Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

I’m Jemima L. Yeggs, a.k.a. Stinker.  Pink Lady Apple Yeggs, my landlady and my auntie, wants to read about how younger people, especially couples respond to what the Bible says.  And she wants to know how God is at work at Lily the Pink.

B.B. and I were in our “green room.”

B.B. said, “Stinker, Joseph and I have finally decided on the names.  If it is a girl, we are using the name Fireball suggested, Juniper.  A little alliteration isn’t a bad thing.  Juniper Jones has a certain ring to it, and Solomon using juniper in the building of the temple, along with the cedars of Lebanon, it fits with a biblical idea.  But if it is a boy, we will name him Ethan, as in Ethan the Ezrahite.  Ethan was a musician.  He wrote Psalm 89, and they compared Solomon’s wisdom to that of Ethan.  So, now all I have to do is get through these next two months, with God’s help.”

A familiar voice from the center stall, “Hallelujah!  I was kind of hoping you would go with Haddon Ben Easy Jones, like you mentioned last week.  The conversation of late ‘hadn’t been easy’ to listen to.”

B.B. laughed, “Arabella, this is a private conversation.”

The stall door opened and Arabella washed her hands, “I know, you, Aunt Jemima, and me.”  With that, Arabella was gone.

I snickered, “B.B., I think Fireball has you there.”

B.B. groaned, “Why do you put up with her antics?”

I laughed, “I think she is fun to be around.  And she is probably the reason why some people come to the class.  She says things they are thinking, but she is simply bold enough to say it.  The whole Mr. Dictionary schtick is to maybe calm her down enough to listen instead of acting goofy.”

She opened the door, and we went to the den, laughing.

Rev. Joseph led us in prayer.

Emmett had his band and choir.  They sang and played Brandon Lake’s Temple.  Mike Kildare did a lot with the tubulum.

I asked, “I am so glad that Mike got to shine”

Emmett said, “But as it says, ‘It is all for Your glory.  We lift up our efforts to God, and in turn, God gives us the strength.  Then again, we know the next few books of the Bible, so we have been thinking ahead.”

I nodded, “So, what’s next week’s song?”

Menzie huffed, “What?!  And spoil the surprise?  No way!”

Samuel asked, “Where are we searching for Jesus today, Aunt Jemima?”

I nodded, “We are looking at four books from 1 Kings through 2 Chronicles.  The focal point is the Davidic Covenant and the Dedication of the Temple.  Arabella, do we need Mr. Dictionary?”

Arabella shook her head, “Nope.  I know what a king is.  That’s when you get to the far side of a checkerboard, as if I have ever done that.  But I am confused with Crow Nickels.  I did not know crows had nickels, and what would they ever do with a nickel if they had one?”  Arabella gave me the straightest face she could muster, and she even blinked a few times for emphasis.

Samuel asked, “But I’m wondering why we are covering four long books in the Bible in just one week?”

Easy said, “Samuel, the focus of this study is to see Jesus in the books of the Bible.  These four books are history books.  We can see how the twelve tribes of Israel broke into two nations, how they rebelled against God, and how they were shown mercy and eventually sent into exile.  The two books of kings overlap the two books of Chronicles, not Crow-Nickels.  But what is the major difference?”

Arabella said, “Crow-Nickels starts with a long genealogy.”

Easy groaned, “Chronicles, Belle.  But you are correct.  There are nine chapters of genealogy that start 1 Chronicles.  And these genealogies show how God had His provision and protection over the kingly line and the priestly line.  But something more significant than that.”

Menzie said, “The two books of Chronicles only talk about the kingdom of Judah once the two kingdoms divide.  And Chronicles do not talk about the mistakes David made.  These books are setting up a comparison between David and Jesus, the new David, who was to come.”

Easy nodded, “Right.  First Chronicles has the genealogy, then a brief discussion of King Saul before spending the rest of the book on King David.  So, 2 Chronicles parallels both 1 & 2 Kings, starting with the reign of Solomon.”

Arabella laughed, “Thank you, Mr. Dictionary.”

I added, “So, some of the stories are duplicated, but some details appear in one telling of the story that are not in the other.  We see how the Davidic Covenant is preserved by God.  So, we see God at work guaranteeing that Jesus is born of Mary and in the family line of King David.”

Darrell (2 Chronicles 7:1-2) “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it.”

Darrell said, ”This sounds like God’s presence is something the ordinary human cannot handle.”

