Day 52 Restoration

 

2/21/2026

 "Give of your best to the Master, give of the strength

of your youth; clad in salvation's full armor, 

join in the battle for truth."

 

Moses meticulously followed the design provided to him by God in building the tabernacle, given to him on Mount Sinai while the people remained at the bottom, fearing the voice of the LORD. But, when the time came to actually build the tabernacle, the people willingly brought their gifts to the LORD according to Exodus 25. Their service to the LORD serves as an example to us as believers in Christ when we work together in giving willingly of the gifts God has given to us, so we can in turn serve others. The early church was an example of how God wanted the body of Christ to work. A description of the early church is seen in Acts 4:32: Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common." The scripture goes on to speak of the people selling their lands and houses, giving the money to the disciples, so they could in turn distribute it or use it as needed. Although this sounds like a great way to do things, and I'm all for helping people, especially women in crisis, widows who don't have any responsible family supports, the elderly who sadly don't have support, and the orphans or kids who need homes, sometimes the system fails. If we all realized that everything we have belongs to the Lord anyway, and He is the one who gives us the abilities to earn our livings, the spirit of generosity may work better. Sadly today, however, the bulk of responsibility falls into the hands of government systems that can provide great support, unless the leadership has other plans. I speak of socialism which definitely does not work, because then people become pawns, but it seems as if that is what is happening in places within America, under the guise of assistance and concern. History bears the tale.

Today our Torah portion spoke of the building of this wilderness tabernacle which was a place where all the people gathered. In our houses of gathering, our churches today, we should meet for the purpose of first and foremost being a house of prayer. Jesus boldly spoke these words as he was chasing the money changers out of the temple after His triumphal entry. The church should also be a house of worship, praise, and a place where the Word of God is studied and disciples made, following Jesus' command before He ascended to Heaven. The focus of all church services should be on Jesus, our cornerstone,  the Author and Builder of our faith. Our worship should be focused on Him, purposeful, resolute, steady, conforming to His purpose. We are to be "echad" with God or "one" with God - uniquely His. 

"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Pastor Bill reminded us of our need to walk humbly before God, because as He is working in us to conform us to His will, shaping our character to be like His, we are being held to a higher standard. The bar to better conform to God's standards to serve Him better in these last days is being raised as the time grows closer for His return. If we are not walking humbly before our God, not walking in His anointing, we will fail. We can do nothing in our own strength, only in the strength of the Lord, and only as we have His Presence leading us, as it was in the days of Moses. He told God that he couldn't deal with the unruliness of man, and that if He wasn't going with him through this wilderness trek, that he didn't want to go. God, always faithful to His covenant, went before, behind, and beside. Even when they grumbled the loudest, God never abandoned His chosen people, and He never will. How do I know this? Because God repeated it multiple times in the scriptures, and He remains faithful to His people today. The world has yet to realize that, as does much of the body of Christ. His love for His chosen people has never changed, and Israel has the major part in the end time church. This is clearly referenced in both the Old and New Testaments, but again, even the church has gotten the message wrong. Scripture does bear the truth.

"When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever."   (2 Samuel 7:12-16)

"Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: 'I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, an His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the LORD may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, 'if your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul," He said 'you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'" (1 Kings 21-4)

"For thus says the LORD: 'David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel." (Jeremiah 33:17)

"In mercy the throne will be established; and One (Jesus) will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David (Mount Zion in Jerusalem), judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness." (Isaiah 16:5) (The parentheses above are my explanations for clarity.)

"'On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old; that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,' says the LORD who does this thing.'" (Amos 9:11-12)

"It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left, from Assyria and Egypt, from Pathros and Cush, from Elam and Shinar, from Hamath and the islands of the sea. He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." (Isaiah 11:11-12)

Isn't it exciting that God is faithful to His promises, to His covenants, and if we as Gentiles are faithful to Him, faithful to His Son, receiving His wonderful gift of eternal life, we are grafted into the vine and have a part. Israel will be restored, and Jesus will return as described to David's tabernacle on Mount Zion in Jerusalem and establish His throne. If we read the scriptures, and if we pay careful attention to God's Living Word, we can clearly see the truth. All such good news! Yet many are missing it.