We started with the reading of the last book of the Torah, Devarim/Deuteronomy, this week.

In Devarim Moses is paging through the memories of the last 40 years. Together, they relived all the miracles that were the building blocks of their relationship with God.

The nation of Israel is standing on the banks of the Jordan with their toes almost touching the water, awaiting the instructions to cross over into the land promised by their God.

As they looked back at the desert, they had fond memories of God, revealing Himself to them daily.

The excitement must have been visible. They planned and dreamed of a feature filled with promises. Doubt did not have a place, they will face more giants without fear, for they did not rely on their own strength, but knew the God that led them through the desert, fighting for them, protecting them, providing for them is the Architect of the new chapter in their lives.

Never again do they want to be without His touchable presence. They want to look up day and night and be reminded of His love by a cloud or pillar of fire.

Much later in their history, King Dawid penned down God’s designed of the Temple and King Solomon built it.

It was huge and visible from afar. The splendour it radiated was breathtaking. When the sun touched the building that was crowned in Gold, it commanded respect.

It was a picture of their desert experience. A picture of the presence of the Almighty in their midst. A place where they could come to bring offerings, come to pray as He revealed Himself to all in Israel.

Imagine the excitement if you lived far away from Jerusalem and it was time to go up for an appointment with the King. As you come close and the enormous building towered out above the other buildings, I can almost hear a child pulling on the dress of his mother pointing and shouting : “ Look mom, we are here! Can we go now please!”  while the whole family looked at the temple with a feeling that they are home at last.

What they lost in the desert was replaced with the Holy Temple.

And then they lost it, it was destroyed. They lost the place where they were physically aware of His presence. They lost their Wildernis memories.

It was rebuilt later , only to be destroyed again.

This week I read about a old legend I would like to share with you.

The legend tells about Napoleon tells that he once walked through the streets of Paris on Tisha b’Av.

As he passed a synagogue, he heard wailing and crying from inside.

He sent an aide to find out what had happened. The aide returned and informed Napoleon that the Jews were mourning the loss of their Holy temple.

Napoleon was outraged! He asked when, where and which temple was lost.

The aide replied, “They lost their temple in Jerusalem 1,700 years ago on this date.”

Napoleon stood in silence and then said, “A people who have mourned the loss of their temple for so long will surely live to see it rebuilt!”

With longing in our hearts we all await the Third and final Temple.

All to the glory of our Creator and King!

s have come, so that he who thinks he stands, let him take heed lest he fall.