“From out of Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth" Ps:50:2
The first sight that any who approached
Jerusalem saw was the Temple of God built atop of Mt. Zion, rising above
the city in clear view, seen by any and all that came to Jerusalem. No matter,
from which direction that Jerusalem was approached, the Temple of God
dominated the skyline and was clearly seen.
The Temple of God stood on Mount
Zion, which was originally a Jebusite strong hold, which we are told in
Scripture was taken by King David and made his capital city.
"Nevertheless, David captured the
fortress of Zion, the City of David." 2Sam:5:7
David, then turned the city into the place of
his palace, which later on became the location for the Temple of God built by
David's son Solomon.
The Temple of God, at Jerusalem, was the
center of life of the city and the nation of Israel. The whole life of the
nation of Israel was to revolve around Israel's relationship with God, which
found its expression in the sacrificial system and other ceremonies which had
been prescribed in the Books of Moses as part of the Old
Covenant which had at its core the Ten Commandments.
"Moses was there with the LORD forty days
and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the
tablets the words of the covenant--the Ten Commandments" Ex: 34:28
This is the very same Covenant which the
people of Israel agreed to enter into with the great God, we can read about
this in Exodus 20, 21, 22 and 23.
This Covenant relationship between God
and Israel was meant to be obvious to all other nations, making the
difference in the life of the nation of Israel, and it was to be the first
thing other nations would see when Israel, and in particular Jerusalem , was
approached.
This Covenant relationship was intended
to be seen as a beacon which shone forth to all others out of the
lives of the people of Israel, both individually and collectively, no
matter from what direction that Israel approached, that is why, the Temple sat
atop Mount Zion, so that it could be seen by any and all who came near.
"From Zion, perfect in
beauty, God shines forth" Ps:50:2
This relationship was to shine forth to the
end of the Earth showing the glory of the Lord in the lives of the people of
Israel.
What is Seen First?
What about we Christians, what is the first
thing that is clearly seen when the "Jerusalem" of
our lives is approached? What is seen first?... Does the Temple of
God, that is, our relationship with Jesus Christ, dominate the skyline of our
lives, is this what is seen first?
Does our relationship with God occupy the
highest place in our lives clearly seen by any and all who approach us? Can
others around us see this relationship with the Lord in our personal
lives, on our job, in our homes, or wherever we might happen to be?
The whole nation of Israel was built around
this relationship and so was the city of Jerusalem, it was evident that
this was so, you could not miss seeing the Temple there atop of Mt. Zion.
So, what about we Christians, what do others
see when they approach us? We are told by St. Paul that we are the Temple of
God.
"Don't you know that you yourselves are
God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 1Cor: 3:16
That is, we are in a relationship with our
God. Is this relationship the first things that is seen when anyone
approaches the Jerusalem of our lives? Is it obvious to all that our lives,
like the city of Jerusalem, is built around this relationship? Can it be seen
no matter which direction we are approached? Where ever we might be? If we
are approached on our jobs, at school, in our communities?
Does this relationship, which is our worship
of the great God, does it stand out, is it the dominate feature of
our lives? As the city of Jerusalem was built to support what took place
at the Temple, are our lives so ordered as well?
Mount Zion
Describing the Church in the Epistle to the
Hebrews it says.
"But you have come to Mount Zion,
to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to
thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly," Heb:12:22
This is what should been see in our lives each
day and in every area of our lives. Our
relationship with God in and through his Holy Son Jesus Christ. All with whom we interact should see this
relationship as clearly as travelers would see the Temple as they came near Jerusalem.
God intended it to be seen given that highest elevation in each Christian's
life.
"You are the light of the world. A city
on a hill cannot be hidden" Matt: 5:14.
God's abiding presence in our lives should
characterize all that we do. In truth, what is transpiring, is, that
Jesus Christ is living his life in and thru us. We, of our own selves
under our own strength could nerve bring glory to the great God, it
would be arrogant for any of us to believe different. It is all through who
Jesus is and what he is doing.
"And we, who with unveiled faces all
reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with
ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2Cor:3:18
It all comes from Jesus alone. Other should
see Jesus in us regardless of how we are approached. Our lives should
revolve around Jesus and our relationship with God as Jerusalem was meant to
revolve around the Temple of God which sat high atop of Zion.
We join in the Son of God's perfect worship of
the Father, we could never worship God as he alone deserves, only Jesus can do this,
being both fully God and fully human.
Through Jesus as our High Priest, we enter his
prefect worship, Jesus leads us in the word presented and the praises sung.
"He says, "I will declare your name
to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation, I will sing your
praises."Heb:2:12
All people should see in our lives that
it is the Great God and our relationship with him, through Jesus, which
has that place of prominence and holds the highest elevation and is of the most
important to us.
This relationship with our Lord should be
seen by all who draw near to us regardless of how we are approached even as the
Temple was seen by all who came near to Jerusalem.
Jesus guides our every activity in life
and all interactions. Jesus is that One Who should shine forth out of each and
all so that those around us will see that it is the Lord who: "From out of Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth" Ps:50:2
Benediction: May we each and all have the Glory of
the Lord shine forth out of the highest place in our lives to all people
around us, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.
.jpg)
Rev.Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma.
No comments:
Post a Comment