Restoration (2)
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Suppose you were destitute and had nothing, no place to live, no security, nothing! You happen to be walking down a street, and you see a beautiful luxurious home being constructed. You pass by day-by-day curious to see how the construction is going. You begin to dream about being able to live in such a home; it’s your dream house. It has everything you wished or dreamed you could have in a home. As you gaze and dream about the magnificent home, you discover that the builder is your long-lost older brother. He has been looking for you for many years and has finally found you. He tells you that he is building the house for you, to your overwhelming shock and amazement. Without him speaking a word, what message would you grasp your older brother is telling you? Simply put, the message would be “I love you.”
Now you are so excited about this house, and you love to get all of your friends to see it, and every time they do, you tell them, “My big brother built this for me to let me know that he loves me.” Imagine, one day, a group of mean men wearing black leather jackets, covered with tattoos from the head-toe, having earrings on their noses and ears, come drive by your home slowly, giving you threatening looks. One day later, you see those same men going by, yes, the same ones with dragon tattoos all over their arms and faces, earrings in their noses, ears, and everywhere you can place earrings. Initially, you’re a bit afraid, but then you naively say to yourself; indeed, they are just admiring the lovely house that my big brother built just for me. So with glee, you begin to show them your beautiful home. You go away for a little while, and upon returning to your beautiful house, you see an ugly broken-down house in its place. The men destroyed your beautiful home; they have strewn garbage everywhere. The men tell you and everyone that this is the house your brother built for you. Most believe what they are saying, and they begin to feel very sorry for you. They say, “Wow, your big brother doesn’t love you very much, does he? He must be a mean and vindictive person to build you a house like this.” But you know the truth; this was not the house your brother built. This house does not constantly remind you that your big brother loves you. It’s a lie. The place he built was perfect.
12 Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God?
9 And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land.
11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?”
14 And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”
13 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the Lord honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words,
14 Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”