Building the Lord's Temple I
Context: King David took on the responsibility of charging his son to the construction of the temple, and in public address, commended unto his son the mammoth task. Until this point, the ethereal presence of the Lord's spirit resided upon the Ark of the Covenant, and did not have a fixed place of sanctuary. Just as the Israelites had established themselves in the promised land, it was now time for them to construct a place worthy of the God who had brought them out of Egypt and slavery.
1 Chronicles 28:8-10
"So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.
"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work."
David urges Solomon to do 3 things-
1.) acknowledge the God of your father
the KJV writes "know". The Hebrew word for acknowledge is "yada` yaw-dah' to know properly, to ascertain by seeing; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment)
2.) serve (Hebrew: abad 'aw-bad'; to work; by implication, to serve, till, enslave, be keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, serve, servant, worshipper) him with wholehearted devotion/(KJV) perfect heart (Hebrew: halem 'shaw-lame'; complete; full, just, made ready, peaceable, perfect, quiet)
3.) with a willing mind (Hebrew: chaphets 'khaw-fates'; pleased with:--delight in, desire, favour, please, have pleasure, whosoever would, willing, wish)
For us who are spiritual children of God and recepients of His inheritance, like Solomon, we too have been exhorted to building the temple of God- the residing place of the Holy Spirit-- both our spiritual Man, as well as the church that Christ loves so much. Equally for us, we are called to "know and serve Him with perfect hearts and willing minds".
In 'knowing' Him, the Bible teaches that we are to know Him properly, where the idea relates to some kind of observation that we make of Him through His instructions, plans and punishment. Just like a child gets to 'know' his father by interacting with him directly through talking with him, as well as by forming opinions and points of understanding through watching his father at work or in situations, so it is for us. By reading His word and studying God's graceful action throughout history in the Gospel, and by learning more of who He is, we are 'knowing' Him through the Bible, as well as how He works in our lives.
The call to 'serve' Him, is unconventionally the idea of working, and working as a slave- being kept in bondage as though there were a contract that held us to His service. Perhaps not so felt in our times, in the French Revolution of 1789, the members of the working class and farmers stormed the mansions and manors of their lords and ladies, only to set their contracts on fire if only to be free men! How interesting it is that the Bible says exactly the opposite- that our service to the Lord is to be like contracted slaves. And yet, there is also an element of worship in the word, implying that this voluntary submission is our worship! No wonder Paul says in Romans 12:1 "Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Him- this is your spiritual act of worship". Our voluntary service IS worship! Our very lives are worship! And yet, King David tells his son to not just serve GOd like a slave, but to be a 'wholehearted' slave, or one wiht a 'perfect heart'- suggesting that the FULL devotion,or singleminded fidelity is required in the service of God. Jesus Himself echoed this in Matthew when He taught that no man can serve two masters- only one! Equally for us, are we serving Him alonewith that full, perfect and singleminded devotion?
Finally, the King urges his son to serve with 'a willing mind'- or one that derives pleasure from service. The service of the Lord is surely joy, and and is surely delight. As a friend once said, the call to serve GOd in whatever capacity must surely not be 'God's sucky will for my life' but must be planned for our benefit, for our good. Jeremiah 29:11 again says that "for I know the plans I ahve for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you- plans to give you a hope and a future". FOr those of us called to serve Him- there may be times of disappointment and frustration, but we must approach His service willingly, and gladly and joyfully- with the idea that we derive joy and pleasure from serving the King! Is that your approach to the project of building the church and the people of God?
Dear Lord,
we struggle with building your temple on your terms. And yet, there is no other way to do that holy task which you have set us aside to do. We know that in this day and age, our calling is still to build a place for your dwelling- to build both the church as well as our own lives since our very bodies are your temple. Make us pure and help us to live up to the detail and design that you have designed and enshrined for the Christian life. we want to be temples that shine in this world of darkness, temples that are a place of refuge and show a difference in this world. And yet we cannot do this on our terms, with our own hands. Help us to know you Lord, to see your works up close and in detail- help us do this wiht wholehearted singlemindedness. We want to do this Lord, and surely this prayer and plea for our heart's desire shows that we are willing. Make us the men and women you want us to be. We want to make you happy, we want to give you glory, we want to be Yours and YOurs alone. Help us to do this Lord, for your glory and your pleasure. When the world rises up against us and the cynicism and bitterness sets in, give us grace to be strong and be our mighty King leading us to triumph over these things. Thank you Lord Jesus- in whose precious name we pray all these things, Amen.
