The tragedy of precious, broken things. In a fallen world, things of great value are often severely damaged. The loss is beyond calculation when the things broken are the possessions of God.
The record of 2 Kings 25 recounts the terrible defeat and destruction of Jerusalem. As the armies of Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian ruler, destroyed the city and dispersed its inhabitants, we read this concerning the instruments of worship and service in the temple of God:
"Now the bronze pillars which were in the house of the LORD, and the stands and the bronze sea which were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces and carried the bronze to Babylon. They took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the spoons, and all the bronze vessels which were used in temple service. The captain of the guard also took away the firepans and the basins, what was fine gold and what was fine silver. The two pillars, the one sea, and the stands which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD - the bronze of all these vessels was beyond weight." (2 Kings 25:13-16)
Meticulously-crafted items devoted to the worship and service of Father God were destroyed and carried away for secular and sinful purposes. The Book of Daniel records how a wicked king would later use some of these precious, sacred instruments at a personal party characterized by drunkenness and debauchery. The sacred would become victim to the sinful.
Tragic as these circumstances are, a greater tragedy is when God's precious people are broken in a fallen world. Made in the image of God, we were designed for praise, worship, and service. And yet there is an enemy whose sole agenda is to break and destroy God's precious people (1 Peter 5:8). Tragically, in this age, the enemy succeeds all too often.
Much of what was lost in the Garden of Eden was our perception of who we are in the eyes of our Father. A horrible sense of wrong, symbolically covered by fig leaves, was the first result of original sin. From there, faulty perception skewed decisions, which have led us further away from the worship and obedience the Father desires. Were it not for the timely arrival of His Son, the brokenness would have been irreparable.
Precious lives are still broken today. The enemy infiltrates the lives of the people of God, and is all too effective with his evil schemes. And yet, there is no brokenness that is irreparable in the plan of God. Repentance and restoration are constant options so long as there is life in this age. This side of the kingdom, the mending and repair will look flawed and imperfect, but the kingdom hope offers the fullest possible restoration.
God's precious possessions are not immune to brokenness in a fallen world. But, the hope believers must never lose sight of is this: "I am making all things new." (Revelation 21:5). May we be faithful and hopeful as we await the newness that only the Father can bring to restore brokenness. And, may we experience a portion of that newness in our lives today.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
The record of 2 Kings 25 recounts the terrible defeat and destruction of Jerusalem. As the armies of Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian ruler, destroyed the city and dispersed its inhabitants, we read this concerning the instruments of worship and service in the temple of God:
"Now the bronze pillars which were in the house of the LORD, and the stands and the bronze sea which were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces and carried the bronze to Babylon. They took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the spoons, and all the bronze vessels which were used in temple service. The captain of the guard also took away the firepans and the basins, what was fine gold and what was fine silver. The two pillars, the one sea, and the stands which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD - the bronze of all these vessels was beyond weight." (2 Kings 25:13-16)
Meticulously-crafted items devoted to the worship and service of Father God were destroyed and carried away for secular and sinful purposes. The Book of Daniel records how a wicked king would later use some of these precious, sacred instruments at a personal party characterized by drunkenness and debauchery. The sacred would become victim to the sinful.
Tragic as these circumstances are, a greater tragedy is when God's precious people are broken in a fallen world. Made in the image of God, we were designed for praise, worship, and service. And yet there is an enemy whose sole agenda is to break and destroy God's precious people (1 Peter 5:8). Tragically, in this age, the enemy succeeds all too often.
Much of what was lost in the Garden of Eden was our perception of who we are in the eyes of our Father. A horrible sense of wrong, symbolically covered by fig leaves, was the first result of original sin. From there, faulty perception skewed decisions, which have led us further away from the worship and obedience the Father desires. Were it not for the timely arrival of His Son, the brokenness would have been irreparable.
Precious lives are still broken today. The enemy infiltrates the lives of the people of God, and is all too effective with his evil schemes. And yet, there is no brokenness that is irreparable in the plan of God. Repentance and restoration are constant options so long as there is life in this age. This side of the kingdom, the mending and repair will look flawed and imperfect, but the kingdom hope offers the fullest possible restoration.
God's precious possessions are not immune to brokenness in a fallen world. But, the hope believers must never lose sight of is this: "I am making all things new." (Revelation 21:5). May we be faithful and hopeful as we await the newness that only the Father can bring to restore brokenness. And, may we experience a portion of that newness in our lives today.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
posted by steve @ 9:23 AM
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