RELIGIOUS & POLITICAL CENTERS OF ISRAEL (3)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) During the period of the judges, Israel may have more than one capital. This may explain why the Scriptures overlap with reference to some cities.
b) Samuel called the Israelites together at Mizpah, where he would anoint Saul as their first king. Up to this point, the political seat of the nation seems to have been the religious center of the nation as well. Below are the cities which probably served as both the religious and political centers of Israel since the days of Joshua. Saul may have been the first Israelite leader to separate the nation's religious centre (probably Mizpah at this time) from its political center (Gibeah - 1 Samuel 11:4 26:1). Politically, the nation grew strong for a while. But when Saul and his officials stopped seeking God's will, internal jealousies and strife soon began to decay the nation from within. When David became king he brought the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem, his capital. King Solomon then completely united the religious and political centers at Jerusalem.
1. Gibeah (political center only)
i) 26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched. (1 Samuel 10:26 NKJV)
2. Gibeon (religious center only)
i) 4 Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. (1 Kings 3:4 NKJV)
ii) 2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ houses. 3 Then Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for the tabernacle of meeting with God was there, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness. (2 Chronicles 1:2-3 NKJV)
3. Jerusalem
i) Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David, which is Zion. (1 Kings 8:1 NKJV)
ii) 18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar. (Psalms 51:18-19 NKJV)
The End ...
0. Introductiona) During the period of the judges, Israel may have more than one capital. This may explain why the Scriptures overlap with reference to some cities.
b) Samuel called the Israelites together at Mizpah, where he would anoint Saul as their first king. Up to this point, the political seat of the nation seems to have been the religious center of the nation as well. Below are the cities which probably served as both the religious and political centers of Israel since the days of Joshua. Saul may have been the first Israelite leader to separate the nation's religious centre (probably Mizpah at this time) from its political center (Gibeah - 1 Samuel 11:4 26:1). Politically, the nation grew strong for a while. But when Saul and his officials stopped seeking God's will, internal jealousies and strife soon began to decay the nation from within. When David became king he brought the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem, his capital. King Solomon then completely united the religious and political centers at Jerusalem.
1. Gibeah (political center only)
i) 26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched. (1 Samuel 10:26 NKJV)
2. Gibeon (religious center only)
i) 4 Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. (1 Kings 3:4 NKJV)
ii) 2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ houses. 3 Then Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for the tabernacle of meeting with God was there, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness. (2 Chronicles 1:2-3 NKJV)
3. Jerusalem
i) Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David, which is Zion. (1 Kings 8:1 NKJV)
ii) 18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar. (Psalms 51:18-19 NKJV)
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