1 Chronicles 28:8-10
"So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.
"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work."
David urges Solomon to do 3 things-
1.) acknowledge the God of your father
the KJV writes "know". The Hebrew word for acknowledge is "yada` yaw-dah' to know properly, to ascertain by seeing; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment)
2.) serve (Hebrew: abad 'aw-bad'; to work; by implication, to serve, till, enslave, be keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, serve, servant, worshipper) him with wholehearted devotion/(KJV) perfect heart (Hebrew: halem 'shaw-lame'; complete; full, just, made ready, peaceable, perfect, quiet)
3.) with a willing mind (Hebrew: chaphets 'khaw-fates'; pleased with:--delight in, desire, favour, please, have pleasure, whosoever would, willing, wish)
For us who are spiritual children of God and recepients of His inheritance, like Solomon, we too have been exhorted to building the temple of God- the residing place of the Holy Spirit-- both our spiritual Man, as well as the church that Christ loves so much. Equally for us, we are called to "know and serve Him with perfect hearts and willing minds".
In 'knowing' Him, the Bible teaches that we are to know Him properly, where the idea relates to some kind of observation that we make of Him through His instructions, plans and punishment. Just like a child gets to 'know' his father by interacting with him directly through talking with him, as well as by forming opinions and points of understanding through watching his father at work or in situations, so it is for us. By reading His word and studying God's graceful action throughout history in the Gospel, and by learning more of who He is, we are 'knowing' Him through the Bible, as well as how He works in our lives.
The call to 'serve' Him, is unconventionally the idea of working, and working as a slave- being kept in bondage as though there were a contract that held us to His service. Perhaps not so felt in our times, in the French Revolution of 1789, the members of the working class and farmers stormed the mansions and manors of their lords and ladies, only to set their contracts on fire if only to be free men! How interesting it is that the Bible says exactly the opposite- that our service to the Lord is to be like contracted slaves. And yet, there is also an element of worship in the word, implying that this voluntary submission is our worship! No wonder Paul says in Romans 12:1 "Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Him- this is your spiritual act of worship". Our voluntary service IS worship! Our very lives are worship! And yet, King David tells his son to not just serve GOd like a slave, but to be a 'wholehearted' slave, or one wiht a 'perfect heart'- suggesting that the FULL devotion,or singleminded fidelity is required in the service of God. Jesus Himself echoed this in Matthew when He taught that no man can serve two masters- only one! Equally for us, are we serving Him alonewith that full, perfect and singleminded devotion?
Finally, the King urges his son to serve with 'a willing mind'- or one that derives pleasure from service. The service of the Lord is surely joy, and and is surely delight. As a friend once said, the call to serve GOd in whatever capacity must surely not be 'God's sucky will for my life' but must be planned for our benefit, for our good. Jeremiah 29:11 again says that "for I know the plans I ahve for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you- plans to give you a hope and a future". FOr those of us called to serve Him- there may be times of disappointment and frustration, but we must approach His service willingly, and gladly and joyfully- with the idea that we derive joy and pleasure from serving the King! Is that your approach to the project of building the church and the people of God?
Dear Lord,
we struggle with building your temple on your terms. And yet, there is no other way to do that holy task which you have set us aside to do. We know that in this day and age, our calling is still to build a place for your dwelling- to build both the church as well as our own lives since our very bodies are your temple. Make us pure and help us to live up to the detail and design that you have designed and enshrined for the Christian life. we want to be temples that shine in this world of darkness, temples that are a place of refuge and show a difference in this world. And yet we cannot do this on our terms, with our own hands. Help us to know you Lord, to see your works up close and in detail- help us do this wiht wholehearted singlemindedness. We want to do this Lord, and surely this prayer and plea for our heart's desire shows that we are willing. Make us the men and women you want us to be. We want to make you happy, we want to give you glory, we want to be Yours and YOurs alone. Help us to do this Lord, for your glory and your pleasure. When the world rises up against us and the cynicism and bitterness sets in, give us grace to be strong and be our mighty King leading us to triumph over these things. Thank you Lord Jesus- in whose precious name we pray all these things, Amen.
posted by leb at 8:51 PM
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