The Burnt Temple

T. Spurgeon.

Isaiah 64:11

Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste.

I. HERE IS PATHETIC LAMENTATION.

1. The children of Israel regarded the temple as their own house. They spoke of it as God's house. But because it was God's it was their own, for they were God's; and all that particularly belonged to Him had a special interest for them, and they had a special claim in it.

2. This temple was sacred in the people's eyes. The prophet calls it, "our holy house." It was really so.

3. The Jews, exiled abroad, thought of yonder ruined house where their fathers praised the Lord. There is no attachment stronger than that which exists between men and women, sons and daughters of Christian fathers and mothers, who are worshipping in the place where their predecessors worshipped.

4. All their pleasant things were laid waste.

II. HERE IS AFFECTIONATE EXPOSTULATION. "Wilt Thou refrain Thyself?" etc. The plain English of it is, "Canst Thou bear to see this, Lord? Does it not affect Thee as it does us? Hast Thou no sighs, no groans, no tears? And if Thou hast, wilt Thou not pluck Thy hand from out Thy bosom and help us? Wilt Thou not open Thy lips and speak a word of peace? We cannot bear Thy silence, Lord. Wilt Thou hold Thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

(T. Spurgeon.)