“Behold, I am building a temple for the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to Him … for the continual showbread…” (2 Chron 2:4, NKJ)
Please keep in mind the overarching metaphor of the showbread as we investigate a side theme here and there in our exploration of this unfolding revelation. We are currently busy with the sacrament of communion, but need to look at who the Body is – an enormously important truth which we often do not consider in our Christian practice.
The previous teaching can perhaps be summed up in the following Scripture: “… these people draw near with their mouths and honour Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men …” (Is 29:13).
What we consider to be church is often a group of saved people who perform religious rituals around the golden calves of religion. Religious zeal can cause us to build a congregation and, before we know it, become busy with putting the showbread before Him, as we should, but with the gnawing yoke of obligation – it becomes a learnt human command that is Lifeless.
Thus, because church often fulfils a social function and it is not the meeting place of those who fear the Lord, there can be a tendency to structure the service around the needs, whims and fancies of people. For this reason the church has become more of a social club where religious activities are presented. This happens because people do not actually move into the Presence of God – most things point to Him, but He isn’t there!
We read in Acts 5:1-11 of the death of two respected church members, Ananias and Sapphira, who lied to the Holy Spirit because they wanted to impress their fellow church members. Verse 11 says: “So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things”. In verse 13 a remarkable thing is stated: “None of the other people dared to join them, although the people continued to hold them in high regard.” (ISV).
The church is only for those who fear the Lord and unbelievers must realise: “no one dared to be joined to them” (LITV) – they can’t be part of the Body.
- Sela: Examine the congregation where you fellowship in terms of the manifestation of the fear of the Lord.
- Read: Judges 3; Ps 93; Acts 3
- Memorise: Acts 3:21
