God's shekinah glory in the second temple?
I've read in Ezekiel 10 how God's glory left Solomon's temple, the first temple, but is there evidence that this same glory entered the second temple?
I read somewhere that stated God's glory never returned to the second temple. Can someone provide more detail on this claim?
If God's glory were not in the temple, does this mean that all the sacrifices at the temple were void? Were the priests/high priests just going through the motions to atoning for the sins of the people before the Lord?
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I don't think I'm violating the "don't talk about interpretations" rule, merely noting what I observe in the text for you to consider. I first recommend reading through Ezra and taking careful note of the rededication process. I recently preached on this, and I also didn't see any sign that the glory settled upon the Temple as it did the Tabernacle and the first Temple. I recommended reading and noting Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 2:9, and then Jesus' actions in the Temple following the triumphant entry. I'll leave the conclusions to you.
Regarding the efficacy of the sacrifices, I don't know of any passage that says that they were void, or that they were dependent upon God's manifest glory. Sacrifices certainly took place in Genesis prior to the dedication of the Tabernacle.
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The logic for why the shekinah could not return to the 2nd Temple is interesting (Talmud; Yoma 1).
" If all had come with Ezra, even then the Shekhina would not have dwelt in the second Temple, since it is written [Gen. 9:27]: “May God enlarge the boundaries of Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of Shem”; that signifies, that although God enlarges the boundaries of Japheth, his Shekhina can only dwell in the tents of Shem (i.e., because the second Temple was under the rule of the Persians, who are of Japheth, the Shekhina could not dwell there, but only in Solomon’s Temple, which was Shem’s). And how is it known that the Persians are descendants of Japheth? Because it is written [Gen. 10:2]: “The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Jabon, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Thirass”; and R. Joseph has taught, that Thirass is Persia."
I was recently looking at 'glory' in the LXX (greek usage), which overlapped into where the Shekinah was presumed to be, during the Second Temple period. Smith's 'Where the Gods Are' has a good discussion. More specifically the latter chapters of Isaiah.
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I was just reading through N.T. Wrights The New Testament and the People of God and happened to touch on this.Chapter 9 discusses it and in particular 9.4-5.
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Rick DeLong said:
I read somewhere that stated God's glory never returned to the second temple. Can someone provide more detail on this claim?
If God's glory were not in the temple, does this mean that all the sacrifices at the temple were void? Were the priests/high priests just going through the motions to atoning for the sins of the people before the Lord?
If Jesus is God then what about when Jesus himself walked into the temple? Maybe some 450 years or so late but better late then never!
And maybe more important where was the Ark of the Convenient? Was the Most Holy place empty?
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My position has been what David is saying. God honored the Second Temple, but never returned in His fullness until He came in the arms of Mary.
This book is a masterpiece: https://www.logos.com/product/80707/the-temple-and-the-churchs-mission-a-biblical-theology-of-the-dwelling-place-of-god
Using Logos as a pastor, seminary professor, and Tyndale author
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