Deuteronomy 12:10-12
Deuteronomy 12 forms an important part of the background for the narrative of the temple-building in 1 Kings. Here, the Lord promises to give rest to Israel, and in 1 Kings 5 Solomon tells Hiram that Israel now has rest from their enemies around them. In Deuteronomy 12, Moses says that the Lord will choose a place for ?His name to dwell,?Eand that is the same phrase used by Solomon to describe the purpose of His temple. Once the temple is built, it becomes the sole legitimate place for sacrificial worship.
And, in conformity with Deuteronomy, the temple becomes the place where Israel gathers to rejoice before Yahweh with her offerings, tithes, and peace offerings. The sequence is important: The Lord grants rest, chooses a place to dwell, and His people gather there to rejoice before Him. Israel?s joy is a result of her rest: If there were enemies threatening all around or, worse, invading, Israel would not have the luxury of eating and drinking and holding week-long festivals at Jerusalem. Because they are at rest, they can rejoice.
The sequence is the same for the NC. We can gather every week at this table to eat, drink, and rejoice because we have been brought into rest, because our enemies are subdued. By all appearances, this is absurd. We still do have enemies, and they sure don?t seem to be pacified. That is why celebrating this meal is an act of faith. For we are so certain of final victory, so certain that Jesus has already achieved the victory, so certain that He has brought us into His rest, that we can eat and drink and rejoice in the presence of our enemies.
God has established US as a house for His name, and His name, Jesus, dwells here by the Spirit. He has given us rest. So, eat, drink, and rejoice, both you and your sons and daughters.
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