MAINTAINING THE TEMPLE

“Some of the spoils won in battles they dedicated to maintain the house of the LORD" (1 Chron. 26:27 NKJV).

This chapter outline some of the duties involved in the Temple ministry. Amidst these duties are some verses regarding the maintenance of the Temple. Our verse tells of the source for maintenance, the sanctification for maintenance, and the strengthening from maintenance.

Source for maintenance - “Some of the spoils won in battles.” Maintaining the Temple required money and other supplies. Our verse state that the spoils of battle helped to supply this need. This tells us that the successes God gives us are not just for our personal gain and glory, but are also for the gain and glory of God and His work. Pay raises, bonuses, promotions, and the like are often viewed selfishly. Yet God gives them to us to help His work and not just for our own ease and comfort. We must view all our successes in life as that which will glorify God and further His work.

Sanctification for maintenance – “They dedicated to maintain the house of the Lord.” The word “dedicated” means to be holy and carries the idea of cleansing and purifying. Thus, anything that is going to be used for God’s work must be clean. The spoils of battle needed to be cleansed if they were going to be used in the Temple. This also applies to those who serve God. Holiness of life is an important qualification for service. Talent has its place but character is more important when it comes to serving God.

Strengthening from maintenance – “Maintain the house of the Lord.” The word “maintain” means to strengthen, to make strong. The Temple building needed to be constantly maintained, constantly strengthened just as buildings and other structures are maintained today. Spiritually speaking, the work of the Lord needs to be continually maintained, i.e. strengthened. Therefore, our churches need to be strong spiritually. Our lives need to be strengthen daily through the Word of God and prayer so we can serve God continually.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading NT)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“The believer’s talents are not to be laid up for self - they are to be laid out for service!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Discernment

In Phil. 1:9 we read, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment” (NKJV).

Discernment is the Greek word aisthesis (αἴσθησις = ah'ee-sthay-sis). It means to apprehend by the senses, to perceive and in NT speaks primarily of spiritual perception. Thus, the word refers to the capacity to understand, referring not so much to an intellectual acuteness but to a moral sensitiveness, perception, insight, and the practical application of knowledge.

In Classical Greek, aisthesis expresses the insight which can be acquired through the senses, in other words, through experience. In ethical context, the term means judgment. In the Septuagint, the word infers insight and understanding or knowledge and wisdom. Aisthesis occurs only once in the NT and refers to the ability to make judgments.

Aesthesis represents a moral action of recognizing distinctions and making a decision about behavior. It means to have the capacity to perceive clearly. It describes the ability to understand the real nature of something and once discriminating to make the proper moral decision.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – That He would thirst (Psalm. 22:15; 69:21).

New Testament Fulfillment – John 19:28

Bible Facts

The continents were created as one large land mass (Gen. 1:9-10). Many geologists agree there is strong evidence that the earth was originally one super continent.

Bible Quiz

What Old Testament characters appeared at Jesus’ transfiguration?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: What name did Abraham give the place where he was willing to offer up his son Isaac? The Lord will provide (Jehovah-Jireh) - Gen. 22:14

That’s in the Bible

"Abomination of desolation”

“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand)” (Matt. 24:15 NKJV).

The phrase abomination of desolation means a detestable thing. The term is from the Septuagint translation and is not found verbatim in the Hebrew text of Daniel. It refers to the abominable practices which led to desolation (destruction and despoliation) of the Temple and Jerusalem. When Daniel spoke of the abomination of desolation (the detestable thing causing desolation) he was referring to its first fulfillment when about 168 B.C. Antiochus Epiphanes set up a statue of the Greek god Zeus in the temple and sacrificed a pig on the altar. However, but both Daniel and Jesus saw something beyond this. Further, some believers think the prophecy refers to the Roman army entering Jerusalem with their idolatrous symbols in A.D. 70. More likely, it refers to the time of the Antichrist. There will be an even more terrible fulfillment at the end of the age when the Antichrist will set himself up as god and demand that people worship him.

Did You Know – Christian History

Isaac Watts was born July 17, 1674 in Southampton, England. He was an English Christian minister, hymn writer, theologian, and logician. Watts was converted to Christ in 1689 and became a preacher after completing his education. He gave his first sermon on his birthday July 17, 1698, at Mark Lane in London. Impressed with his abilities, the church named him its assistant pastor. Shortly afterward he became seriously ill and suffered poor health the remainder of his life; often even unable to carry out his church duties.

In the annals of hymn writing, Isaac Watts shines as a leading luminary. In 1707, Watts published several of his Hymns and Spiritual Songs, and in 1719 he published a collection of Christianized Psalms. His most famous song point to Christ: “When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.” Other hymns by Watts include: Joy to the World (based on Psalm 98), Come ye that Love the Lord, Come Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove, Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun (based on Psalm 72), O God, Our Help in Ages Past (based on Psalm 90), When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed, among others.

Watts was a prolific and popular hymn writer and is credited with some 750 hymns. He is recognized as the “Father of English Hymnody;” and many of his hymns remain in use today and have been translated into numerous languages.

A Little Humor

Three nurses all arrived at the gates of Heaven at the same time and were met by St Peter. Turning to the first nurse, he asked, “How have you spent your life?” She replied, “I was an emergency room nurse. I was stressed out a lot and we couldn’t save everyone, but we did help many and did a lot of good.” St Peter said, “Go right in!” He asked the next nurse, “How did you spend your life?” She answered, “I was a hospice nurse. It was depressing some times because as you know, we are there to help the terminally ill and all the patients die, but still I think we helped a lot of people and did some good.” St Peter said, “Go right in!” He turned to the third nurse and asked, “How have you spent your life?” She replied, “I was a managed care nurse for an HMO.” St Peter pulled out a calculator, computer, procedures manuals and a slide rule. After much calculating he turned to the last nurse and said, “I can approve you for three days in Heaven.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“The Light of the World knows no power failure!”