To our friends who are joining us in going deeper in Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther and Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi (and Jonah).
Observation #1:
What a monumental effort! An entire generation has passed on, and most of the people returning to rebuild the temple and the city walls have been born in a foreign land. Only a few remain who remember the temple of Solomon in it’s pre-destruction glory. Ezra 3:10-13 describes the conflicted feelings of the people, and Psalm 137 is a monument to their bittersweet emotions.
Observation #2
As we have been engaging Ezra and have begun to consider the prophet Haggai (per the post #50 outline/questions last week) we have been drawn into our memories regarding the distinct thread of the “house of the Lord” throughout the God Story. God reminded us of several things (so awesome).
– Haggai was concerned about the builders. They had become distracted and had allowed their attention, energy, and time to be siphoned to other things. Can you relate to this?
– This made us think about the now-destroyed Temple of Solomon which the Babylonians had scraped from the temple mount in Jerusalem.
– We were reminded in the Spirit about Acts 17:22-31. Where does God live – really?
– Which then led us back to the source where David desired to build a “house” for God (1 Chronicles 17 – this story makes us weep because of the deep emotional connection between David and God) which ALSO reminded us that this is PROPHETIC – not merely about David’s son Solomon but about One Who would emerge from David’s descendants and reign as King forever (anyone come to mind?)
– and by the way, why did God live from tent to tent, and what in the world does this mean?
– All of which focused us on the fact we are living stones (vibrating with life) being assembled into the true dwelling of God (1 Peter 2:4-12).
I am in awe.
I can’t wait to dig in more deeply.
Isn’t it amazing how ten minutes can turn into a half an hour when you are searching for treasure?
We appreciate your company – feel free to tell us what you are seeing. Encouraging!
Dave & Burnadette