Wed.’s Devo - Tabernacles

Read: Ezra 3:1-4:23; 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4; Psalm 28:1-9; Proverbs 20:24-25 In the seventh month which is Tishri, they rebuilt the altar where it had stood in Solomon’s time. They began on Roshashana which was the first day of Tishri. Fifteen days later they celebrated the whole week for the Feast of Tabernacles offering offerings on the altar every day. *** Then they followed David’s example and hired masons and carpenters who brought cedar logs from Tyre and Sidon to begin construction of the Temple. They completed the foundation of the Temple. The priests put on their robes, blew their trumpets and sang, “He is good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” The people shouted for joy. Many who saw the foundation were joyful, but those who had lived during the time of the first Temple cried because it was so much smaller. Their mixed reaction could be hear from afar. *** The enemies of Judah and Benjamin were not happy about their success. They tried to infiltrate with lies about wanting to help, but were refused. Then they resorted to fear and discouragement. They even bribed the hired ones to work against them and slow down their progress. This continued throughout the reign of three Persian kings. When Artaxerxes came to power, the enemies of Judah sent a letter to the king making the Jews sound like a group of insurrectionists who were building a city so they could rebel against him and cause him much woe. The letter informed the king that they had laid the foundation and were building the walls and if they completed all their plans, he would have no more power over them. *** Their plan succeeded and work on the city and the Temple was stopped. *** In Corinthians, Paul explains that God’s wisdom is nothing like the world’s wisdom. God’s wisdom is full of mystery. God’s greatest mystery was Jesus Christ. Man in his wisdom crucified Jesus, thinking he could get rid of him once and for all but in God’s wisdom, that was all part of the plan to give us eternal life. *** God reveals to us his secrets through his Spirit. People who do not have his Spirit cannot understand his mysteries which sound foolish to them. *** Paul laments that the people are still immature, controlled by their own sinful nature. They were jealous of one another and lived like the world. They argued about who they followed in the body of Christ. Sounds like today’s church. *** Lord, may we not get impressed by others gifts and blessings but be impressed by you, who is the author of the gifts. Thank you that you still work with us to reveal your glory on the earth. May we arise and shine.