Ezra 4:24-6:22 ~ 1 Corinthians 3:5-23 ~ Psalm 29:1-11 ~ Proverbs 20:26-27
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Old Testament - Great readings today in Ezra about the completion of the second Temple! Note that this second Temple, which was completed on March 12, 516 B.C., is the same Temple that existed during Jesus' ministry. This second Temple was then destroyed by Roman armies in 70 A.D. This second Temple was a lot smaller than the first Temple built by Solomon. And less ornate. And the big thing of course was that this second Temple did not have the Ark of the Covenant nor the tablets of the Law, as these were believed to have been destroyed when Nebuchadnezzar burned Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Nonetheless, the completion of the second Temple was a great cause of celebration for the Israelites who had returned from exile! Below is a model of this second Temple:
New Testament - This may be a somewhat of a controversial reflection here, but I'd like to put it out for discussion. Please feel free to let me know your thoughts in the Comments section of the blog below. Today's readings in First Corinthians made me think about all of our various Christian church denominations that we have in our world today. In our readings today, some followed Paul. Some followed Apollos. Some followed Peter. And in our churches today, some follow Calvin. Some follow Wesley. Some follow Knox. And so on. And I guess I just wonder would the church today look any differently today if we simply all followed Jesus? I don't mean to knock denominations here per se. I myself go to a church affiliated with a denomination. I just pray that each of us could look beyond our denominations and look fully toward Jesus. And that we come to realize that no matter what our denominations, we are brothers and sisters through faith in our Lord Jesus. We inherit eternal life through God's grace and our faith in Jesus. We all - no matter our denomination - are "the church" through our faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. As Paul teaches us in First Corinthians 3:21-23 - "So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you—whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God."
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in First Corinthians titled "A Different Look at Leadership" is at this link and "A Call to Repentance" is at this link.
Psalms - Psalm 29 today is a beautiful hymn of praise to God the Creator! Verses 3 and 4 are awesome - "The voice of the LORD echoes above the sea. The God of glory thunders. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty." And verse 2 is something for each of us to joyfully obey - "Give honor to the LORD for the glory of his name. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness." Amen!
Proverbs: Proverbs 20:27 today is a powerful teaching: "The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive." I love this thought! God's Light penetrates our human spirits, exposing our hidden motives. And this is a very good thing! I believe that most all of us have some "blind spots" in our lives. Blind spots meaning we have sins or issues or motives or bad habits that we don't even know we have! We're blind to them. And God's light - His Light of the world, Jesus - can expose these hidden things to us! I think sometimes this can happen via solitary prayer or worship. However, I think this can also often happen through brothers and sisters in Christ who we ask to point out any blind spots to us. Have you ever asked anyone in your life to point out a blind spot? Was this painful? Was it ultimately helpful to you? Do you think you have any blind spots in your life today? Will you ask someone who knows you well if you have any blind spots?
Worship God: Psalm 29 today seems like a great place to share this wonderful homemade video someone put together to Chris Tomlin's song "Indescribable." This is a powerful song and a nice video - see if you can catch any misspellings in the words that come up in this video... :)
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
All of the excitement and drama in Ezra about rebuilding the temple really sets the scene for these verses in the first letter to the Corinthians about building up the body of believers. We are the temple!:
10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
16Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
Posted by: MG | August 06, 2007 at 08:47 PM
I am really struck by what means the Jews were able to convince Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia, to not only send them back to rebuild the temple, but the provide the articles Nebuchadnezzar had removed and to remove any obstacles (threats?) to them as they rebuilt the temple. I think the Jews had to be pretty wonderful witnesses of God's providence, love, glory, mercy, and justice.
How I hope I too can be that kind of witness to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Posted by: Sue | August 06, 2007 at 08:48 PM
Ezra
1)By going back to work on the temple, another round of letters was initiated. And once it was found that Cyrus did in fact authorize the rebuilding of the temple - Darius was bound to let them continue, as a decree from a Persian king could not be rescinded. Perhaps his "extra" commands were to make up for previous stoppage, inspired by God, admiration of Jewish perseverance, to counter the perceived devious nature of Israel's neighbors, or some combination of all the above.
