Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: “His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.
And Jesus said to them, ‘ Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’” (Matthew 24:1b-2, NKJV)

You will not find Josephus mentioned in the scriptures, but you will find biblical era accounts in his writings. A contemporary of the Apostles in the 1st century, A.D., Josephus was an eyewitness to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Romans in 70 A.D. Also known as Titus Flavius Josephus, he fought the Romans in the First Jewish-Roman War as a Jewish military leader in Galilee. Josephus and one of his soldiers then surrendered to the Roman forces and became prisoners. According to Josephus's own account, he appears to have played a role as a negotiator with the defenders during the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
As Josephus relates:
“(Wars, Book 5.) So Titus retired into the tower of Antonia, and resolved to storm the temple the next day, early in the morning, with his whole army, and to encamp round about the holy house. But as for that house, God had, for certain, long ago doomed it to the fire; and now that fatal day was come, according to the revolution of ages; it was the tenth day of the month Lous, [Ab,] upon which it was formerly burnt by the king of Babylon;”
The Roman commander, Titus, also called “Caesar”, attempted to prevent the destruction of the temple. The original temple was built by King Solomon (1 Kings 6:1) “And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its parts, and according to all its specifications. He was seven years in building it. (1 Kings 6:38)
“Solomon’s” temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. And he burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down.” (2 Kings 25:8, 9)
Cyrus, king of Persia (539-530 B.C.) permitted Jews to rebuild temple. First, the altar was built, then the temple foundation laid, 536 B.C. (Ezra 3:1-4:5) The temple was finished, 515 B.C. Ezra 6:15-22 tells of the dedication of this second temple. However this Temple was without the Ark of the Covenant. A seven branched Menorah stood in the Holy place instead of the ten lamp stands in Solomon's Temple.
In 175 B.C., Antiochus Epiphanes, angered at the Jews for some insult they had given him, defied the high priests in Jerusalem and entered into the sacred temple, erected a pagan altar in the temple and offered upon it a pig in sacrifice, an unclean animal. He defiled the whole sanctuary. Then, as a final insult, he erected a statue of Jupiter in the holy place. (The Book of 1 Maccabees)
In 168 B.C., the Jewish war of independence, also known as the Maccabbean revolt, broke out in Israel. Jerusalem was taken and the temple was cleansed and rededicated in 165 B.C. The rededication of the temple is celebrated to this day by the Jews as the Feast of Lights, or Hanukkah, which falls in December.
Nearly 600 years after the Second Temple had been dedicated, king Herod determined to impart the splendor of Solomon's Temple to the existing building. He began the work in 19 or 20 B.C.; (see John 2:20). The workers continued improvements there for many years, to 64 A.D., just four years before it was to be destroyed by Titus. Herod's work more than doubled the size of the Temple building and the Temple Mount itself was greatly expanded to a plaza area measuring about 2,575 by 985 feet, with eight gates. Josephus has much to say about Herod and his building program. (Antiq. 15:38-425; Wars,5:5) It was this enlarged temple area that prompted Jesus to say, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’” (Matthew 24:1b-2, NKJV)
And so, as reported by Josephus:
7. . . . “whereby the flame burst out from within the holy house itself immediately, when the commanders retired, and Caesar with them, and when nobody any longer forbade those that were without to set fire to it. And thus was the holy house burnt down, without Caesar's approbation.” (Wars, 4:7)

Reference: The complete works of the Jewish historian, Josephus; In the public domain and may be freely used and distributed. On-line @
http://www.biblestudytools.com/history/flavius-josephus/

Seeds for Thinking (©) 1996 - 2010 by Leland Hubbell

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Paul wrote, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s spirit lives in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16, NIV

Oh, what a day it must have been when the temple in Jerusalem was dedicated!
Musicians stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The singers joined in, singing, “He is good;
His love endures forever.”
(2 Corinthians 13)
More importantly, after the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant was placed in the Holy Place, the glory of the LORD filled the temple with a cloud.
King Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD, in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread his hands toward heaven, and said:
“O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below - you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue whole-heartedly in your way.” (1 Kings 8:22-23) The king concluded his prayer with these words to the assembled people:
“But your hearts must be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.” (1 Kings 8:61)
Unfortunately, as time passed, both the whole-hearted commitment to God, and the condition of the temple fell into disrepair. Israel turned from following the true God, and was conquered by Assyria. (2 Kings 17:1-23)
The people of Judah also followed “all the detestable practices of the nations - defiling the temple of the LORD, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.” Ezekiel, in captivity in Babylon, again saw the glory of the LORD fill the temple, and a cloud fill the inner court. This time, however, there was no rejoicing. The glory of the LORD departed from the temple. (Ezekiel 10)
Eventually, the people returned to Judah and Jerusalem, and the temple was rebuilt; the completition and dedication of the second temple is recorded in Ezra 6:6-18. Neither the building nor the dedication was as spectacular as in Solomon’s day.
King Herod spent forty-six years rebuilding the temple into a massive edifice. This is the temple that Jesus visited. His disciples commented on the massive stones. Jesus prophesied that, “ Not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” (Mark 13:1) The people worshiped with their mouths, but not with their hearts.
Today, the temple mount is occupied by the Muslim “Dome of the Rock,” the 3rd holiest site in Islam. Herod’s temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.
As goes the relationship with God, so goes the temple. Take care that your personal temple is not thrown down by failing to “continue whole-heartedly in God’s way.”
Take time to read about the construction of Solomon’s temple in 1 Kings chapters 6 - 9, and chapters 2 - 7 in 2 Chronicles.
November 16, 2003

