Wail or Witness?

Daily Reading: Hebrews 8

In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. (Hebrews 8.13)

Devotional Thought: After the Romans destroyed the Jewish temple in AD 70, only the retaining wall around the temple remained.  It later came to be known as The Wailing Wall, the site of great anguish on the part of Jewish pilgrims.

An unseen fact about The Wailing Wall, however, shows us that God has not left his people hopeless.  While the exposed portion of the wall is sixty feet high, the wall extends much deeper into the earth.  There is more to it than meets the eye!  There is a foundation not seen on the surface.  That foundation is Jesus Christ, who has provided for us a new covenant that will never age or disappear.  He is our eternal salvation: "He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him" (Hebrews 5.9 NIV).  He is also our eternal redemption:  "By means of his own blood... securing an eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9.12, NIV).  The Greek word translated new here means new in quality, not new in time.  This covenant is of such quality that it will never need to be replaced!

Historical texts vary as to why The Wailing Wall survived.  Some say that Titus left it as a painful reminder to the Jews.  Others suggest that God was behind its survival, to comfort the Jewish people in the absence of the temple.  But the fact remains that we no longer need a temple.  So, let us replace wailing with witnessing, for we ourselves are now the temple of the Living God!

Jenny Wade

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the sure foundation you have given us in your Son, Jesus Christ. Let the deep roots of our eternal salvation serve as a comfort to us even today.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day:  Psalm 54.1-7

1 O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might.

2 O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.

3 For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Selah

4 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.

5 He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them.

6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.

7 For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.