No-one wants to be told that the mess the world is in is our fault! We much prefer to be told that we will be blessed. That God will do things for us personally and all will be well. But sometimes God must go to extremes to get our attention.
Deep in our hearts, most of us know we should put God first in everything, but how many of us really do that? Many of us spend a time in prayer, then rush into our daily activities without giving Him a second thought! He would appreciate more attention than that!
God gave very clear instructions here, they were not to take the wood from any nearby trees, maybe there were not too many nearby, but to go up high and take the stronger timber that had already withstood the weather, and would be better for the construction of His house.
This is a repeat of the verse we read yesterday. It is a repeat because God was making His point. He did not want people to forget it. He was not having a bad day and had not really meant what He had said, which happens to many of us.
The Israelites had been settled for about 16 years and were very happy to be finished with living in exile. At their return they had begun to rebuild the temple, but then had become distracted by their own needs, and not got round to finishing the house for The Lord.
Today many are thinking we should not be building huge churches, but having much smaller ones in homes. Or using other buildings such as schools or community rooms. In many parts of the world, church is an open air event in a clearing in the forest, or in a park.
The thing that strikes me in these verses is not the timing, so much as the fact God was listening and hearing! A good thing for us all to remember! He overhears all our conversations! According to Hebrews 4:12 He knows, and judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart!
A Call to Build the House of the Lord. Imagine you had a visitor to stay and showed them the guest room which would be theirs for the duration of their stay. How upset would you be if one day you found that visitor in another part of the building?
The Godhead is still waiting for more unity between believers on the earth. But thankfully things are much better than they used to be. Many people are visiting other churches, or watching on line. There is much more tolerance than there was when I was young in the last century!
Sometimes, the words of Peter could be taken for the words of Paul. So often they are saying similar things. Peter, although, not an educated man who had studied the Old Testament scriptures as Paul had, says what he says or what he writes, just as directly as Paul does.
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