OUR INNER COURT

God has not forgotten what He said in His word. Every word is important. Not one word is wasted. This writer is often dumbfounded in studying the numbers, the descendents, the preparations God made for His chosen, the children of Israel. We look at present day church members and their lackadaisical attitudes. Someone had said that the word “concern” is a lost word in most vocabularies. Can one even imagine the concern of God, as well as Moses, that the 3 million, delivered from 400 years of slavery in Egypt walking through the Red Sea on dry land, then on the wilderness side, looking back and seeing the Red Sea engulf Pharaoh's army and 600 chariots? These same “stiff-necked” people who saw God's presence at Mt. Sinai witnessed Moses' older brother Aaron (83), later to become chief priest, actually lie to his brother about throwing gold trinkets into a fire from which comes a gold calf. Is that any more ludicrous than today's evolutionists who believe that magically, some way, somethingness from nothingness?

We read scripture and every time something new jumps out at us. Such as the 44^th chapter of Ezekiel. God instructed Moses to build a sanctuary for God. The large tent, very specific measurements, very specific veil colors (white, scarlet, purple, blue), an outer court for human activity (human needs), an inner court devoted to the worship of God (God's needs). Always, without fail, God's needs came first.

In the inner court, only sacrificial incense to God.

The outer court, if you can imagine, millions of people, continuous animal sacrifices, continuous activity with the Levites who's tribe surrounded the temple. Remember, 2 million crossed the Jordan River, under law, lined up each day in sacrificial living and giving.

Abomination is a very strong word. God declared that the temple activity had become an abomination because the people were more interested in their own needs than His needs, His worship.

Although we are dealing with an ancient, Old Testament, historical memory, does it differ from today's temple/church activity? The first church, (As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Acts 13:2), always, separation, God's needs from human needs, the chosen from the unchosen, saved from the unsaved.

Most of today's houses of worship, with which I am acquainted, spend most of their time in outer court – human activity. (For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:43). God loves the praise of his people. (But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3).

God help today's church service that varies from the “order of worship”...special music, song leaders, youth pastors, even most ridiculous of all, young children “hopping and skipping” to the front of the church for their personal “touch”.

I have no complaint with outer court activity such as baptism, even applauding after a baptism. The death to sin and rejection, raised to walk a newness of life (symbolic baptism) is something to be happy about. I will never understand how and why, most church activity is now centered in the “family life building”...pizza and pool, basketball and baskets of food, as if church activities is just for people. I would like to know how many of these people supposedly “Christ-like” spend much time in God's book and talking with God about the problems of the world. Dr. R.G. Lee, famed preacher of Bellevue Baptist, said “I had rather teach one man to pray than ten to preach.” I'm sure it happened with the Levites in the outer court of the first temple, men who become enthralled with the sound of their own voice, but it is in the quietness of waiting that we establish a relationship with God The evangelist (many come from long distances because of their persuasive abilities) must learn that he is just an instrument, God does the work...He chooses. At some of these “revival” meetings, there should be a back door, obviously many were convinced, not converted (we can only know by the inspection of fruit trees).

In the inner court God is a person, so many put Him on trial instead of our being on trial. Every time He is put “on the spot” He wins.

Jesus and His disciples owned nothing. We are so glad He had one home where He was welcomed, the home in Bethany. Every church, every home should have the three elements of the Bethany home, friendship such as that of Lazarus, essential activity such as that of Martha but most important, the devotion – adoration of Mary, try breathing in three times without breathing out once.