Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Hello, dear people.
Wow! Gorgeous day again. And when I came out to the studio just after 4am, the sky was spectacular…bright stars and a cresent moon. Why not treat it as a worship experience? That’s a lot more fun than just saying, “Isn’t that pretty!”…and leave it at that.
Full day ahead. Included in my run to Hillsboro this morning with the sawmill in tow to mill up one big sequoia log, I now have another stop to make…to apply some vinyl graphics on a church office door.
Blessings on your going and coming…and ups and downs.
Love, Dad/Ray.
This general accounting is a repeat of 1 Kings 6-8. It is definitely a high point in Israel’s history. Wouldn’t it be nice if history could remain at a high point without doing any dipping and declining?! All this planning and effort poured into the temple project not only produced a spectacular crecendo of exquisite art and craft, but it also produced evidence of God’s approval, blessing, and presence. In fact, it would appear that God’s delight with His people who were demonstrating so much delight in Him got in the way of the ceremony. It would seem that God does not really intend this to be the ongoing norm, but it is a wonderful experience to occasionally participate in a concert of worship—a gathering of mutual HEARTS AFTER GOD, where the Sovereign Spirit of God takes over and interrupts religious form and planned ceremony. Like Peter on the “Mount of transfiguration” (Matthew 17), we would prefer to just stay there—remain on the “mountain top” of glory. But here’s the deal as supported by an overview of God’s Word and work on earth: SENSATIONAL MOUNTAIN-TOP EXPERIENCES MUST BE TESTED AND REFINED IN THE VALLEY. I observe that a preoccupation with chasing revivals is a recipe for under-development.
Whereas this account is a repeat, perhaps we should treat it as a cue to repeat our focus on the New Testament counterpart of this Old Testament Temple—that is, YOU AND ME. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Make no mistake about it—even though some of us are feeling (more than others) the effects of age—the wear and tear of living a lot of years in these bodies (in a fallen world)—you and I remain spectacular displays of God’s creative craftsmanship, engineering, and planning. Using nothing more than dirt and water, He has designed and fashioned functioning eyes, ears, noses, brains, hands, digestive systems, etc.—the amazing list of amazing realities could go on without end. It makes me wish I could shout to the entire world at the top of my voice—THERE IS NO WAY THAT DIRT COULD HAVE THOUGHT THIS UP!!!! How could any functioning brain draw such a conclusion? There absolutely has to be a CREATOR DESIGNER! I suppose I could be labeled as fanatically biased, but I am absolutely convinced that living to honor Him is our most basic job description here on planet earth—and a HEART AFTER GOD offers our only hope for winning His presence and approval. “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7, KJV).