Temple/Synagogue

TEMPLE/SYNAGOGUE

Third of four in Tent of Meeting devotion Series

1Kings 8:10-13

“When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled His temple. Then Solomon said, ‘The Lord has said that He would dwell in a dark cloud: I have indeed built a magnificent temple for You, a place for You to dwell forever.’”

The Tent of Meeting and the Tabernacle were temporary houses for communing with God. They were used for fellowship and worship, too. The Israelites grew accustomed to God’s presence in a cloud, as He led them out of Egypt to Canaan. (First Moses, then Joshua led them to their promised land—from books Exodus through Deuteronomy in the Bible's Old Testament). Even though David wanted to build a house for the Lord, God told him that another would do it (2Samuel 7:13). That job (honor) fell to David’s son, Solomon.

The glorious Temple that Solomon built continued as the center of community for the Jewish people (the Israelites). Five hundred years before Christ, centuries after Solomon built the Temple, it was destroyed. Herod built a second temple, but Jesus told His disciples that, it too would be destroyed (Matthew 24:2). That happened in year 70, and the Jewish people were scattered to the four corners of the earth. From then, to now, hundreds of synagogues (SIN-a-GOGS) have been built in Israel and beyond. These are still where Jewish people gather together.

The synagogue is where people nourish their faith, where God’s Word is studied. In fact, Jesus did much of His teaching and preaching in the local synagogues. Just like today, people meet in synagogues in times of sorrow, and in times of joy. They assemble there to worship and pray. It’s their communal study hall, where kids and adults go to learn the Bible. Synagogues also are bases for social and humanitarian work.

God knew that His kids would need a “house,” or resting place, where we could meet with each other and with Him. Our primary responsibilities are to God—focusing on His will for our lives, obeying His commands, worshiping Him, and Bible study.

For Jews, this “house” is the synagogue, for Christians, it’s the church.

Take Home Nugget

Just like Miguel and Jules’ 4th grade classroom, where school is where kids meet to learn and grow, everyone needs a house where we go to grow in Christ.

God Himself is with you—

Savior, Keeper, Friend.

He will never leave you, too,

Nor forsake you to life’s end.

J.D. Griffith

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