Skip to main content

Shiloh- a comparison


The observation:
Jer:7:14
So just as I destroyed Shiloh, I will now destroy this temple that bears my name, this temple that you trust in for help, this place I gave to you and your ancestors. 

The question:
Wait. 
What are you saying? 
This can't be. Shiloh cannot be destroyed. 

The contrast:
Shiloh is the holy city where the Tabernacle is. It is the holy place where you are supposed to reaide among your people (in case you need to be reminded). Your presence is what makes the place and the nation different from others. We are your people separated from other sinful nations. 
Why will you do it? Shiloh is your favorite right? It's people are all yours right? You are a loving God right? Why will you do it? 
But God did destroy Shiloh, ultimately. Because of the entity that was ruling over the entire place - called sin. And the city was in wreck. What happened to the everlasting love of God? Well, He asks, what have you been doing with the attribute, that you have been conveniently forgetting - called holiness? You are talking about love. My love. What is the status of your love? To me? To others? Have you ever sought me with all your heart mind and soul? And now you talk to me about my love? 


Oh! Shiloh is the One who was promised to come in the name of the Lord. Shiloh is future. Shiloh is hope. The promise given to Judah  (and through Him to the entire nation, and through them to the whole world) by Jacob himself. Shiloh is the one whom the people were all waiting for. The Messiah. Gen:49:10.
Oh! Will you pass the judge me on Him? Your chosen one? Will you do that massacre on the one whom you sent? He is your own Son. Blameless. Sinless. He is innocent of any crime. Will you do this Oh! Loving God? What sort of a righteous judge are you? 
He who knew no sim, became sin. Because of my love. I could do this to myself (not to another person called my son) because of my love to you. Weren't you asking about love? This is my answer. This is my love. This is my forgiveness. This is pardon. 
He was led like a lamb to slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, He did not open His mouth. 
Not because He was found guilty. But because He was innocent to the core. But His love to them who crucified was so deep. (That includes me and you). 
He was unjustly condemned. 

One Shiloh will be destroyed because of the pride because of idolatry, because of rebellion. 
The other Shiloh has been destroyed because of love, because of obedience, because of humility. 


The conclusion: 
Shiloh is destroyed because of sin. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ashley

Dear Brother. Rest in peace. This life is small. Yet proved again. But you proved. Living for Christ alone matters. Trying to acquire skill  And to use your well earned medical knowledge For the poor and needy. Your words still ring in my ear. "We are alone there" Brother gone too soon. Leaving behind a legacy. Well done good and faithful servant. Enough is enough. Come back and enter the rest planned for you. In His bosom, the classic smile I can imagine. Your laughter will surely resound in heaven today. There is rejoicing in heaven  For a son has come back home. Fulfilling his Father's will for him Why should earth be gloomy?  For he is home.

Humble

Scattered the proud - exalted the humble. Lk:1:51-52 The lowly He raises. The downtrodden He uplifts. The poor He makes him sit on lofty places. He is pro -poor. Not only monetarily. If you are poor in the Spirit, the Kingdom of heaven is yours is the promise. He is compassionate to the one who suffers. He is on the side of those who have no help. Unlike the proud and the rich and the affluent and the arrogant who has their influences and resources to help them( yet in vain). Therefore humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He shall lift you up in the right time.  Whether you have it or not, bring yourself low before the Almighty. Image credit: https://medium.com/@churuiheng/being-humble-is-the-best-way-to-learn-more-41b8dad157f5

Why? - a short story

I have always been obedient to my father. Though sometimes it sounded illogical. Of late his demands are more irrational. I have seen him spending time praying. But now he is different. He travels around Judea and sometimes even to Israel to listen to this man Jesus. Some say He is a rebel. Some say He is the son of God the Messiah. I don't know. I haven't been religious. I like this part of the Ten Commandments which says if you want a long life, then honour your father and mother.  Ever since my mother passed away, my father had been lonely. They were in love. Never have I seen anyone love like this, even the newly weds. He had been gloomy for the past ten years. But now there is a smile in his face. He spends time in his room often, praying. Other times he is out to listen to this man. But there is joy in his face, that I know.  Today why did he ask me to go and collect water from the town? No idea. There are slave girls to do that. There is plenty of water here...

Pressed down Shaken together

Your gift will return to you full, pressed down, shaken together to make more room, running over and poured into your lap. Luke:6:38 Many a times this verse is misinterpreted for giving, more precisely speaking, about money. But aren't we completely misguided? Jesus has not been talking about money at all here. It is about forgiveness that He talks about. It is about not judging. It is about not condemning. It is about our attitude and not about assets. Many a times we give importance to things which are not important to God. To forgive means to be forgiven. If you forgive, you will be forgiven to a greater extent. Both from man's side and from God's side. Jesus taught that in the Lord's prayer too. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. When we keep account of the wrongs done to us, remember that the wrongs done by us will be kept account of as well. Forgive just as God has forgiven. Do not judge. Do not condemn. As God has done to you....

Led by the Spirit

That day the Spirit led him to the temple. Lk:2:27 Simeon was a man who was led by the Spirit even for the trivial mundane routine things. The Spirit was already upon him and promised him that he would not die, till he sees the Lord's Messiah. Now one day the Spirit prompts him to go to the Temple. And because Simeon obeys the Spirit's leading, he meets his Saviour. His life is complete and fulfilled now. Forget about taking decisions. Everyday routine, are you being led by the Holy Spirit? Will not such a life be beautiful - being led and guided by God's Himself. Taken to places where He would want us to be. Meeting people that He would want us to. Only His plan. But for that Simeon was righteous and devout and eagerly waiting.  Image credit: https://landmarkjourneyministries.com/

The Lord's servant - a poem

I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true. Lk:1:38 It is easy to accept His will, when it's cordial When it's a blessing in our terms. But will it be possible to thank Him, When it is confusing and disturbing? Elizabeth, old as she is would be ome pregnant. The Lord is kind; she exclaims. Mary, a virgin is pregnant six months later. I am the Lord's servant; she accepts. After years of prayer, Elizabeth is blessed. All rejoice with her. All praise God for her. But Mary is all alone. She is cursed when she accepts His will. A virgin getting pregnant, can that be God's will? Someone greater than the greatest is being formed. In her womb, through all her pains. Through all the loneliness and difficulties She alone had to go through. Yet she accepted. Would you accept pain and ridicule. The same way you accept blessings from God. For through this, Christ is being formed in you  Painful, but worth it. Consider it pure joy, dear b...

Neighbour

Luke:10:29 Who is my neighbour? Through the story Jesus' answer to this question was very explicit.  Everyone is your neighbour. Anyone who is in need is your neighbour. Anyone who is spiritually, emotionally, physically in need, you should be fully available. Do you cross over to the other side? Showing you did not see. Are the other responsibilities standing in your way. Or are you freely available  Selling out yourself, your time, your energy, your money. Are you a good neighbour?