SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 25
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” [Matthew 24:1-2]
For the people of Judah at the time of Zedekiah, as well as for the Jews of Jesus’ day, the temple was their guarantee of success.
They were safe because of the temple; as long as it stood, they were guaranteed success because God was committed to His house.
Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD… Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”–safe to do all these detestable things? !” [Jeremiah 7:4,9-10]
I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a haunt of jackals; and I will lay waste the towns of Judah so no one can live there. [Jeremiah 9:11]
Both Jesus and Jeremiah predict the fall of the temple and the city.
Today’s reading shows that the city and temple can fall, and do fall.
They are symbols of God’s presence and love, symbols that need to find true expression in the hearts and lives of His people.
God is not interested in buildings, but in whether what happens in those buildings (i.e. in the peoples hearts and lives) truly reflect and honour Him.
Jesus warns the religious leaders of His is that despite their formal religious piety, their hearts were far from God.
They trusted their religion, not their God; they loved their traditions and rituals and symbols, but not their God.
God is not focused on my church program, or building, or sanctuary, or bible, or good deeds, or church attendance – these things don’t impress Him much; what He looks at is the heart.
Neither is He impressed by our bank accounts or decorated homes or fancy cars or trophy’s or good looks… or whatever impresses us.
He looks at the heart.
And when the temple of the heart is in disarray, He will bring down the outer trappings (the word ‘trap’ is appropriate here) until we come to our senses.
PRAYER:
What is the condition of the temple of my heart? This is what impresses God, what He focuses on!
The temple was destroyed. The meeting place – with all it’s rituals, order of worship, sacred things, the ark, the beauty and grandeur – gone. Yet God is still there.
How true also today that we get caught up in doing it my way and yet we are serving the same God! We too are blinded by our limited vision. Eyes they have and do not see what the Lord God has in store for them. We too do not have an open heart listening to the voice of the Lord.
Who’s in charge? Who resides in my heart? Who drives my activities this day? Help me this day Lord to be intune with You. Today, God Is First.
Love is a flag flying high from the castle of my heart,
From the castle of my heart, from the castle of my heart.
Love is a flag flying high from the castle of my heart,
For the King is in residence there.
[Chorus]
So let it fly in the sky let the whole world know,
Let the whole world know, let the whole world know.
So let it fly in the sky let the whole world know,
That the King is in residence there.
[2] Faith is a flag flying high…
[3] Joy is a flag flying high…