Invitation to God’s House

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

Why do people face towards Jerusalem while praying? When King Solomon dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem, he petitioned God that He might place His Name upon the Temple. He asked that God would hear from heaven and answer anyone who prayed toward that place. The LORD answered Solomon’s prayer saying, “I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually” (1 Kings 9:3).

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Re'eh (ראה | See)

Torah: Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11-55:5

Gospel: John 16:1-17:26

Invitation to God’s House

In Deuteronomy 12, Jerusalem is described as “the place which the LORD your God will choose.” It is the place of God’s Name. Deuteronomy 12 is an invitation to God’s house in Jerusalem. God invites His people to come to Jerusalem to seek Him there. Anyone seeking God in prayer or desiring to draw near to His presence was invited to His house in the holy city. “My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” (Isaiah 56:7) He invited Israel to bring their sacrifices and gifts to Him there, to bring their tithes and offerings and to rejoice before Him in that place.

Imagine a common man receiving an invitation from a great king. “Come to my palace and spend time with me. Bring your family and eat at my banquet table.” How privileged such a man would feel! Would he not hurry to that place? This is the essence of Deuteronomy 12. God invites Israel to appear before Him in His holy house:

There also you and your households shall eat before the LORD your God, and rejoice in all your undertakings in which the LORD your God has blessed you. (Deuteronomy 12:7)

And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates … (Deuteronomy 12:12)

Messiah offers us a similar invitation. He invites us into the Father’s house eternally. He tells His disciples, “In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2) He invites us into the LORD’s house, not just as invited guests, but as family members. Thanks to Yeshua, we will rejoice before the Father in His holy house for all eternity. We will sit at the table in the kingdom with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all Israel. How could we ever refuse such a fabulous invitation?

The invitation reminds us that, in a metaphoric sense, Yeshua is the holy Temple of God. Yeshua is the chosen one from among all the children of Israel, just as Jerusalem is the place God chose from all the tribes. God’s presence remains in Yeshua forever, as it says, “In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” (Colossians 2:9) His Name remains on Yeshua forever, as it says, “God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name.” (Philippians 2:9) Just as God invited Israel to His holy house in Jerusalem, so too we are invited to draw near to His holy son Yeshua.

-First Fruits of Zion