Places of encounter
Places of action and events. We accompany Moses part of his journey.
1. Mount Sinai
Moses was in God's presence for forty days and forty nights. Here Moses learns God's plan. Speak to the people of Israel:
And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.
Exodus 25:8 (ESV)
a. The Importance of the Sanctuary
It shall be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. There I will meet with the people of Israel, and it shall be sanctified by my glory.. Exodus 29:42+43 (ESV)
b. The Lord dwells among the Israelites
And he erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Exodus 40:33-35 (ESV)
This is where God’s love for us humans is shown. He reveals himself:
- Visible
- Audible
- Experienceable
2. Solomon builds a temple to God
In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord.
1 Kings 6:1 (ESV)
a) A huge structure
Construction period: In the fourth year of Solomon's reign, the foundation stone for the temple was laid. In the eleventh year of the reign, the construction and the entire facility were completed. Solomon spent a good seven years building the house of the Lord. You read about 183,300 employees.
According to 1 Kings 6, 37-38 (GNB)
b) The inauguration of the temple
And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord,
11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. 1 KIngs 8:10+11 (ESV)
Solomon's fervent prayer see 1 Kings 8:22-61 HFA is worth reading.
c) God's personal words to Solomon:
And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.
1 Kings 9:3 (ESV)
3. Today's meeting place is the church
The first church in Jerusalem came into existence through the work of the Holy Spirit, who were obedient to the Word of God:
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 (ESV)
God allows His name to dwell in Solomon's Temple as well as in the Holy Temple Church today!
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
Matthew 18:20 (ESV)
My eyes and my heart should always be there. A temple, place where I want to live forever. According to 1 Kings 9:3
God loves all people. He gave his dearest “Jesus” for us. He wants to live in our hearts.
For God so loved the world,[9] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (ESV)
a) A place of instruction
Here we find out how we can live our Christianity more intensively. Here we are raised up by the Word of God and his Holy Spirit. Our faith grows and strengthens.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17 (ESV)
b) A place of prayer
- For help, comfort, compassion, intercession, praise and worship
- How good that we have each other!
- Together doesn't make you lonely!
- Together we are strong!
No matter what life throws at us – we can cope with it, tackle it and overcome it:
- Because the Heavenly Father stands by us
- Jesus walks with us
- The Holy Spirit lives in us
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
17 even the Spirit of truth. John 14:16+17a (ESV)
Song:
Your house, O Lord, shall be a house of prayer,
a place of silence, of harmony.
Where your children share joy and sorrow.
Your house, O Lord, shall be a house of prayer.
Your house, O Lord, shall be full of praise,
a place of celebration in front of you alone.
Let us stand in gratitude, you gave us your son,
your people will praise you, O Lord, for you are on the throne.
Your people praise you, O Lord, for what you have done.
Author: Edith Waechter
Images 1,4+5
https://unsplash.com/de
Image 2:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stiftshuette_Modell_Timnapark.jpg
Image 3: Südmauer des Tempelbergs in Jerusalem
https://www.uni-augsburg.de/de/fakultaet/philhist/professuren/kunst-und-kulturgeschichte/europaische-ethnologie-volkskunde/exkursionen/israel/tempelberg-der-ehemalige-tempel-salomos-und-die-klagemauer/
