DAY 291- BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE EXILE
Reading: Haggai 2: 8, 9; John 2: 19–22; 1 Corinthians 3: 16; 1 Peter 2: 4, 5 and Revelation 21: 22
As we saw yesterday, the state of affairs in the land, despite the various Returns, was greatly diminished. And the people faced a huge dilemma – what were they to make of this temple that was puny and unimpressive compared to Solomon’s temple? And what about great promises of the Abrahamic and Davidic periods?
To answer that question we need to take a few steps back in order to present a sweeping grand finale to our Old Testament studies in the Big Picture in a Year
When the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel went into exile the hope for God's rule over the earth to be manifested in an Israelite king seemed to have come to nothing. The prophets (before, during, and after the exile), however, make it clear that even with the exile God would not, and did not, abandon His intention to rule over His people and His world through a Davidic king.Many important prophetic passages reveal that the only hope for the establishment of an enduring and faithful kingdom in Israel lies in a future work of God's redemption. The human heart is too corrupt for God's purposes for the world to be accomplished through mere human kings - and periodic revivals and times of faithfulness (such as Josiah's reforms [2 Kings 23]) are not enough to usher in God's worldwide dominion. However, God is so much greater than all that. Despite Israel's earthly failure God still does not abandon His plan to reign over the whole world through His appointed human king.How will this reign manifest itself? What is necessary for God to reverse the failure of Israel to be a light to the nations and extend the kingdom across the earth? And while you’re thinking about that, consider too – what will it take for God to completely turn your life around?
Prayer
Father, there are times when I am just so grateful that You and Your plans are so much greater than anything I could ever conceive or achieve.
FOR THE FAMILY
Watch this video over the next few days