2)In verse Ezra6:21 the Israelites celebrated passover with "all" who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile(Samarians?)neighbors. So the Israelites had rejected the help earlier of Samarians, but when some truly sought God they allowed them to worship at Passover.
3)Was a little troubled by the term "King of Assyria" in verse 22, as I thought Ezra author was referring to Cyrus the Great. Did some checking. Turns out King of Assyria was one of Cyrus' titles as his grandfather had completed conquering of Assyria. Cyrus inherited the title and went on to build the Persian Empire.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_the_Great
Posted by: John | August 06, 2007 at 08:48 PM
1Cor3
[Note: The 200 or so Christians are surrounded by some 400,000 to 650,000 (varying estimates on record) Corinthians, who to a large degree still hold up the Greek tradition of wisdom (seeking of truth by man). Although Greece has been in decline - the Corinthian would still like to use human logic to figure things out.]
The Corinthian brethern are Christians, but they are still influenced by their surroundings being babes in Christ.
Paul calling them "wordly" Gk. "sarkikos",when used of a person, means “characterized by the flesh.” It speaks of the one who can and should do differently but does not. - David Guzik
The Corinthians are making the mistake of ascribing the gospel to man (Paul, Apollos, Peter) when it is God's Word - God's message. This glorifies man, and not the source - GOD.
======================================================
Two Metaphors
Plants
Paul plants the seed (Gospel), Apollos waters(encourages and exhorts), but it is God who will make you grow (unsaid - through the Holy Spirit in you). This is God's thing, not mans.
Building - temple
Now when you grow by God the acts you do are like building on the foundation - which is Christ. You are one in Christ so you are in that foundation, but the building is what you do with your life as a Christian.
gold, silver, costly stones: created things
wood, hay or straw: things that grow naturally.
So do the things that God creates in you through the Holy Spirit, and not the things that come from the world (naturally).
Because in the end "fire" will test your workmanship. Note: fire will not purify you, but test your work. Remember this is a metaphor.
"Notice that the amount of the work isn’t going to be evaluated (though it does have some relevance). Paul says the work will be tested to see what sort it is. If one did a lot of the wrong sort of work, it will be as if he did nothing. His work will be burned and will vanish in eternity. D.L. Moody wisely said that converts ought to be weighed as well as counted." - David Guzik
If it stands you will receive rewards in heaven (2Cor5:10). If it all burns up you are still saved, but you will suffer the loss of rewards. Your building may burn up, but the foundation will survive through the flames. Remember - again a metaphor. (and of course there is some middle ground of some part of building surviving and other parts burned up.)
So cut out the ways of the world and figuring out things through man's wisdom. Get to basics - Salvation is from God (Jesus - "Jehova is Salvation"), growth is from God, and if you center on God your building will be built with worthy materials.
This is the message of Paul, Apollos, and Peter, no matter the presentation style. You are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
Posted by: John | August 06, 2007 at 08:48 PM
Ezra 4:24-6:22
The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord like channels of water; he turns it wherever he wants.(Pro 21:1 NET.)
As God spoke to the heart of Cyrus seventy years after the Jews’ exile to Babylon, so too he spoke to the heart of King Darius that the work of building the Temple would continue. Darius could have said that his reign was a new day and he would not be held accountable for what another man did. Darius also did not allow Israel’s enemies to give him the only information about Jerusalem he heard what the Jewish leaders said. The people remembered to mention the decree King Cyrus had issued, and petitioned Darius to look for the decree, which he did.
Too often we look at our environment and the political atmosphere of the times and say, “I can’t do that because so and so is or isn’t in office; We can’t because the Democrats; The Republicans; the Liberals, etc.” But God says, “No, not so!”
When GOD approves of your life, even your enemies will end up shaking your hand. (Pro 16:7 MSG)
This lesson is something I need to take fast hold of and keep in my remembrance. My success is not based on a political party or a law that has been put in place, but on my relationship with God. If my success is not based on me, you or Aunt Sally, then neither is yours.
