Monday, July 20, 2015

WEEP AND REJOICE

Today’s Reading: Ezra 3-4

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

The black volcanic stones formed the foundation of the Capernaum synagogue in the first century. Jesus healed the man with the withered hand in this building (Mark 3:1-6).

 

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Ezra 3:12

But many of the priests and Levites and heads of their fathers’ houses, who were old men, who had seen the first Temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes; yet many shouted aloud for joy…

 

Today’s reading tells a story of tragedy and triumph! The people followed a two-year plan of worship and work (100words is also on a two-year plan). The foundation of God’s house had been completed. It was time to rejoice, reminisce, and express hope for the future.

The destruction of the original Temple by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar had not hindered the worship of the true God in the people’s hearts. In fact, the opposite was true. The 70 years of captivity in Babylon had purified and intensified their fervency for God. The circumstances demanded small group gatherings. Eventually this would result in the development of the synagogue movement. Even before they began the construction project, they set up an altar to express reverence and obedience to God. Building or no building, God’s people will always find a place of personal, and if available, corporate worship.

In chapter four, we read of a delay in construction of the physical building; but the building of the holy temple, “eternal in the heavens,” went right on. Read 2 Corinthians 4:16 to 5:1-8.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, Like the people who gathered around Ezra’s vision, sometimes I weep and sometimes I shout for joy. You know my heart and mind. I pray for grace and consistency to worship You at all times and all places. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I served for several years as a Judge in “The International Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion.” One recipient for whom I voted was Rabbi Lord Jacobovitz, chief Rabbi of Britain and the Commonwealth (see photo below). He had written extensively on the subject of medical ethics, but the main reason I supported him was for his work with the USSR in bringing Jewish people out of the oppression and persecution of the Soviet Union. The people were called “Refuseniks.” He, like Ezra, succeeded magnificently. At Convocation Hall in the University of Toronto, where he was honoured, I had the opportunity of a long conversation with him. We agreed that one of the tragedies in history was when Jewish Christian leaders, who led the Christian Church for the first few decades, were replaced almost totally by Gentile leaders. Let us not forget that all the Apostles were Jews, as was Jesus, Himself. Read Romans 11:11-24. The Rabbi and I rejoiced for the occasion of the Templeton Prize and the recognition of his work, but we wept over the disastrous chasm which opened up between Jews and Christians. Below the Rabbi’s photo is an example of that divide. In 4th century Antioch Christians were still worshipping with their Jewish brothers and sisters in the local synagogue. This three-dimensional model is in the museum of the Jewish diaspora located on the campus of the University in Tel Aviv.

Yours for restoration for all that is God’s will for His people,

David

Rabbi Lord Jacobovits, winner of the Templeton Prize in 1991.

Add caption....Chrysotom.....

Jews and Jewish-Christians prepare to worship at the Great Synagogue of Antioch, Syria, in the 4th century AD. Chrysostom, one of the fathers of the Church, reproves the Christians and demands that they separate from the Jews.

 

12 thoughts on “Monday, July 20, 2015

  1. please pray for complete healing for my Pastor, he is having eye surgery today, it is so-o-o-o complicated..(not for God)

    please pray for his wife, she will be having chemo treatments, the hope is that they have caught the cancer early enough and will be able to destroy all the bad cancer in her body,

    please pray for Liam, a young teen, that the Holy Spirit will lead him away from smoking and speak to him very clearly about his future,
    all we can do is pray to our Lord God to help others, Our Lord God hears our prayers thank you

  2. I pray your prayer David for grace and consistency at all times! Praise God!

    Sah I also pray for your pastor and for his wife and for young Liam.

    Thank You God for all Your answers to all our prayers at all times!! Amen.

  3. Thank you David for teaching me discipline in daily study of the Word. I just read “About 100 words” with your introduction to the blog and all the comments by followers from several years ago. Ger was there! And Rob too! I just scrolled and scrolled and scrolled through all the comments and prayers! Was so uplifting and inspirational!

    THANK YOU for showing us how it’s done! God Bless you and Norma-Jean!

  4. I join in prayer for your Pastor and his wife for God’s intervention in each situation for His highest and best in Jesus Name I pray.

    Yes, what a day that will be when we will be ONE in Christ Jesus!!!

    How sad when man in his jealous nature causes division and seeks revenge when he does not have his own way…like those who caused the building of the temple to discontinue.

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