The Temple, the tables!
Temples are the homes of worship. The 'go-to' places that express devotion.
With a resounding conviction Jesus upset people as as He upset the tables.
Tables, birds and cash were the target of Jesus' zeal for the House of God - His Father's house.
It seemed that the tenants of the Lord's house were disinterested in the owner. They put His house to the use of a counter-productive worship - in their heart was profit, and on their mind was - how much? No praise for the good Father resided within these greedy vendors, only pennies.
In the temple courts He found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, others were sitting at tables exchanging money. So Jesus made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves He said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:14-16)
Which tables in my temple does Jesus still seek to upturn?
Tables are the barrier, the hindrances to correct worship. It is these distractions from true worship who are Jesus' competitors. We can still stand in His courts, next to Him, but our hearts gaze far, far away.
These tables are 'alive' in my temple and therefore appear so legitimate and correct. They always enjoy the approval of the temple's authorities - ME!
Even though a body stands in a place of worship there is no guarantor that its mind and spirit stand alongside.
Today's Soul Snippet:
'Prayer is the sweat of the soul.' ~ Martin Luther