I Corinthians 3:5-23
5 Who is Apollos, and who is Paul, that we should be the cause of such quarrels? Why, we're only servants. Through us God caused you to believe. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow. 7 The ones who do the planting or watering aren't important, but God is important because he is the one who makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose. Yet they will be rewarded individually, according to their own hard work. 9 We work together as partners who belong to God. You are God's field, God's building--not ours.
Sadly today, we find ourselves in the very predicament Paul rebukes the church at Corinth for, divisions and divisiveness. When we are divided because we have grouped ourselves based on callings and purpose that is a good thing. We don’t expect our hand, which is part of our body, to have the same purpose and function as our heart. However, we as the body have divided ourselves into groups based on alliances and affiliations, and argue over which or whom is better than what part and which function is more important then the other. By itself, each part will fail, but in unity we work together, in bringing the body to become an effective and efficient move of God.
Yet, we fight over denominations, we fight over schools of theology and it goes on and on and on, seemingly without end. I’m not sure if the Body of Christ is imitating our political and/or ethnic and cultural groups, or if they are imitating us. What ever it is we need to put a stop to it.
We need to be like Paul and say,
For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified.
(1Co 2:2 AMP)
Psalm 29:1-11
This Psalm seems to compliment and confirm that indeed the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord (Proverbs 21:1). No matter what anyone does to go against the Lord or God’s people, they will never prevail. No matter that God’s people are attacked they will never be totally cast down nor destroyed, God will always have for himself a remnant no matter if His people go astray or they are attacked by enemies, God and God’s Word will always remain because it can never be destroyed.
Proverbs 20:26-27
A wise king winnows out the wicked [from among the good] and brings the threshing wheel over them [to separate the chaff from the grain].(Pro 20:26 AMP)
Just a thought: If the threshing wheel (Usually grain is thrown up in the air because the chaff is picked up by the wind and blown away while the heaver grain of wheat falls to the ground), is brought over wheat or some other grain; good from wicked; then pressure is being applied to all even the godly.
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
(Pro 24:10 AMP)
Posted by: R | August 06, 2007 at 08:49 PM
Psalm 29 (NKJV)
4
The voice of the LORD is powerful;
5
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, yes, the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon.
NOTE:
I note that God's Word "breaks" and "splinters".
This makes me think of two verses.
One verse is from Psalm 25 on which I am still meditating. The other verse is from Jeremiah 23.
Psalm 25 (NKJV)
12
Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
Jeremiah 23 (NKJV)
29
“ Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, “ And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
~~~
Only God can teach us His way; we only find our joy in Him.
God's Word breaks through human sin and indifference-- as we meditate on, fear, and worship the Lord.
I really like the comparison between the temple of God (building built by men at God's direction) and we are the temple.
The only way we can glorify God and properly honor the Lord Himself, Who is the Spirit, is to live for God's glory.
God "shall He teach in the way He chooses". (Psalm 25).
This makes me think of the following verses:
Psalm 115 (NKJV)
1
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.
Philippians 2 (NKJV)
12
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13
for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Vance
Posted by: Vance | August 06, 2007 at 08:50 PM
Follow Christ
I agree with the commentary in the blog. I don't believe there is anything wrong with denominations, per se, but I beleive that many times people get so caught up in what "their church" teaches that they forget that THE church only exists because of Christ and what He has done for us upon the cross of Calvary. The very foundation of our salvation has nothing to do with the efforts of the early church pioneers. That is not to say that their efforts were fruitless. But, I beleive they themselves would echo the words of Paul who said in the passage today,
"neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."
Posted by: Adam | August 07, 2007 at 06:48 AM
I believe that many people choose a denomination, but have forgotten to *be* the church - which is one body under the head - Christ. Denominations are really man made aren't they? Christ is not. He is AMAZING and AWESOME! By the way Mike, that's one of my favorite songs. I have it as a ringtone on my phone.
