sinner. In Christ
the guilty heart has found relief. He is the sure foundation. All who
make Him their dependence rest in perfect security.
In Isaiah’s prophecy, Christ is declared to be both a sure foundation
and a stone of stumbling. The apostle Peter, writing by inspiration of
the Holy Spirit, clearly shows to whom Christ is a foundation stone,
and to whom a rock of offense:
“If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming,
as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God,
and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an
holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by
Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I
lay in Sion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believeth
on Him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe
He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which
the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a