Title: The Reason Why the Temple Fell
Bible is the Word of God of this time, and it is what God is speaking to us. We are going through the time of spiritual Babylonian Captivity: the time of the temple reconstruction.
- Temple Reconstruction
Temple reconstruction means the temple had fallen and is being rebuilt. We also can understand as temple was given, taken away, and re-given.
Let’s look at the similar occasions in the Bible when God gave something but took away and gives again.
- Two stone tablets (Exo 32:15-19)
The 2 stone tablets were prepared by God for the people of Israel: God prepared the 2 stone and He had written on it with His finger, God had engraved the most important and fundamental Word of God that brings forth the rest of the Word of God. When Moses saw the people of Israel were worshipping idols at the foot of the mountain, he threw the 2 tablets and shattered them into pieces.
Moses broke the tablets but was Moses acting against the will of God? If so, when God announced the reason why Moses is not allowed to enter the promised land, this should be the one of the reasons. However, the reason why Moses was not allowed to the promised land was because he struck the rock twice to bring forth the water when God said to speak to the rock (Num 20:9-12).
Who actually broke the two stone tablets? It was God. God gave the two stone tablets of 10 commandments, and He took away. Yet, after Moses’ intercession, God allowed the two stone tablets to be given to the people of Israel again.
What was the reason that God took away the two stone tablets? What was the reason that Moses shattered the two stone tablets? To answer simply, it was to give a second chance, a chance for repentance, to the people of Israel. They failed to remain as the covenanted people by breaking the rules, yet God gave them second chance and allowed them to become the covenanted people again.
- Jesus Christ
Jesus is God being incarnated and manifested in the form of human being. Jesus is the Messiah, the savior, and the fulfiller of God’s redemptive plan. Yet, He died on the cross and promised that He will come again.
Who killed Jesus and why was He killed?
Outwardly speaking, the Roman soldiers killed Jesus or the religious leaders of that time out of envy killed Jesus (Mrk 15:10). However, Jhn 10:17-18 says that Jesus Himself decided to give away His life. Here, He said that it is not that someone takes His life but by His own initiative. He lays Himself down.
By breaking His body on the cross, God gave us the second chance, a chance for whoever believes in Him to become the children of God. Furthermore, Jesus allowed us to set free from the power of death (Jhn 1:11-13; 2 Tim 1:10).
- The temple
Why was the temple broken?
Outwardly speaking, it was because of the sins of the people of Israel. They didn’t follow the way of God and didn’t keep the Sabbath.
Who among us can destroy God given tablets, God given temple, God Himself, unless God allowed it to happen?
2. Why did God allow the temple to be broken?
(1) God wants us to realize our sinful condition
During the time of Babylonian Captivity, God showed the blueprint of the Ezekiel’s temple. The reason why God showed the measurement of the Ezekiel’s temple was to make the people of Israel ashamed of their iniquities (Ezek 43:10).
Because the temple was with them, God’s presence was with them, it made them feel that there is nothing to repent about in them: this is an illusion.
(2) God wants us to long for the temple
The people of Israel were proud to have the temple of God in them. Yet, they were not grateful for it. If they were, do you think they will ever commit to break the Sabbath? (Jer 17:27)
The one who didn’t long for the temple decided to stay in Babylon even after the release decree was announced. The ones who long for the temple were the spiritual remnant who returned and rebuilt the temple.
Conclusion:
God will rebuild the temple
Just like the two stone tablets were given again to the people of Israel and became the foundation to make them covenanted people and just like Jesus is promised to come again to complete our redemption and salvation, it is God’s will to rebuild the temple and dwell among His people again. Therefore, we should be ready to become the spiritual remnants who volunteer to return and participate in rebuilding the temple (Ezr 3:12).
- We should weep with a loud voice
This tear is the tear of repentance.
- We should praise God aloud
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 