...and Another.

So...sacrifice leads to understanding about life which leads to wisdom/understanding itself (as its own virtue).

What does THAT lead to? I hinted at it in my last post. I left an error in the post that I want to talk about in this one. The First Temple was built by Solomon. The Second Temple, if you recall, was built by Herod.

I depicted the Temple as being complete in my story in the previous post. The First Temple most likely was under construction--not finished--during the younger years of Solomon's son that is depicted in Proverbs. If that son saw it being built, he would have seen these things:

1. On outer wall surrounding the Temple Mount. The gate that led into this area led into the Court of "The Nations" (goyim) or those called Gentiles in the New Testament.
   
2. An inner wall, perhaps as short as 1 cubit (18 inches) separated the Court of The Nations from the Court of Women.
3. Inside the Court of Women was another inner wall that separated the Court of Women from the Court of Men.
4. Within the Court of Men was the Temple structure itself.
5. Within the Temple itself was a Holy area.
6. Within that Holy area was another area separated by a thick drape or curtain that obscured an inner chamber called the Holy of Holies.
7. Inside that inner chamber was the Ark of the Covenant and an altar with horns on it.

Tradition tells us that the restrictions narrowed regarding who could approach closer and closer to the the Holy of Holies. Gentiles did not go past the outer court. Israelite women were to go no further than the Court of Women. Israelite men who were neither Levites nor Priests went no further than the Court of Men. Levites that were not priests could enter the temple, but not the Holy area. Consecrated priests, later in a rotation of Aaronical families, were the only ones that could enter the Holy area. The High Priest entered the Holy of Holies, according to tradition, precisely one day per year on Yom Kippur to make atonement for the nation of Israel (and for all sojourners that observed the Law.)

Now compare that system to my story about approaching the King. God was FAR more exclusive about who could approach his presence in the Tanak/Old Testament than Kings of the Ancient Orient would have been about his retinue. (I took my example from the original King and I, with a respectful nod to Anna and the King because the Thai people find the original movie troubling.) He only allowed one person on one day PER YEAR to approach him and attend to him.

And in order to approach God, blood flowed across the temple mount. It flowed through channels into the Brook Kidron. Jesus crossed the Brook Kidron as he walked the Via Delorosa to Golgotha. The time was the time of the Passover and the blood of 10s of thousands of lambs flowed into the Brook that day. Imagine the emotional impact on Jesus if that scene occurred as I've depicted it...the Lamb reminded of his soon-to-occur sacrifice by the blood of many lambs.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia also suggests that the Brook Kidron is where the dry bones of the book of Ezekiel arise from the dead and become the nation of Israel again. What a great picture that is!! That it is the Lamb's Blood flowing into their nation that brings them back to life!!

God is the giver of Wisdom and Understanding. Proverbs says that if we diligently seek Wisdom and Understanding, he will give Wisdom and Understanding to us:

^{Proverbs 2:1-6 NIV} My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,

² turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,

³ and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,

⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,

⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

As a child, I viewed the 10 Commandments, the Law as the "thou shalt nots." It took me a long time to see God's Law as life-affirming while it at the same time clearly shows the deadliness and finality (outside of the grace of God and the gift of life through Jesus Christ and, even, the quickening of faith through God's spirit) of sin.

Francis Shaeffer wrote a book entitled "How Then Should We Live?" That book worthily presents the argument of God's people living in holiness, shedding sin for God's righteousness and living above the fray.

But I love the picture of how we should live that Solomon gives us in Proverbs (that his father, David, taught him):

^{Proverbs 4:3-13 NIV} When I was a boy in my father's house,
still tender, and an only child of my mother,

⁴ he taught me and said,
"Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands and you will live.

⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.

⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.

⁷ Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

⁸ Esteem her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.

⁹ She will set a garland of grace on your head
and present you with a crown of splendor."

¹⁰ Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.

¹¹ I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.

¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.

¹³ Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.

Sacrifice leads to specific understanding of life. Specific understanding of life, collected together, leads to wisdom and general understanding. Wisdom, which comes from God, gives life.

Life, with all of its ups and downs, demonstrates God's unique and eternal character in action.

Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"
and call understanding your kinsman.