Revive us again!

The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars, the movable stands and the bronze Sea that were at the temple of the Lord and they carried the bronze to Babylon. –2Kings 25:13 (NIV)

And so the magnificent temple which had been constructed in Jerusalem ceased to exist. David had gathered the materials, Solomon had financed and directed the building project. The celebration was lavish, the people rejoiced, and the glory of God filled the temple as the Presence of the LORD rested between the cherubim in the Holy of Holies.

Many were the kings, priests, and prophets who had sought refuge at the altar there. The nation of Israel/Judah believed that as long as the temple stood, they had God’s blessing and were somehow invincible. Over time, they lost sight of the fact that God will not continue to bless a disobedient and unrepentant people.

On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, an official of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. The whole Babylonian army, under the commander of the imperial guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem. –2Kings 25:8-10 (NIV)

The shine was gone. God’s people had left Him and He had left the temple. The majestic structure that once inspired awe and reverence was demolished and burned by the Babylonians. Anything of value was salvaged and carried away like a yard sale bargain.

As grand as the temple had been, the thing that made it truly special was the fact that it symbolized the relationship between YHWH and His people. God had chosen Abraham and his descendants of all peoples of the earth to be His own. And they, rightly, were pleased to show their devotion to Him. Once Israel broke faith with God and the relationship was fractured, the temple became a relic, representing a nation in moral decay. It was ultimately reduced to the monetary value of its physical components.

So Judah went into captivity, away from her land. –2Kings 25:21b (NIV)

When we cease to value our relationship with God, when we no longer care to obey, truly worship, or seek His face, our institutions and rites become an impotent, useless duty. Kept up out of habit, they are devoid of any real life significance. The bones are picked clean, sold (literally or figuratively) on the open market at discount prices. We are enslaved, left with the ashes of what once was.

God help us. Spirit, move among your people! Wake us up, turn hard hearts to Yourself. You are a God of restoration and redemption. May revival sweep this landscape and the reality and lordship of Jesus Christ be evident to all. Use us for Your good purpose. For King and Kingdom, to God be the glory!

Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of kings: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and He has given us a wall of protection.... –Ezra 9:9 (NIV)