Temple…

Temple…

In the letter to the Corinthians, we read Cor. 3,16 – Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? And in verse 23 – And you are Christ’s, and the Christ of God. These are beautiful texts that tell us, the people who gave their lives to Jesus and were born again into the Kingdom of God, that God did not leave us orphans, but when Jesus returned to Heaven, He sent His Spirit to seal those who are His. His presence in our lives is like Shekinah accompanying the Israelites in their wandering in the desert, and even more, for they have seen God’s glory far away and we are filled with it. We in Christ, Christ in the Father, are as safe as no other. However, since we are the Temple, how should I live so that the presence of the Lord in this temple is visible to others?

Let’s go to II Kings and read chapters 20-23, there we will find some tips that will help us understand the essence of the temple. After the reign of Hezekiah, who had various adventures of ups and downs before the Lord, Menasseh became the next king and he reigned for 50 years, unfortunately he did nothing good, and can even be described as the deceiver of the people. He agreed that the cult of all kinds would flourish in Israel, it would be a shame to even quote verses, it was a disgrace that he even gave his son to be burned by idols 21.6. Even so, the Temple operated as if nothing had happened. This first observation is that we may be soiled with sins and not see that it is wrong.

After Menasseh, there was Amon for a while, and then Josiah. During his reign, an amazing situation arises from which we learn that the temple worship and faith of the Judean was not based at all on what God said, but on what their scribes and priests told them. 22.8 shows us this truth, and in verse 11 we see the king’s reaction, looking at what is happening in Jerusalem and at all that he knows, he has nothing left to compare with what the Lord says, except to tear his clothes and suffer. After confirming the truth of the revelation, the king immediately began making changes that were pleasing to the Lord.

The changes and idolatry had gone so deep in the Temple that it’s worth reading to know how much Josiah had to interfere, killing foreign priests, cults, temples, deities, and more. It also shows us how quickly and how much we can get lost and lost in worship when we deviate from the Word of God. How much work do we have to do to rid our heart, which is after all the dwelling of God’s Spirit, any “other” in order to be clean before the Lord. How many years was this idolatry, 60-70? We can also think that everything is ok, because the Lord does not thunder, that it is calm, that people see it that way, so we have to do it, but do we confront our faith with the Bible and what the Lord says?

We probably remember Joshua, who led Israel into the promised land, what was most important to the Lord for him was Joshua. 1.8 – Do not let the book of this law stray from your mouth, but meditate on it day and night, to strictly do everything that is written in it, for then your way will be lucky and then you will prosper. We find a similar sequence in John 20:31 – And these (books) are written so that you may believe that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have eternal life in His name.

So, let’s stick to the Word. Yours in Mr. Kazik.

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