Tag Archives: Temple rebuilt

Daily Bible Study

November 20, 2012 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I am back to a routine. It is not the same as my old routine, but I think it will work out well. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

Christmas Cactus

Ezekiel 40:28-41:26

     In today’s passage Ezekiel further describes the rebuilt Temple he sees in his vision. He gives detailed measurements and descriptions of the furnishings and decorations. I am sure there is deep spiritual significance to all of this for some, but none that the Spirit is revealing to me today.

Two Women Talking After Worship

James 4:1-17

     James diagnoses what causes quarrels and fights within the Church (and among humans in general). He tells us that it results from our evil desires. He does not stop there. He goes on to define evil desires. He tells us that evil desires are desires for things purely for our own pleasure. We are jealous of what others have and we cannot get it, so we fight to take it away from them (sound familiar?). We do not have what we want because we do not ask God for it. This is starting to sound like “prosperity gospel”. But then James hits us with this, even when we do ask for it, we ask only for that which gives us pleasure, rather than for that which will make us better servants of God. I know that I am guilty of this. Even worse (or at least, just as bad), I ask for things to further serve God, then, all to often, I use them for my pleasure.
     In either case, doing this is an indication that we are valuing this world more than we are valuing God, which is a form of idolatry. Our loyalty is divided between God and the world and God desires our undivided loyalty. If we humble ourselves before God and resist the temptation from the devil, the devil, and temptation, will flee from us. We should have sorrow and grief for the sins we have committed where we have indulged our own pleasures rather than helping those in need. I need to recognize how often I have failed to do that which the Spirit has convicted me that I ought to do. Failing to do that which you know that you ought to do is just as much of a sin as doing that which you know that you ought not do.
     Finally, there are two other points James makes in this passage. We are not to slander one another. We should not attempt to judge another person’s motives. We should obey God’s instructions as best we understand them, not try to find reasons why they do not apply to us. We should focus on doing God’s will as the Spirit has guided us rather than on whether someone else is doing wrong. The other point he brings up is that we should remember that all of our plans are conditional on the will of God. We should not boast about what we are going to do because perhaps God has other plans for us. We should do today the things that we know are God’s will, not put them off until tomorrow. Additionally, we should understand that as noble as our plans may be, God may have other plans for us that will preclude us completing those plans.

Fellowship After Worship Service

Psalm 118:19-29

     When the gates which lead to the presence of the Lord are opened I will enter in. We as humans have little understanding of God’s plans. Human builders rejected as unfit the stone which God selected as the cornerstone of the building. The results of God’s plans are wonderful. This day has come about because the Lord has made His plans and caused them to come to pass despite human thoughts and actions. Let us call on the Lord to bring us salvation and success. The Lord is my God and I will praise Him. He brings me victory. I trust Him because I know that He is faithful.

Three Women Practicing for Thanksgiving Service

Proverbs 28:3-5

     When the poor oppress the poor it is even more destructive than when the rich do so. Those who reject the law empower the wicked. The way to fight the wicked is to strengthen the law. The law is not something that changes from person to person. Evil people do not understand justice, let alone strive for it.

Daily Bible Study

August 7, 2012 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

Ezra 4:24-6:22

     As a result of the actions of the surrounding peoples, construction on the Temple was halted. However, when Darius became king of Persia two prophets rose up and encouraged the leaders of the Jews in Jerusalem and Judah to resume rebuilding the Temple. Officials from the provincial government established by the Persians soon arrive and demand who authorized the Temple work. The Jews claimed authorization by Cyrus.
     The Persian officials were skeptical, but the Jews provided enough evidence that they sent to the Persian capital for confirmation. When the officials’ letter arrived in the Persian capital, Darius ordered a search of the archives to see if Cyrus had indeed ordered the rebuilding of the Temple. When the record of Cyrus’ order was found, Darius ordered the provincial officials to not only allow the Jews to build in peace, but to provide financial assistance out of the taxes they were collecting for the Persian Empire. As a result, Temple reconstruction continued and it was rebuilt.
     When the Jews completed work on the Temple, they held a celebration to dedicate it once again. The following month they had a Passover celebration in the new Temple. The priests and Levites had purified themselves. They slaughtered the Passover lambs for all of the people who took part in this Passover celebration, which included some of the local people who had given up pagan practices. It is interesting to note that although the Jews had rejected the help of leaders of the surrounding people in rebuilding the Temple when they started, they accepted the local people into the Temple worship if those people chose to follow the Law.

1 Corinthians 3:5-23

     Paul continues his discussion of the foolishness of dividing along lines according to which teacher of the Gospel one followed. Paul tells them that it makes no difference which teacher they learn from as long as that teacher bases his teaching on Jesus. Paul compares our lives of faith to a building, as long as the building is built on a solid foundation, it will survive. If the materials used to build are perishable the building may be destroyed but if the builder built on the foundation of Jesus, they will survive.
     Paul wraps up this section of his writing by telling us that the body of believers as a whole is a temple to God. Anyone who destroys this temple of believers by disrupting its unity will be destroyed by God. Paul tells us not to boast in following a human leader. That we should take anything that will build our faith from any teacher who bases their teachings on Jesus.

Psalm 29:1-11

     God’s voice is loud and powerful. When He wishes He will be heard now matter how loud the other noises that attempt to drown Him out. When God shouts, the earth trembles and mighty trees split asunder. Let us praise Him that He uses this strength for the good of those who love Him.

Proverbs 20:26-27

     The first proverb tells us that a wise ruler drives the wicked from his land. The wicked will destroy the land and bring destruction upon the rulers who shelter them. The second proverb tells us that God looks into our inmost being. It is not dark to the Lord.