p. 116 | DEDICATION by Joseph Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 24, 1885

DEDICATION

By Joseph Clarke

BY JOSEPH CLARKE.

“AND the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, what man is there that hath built a new house and hath not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in battle, and another man dedicate it.” Deut. 20 : 5. From this it is to be inferred with certainty that it was a customary practice in those days to dedicate, or set apart religiously and solemnly, to the protection and care of God, houses intended for dwellings. Certainly it was a beautiful custom; and why should not a dwelling-house be as fit an object for dedication as a church? and why is it not as suitable and proper to thus dedicate a building in which families are to be established, where the young are to be educated and trained for the conflicts of life, and whence they go forth to do and to conquer?

The dedicatory prayer and address of Solomon at the dedication of the Temple, as given in the 6th chapter of 2d Chronicles, shows that the act of dedicating a house to God was well understood, and that appropriate exercises were considered necessary and proper. Now no one doubts that this was right and exceedingly appropriate for the Israelites, who were established in a country situated in the midst of deadly foes and bitter enemies; but in a land of freedom and liberty like ours it is argued that there is no such necessity nor propriety. Let us see how that argument will stand. Are our houses safe from the hand of the ruffian? safe from fire? safe from the cyclone and the hurricane? Are we insured from death, from sickness, and disease? Are our houses protected from lightning, from earthquakes and hail? I have often asked myself when dwellings are swept like feathers before the winds, Did the builders dedicate those houses to the care, oversight, and protection of God?

Perhaps, my friend, you object, and say that the elements are subject to laws. Ah! but do you not know that laws are subject to God? See the boiling, seething lake arise over Sodom in a moment, and consume the city with its people in an hour. Again see the tempest cease in an instant at the command of Christ, and a great calm ensue when he only said, “Peace, be still!”

I do not say in an age like ours of bold blasphemous slanders, and ridicule of all that is in advance of the times, that there should always be a public dedication of a house intended for a home. Care may well be taken not to provoke criticism unnecessarily; but it does seem eminently proper for the people of God to dedicate all their buildings intended for human habitation, or for worship, even if only for a day or a week, whether those houses are built of wood or cloth, of brick or stone, to Him who rules the people and the elements. If this were always faithfully attended to, I have no doubt there would be few houses, whether built for public or private use, for worship or for dwellings, ever wrecked or disturbed in any way. There is cold skepticism on this point. I leave it with you, dear reader.