On Sunday we will finish our sermon series on the early Jewish Monarchy. This week we will see the consummation of David's dream as Solomon builds the Temple, "God's Home."
The Temple is the great legacy of the Jewish monarchs. It represents the ultimate transformation of the Israelites from a tribal people to a nation, by placing the center of their religious practice in Jerusalem, the center of politics. Interestingly, the Temple also represents the growing separation of politics and religion for the Israelites -- even though the palace and the Temple are both in Jerusalem, they have distinct leaders, the king and the high priest, respectively.
Sunday we'll consider how the Temple became the focal point of Jewish religion, even as it was destroyed, rebuilt, and destroyed again. Even today, the narrative power of God's Home is a powerful part of Jewish identity, a tangible representation (now the Western Wall) of God's presence and favor for the Jewish people.
What does it mean for God to have a home? What does it mean for God to be at home? These are the questions we will consider, both for the Israelites in the days of Solomon and today.
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1 comment:
Darn.
R
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