29 August 2011

Psalm 25; 2 Chron. 6:32-7:7; James 2:1-13; Mark 14:53-65

This is lavish worship! The king consecrates the temple with prayer and it is clearly to be a house of prayer for all peoples including those who are foreigners who have come because of the Lord’s great name, His mighty hand and His outstretched arm. The prayer must be offered to the true God. The temple was to be the dwelling place of God on earth, the place from which He would hear the prayers of His people and all who sought Him. It was not to be worshipped for its beauty or any intrinsic value of its own, its entire value was in the fact that God accepted it and filled it with His glory. Outside of His presence, it was simply another building, gloriously constructed as it may be. The same is true of our church buildings today, unless God builds the house, they labor in vain who construct it. After the glory of the Lord fills the temple, the worship of the people is extravagant, can you imagine what a glorious day this would have been for the people?

The accusation that finally seals the deal with the leaders is that Jesus has spoken against the temple, that the temple built with hands will be destroyed and He will rebuild it in three days. He is then asked if He is Messiah, Son of the Blessed and Jesus says, yes. Finally, they have something to hang their hats on, this is blasphemy except, oh wait, it is true so it isn’t blasphemy after all. How far the nation and its leaders have fallen from rejoicing at the consecration of the temple and God’s presence among them to this moment when they reign down blows on God in the flesh. It is easier to live with the shekinah glory than it is the reality of God Himself. The temple itself is now more important than the Lord of the temple. Relationship has become religion.

Right judgments concerning people have nothing to do with their socioeconomic situation. James reminds us that we our normal mistake is to prefer or defer to the wealthy and treat the poor as something less than ourselves. In the law, partiality is defined in both directions, the law was also intended not to prefer the poor, a mistake some make when they say that Jesus preferred the poor. It seems that Jesus actually was equally available, it was simply that the poor recognized their need of Him while the wealthy were comfortable enough to remain apart from Him. Does James mean to speak of universalism when he says mercy triumphs over judgment? Clearly the answer is no, otherwise why speak of judgment at all. He is urging his readers and us to show mercy to all people equally and in so doing, to love our neighbor according to the command of Jesus. Obedience to the command requires mercy on our part and in showing mercy we fulfill that portion of the law of Jesus and we are able to stand in that moment.

If e’er to bless Thy sons
My voice or hands deny,
These hands let useful skills forsake,
This voice in silence die.

Tune