Tag: Psalm 118

Pray Toward the Temple, Part Two

On By TimIn 2 Chronicles 6, Prayer, ProphecyLeave a comment

“When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, in the way that You send them, and when they pray to You toward this city that You have chosen and the house that I have built for Your name, then hear from heaven their prayer and plea and act for their cause.

2 Chronicles 6:34–35 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

When Israel is called to fight their enemies, God will lead. The people are to pray to God seeking Him to act for their cause. This, even in light of God calling them to battle.

“When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin) and You are angry against them and give them to their enemies, and they are taken captive to a land, whether distant or near, and they turn their hearts in the land that they have been taken captive, and they repent and seek Your favor in the land of captivity saying, ‘We have sinned, done wrong, and acted wickedly,’ and if they turn in repentance to You with all their heart and all their soul in the land of their captivity that they were taken to, and pray toward the land that You have given to their fathers, and toward the city that You have chosen, and toward the house that I have built for Your name, then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, their prayer and supplication, and maintain their cause, and forgive the people who have sinned against You.

2 Chronicles 6:36–39 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Note the same truth taught here, that Paul taught in Romans. There isn’t one person who doesn’t sin. That means there is not one person who doesn’t need to seek God for forgiveness. I would also extend that to mean there is not one person that doesn’t have to forgive, too.

We must remember to keep our hearts pointed toward God.

There is something else. As we encountered prophetic statements earlier, we come to another that is more than likely prophetic.

For thousands of years, the nation of Israel has been scattered. We hear talk about the “ten lost tribes.” These were the northern portion of the kingdom of Israel after the split into Israel and Judah. Israel was eventually taken away captive and scattered. Judah remained.

Solomon is making statements that look forward to Jesus yet again, the King of Kings coming to take His throne. He will rule over all tribes of Israel from Jerusalem.

Jewish people have never stopped praying for Hod to remember them. I have had the opportunity to accidentally overhear the wailing prayers in a local synagogue. It was a bit disconcerting, and I can remember scoffing in my mind at the time. As I remember Jesus compared the private prayers of the publican with the outlandish public ones of the Pharisee. That memory of hearing them come from the dark inside of that synagogue has always stayed with me, and it comes to light now.

Jewish people have been praying for thousands of years in the diaspora. Even when they keep Pesach (Passover,) they end the meal by singing L’Shana Haba’ah B’Yerushalayim. It means next year in Jerusalem. It is prophetic worship sung by millions of people every year.

Being alive in these times is wondrous. This generation has been the one to observe the regathering of the people to the land of Israel. We have watched a nation born in a day. And Solomon is looking forward to our time and already asking God to forgive them.

The Prophecy of the Anointed King

Blessed be he that comes in the name of the Lord:
we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.

Psalm 118:26 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Prophecy is a pattern given. We see the pattern practiced in life. And eventually, the real pattern is played out.

It is the same here. This is the prayer that welcomed Jesus on that first Palm Sunday. It will also be the prayer that welcomes Him back to Earth to take the throne of David as promised.

“You will not lack a man sitting on the throne of Israel before Me(.)” This was cited in part one. And is one of the continuing themes in this prayer.

“Now, O my God, may Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer that I offer in this place.
“Now rise up, O Lord God, to Your resting place, both You and the ark of Your strength. And let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed in salvation and Your loyal ones rejoice in goodness. O Lord God, do not turn Your face from Your anointed.
Remember the mercies of Your servant David.”

2 Chronicles 6:40–42 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Solomon closes his dedication prayer by citing Psalm 142:8–10. W we are again catapulted forward toward future events.

God will remember the mercies of David, His servant. As is written in the Psalm, this points to the future Anointed King, Jesus.

Note: An encouragement to do further study. 1 Kings 8:22–53 also records this dedication. There are some differences. As an exercise for yourself, compare the two and see what God might show you.

Jesus as Stones

On By TimIn 1 Peter 02, Israel, JesusLeave a comment

Coming to Him as to a living stone who is rejected by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house as a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:4–5 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Peter presents Jesus in a metaphor using a series of stones. Beginning here, the worth of Jesus is going to be portrayed solidly (pun intended.) It will be in relation to some Old Testament passages he has in mind.

For also it is contained in the Scripture, “Look! I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes in Him shall never be put to shame.”
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious. But to those who are disobedient, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, to which also they were appointed.

1 Peter 2:6–8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is cited from Isaiah.

Therefore, thus says the Lord God: See, I lay in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, firmly placed; he who believes shall not act hastily.

Isaiah 28:16 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
Jesus is the living stone.

I lay in Zion a stone. Zion is the mountain where Jesus stands in Revelation 14 with the 144,000. But we must understand the importance of the usage of Zion. The contrast is not addressed directly by Peter. It is an underlying tension for sure.

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels; to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven; to God, the Judge of all; and to the spirits of the righteous ones made perfect; and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant; and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than that of Abel.

Hebrews 12:22–24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Coming to Mount Zion is in contrast of coming to another mountain, Sinai.

These things are an allegory, for these are the two covenants. The one is from Mount Sinai, which gives birth to bondage; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and represents the present Jerusalem, and is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem which is above is free, which is our mother.

Galatians 4:24–26 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

A stone lain in Zion must be living. It is this Living Stone, Jesus. He is the unmoving and unchanging Mediator of a new covenant. This is in sharp contrast to the other mountain of the old covenant, Sinai. That is the mountain that gave birth to bondage. The Living Stone in Zion sets us free by sprinkled blood. (Remember How Peter used that term previously.)

Jesus is the tested Stone. He is the One Who did as God asked all the way to the cross, enduring its shame for the joy set before Him.

Jesus is the corner stone.

No builder erects a structure without a cornerstone. It’s the same thought as the Hebrews passage alludes to, the church of the firstborn. The firstborn is Jesus He is the Creator of all. Without Him, nothing exists. Every living creature owes fealty to Him just for drawing breath.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were created through Him, and without Him nothing was created that was created. In Him was life, and the life was the light of mankind.

John 1:2–4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

He is worthy. He is precious.

Jesus is the rejected stone.

This idea comes from this passage.

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Psalm 118:22 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The psalmist is saying that a stone purposed for a particular purpose can become unwanted. In this case, the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus as their King. The Jewish people were chosen as God’s heritage. They were the ones purposed in the old covenant to make salvation known to the whole world. In that essence, these were the builders of the kingdom of God.

God chose Him for that purpose of being the foundation for salvation. Jesus was firmly placed as attested to us in the Scriptures. He is unmovable and He could not be conquered by rejection. In this case, death. This is a continuing theme from the first chapter.

Jesus is the stumbling stone.

Peter also cites this passage.

He shall become a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, and a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Isaiah 8:4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Take the time to consider the truths of the Bible, that is to study its claims and test them. God says He will be found by those who seek Him. In that sense, the Stone lain becomes a sanctuary for those who take the time to seek Him.

But for the hasty, and the others who have ulterior motives, Jesus becomes a rock of offense. It is precisely because of Who He is that exposes such nefarious evil for what it is.

Though the people these Scriptures are taking to task were also appointed to the same word all are. They were to consider the revelation of the Jewish Scriptures carefully and expected to know Jesus when He came. In so doing, to believe in His mercies and be saved.

Mature by coming to Jesus.

He is the Living Stone of New Jerusalem, the firmly placed Cornerstone. For us who desire the pure milk of the word and to be like Him, He is a sanctuary. He is a place of rest from work.

To the builders, the ones working to make something for themselves, He is hastily rejected.