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I. THAT GOD REQUIRES a HOUSE ESPECIALLY ERECTED FOR HIS WORSHIP. "This house."

1. As a dwelling on the earth. God's presence pervades the universe; there is no place where it is not. The heaven of heavens cannot contain him, much less the house which we have built; yet in great condescension he manifests a richer presence in his holy sanctuary than in all the world outside. The Shechinah dwells in the temple. God's dwelling-place is in Zion. Christ is in the midst of his gathered people (Matthew 18:20).

2. As a testimony for the truth. The temple was a testimony to the heathen nations and to all people of the worship and sacrifice due from the Israelites to Jehovah. Our Christian churches testify to our belief in the great God, and to all those sacred truths which he has revealed in his book.

3. As the evidence of a religious feeling. While others are only building houses for themselves; we build also for God; we sacrifice the comfort of our ceiled houses and of our gains so to do. Our churches are evidence of the unselfish and devout sentiments of the human heart.

4. As the means of social philanthropy. We love the nation, and seek its moral welfare, hence we build it a sanctuary.

II. THAT THERE ARE A GREAT MANY IMPEDIMENTS IN THE WAY OF BUILDING CHURCHES. The Israelites had many hindrances in their work.

1. The lack of a good heart for the work.

2. The lack of generous gifts for the work.

3. The lack of suitable men to lead the work.

4. The lack of sympathy in men for the moral welfare of God's cause.

5. The lack of mutual concession to opposing ideas.

6. The lack of right help from the outside circles of society.

Christian enthusiasm, generosity, sympathy, good feeling, are the requisites of successful church building.

III. THAT THE COMPLETION OF A NEW CHURCH IS WORTHY OF SPECIAL GRATITUDE. The Israelites would indeed be grateful to see their finished temple.

1. Grateful for the kind providence that had aided them.

2. Grateful for the valiant leaders that had inspired them.

3. Grateful for the persistent spirit of work which had been given them.

4. Grateful that their arduous toils were at an end.

5. Grateful that the glorious worship of God could now be fully celebrated.

6. Grateful that they had a new impulse given to their national life. - E.

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KJV: And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

WEB: This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.