The emblem of spiritual unity.
"Compact together." Stanley thinks this term indicates the impression made on country visitors by the conformation of the ground on which the city of Jerusalem stood. "Those deep ravines which separate Jerusalem from the rocky plateau of which it forms a part, and acted as its natural defense, must also have determined its natural boundaries. The city, wherever else it spread, could never overleap the valley of the Kedron or of Hinnom. The expression of compactness was still more appropriate to the original city, it, as seems probable, the valley of Tyropoeon formed in earlier times a fosse within a fosse, shutting in Zion and Moriah into one compact mass, not more than half a mile in breadth." This compactness is taken as a type of the higher national unity. The nation restored from the Captivity was regarded as a whole nation, the distinction between Judah and Israel being no longer recognized. The sigma of unity was the gathering from all the tribes of worshippers at the Jerusalem feasts. The crowds of worshippers pressed into the area of the temple seemed to be represented by the compactness of the city.
I. SPIRITUAL UNITY IS THE UNITY OF A COMMON LIFE. And the real sign of life is lore. Those multitudes of Jews in the temple had one common love, and so one common life. They loved Jerusalem, they loved the God who glorified Jerusalem by his presence. And so the Christian unity is the unity of a common life, whose sign is a common love to the Lord Jesus Christ. Every Christian will join in saying, "Grace be with all them who love cur Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and in truth."
II. SPIRITUAL UNITY IS THE UNITY OF A COMMON INTEREST. And that interest for Jews was the honor of Jehovah, the nation's God; it is for Christians the honor of Jehovah-Jesus, the manifested God. How a common interest blends men together is seen in societies, clubs, conferences, etc. It is the secret of the unity of Churches.
III. SPIRITUAL UNITY IS THE HARMONY OF VARIED FORMS. Different-shaped hills made up the unity of Jerusalem. Different-colored flowers make up the unity of the garden. Different moods in worshippers make up the unity of a religious service. Different mental apprehensions of truth make up the unity of the Christian doctrine. Reunion of mere samenesses is not a pleasing thing either to God or man. We do not care for things cut to an exact pattern, or pressed into one mould. In variety lies charm; and variety is not only consistent with unity, it is a condition of unity if the unity is to go deeper than mere appearances. "That vast society in whose ample bosom the souls of Christian men from generation to generation find shelter and warmth and nourishment, is the reality of which the old Syrian city was a material type. This is the Jerusalem of the Christian Creed, 'I believe in one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.' There may be controversies among Christians as to the exact extent and direction of its walls, just as there are controversies among antiquarians as to the extent and direction of the walls of its material prototype, but as to its place in the thoughts and affections of the true Christian man there should be no room for controversy. No other association of men can have such claims on the heart of a Christian as the Church of God." "The true remedy for disappointment and sorrow on the score of shortcomings and differences within the sacred city is to be found in such prayers as we offer in our holiest service to the Divine Majesty, beseeching him to inspire continually the universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord."—R.T.