The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Zechariah 6:15,
"Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you."
The book of Zechariah is focused on the completion of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. However, I am reminded of that which constitutes "the temple of the Lord" today. The church is considered to be the temple of the Lord in that his presence on planet earth these days is represented in the hearts of his people. "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house [temple] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5. The Lord, through the Holy Spirit, indwells all who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith.
In the book of Romans Paul stresses the theme of salvation by faith. It is through faith, and not the deeds of the do-gooders that brings us a righteous standing with the Lord, an everlasting life of abundance and a place at his table for all eternity. There is a second theme that is very strong in Paul's letter to the church in Rome: salvation is for the Gentiles, just as it is for the Jews.
This second theme of Paul in the book of Romans is represented by many quotes of the Old Testament that speak to the Gentiles joining the Jews as the people of God, "What if he [God] did this [bore with "great patience" the wicked] to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? As he says in Hosea: 'I will call them "my people" who are not my people; and I will call her "my loved one" who is not my loved one,' [Hosea 2:23] and, 'In the very place where it was said to them, "You are not my people," there they will be called "children of the living God."'" [Hosea 1:10]. Romans 9:25-26.
This verse in Zechariah 6:15 reminds me of this theme. "Those who are far away" are those who are distant and strangers to the covenant God had made with the patriarch of Israel, Abraham. They, the Gentiles, will "come" and help build the Lord's temple, an enterprise active today.
All things in the prophetic nature of the Scriptures point to the coming Messiah and the family (his temple) he builds in this age. When the family is fully populated (a point which only God knows), this age will come to a close and the building of "the temple of the Lord" will be complete.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you."
The book of Zechariah is focused on the completion of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. However, I am reminded of that which constitutes "the temple of the Lord" today. The church is considered to be the temple of the Lord in that his presence on planet earth these days is represented in the hearts of his people. "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house [temple] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5. The Lord, through the Holy Spirit, indwells all who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith.
In the book of Romans Paul stresses the theme of salvation by faith. It is through faith, and not the deeds of the do-gooders that brings us a righteous standing with the Lord, an everlasting life of abundance and a place at his table for all eternity. There is a second theme that is very strong in Paul's letter to the church in Rome: salvation is for the Gentiles, just as it is for the Jews.
This second theme of Paul in the book of Romans is represented by many quotes of the Old Testament that speak to the Gentiles joining the Jews as the people of God, "What if he [God] did this [bore with "great patience" the wicked] to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? As he says in Hosea: 'I will call them "my people" who are not my people; and I will call her "my loved one" who is not my loved one,' [Hosea 2:23] and, 'In the very place where it was said to them, "You are not my people," there they will be called "children of the living God."'" [Hosea 1:10]. Romans 9:25-26.
This verse in Zechariah 6:15 reminds me of this theme. "Those who are far away" are those who are distant and strangers to the covenant God had made with the patriarch of Israel, Abraham. They, the Gentiles, will "come" and help build the Lord's temple, an enterprise active today.
All things in the prophetic nature of the Scriptures point to the coming Messiah and the family (his temple) he builds in this age. When the family is fully populated (a point which only God knows), this age will come to a close and the building of "the temple of the Lord" will be complete.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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