16-18 August
2014 - The Temple vs Idols - Part Three – Manna by Dorothy Callies
1 Corinthians
6:19-20 “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which
is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought
with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are
God’s.”
I recalled a
story about Ezekiel and how God’s glory departed from the Temple, the Jerusalem
and stopped at the Mount of Olives. The scripture said, “And the glory of the
Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is
on the east side of the city” (Ezekiel 11:23).
God had left the
Temple, but why? Here’s a story to begin with: Ezekiel experienced an awesome
visitation of God’s presence and power. In the vision, Ezekiel was transported
to the temple in Jerusalem. God wanted to show Ezekiel something. God brought
Ezekiel to the door of the court and to look through a hole in the wall and to
dig through it so he could see what God wanted him to see.
What did Ezekiel
see? Inside the Temple, Ezekiel saw all kind of the idols and creeping things
on the walls and 70 ancients’ men of Israel worshiping idols. They had censer
in their hands and the smoke of incense went up. Now God asked Ezekiel, “Did
you see what these ancients’ men did in the dark secret in My Temple? That’s
not all. There’s more.” God brought Ezekiel to see 25 men who stood at the back
of the Temple, facing east and they worshipped the sun. Ezekiel was shocked that the Leaders were
worshiping idols in secret. God asked, “Should I go far off from my sanctuary?” [Ref. Ez. 8:3, 6, 7-18]
On this part, I
finally understood why the Temple had to be destroyed. It had all the creeping
things on the walls. I couldn’t imagine this. Plus all the idols? Even the
people of Judah didn’t know. The religious leaders had hidden secrets that God
had to show to Ezekiel first so he would understand why God had to destroy this
Temple. Also why He had to move Himself out of the Temple to Mount Olives.
As for southern
kingdom of Judah did have a number of God-fearing kings, such as Hezekiah and
Josiah; but because of wicked kings like Manasseh, idolatry became entrenched
(surrounded) in the nation of Judah. (ref.
2Ki. 21:1-9) As a result God
said through the prophets that He would allow Jerusalem to be destroyed.
Especially
Jeremiah, the weeping the prophet gave many messages of God’s coming judgment.
In spite of warnings, idolatry continued until God finally fulfilled His
prophecy through King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who captured Jerusalem, burned
the Temple, and sacked (capture & loot) the city in 586 B.C. (ref. 2Ki. 25)
It was only
after the 70 years of exile from Babylon, Israelite gave up the idolatry and the
idolatrous worship of other gods cease among the Jews. Nehemiah and other
leaders helped with rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and the Temple. During
Ezra’s time, he read the book of the laws, people wept, repented of their sins
and bowed down before their God. God forgave them.
Paul said, “Your
body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and you are bought with a price.” Jesus
Christ redeemed us from the bondage of sin. Let us turn our eyes upon Jesus who
saved us.
To be continued.
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