Posted by: Johnnie Ruth Hamill | August 07, 2007 at 06:58 AM
In reading Paul's writing about Christians being the temple of God, I was struck as to how much this verse has been pulled out of the context and watered down to be used only as an encouragement to go on a diet. I've realized that I've missed the big picture that everything I read, every Bible teacher I listen to, is adding to my temple, and I need to be careful that the material I allow to be added to my temple is good quality building material.
Posted by: TJ Bennett | August 07, 2007 at 09:50 AM
Yes, I caught the misspelled word - depths. I still like the song and the video.
Posted by: Birdie Cutair | August 07, 2007 at 01:47 PM
uh oh, i feel a tangent coming on! :P But I totally agree! i've been thinking of that very thing this week. why is there so much confusion? I do not belong to a denominational church, i dont think its wrong, but there is so much confusion...no wonder nonbelievers are confused, I'm confused! the term "Christian" was started by nonbelievers who observed followers of Christ, they started calling them Christians. How about we are just Christ followers, aka Christians. No offense to anyone, if we are born of the spirit we are of one mind (or should be) but i dont understand all these different sects. I dont identify myself as anything really, i just know i'm born again. the church i'm affiliated with is simply the place i get fed and fellowship at. I follow the word of God and am born of the spirit and trust in Christ for my salvation. Practices and traditions and stuff shouldnt come in the way of our walk with Christ.
i have a good friend who shared with me she prays to the saints as well as Jesus. As if they are on the same level! i explained to her that they were merely men and cannot hear your prayers (even discussed this with a nonbeliever who said, 'thats like saying God isnt enough!'.) I discussed this with her and shared some verses like "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (I Timothy 2:5). she flipped out on me! Got very mad. that she is a catholic first and its her beliefs, how dare tell her wat to believe. I said, its not MY beliefs, i tried to share, its the word of God! I too have had to adjust "my" beliefs because we want to be biblically correct...especially in fundamentals and this i feel is a fundamental. Anyhow, putting practices, traditions, things we learned, ahead of following Christ is a BAD idea! We need to be in the word of God, be more concerned what He thinks then how we were raised. Thank God I dont still believe what i did wen i was younger...that God hated me and wanted to punish me every chance He got. I was very incorrect! Well, i had to drop the issue with her because she was just furious and her heart was not open or teachable.
A couple verses important for us as Christians:
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good”. 1 Th. 5:21
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them”. Is. 8:20
Sorry for all the comments today, haha Just read Paul's writings, awesome! Each verse is so deep, I really need to mediatate on each verse! I will on my own but here are a couple that stood out.
v. 9 "For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building". The church is not an actual building, but the collective group of the followers of Jesus.
v. 8 "So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase"
Many times I feel like I need to lead others to Christ and if they dont believe I get discouraged, I think i am giving myself too much responsibility. I condemn myself...but its clear I am just the waterer or messenger. It is God's grace and power that saves. Not me! I'm not the holy spirit! If ppl believe, its NOT because of me, if ppl dont believe, its not my fault and i need not bare the blame that I didnt say the right thing, you know?
v. 16-17 "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are."
I've heard this is a number of contexts, like i hear women saying their body is a temple (in a worldly way, like they are a "goddess", their body is a "temple") or I've heard this in terms of like taking care of yourself health wise, like regarding drinking, smoking, eating habits, etc. Yes, God cares about our health and there are clear verses regarding some of these topics but this isnt what this scripture is saying. My study Bible says:
"Here is a severe warning to any who would try to interfere with or destroy the building of the church on the foundation of Christ."
my study bible commentary refers me back to notes in Matt. 18:16-17, Commentary: 'It is expected that those in the world will cause Christians to be offended, stumble, and sin, and they will be judged for it. But it should not be that fellow believers lead others into sin, directly or indirectly. One would be better off dead.' whoa! heavy stuff!
great vid. one of my fave songs!!!
Great Psalm of praise!! ok...i'm done! haha
Posted by: Jenny | August 07, 2007 at 10:23 PM