2 posts tagged “temple”

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THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

Read Psalm 27–28

            One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek:  that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.       Psalms 27:4

            King David had a heart for God's house, which in his day was the Tabernacle. He wanted to build a temple for the Lord, but God would not let him do it in his generation. David’s son, Solomon would be the one to carry out his plans, with materials his father had gathered together.(1 Kings 8:19) Today, the Lord's house is the Church, the Body of Christ, made up of believers who are themselves, the Temple His Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 3:16–17)

           The places where the Church meets, places of fellowship and worship, can be anywhere–in a home, a school or an elaborate building. The author of Hebrews warns, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

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            Lord, thank You for the privilege of meeting freely with other believers.  May our love for Your Church be so genuine and obvious that our children and grandchildren, like David, will desire to dwell in Your house all the days of their lives.

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            At his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.    Psalm 27: 6b

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RETURN TO JERUSALEM

Read Ezra 1–6

            In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia …”

Ezra 1:1a NIV

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            When the prophesied seventy years of Israel’s captivity had past, God moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to send the people back to their land. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, "They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia". (Ezra 6:14)

           God had caused the Medes and the Persians to take over the Babylonian kingdom just in time to fulfill His Word. He used worldly powers to bring judgment on His people, and now He used them to bring restoration and blessing.

           The road to restoration was not easy; the people had to work hard to rebuild the destroyed temple–and later the city walls. They would face discouragement and harassment from their neighbors; but in spite of this, the work went on and they were restored to the land.

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            Thank you, Lord, that Your discipline is not forever, and its purpose is for our good–for You have said, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves,” (Hebrews 12:5–6 NIV)

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            "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."     Psalms 30:5 NIV