The Weekly Perspective
by Burke Shade, Associate Pastor
Pastor Joe just finished the book of Exodus, the crowning story of the construction of a house, made up of his people, for Yahweh to dwell in as he dwells among them. This theme of “victory-housebuilding” is prominent in the scriptures, with this story of God defeating Pharaoh and his Egyptian gods and then commanding his people to build His house with the spoils of victory, coming in at “second” place in the scriptures.
What comes in “first” place? Obviously, the victory of Jesus over Satan and then the building of His house/church, with the spoils of victory, all the former slaves of Satan, now his worshippers, in whom Jesus dwells by the Spirit: Colossians 1:13: “He…delivered us from…darkness and transferred us to…his beloved Son.”
In between, look for this pattern over and over. For example, after the wicked are destroyed in the flood and God gives Noah a new world, he erects an altar for worship and plants a garden/vineyard; this is the new Eden. After Abram is delivered out of Ur, he moves to the promised land and erects altars throughout the land, marking the land as a house of God out of Canaan. When David defeats all his enemies and has rest, he desires to build the Lord a permanent house, which Solomon is tasked to do. In the meantime, David erects a tent for the Ark in Jerusalem, which he and Israel and the converted Gentiles gather around for times of worship, a foretaste of Jesus’ house in the Great Commission. In the history of Kings of Judah, several “rebuild” the temple after rest from their enemies. But “third” place is Israel rebuilding the temple from Babylon’s spoils!
So each Sunday, be grateful you are the house of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that he dwells in you as part of the church, his victory spoils!