THEOSISPhilaret of Moscow (Drosdow)
The Sovereign whose throne is in heaven and whose feet rest upon the earth, who, as the prophet assures, reaches into the very depths of hell with His presence (Ps. 138:8) ‘If I go down into hell, there you are’ - AV, who pervades and sustains all things with the authority of His voice (Heb. 1:3) so that we ‘in ... Him we live..., move and are’ (Acts 17:28), can we truly be confined within a limited and temporal space? ‘What house shall ye build Me’ (Isaiah 66:1), He questions those who mistakenly believe that they can sanctify a location through His presence, rather than understanding that His holiness transcends any physical structure?
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The human heart, being so grounded in the earth that it cannot ascend to heavenly joys on its own, and the mind, rendered dim, requires the use of the physical senses to navigate towards truly spiritual understanding, as evidenced in the brilliance of the Lord's presence where ‘the invisible things of God are seen by thought’ (Rom. 1:20). Therefore, God Himself lowers the heavens to draw the earthly closer to Him and to instruct them in living in constant communion with Him. In doing so, the finite and earthly spirit often converts the idea of His spiritual omnipresence into temporary signs and experiences. In response, man endeavors to remain in this redemptive closeness to God through the power of faith, naturally inclined and inspired by the Divine, gathering indicators of God’s presence, recognizing evidence of His extraordinary acts, and dedicating particular places as reminders of divine grace, offering them solely for sacred service. For example, Jacob, after dreaming of the profound mystery of human connection to God depicted by a ladder ascending to heaven, referred to his resting place as ‘the house of God’ (Gen. 28:19), thereafter approaching it with profound respect. Similarly, the Tabernacle built by Moses was constructed ‘after the pattern shown ... in the mount’ (Ex. 26:30), adorned with the extraordinary relics of tablets, manna, and the seer's rod. Likewise, ‘the threshing floor of Ornah’ (2 Chronicles 3:1), marked by an angel’s appearance, became the site of Solomon's temple. Christian places of worship, following ancient tradition, often house entire tombs or portions of these sacred bodies, within which God manifested His glory through His saints, serving as memorials of divine action or of individuals who have exemplified a blessed communion with God. In conclusion, the house of God upon the earth emerges from the divine condescension towards humanity and humanity's quest to approach the Divine. God endows this space with the majesty of His gracious presence, and humanity adorns it with a vibrant faith. The glory of God renders it sacred for humanity, while the faith of humanity makes it pleasing to God.