16Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.
17If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain.
- P152
20On that day holy to the Lord will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar.
21Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the Lord Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord Almighty.
- P153
All the survivors of the nations that attacked Jerusalem will go up yearly toworship the King and celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. Those who do notwill not receive any rain. Everything in Jerusalem will be holy to the Lord. Therewill no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord Almighty.- P153
Jews and Gentiles will worship the Lord together as the survivors from the nations go up to Jerusalem every year to participate in the Festival of Tabernacles. This festival celebrated the harvest season and commemorated God’s care for His people in the wilderness. The nations that have attacked God’s people are invited to receive the blessing of celebrating together with them. - P154
However, those who ignore God and do not participate will encounter a lack of rain as judgment, negatively impacting their harvests. God invites even former enemies to celebrate with His people, but those who do not miss out on not only God’s blessings but also relationship with the Lord. - P154
May we encourage all to celebrate God’s blessings, ascribing to Him the praise He deserves.
- P154
This passage describes a day when the distinction between the sacred andsecular are no more. Common items are inscribed with the phrase "holy tothe LORD," which was previously reserved only for the high priest‘s turban.
Every cooking pot in Jerusalem and Judah becomes like the consecratedbowls used on the altar of worship. The declaration about Canaanites alsoemphasizes the importance of holiness, referring to merchants who woulddo business in the temple, defiling its sanctity. With no such defilement, thehouse of God becomes a consecrated place once again. - P154
May our hearts longfor that day, when all will be consecrated before the Lord and His peoplecan worship fully in His holy presence.- P154
Heavenly Father, my heart longs for the day when You will truly make all things new, and Your people can celebrate You continually. May my life today demonstrate that I live in true anticipation as I celebrate Your blessings and offer up my heart to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.- P155
Even more mind-boggling is the idea that we can experience eternal lifewithout sin. Koukl offers a helpful analogy: we can imagine a person whohas always been physically filthy and does not know the refreshment of ahot, soothing shower. We were similarly stained with sin since birth becauseof original sin. However, when we dwell forever with Christ, we will bewithout sin, and our hearts and minds will be perfectly renewed. Wow!
Although it may be hard to imagine, let us reflect on this promise. May thistruth resonate deeply within us and fill our hearts with longing and wonderabout our God who desires us to be eternally with Him.- P155
