GOD’S TEMPLES
Suggested Reading: Ezekiel 41-43
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Looking towards the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, you can see an entrance where visitors can go deep into King Solomon's Quarries, also known as Zedekiah's Cave. The stones for Solomon's Temple are believed to have been hewn from this quarry around 970 BC (1 Kings 6:1). As evident in today's reading, God pays careful attention to detail when giving instructions in the construction of His temples.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Ezekiel 43:5
The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
Twenty-five years have passed since the first captives were brought to Babylon from Jerusalem, and approximately ten years since the magnificent Temple built by Solomon had been totally destroyed. Ezekiel’s vision of a new Temple must have brought much needed encouragement to the Jewish exiles. Daniel, who became governor of one-third of the Persian empire, would have read Ezekiel’s writings and perhaps had these words in mind as he opened his window three times each day and prayed while looking in the direction of Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10-13). No doubt the content of Daniel’s prayers would have included the rebuilding of the Temple and the return of the glory of the Lord to the Jerusalem Temple. A suggested New Testament reading could be Hebrews 9:6-28.
We, as believers in Jesus, the One of whom John wrote, should be able to say with John, “We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14b). In Scripture, we are called God’s temples in which He dwells (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). God, who pays such close attention to the details of a building as described by Ezekiel, surely pays close attention to the building of His human temples. God has a design blueprint for our individual lives, His temples!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, You have a plan for my life, and You are in the construction business. I welcome You to take complete charge of my life, Your temple. I pray that as a “living stone” I’ll not walk away from You as You place me where You want me (read 1 Peter 2:4-7). Lord Jesus, You are the “Chief Cornerstone,” and I pray in Your Name. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’ve had the privilege of visiting some of the great cathedrals of Europe, marvelling at the overall grandeur and also at the amazing attention to detail. The sculptures depicting Bible stories are everywhere. The symbols in stone taught generations of people who were unable to read the Scriptures for themselves. I think that the construction of the Jerusalem Temples had the same visual purpose. As a 10 and 11-year-old boy, I had a job after school delivering letterhead stationary to Members of Parliament in Ottawa. The print shop would pay me a few cents for each delivery. Up the elevators and down the bannisters I would go, all the time learning from the amazing features of the buildings and sculptures which taught me some of the history of Canada.
The senior’s mobile home park here in Lakeland, Florida, where Norma-Jean and I are living at present, is next door to Southeastern University. There is a great sculpture in the University’s core. My preacher/photographer son, David Reynold, and his wife Kathy, are with us right now visiting us and their son David Peter, who is a student here. I asked Reynold to take the picture below. He doesn’t have his professional equipment here so I had him use my cell phone camera.
Yours for following God’s detailed plans for all His temples including each one of us,
David
The Sculpture of "Jesus, the Divine Servant" by Max Greiner, is the focal point in the beautiful garden at South Eastern University, Lakeland, Florida.
Jesus is the cornerstone
Came for sinners to atone
Tho rejected by His own
Jesus is the corner stone
Yes Lord we recieve what You have done once and for all on the old rugged cross and we praise you and adore you for laying down your life for us ,
We love You and worship You and give You Glory and Hnor and Praise
We know that You live in the hearts of those who recieved Your pecious gift of Salvation and we want to live out the plan for each and every one of us that you created us for from the foundation of the world
Take us and use us for your praise honor and glory
In Jesus Holy Name Amen
God Bless all my fellow brothers and sisters :)? 😉 ?
Oh, the words of Ezekiel 43:1-5 touch me so deeply; I feel as if I am there, watching the magnificent scene unfold in all its glory. ‘Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown. The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.’
We are stones being built up for Your spiritual house, oh Lord! We praise You, we worship You, we give You thanks, and all the glory! All for the love of Jesus!
Great photo, Reynold! Thank you for another excellent message and prayer, David. Enjoy your week with your family visiting in Florida, fine sir! God’s continued blessings dear saints in the Lord!
“We are stones being built up for Your spiritual house, oh Lord! We praise You, we worship You, we give You thanks, and all the glory! All for the love of Jesus!”
Amen! Beverlee
..” Please wash my feet, my Saviour Lord
Let me partake of Your Life….”
This is just two lines of a song the Holy Spirit gave me some while back..
Thank You my Lord..Amen
…Amen!!!
The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure. It is no wonder why Paul calls us “living stones” and identifies Jesus Christ as our “Chief Cornerstone.” It is amazing to see the many works of sculpture and the architecture of Cathedral’s and buildings, such as our Parliament! Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupr
Great study today Rev. Mainse, thank you. Just had an 80 year old doctor operate on my eye. His hands were steady and his mind is sharp as well as being a model Christian. You will be the same at his age I’m sure David Mainse.
My husband is a builder and would be able to build an exact replica of God’s structure if he had to with the details God gives Ezekial. Maybe God wants the instructions down in writing in case the structure is destroyed and so can be rebuilt?
Blessings on us all.
The geese are back in west central Alberta enjoying our beautiful Spring weather. Thank you Jesus.
Yesterday I wrote of the benefit to us of the reading about the rebuilding of the temple. I believe God never puts anything in His Word we cannot learn from.
Thank you Pastor David for touching on that today. Love the picture!
Blessed to be “a living stone” with CHRIST as my “Cornerstone”
Father God, we do not understand your ways, we were not meant to. What pot knows what the potter is making it for? Even after it is made, it is the potter himself who knows what he wants to use it for. Lord, fill us all, with what, it is that you have made us for. Like you David directed us to Hebrews 10 . this morning in 24-25 (And let us consider how we can spur one and other on toward love and good deeds. Let us meet together and encourage one another – and all the more when we see the Day approaching.) Thank you David for faithfully giving us this platform to encourage one and other. I myself am a stay at home Grand mother , taking care of my darling daughter’s precious little 3 yr. old boy. I find great encouragement here at this blog meeting together. I tell you, I don’t often feel very filled up with what the Lord has made me for, but I do feel often being drained out, so I must have faith, God must be using me. The whole world seems to be in such a turmoil, and again (IF) we believe, witch (we do), we know, that God is a God of order, therefore it only looks like a mess to us, God knows what he is doing. We also trust that he will guide us with, Holy Spirit, to do what he made us for. I pray Holy Spirit fill us with the mind of Christ, whom only did what his Father told him. Guide each of us Lord as you would have us do. Help us pray for your creation. Show us each and every one what our part is in this great plan. God bless you all, every one!
Hi David, I have one question, is this passage about the Temple before the great tribulation ? And is it built before the Blessed Hope of the Church?