Luke 19 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“Then Yeshua entered the Temple complex and He began to throw out those who were selling, and He said, ‘It is written, My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it into a den of thieves!’” Luke 19:45-46
The day Yeshua cleared the Temple was a day that had been announced hundreds of years earlier. Even in the days of prophets like Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Zephaniah, the nation of Israel took the “patience” of the L_rd to mean He was either disengaged or impotent to judge their sin. Even though the prophets would announce G_d’s judgment, the people kept on sinning.

“On that day, I will punish all who skip over the threshold, who fill their master’s house with violence and deceit. On that day – the L_rd’s declaration – there will be an outcry from the Fish Gate, a wailing from the second district, with a loud crashing from the hills. Wail you residents of the Hollow, for all the merchants will be silenced; all those loaded with silver will be cut off. And at that time, I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men who settle down comfortably, who say to themselves: The L_rd will not do good or evil.” Zephaniah 1:10-12

As is the case with many in the community of believers today, the people of Israel had abandoned G_d’s Word, to the point that they felt more at home in the world, than with the L_rd.

“Do you steal, murder, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known? Then, do you come and stand before Me in this house called by My Name and insist: We are safe? As a result, you are free to continue doing all these detestable acts! Has this house, which is called by My Name, become a den of robbers in your view? Yes, I too have seen it.” Jeremiah 7:9-11

Some people wrongly believe that Israel’s rejection of Yeshua triggered God’s rejection of Israel, and signaled His favor of the Gentiles. This is not so. Read: Romans 11

In fact, it has always been G_d’s desire for men of all nations to worship Him. The death and resurrection of Yeshua brought understanding to the apostles, namely Paul, of what God’s intent & desire for the nations’ had always been.
“And the foreigners who convert to the L_rd, minister to Him, love the L_rd’s name, and are His servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it, and who hold firmly to My covenant – I will bring them to My holy mountain and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. This is the declaration of the L_rd G_d, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: I will gather to them still others besides those who have gathered.“ Isaiah 56:6-8

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Assistant Rabbi
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Friday, June 21, 2013

 




 

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