The Golden Gate

 

I read Ezekiel 43 this morning. Ezekiel writes of a vision he had regarding the east gate of Jerusalem. It is a prophecy about the God of Israel, or the Messiah returning at the end times. 

"Afterward, he brought me to the gate, the gate facing east. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the east; and the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with his glory."

This is the gate used by Jesus to enter the city on Palm Sunday. It angered the theologians of the day as Jesus was enacting the future procession of the Messiah through the east gate at the end of days. The symbolism was not lost on the people or the rulers of Jerusalem, and they were enraged by the audacity of the act.

The prophet Ezekiel was born in Judea approximately 622 BC. He died in Babylon (after the destruction of the temple and the sacking of Judea by the Babylonians) in 570 BC.

Knowing the prophecy of the returning Messiah, the Muslims sealed up the east gate of Jerusalem in 810 AD. In 1102 AD, the Crusaders reopened the east gate, but it was closed again in 1541 after the Muslims reconquered the city in 1187. It has remained closed until the present day with many Muslims buried in a cemetery before the gate. This cemetery was imposed in a belief that any Messiah would never cross over unhallowed ground containing dead bodies.

Centuries before, Ezekiel had his prophetic vision of this closed gate and cemetery. "While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple; and he said to me; 

'Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their harlotry, and by the dead bodies of their kings, by setting their threshold by my threshold and their doorpost besides my doorposts with only a wall between me and them. They have defiled my holy name by their abominations which they have committed, so I have consumed them in my anger. Now, let them put away their idolatry, and the dead bodies of their kings far from me, and I will dwell in their midst forever.'"

When the Messiah comes - he comes for the whole earth with mercy or judgement based on our decision to believe.

PROVERBS FOR TODAY

 Gossip - Gossip only to God about your pain.

PROVERBS FOR TODAY

 Perfection: No person can achieve perfection. Rather, we receive perfection in God's love.

 

Rebuilding The Temple

We have been in quarantine for a year now.

In the beginning I made long overdue repairs to my home, I cleaned out closets and drawers, and I redecorated some rooms. I even cleared out many of my books – the hardest job of all. Finally, summer was upon us and I worked in my garden, went for long walks, met friends for outdoor dining and had backyard visits with my extended family.

After gerrymandering the holidays, the winter was upon us once again. It snowed and it snowed and snowed again. I watched television, ate ice cream and chocolate. I cooked comfort foods eating heartily.

I gained nine pounds, my hair needs a serious hair cut and my nails haven’t seen a salon since December 2019. My bras sit in a drawer wondering where I went and I no longer fit into my jeans.

Today I sat with God and complained. I complained about all of the above asking his help. When I opened the Bible – it was to Ezra 6 – Rebuilding the Temple. King Darius issued a degree to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem – you know the one that was destroyed by the Babylonians when they sacked Israel. But he didn’t want the Babylonians taking part. Only the exiled Israelites were allowed to rebuild.

King Darius decreed that his treasuries would pay the costs of rebuilding and provide all the sacrificial animals if the returning Israelites would pray for his kingdom.

So, at this one-year mark of exile, I will be rebuilding my temple with better food choices, exercise and less television. I will shower, dress and yes-wear make-up every day again. I may even become reacquainted with my bras. And, I will ask the Lord to help me every step of the way. May he bless me indeed.

Thy Will Be Done

Father – I no longer know what to pray. When we first began this relationship forty plus years ago, you promised me that whatever I asked, you would give.  Even then I realized my problems with trust and your desire to have me mature to trusting you no matter what. It’s called faith.

Lately, I have given up praying for what I want. I feel my prayers are vacuous and powerless. Am I that devoid of Spirit these days, or are you bringing me into a new dimension of maturity and wisdom?

You prayed – “Thy will be done” – and it’s that phrase that has been rattling around in my brain for the past few weeks. But you always directed me to pray with power and conviction when “Thy will be done” is a prayer of surrender – a true prayer of faith and trust.

I don’t know what your will is for my life. It’s the not knowing and praying for it anyway that is the true test of my faith and trust in you. Do I have the courage? Does your will fit my agenda, the world’s agenda or heaven’s agenda?  Is your will for the saving of the unsaved, healing the sick, warning the world, teaching the foolish, leading the wise or providing for the poor? I know it’s all these things and my heart has been set on these as well.

So, I pray Lord – Thy Will Be Done. Amen.

Joel 3

WHITE AS SNOW

 

It snowed last night – not much – just enough to cover our bleak January in white. White as snow we sing with Elvina Hall’s song, Jesus Paid It All. His blood covers us in white as His mercy covers our guilt, His kindness covers our pain, His wisdom covers our folly, and His peace covers our fear.

I’ll never be perfect under my own thoughts, feelings or actions, but when I claim what Jesus paid – I am made as white as snow - here on earth until I Spring from this world to His world and live in His flowering perfection.