Sometimes we attribute discrimination or rejection to our belief in God when in reality it
is our own poor behaviour that attracts these things.
Being obnoxious is not a Christian trait!
In what way might these attacks damage our spiritual lives?
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in
the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or
famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8:35.
Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those
who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Hebrews 13:3
When someone gives you a hard time because of what you believe what will you do?
When the enemy gives you a hard time what will you do?
What won’t you do?
Is it possible for a Christian to develop a persecution complex?
What would you do about this?
Take stock right now. Is this me?
What questions might you need to ask yourself?
Restoring the Temple
King David first suggested building a temple for the Lord. His intent was to replace the
tabernacle which by now was rather dilapidated. His logic was that while the people lived
in tents it was appropriate that God lived in a tent too, but now the nation was settled and
increasingly prosperous. David himself now lives in a palace and it is appropriate that
God‘s dwelling should also be upgraded. Nathan the prophet informs David that he is not
the one to build this temple, rather it will be his son Solomon. David buys a plot of land for
the temple, draws up plans and collects materials but it is Solomon that builds the temple.
2 Samuel 7:1-16.
The temple that Solomon finally builds is magnificent. He uses the best materials and the
best craftsmen available. The temple was ornate, the interior was covered with gold, but
due to the limited amount of space it was also quite small. Solomon’s temple took 7 years
to build and stood for about 400 years. It was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587BC.
The temple had a function – it was where sacrifices and prayers were made. More than this
it was where God’s Name dwelt. David added to the temple music, song and singing.
Symbolically it represented the place of God in the nation. In both the books of Kings and
of Chronicles the state of the temple, whether it is cared for and used or neglected and
abused becomes symbolic of the state of the nation. When the temple was good the
people were good. When the temple was bad so were the people. The temple was the
heart of the nation.
Can you think of anything that might fill this role in our lives?
Three times we read that the temple was refurbished.
Joash – 2 Kings 12:1-16
Hezekiah - 2 Chronicles 29:1-36
Josiah – 2 Kings 22:1-7
Some archaeologists believe that Hezekiah’s “purification” was the most extensive of these
and included the first stage of building out the original hilltop to form a larger compound.
The Maccabees probably added to this plaza but it was completed to its current size by
Herod, just before the birth of Jesus.
Read 2 Kings 22:1-7
Why did only these three kings repair the temple?
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Each is considered a good king. Each clearly had a passion for God. Each also possessed a
rare gift: the ability to recognise when something is not the way it should be. When it could
be better than it is. They were dissatisfied with the status-quo. This kind of vision is
prophetic. Each king took decisive action when others did nothing. These kind of people
are still needed.
As we go through the reasons the temple needed to be restored, work on the assumption
that for us the temple represents our relationship with God.
Four reasons the temple needed to be restored:
What might these things represent in our lives?
Why do we let them in?
What is going to happen if we do?
How will we know they are there?
Paul gives frequent lists of the kind of thing he fears might find their ways into Christians
lives.
Read Galatians 5:19-21
The Elements
Some of these kind of things are obvious, others hide, we make excuses for them and
justify their presence in our lives. Sometimes we might not even realise they are wrong.
The temple stood through rain, wind, hail, snow, heat and sun. All by themselves things
get old. Things wear out. We might call this attrition or wear and tear.
Take stock right now. Is this me?
What questions might you need to ask yourself?
Whose fault was this?
Does this happen to your house, car, marriage?
Why is it that when left to themselves things go from good to bad?
What do you do about it?
Use.
What kind of things go from good to bad if left to themselves in our lives?
How does this kind of wear and tear happen in our spiritual lives?
What are the sun, rain and cold that we face?
What are the results going to be if you just leave things?
Things that deteriorate slowly over a long period of time often go unnoticed.
How do you see things through fresh eyes?
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, Matthew 24:12
How are you going to recognise when attrition happens?
How are you going to prevent this?
This might seem a little strange. Every day when the temple was being used correctly,
sacrifices were brought and made. People came to visit and worship and the priest went
about their tasks. All this led to damage. Everything wears out with use.
Can you give examples of this kind of use for us as Christians today?
There can be negative side effects when we serve God to the best of our ability.
What might they be?
You can get tired, you can loose your first love, you can think you deserve reward, you can
get disillusioned. You can get distracted. You can become self reliant. You can get an
overdeveloped sense of your own importance.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do
not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those
who belong to the family of believers. Galatians. 6:9-10
Jesus told a parable about old wine skins and new wine, the message of which is that we
need to stay fresh, and changeable.
How do you stay young in your thinking?
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Romans. 12:11
Take stock right now: is this me?
What questions might you need to ask yourself?
How will you recognise this when it happens?
What are you going to do to avoid this?
2 Miss-use
Take stock right now. Is this me?
What questions might you need to ask yourself?
Read 2 Kings 23:4-7
What did king Josiah have to get rid of?
Here the temple has been used for wrong things – for false gods, idols and immorality.
These things are not only spiritually wrong they have damaged the temple. They need to
be removed and the damage repaired. The temple then needed to be reconsecrated.
How on earth did these things get into the temple?
Why were they tolerated?
The answer is found in 2 Kings 21:3-6, 21. The previous kings put them there! For some this
was straight misguided theology, they really did not realise what they were doing was
wrong (this even happens in Josiah’s story 2 Kings 22:11-13). They thought that
worshipping other gods alongside YHWH was acceptable. This is called syncretism. For
others it was straight rebellion against God.
But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chronicles. 15:7
Enemy attack
Immediately after Joash repaired the temple – he had to strip it of its gold in order to buy
off an invading king. In 925BC Pharoah Shishak conquered Jerusalem and pillaged the
temple 1 Kings 14 :25. Jerusalem was also conquered on at least two other occasions. 2
Kings 12:12, 2 Chronicles 21:17.
What kind of enemies might attack us?
What kind of attack might happen to us?
The kind of attacks we face are not only from Satan. There will always be critics and those
who are against us either because we are Christians or because we stand in their way.