Sally Mae (1 Kings 8:10-11) “When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.”

Sally Mae said, “This version of the same thing Darrell read focuses on the priests being unable to perform their duties.  Darrell said they could not go in.  Is that what being in God’s presence is like?”

I smiled, “I have heard a lot of people talk about how we have God inside us.  That same Holy Spirit that filled the temple that day at the temple’s dedication, but we are not in the presence of God the Father in the transfigured state.  I think we will get weak in the knees when we first discover it.  That presence is what we wish for, but our human bodies cannot handle it.  Yet, we will be given new bodies.  But before we get off this subject…”

Mary Jo (Exodus 40:34-35) “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”

Mary Jo said, “So, what we were calling a Theocracy when the tabernacle was dedicated is repeated when Solomon dedicated the temple.  Not necessarily a Christophany in that God did not appear as a person.”

I laughed, “Thank you, all three of you.  God made a visible sign so that the people had no excuse.  God was in the building.  ‘Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.’ (Isaiah 7:14).  And we know from Matthew 1 that Immanuel means ‘God with us.’”

Blaise (2 Chronicles 6:24-31) “When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you and when they turn back and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication before you in this temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.
“When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.
“When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of their afflictions and pains, and spreading out their hands toward this temple—then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know the human heart), so that they will fear you and walk in obedience to you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.”

Blaise said, “This entire prayer should be a reminder that there are consequences when we do not listen to God.  The common expression in Jeremiah and Ezekiel is ‘sword, famine, and plagues.’  Solomon uses a few more words.  And what needs to happen is to recognize the sin, turn from that sin, and ask God to forgive.  Yes, God has forgiven us, but it is important for us to admit that we are incapable of cleaning up our own act.  We need God to do that.  And the bottom line is that God knows our hearts.  What you said earlier, Sis.  God is within us; He knows us.  We may screw up on occasion, but God knows who loves Him and who does not.  We should feel the shame of our sin, but then release that shame, for God has removed that from our record.”

I nodded, “Thank you, little brother.  We should be ashamed of ourselves for doing things that we know God does not like, but once we have confessed those things, the shame should be gone.  But to always have that idea that ‘God is God and we are not’ is important.  And note that Solomon is changing the narrative.  Until now, they had the Law and they were to obey.  But with God knowing what is in the heart of each person, he gives us the ability to confess our sins, turn from those sins, and ask for forgiveness.”

Tony (1 Kings 19:10) “He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’”

Tony said, “Elijah is throwing a pity party.  Jezebel has put a price on his head.”

Marguerite (Romans 11:3) “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me.”

Margie said, “Everyone calls me Margie except for the love of my life here.  When I face batters in softball, Marguerite sounds too dainty.  Margie might not be much better, but it has the opportunity of being nasty.  But in Romans 11, Paul repeats the story of Elijah going from victory to despair.”

I sighed, “But I know you and Blaise like to dig.  Why does Paul retell this story?”

Margie said, “Elijah said he was the only one left.  God said that He had reserved 7,000 that had not bowed down before Baal.  So, it was in Paul’s time and now with us.  We might think we are the only one left, but we are not and those people are reserved to serve God by Grace.  What you were saying about Solomon’s prayer.  We screw up, but we have a method of fixing the problem.  We can repent.”

Professor Angus (2 Kings 1:15-18) “The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, ‘Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.’ So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.
He told the king, ‘This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult that you have sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!” So he died, according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken. Because Ahaziah had no son, Joram succeeded him as king in the second year of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. As for all the other events of Ahaziah’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?”

Angus said, “This follows three sets of soldiers coming to bring Elijah to Ahaziah.  The first two groups of fifty soldiers are consumed by fire from heaven.  The third commander begs for his life and the life of his fifty men.  So, the angel of the Lord tells Elijah to go to the king.  Elijah goes there and prophesies that the king will die.  The king does die.  But now, we know nothing about this angel of the Lord.  He is someone with whom Elijah is talking.  Is this truly an angel or a Christophany?  The scholars are not one hundred percent in either camp.  But when are you going to get around to Elijah and Elisha being foreshadows of Jesus?”