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. (Luke 1:5, NIV)

Mention the word “nativity” and most people will likely think of the Nativity of Jesus, the Christ Child. Actually, the word ‘nativity’ with a lower case ‘n’ is the occasion of a person’s birth - yours, mine, anyone’s. The first nativity mentioned in the gospel of Luke is that of Jesus’ relative and Forerunner, John, the Baptizer.
John was born into a priestly family, desendents of Aaron, the first priest. Both parents were “upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years. “ (Luke 1:6-7)
The scriptural recounting by Luke tells of the angel Gabriel’s visit to Zechariah while he was serving in the temple, the subsequent conception by Elizabeth, and the birth of John, one who would bear witness to The Light (The Christ) as the “voice of one crying in the wilderness.” (John 1:23)
It is easy to skip over one little detail mentioned in the scriptural text, that of the role of the priestly division of Abijah. It is one bit of knowledge that can add detail to the story of Zechariah’s service to the Lord.
1 Chronicles chapter 23 recounts a gathering of all the leaders of Israel, with the priests and Levites, at the time King David was turning the kingdom over to his son, Solomon. The Levites were to look after the work of the house of the LORD., as officers, judges, gatekeepers and musicians. They were desendents of Levi, but not of Aaron.
Chapter 24 recounts the divisions of the sons of Aaron. David knew that because there were so many descendents of Aaron by this time, the priests should be divided so they could fairly be assigned the privileged service of the temple. They were divided by lot into twenty-four divisions; Abijah was the eighth priestly division. Like the other divisions, the priests of Abijah served in the temple for one week twice a year.
Duties for the day were assigned by drawing lots, the first two including such duties as cleaning the altar and preparing its fires, offering the sacrifice and cleansing the candlestick and the altar of incense. Many rituals were observed throughout the service, including prayer.
After this a third lot was cast for burning the incense. To be so selected for this service was a great honor; No one might take part in it who had ministered in that office before. The officiating priest entered the Holy Place with assistants, who helped prepare the alter of incense, then left the chief officiating priest alone within the Holy Place, to await the signal of the president before burning the incense. It was probably at this time that the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah.
The people marveled that Zechariah took so long in the temple. If it had been the duty of Zechariah, as incensing priest for the day, to lead in the priestly blessing, we can all the better understand the wonder of the people as 'he beckoned to them, and remained speechless' (Luke 1:21-22) while they waited for his benediction.
The priests themselves lived not only in Jerusalem but also in other settlements in the land of Israel. When it was time for the division to go up to Jerusalem, the priests left their homes, went up to Jerusalem for a week, and afterwards returned to their homes in Judea or Galilee.
Luke notes that Elizabeth was related to Mary, the mother of Jesus (Lk. 1:36). The two nativity stories further intertwine when Mary visits Elizabeth. The babe (John) leaped in Elizabeth’s womb for joy upon hearing Mary’s greeting. (Luke 1:41) Mary spent three months with her at this very special time in their lives.

Become a "Sower" of God's Word.
Tell others to check out the comprehensive web site - Seeds for Thinking
http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: “Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth?” Lam. 2:15b, NIV

Is there a city anywhere in the world that stirs the emotions of so many people who have never been there as much as does Jerusalem?
Jerusalem, the Holy Mountain. The ancient city of Melchizedek in the time of Abraham, and thought to be the location of Mt. Moriah, where Abraham went to offer up his son Isaac (Genesis 22:2). (Islam contends that the son was not Isaac, but Ishmael.)
Jerusalem, Mount Zion, the capital of David’s kingdom by divine appointment (I Kings 15:4).
Jerusalem, fortified by Solomon, location of the temple and center of worship to God for centuries. The chief Levites and High Priest lived in Jerusalem, Israelites directed their prayers there
(I Ch. 9:34; John 18:15; I Ki. 8:38).
Jerusalem, fought over, captured, destroyed and rebuilt repeatedly for four thousand years of recorded history. Major destruction occurred in the times of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and in the 1st century A.D. by the Romans.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing”, Jesus lamented (Matthew 23:37).
Jerusalem, who has known the peoples of the stone age, the bronze and iron ages, the Canaanites, the Israelites, Egyptians, Syrians, Babylonians. A battleground between the Testaments for Greek and Jew, Macedonian and Persian, Maccabee and Hasmonaean. The focal city of the New Testament, where the Jews, the Romans, and Jesus the Christ played key roles during three unforgettable days that forever changed the world. It is not as Jesus’ home town, or even as his birth place that we cherish Jerusalem, but as the location of His Passion, where he was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead.
Already holy to Jews and Christians scattered the world over, yet another people took control of Jerusalem, first the Arabs, and then the Turks, culminating in the building of The Dome of the Rock by the Muslims following the fall of the Roman Empire.
Jerusalem is fought over even today, the eye of the whirl-wind of the middle east.
There are many who say that we are in the latter days, that the outcome is ordained, and perhaps we shall soon see the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God (Rev. 3:12; 21:2).
Has Joel’s prophecy reached the time of fullness? “Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her” (Joel 3:17b) “Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations. Their bloodguilt which I have not pardoned, I will pardon.”
The Lord dwells in Zion! (Joel 3:20,21)
February 9, 2003