June 24, 2017 -- House of Prayer for all Nations

I recently came across an article that argues there is a growing sense among some Christians that the Temple Mount is the center for what needs to be a house of prayer for all nations.  It is even called a Christian awakening.  The argument is based on the saying, “my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”  What is your sense?     

The phrase is originally associated with the Solomon Temple from the First Temple Period (ca. 1000-586 BCE).  Following judgement, exile, and the destruction of the First Temple, there is announcement of a coming restoration and rebuilding of the temple (Isa 44:24-28).  Later within the context of the Book of Isaiah we find the words, “my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (56:7). 

The second time in which the phrase appears is during the Second Temple Period (ca. 538 BCE-70 CE).  During his ministry in Jerusalem, Jesus confronts the chief priests and the scribes saying, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers” (Mk 11:15-17).  In the end this temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE.