The Meaning of the Temple for Israel – Part Six - Manna by Dorothy Callies
Psalm 18:6 “In
my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice
OUT OF HIS TEMPLE, and my cry came before Him, even into His ears.”
The meaning of
the Temple for the Israelites. In many ways the temple had the same
significance (importance) among the Israelites as did the city of Jerusalem.
Why is this important? It was a place where the Temple of God was located, in
the city of Jerusalem.
If you remember
Abraham had met Melchizedek and he was the King of Salem. *The first reference
to the city of Jerusalem is probably Gen. 14:18, where Melchizedek is listed as
the King of Salem. Melchizedek (meaning, “king of righteousness) was both “king
of Salem” (possibly ancient Jerusalem) and “priest of the most high God.” He
served the one true God as did Abram. Melchizedek was a Canaanite, and so, like
Job as example of a godly non-Israelite. Melchizedek is a type or figure of the
royalty and eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ.
[*Footnote: The Full Life Study Bible]
*When the
Israelites were ready to cross over the Jordan to enter the Promised Land, the
city then was called “the Jebusite [city]” (Joshua 15:8) or “Jebus”
(1Chr.11:4). It was never captured during Joshua’s conquest of the land of
Canaan, and remained in the hands of the Canaanites until David became king.
David’s army stormed Jebus and took possession of it, and David made it his
capital city (2Sam.5:5-7); 1Chr.11:4-7). Jerusalem served as the political
capital of Israel during the United Kingdom and later of the southern kingdom
of Judah. Solomon, David’s successor, built the temple to the Lord God in
Jerusalem, so that the city also became the religious center for the worship of
the covenant God.
The meaning of
the Temple for the Israelites was the symbol of God’s presence and protection
among His own people. When the temple was dedicated, God came down from heaven,
filled it with His glory. God had promised to put His name there. So when God’s
people wanted to pray to the Lord, they could do so facing the temple, and God
would hear them “out of His temple” (Ps. 18:6).
The Temple
represented God’s redemption of His people. They made daily sacrifices for sin
on the bronze altar. Once a year, the Day of Atonement, when the high priest
went into the Most Holy Place to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat of the ark to
forgive the sins of the people. The Israelites were reminded of their
redemption and to keep reconciliation with God as long as there is only one
God—the Lord, the covenant God of the Israelites.
However, the
Israelites had not kept their covenant with God as we read part one through
three as to why the Temple had to be destroyed. After 70 years of captivity at
Babylon, the Israel came home and rebuilt the Temple. They gave up idolatry
worship and learn the true meaning of God’s Temple that His Presence with them
was only to keep their part of covenant with their God.
Unfortunately,
Malachi revealed that the Israelites did not always pleased the Lord
(Mal.1:10). Malachi predicts a time when people from the nations of the world
would worship God in sincerity and truth (Mal. 1:11). Malachi, the last book of
the Old Testament prophesied, “Someone will come to His temple …” (Malachi 3:1-2).
To be continued.
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