Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 18:10–30; Acts 27:27–44
"We have thought, O God, on Your loving-kindness, in the midst of Your temple.” (Psalm 48:9; Introit for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity)
The Temple was not at all like a modern gymnasium. It was not a place where a person could be comfortable. It was the Holy Place, where God's presence saturated every corner. The glory of the Lord filled the sanctuary, penetrating into every one of the senses.
Ordinary people like you and me could never dream of going in. We could be at the Temple, but never in it, or we would die. Those very few High Priests who were allowed to enter were instantly made keenly aware that they had stepped out of this world and into the mysterious presence of God. There, He would speak to them from the Ark of the Covenant. Only those whom God called forward could enter, and only by the blood of the sacrifice.
The Temple was the place of sacrifices. The blood of animals was spilled in order to make atonement for human sins. The blood of animals was spilled instead of our own. The Old Testament sacrifices had to be done again and again. They were imperfect and incomplete. Still, our blood was preserved for a time. We could see the love of God in this, for God went to great extremes just to keep us alive.
Yet, the Old Testament sacrifices could not compare to what God would do next: He would substitute His own Son to be sacrificed once and for all. In that one sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our every transgression, (past, present, and future) would be atoned for.
By the Blood of Jesus, we too are called to stand before the face of God. We stand as before the Mercy Seat. We stand before God in the presence of Christ, where ordinary people cannot stand. We stand before the face of the God, before whom no mortal man can live. By the perfect sacrifice and unexplainable loving-kindness of God, we stand alive in God's Temple. Our sight, our hearing, our sense of smell… All of our senses should be keenly made aware that where God's presence is, deeply serious events are unfolding. And forgiveness, life and salvation are given to you in abundance.
Let all mortal flesh keep silence And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly-minded, For with blessing in His hand
Christ our God to earth descending Comes our homage to demand.
(Hymn: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” - LSB 621:1)
The Rev. Carlton Hein, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Loveland, CO, is the author for this portion of the Trinity season.