I smiled, “Thank you, Professor Angus.  Indeed, the scholars are split on whether this is a Theophany, Christophany or simply an angel, but Elijah and Elisha were filled with the Spirit.  They healed the sick as Jesus did.  They each brought back someone from the dead.  Elisha even brought back someone to life after Elisha’s death.  ‘Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.’ (2 Kings 13:20-21).  So, we could say that these two prophets were a foreshadowing of Jesus, in that the power of the Holy Spirit was with them.  But we can also see that Elijah and Elisha came at one of the darkest times in the history of the split kingdoms.  It is called the Omride Dynasty, but really the focal point was Ahab, Omri’s son.  Ahab’s wife was Jezebel and her name became synonymous with evil.  But in this time where Omri’s offspring rule in the northern kingdom, God raises up Elijah and Elisha.  Elijah was a prophet like no other and Elisha asked and received a double portion of the spirit.  And as you look at the list of miracles that God performed through them, Elisha’s list is roughly double that of Elijah.”

Easy, my husband, who always seemed about half awake…  Okay, everyone swore he slept through class each Sunday morning…  Easy said, “Now that you brought up Ahab.  Are you going to talk about how God provided for the kingly line to continue in adverse circumstances?”

I giggled, “Nope, you are.”

Easy (2 Chronicles 22:10-12) “When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family of the house of Judah. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him. He remained hidden with them at the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.”

Easy said, “This gets a little confusing.  There was a King Joram, a.k.a. Jehoram, in Israel and in Judah.  Their reigns overlapped.  So what Professor Angus read said that Joram of Israel became king while Jehoram of Judah was still king.  So, Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab.  Athaliah married King Jehoram of Judah.  And from these few verses you can see that Athaliah was just as horrible as her father Ahab.  When Jehoram of Judah died, his son became king, Ahaziah.  Jehosheba, who married the priest, Jehoiada, was his sister.  Ahaziah died.  Athaliah was the queen mother.  She had no business reigning over the country.  She was only Jehoram’s widow and mother of the reigning king.  That’s what queen mother means, the widow of the previous king and mother of the reigning king.  But she killed all her own children and grandchildren.  She eliminated anyone with a rightful place to the throne, or so she thought.  Jehosheba took the infant son of Ahaziah and hid him from Athaliah.  And when Joash was six-years-old, he was anointed the king.  Athaliah was killed.  So, while the Luke 3 genealogy of Jesus went through Nathan, son of David and brother of Solomon (still having that Bathsheba connection), the Solomon kingly line in Matthew 1 would have died out with Ahaziah.  But also note that Uzziah was not the son of Jehoshaphat.  A few kings are skipped since there was a curse on the family of Ahab.  Jehoram, Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah were under that curse due to Athaliah marrying Jehoram and then the other three generations would make it four generations after Ahab.  Some people think Matthew skipped them to make the numbers come out, but those generations were skipped to the fourth generation.”

I smiled. “Thank you, Sweetie, you can pretend to go back to sleep.”  And I patted him on the arm, but all he did was close his eyes and smile.  I continued with the class, “We have a New Testament quote from 1 Kings.  We have foreshadowing with the miracles of Elijah and Elisha, but always remember it was God’s power within them.  We have the angel of the Lord talking to Elijah.  We have the presence of the Lord when the temple was dedicated.  Oh, yeah!”

Booger (2 Chronicles 36:16-23) ”But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men or young women, the elderly or the infirm. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the Lord’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there.
“He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power. The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.
“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:
“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
“‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.’””

Booger grinned, “Okay, so this says that God had enough.  He brought Nebuchadnezzar from Babylon to destroy the temple.  The people were sent into exile, but then to fulfill the prophecy of Jeremiah, King Cyrus would send a remnant back to rebuild the temple.”

I asked.  “So, where did we start?  What was the first Theocracy that was mentioned?”

Booger laughed, “God was in the building.  His glory was so thick that the priest could not enter and they could not work.  But here, the temple was burned to the ground.  God is everywhere, but there was no symbol that God was in the temple.  There was no temple to be in.  And God even fixed that.”

I said, “That was a good summary.  We started with the temple and ended with the temple.  I want to thank everyone.  Now, let’s have our benediction.”

Grannie Fannie (Galatians 6:18) “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.”

Lauren ran up to Grannie Fannie and hugged her.  “Are you ready to drive us?”

Brooke picked up Stormie.  She had been playing with the other children and Brooke strapped her into the carrier.

Credits

I start with a study guide by Marilyn Hickey called Seeing Jesus.  But she does not discuss Christophanies.

Here is Temple sung by Brandon Lake.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.