1 Chronicles 28; Micah 5; Luke 14; 2 Peter 2
Some Bible scholars scorn non-literal interpretation of God’s word. Yet again this morning, the Holy Spirit points my attention to how His work among His people in the OT is a shadow of His work in my life. Maybe this is because I need to get a big-picture perspective of what God is doing rather than be caught up in details.
1 Chronicles 28 points to David, a “man of war” and of shed blood and who is often an illustration of Jesus. However, he not allowed to build the temple even though he gathered all the materials and was given the blueprints. Instead, it was built by Solomon whose name comes from a root word meaning wholeness, unity, a restored relationship.
“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.” Then David gave Solomon his son the plan . . . (1 Chronicles 28:9–11)
Building my Christian life began with the blood of Christ that secured forgiveness and covered my sin. Next thing is to build the temple of the Holy Spirit according to the plan of God and do it with a whole heart and a willing mind, remembering that this is about wholeness, unity, a restored relationship with God.
In the same theme, Micah affirms that it is Christ who builds my life. He unites me with His people, cares for me and gives me security, deals with my spiritual enemies, purges me of reliance on my own power, destroys all false worship (the enemies within) and with firmness deal with any part of me that does not obey Him.
In Luke, Jesus Himself demonstrates what my life should look like as one who belongs to Him and His kingdom. This “temple” is not a place of honor but of service that is sacrificial and focused on the needs of others.
Jesus ignored the ‘religious rules’ of His day and healed a man on the Sabbath, rebuking those who protested (Luke 14:1-6). Am I up for that challenge?
Jesus rejected taking a place of honor and said, “When you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place” and perhaps be invited to move up higher because, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” I like being honored; this is a challenge also.
Jesus extended this with another parable about inviting people to a great banquet, but many refused or made excuses to stay away. To this, He said, “Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.” In other words, be impartial when sharing the call of God to others about joining His people in the feast of life that I enjoy as one of His ‘guests’ — invite anyone and everyone. Can I do that?
Then Jesus brings up another factor in temple-building; some people will not like it. Following Jesus and allowing Him to shape me into His image is costly. Don’t take on godliness without being ready for it — it means forsaking everything, like Micah said about idols and any part of me that is not willing to obey Him. I cannot claim that this temple is ‘finished’ in the experiential sense, only in my standing before God I am complete in Christ. In the ‘building report’ I know I have a long way to go.
2 Peter 2 reminds me of Nehemiah as he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. It was a difficult task made more difficult by opposition. Peter says:
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words . . . . (2 Peter 2:1–3)
Not only will I have to keep building when challenged, I also must sort out true from false and be aware of the tactics that try to halt the process. This requires knowing God’s ways and sticking to them.
APPLY: This past week was a war zone of strong efforts to stop me from trusting and obeying Jesus. The goal is to be like Him, but the enemy wants me to stay like I was before Jesus transformed my life. At times, I lost focus and became totally discouraged, yet God is at work. He takes all things and uses them for good that I might be conformed to the image of His Son (see Romans 8:28-29), even these battles that reveal my frailty as they also grant me glimpses of His great strength and faithfulness. He is at work in me and because of His enabling, I must persevere in the construction process.