Throwback Thursday is a common theme on sites and blogs where you hearken back to something interesting or random from the past. On Land of Redemption, our current Throwback Thursday trend is re-posts of preview articles from years and sets past.
This week we continue with the Faith of Our Fathers articles. Enjoy!
Originally Posted By: Bryon | Date: 2007
The Joiakim card is from Tin VIII, which has its good cards based around Zerubbabel’s Temple. Zerubbabel’s Temple has a card in the Faith of Our Fathers expansion.
To better understand the significance of Joiakim and the new Temple card, let’s look at the history of the Tabernacle and Temples.
The Tabernacle
After God rescued the Israelites from Egypt, he told Moses to build a Tabernacle, where his Glory could dwell. Inside the Tabernacle, in the innermost part called the Holy of Holies, was the Ark of the Covenant. When the Tabernacle was complete, the Glory of the Lord came and rested on the Ark. Since Israel was still traveling and wandering during this time, the Tabernacle was transportable and temporary, meant to be replaced by a permanent structure after the Promised Land was finally occupied by Israel.
Aaron and his descendants were called to be priests, to serve in the Tabernacle. Two of Aaron’s sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, became the heads of the two priestly houses of Israel. Their descendants, particularly those of Eleazar, served God faithfully. The role of High Priest was passed down from father to son for generation after generation, with few interruptions. Aaron passed it to Eleazer, who passed it to Phinehas, and so forth.
Solomon’s Temple
A few centuries later, after Joshua, the judges, King Saul, and King David had finally secured the Promised Land, Solomon replaced the Tabernacle with a Temple built to God’s exact specifications. This Temple is often called Solomon’s Temple. The Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Temple, and the Glory of the Lord again rested upon it.
The priestly line of Aaron continued throughout the time that Solomon’s Temple existed, and through its destruction by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. At that time, the Ark was forever lost, and has not been seen since, except in the movies. It is presumed destroyed.
But God does not need an ark for a seat. The scriptures say that the earth is his footstool – how much grander his seat! God continued to remain faithful to his people during their exile in Babylon, and made a way for them to return to the land of Israel.
Zerubbabel’s Temple
After their exile, God’s people returned to Israel under the leadership of Zerubbabel. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the Israelites to build a new temple, which came to be known as Zerubbabel’s Temple. While the Ark and its contents and the Glory of the Lord did not appear there, Zerubbabel’s Temple was helpful for returning the traditions of worship to the people newly returned from a foreign and heathen land.
The first High Priest of the returned people was Joshua (alternately spelled Jeshua) the High Priest. (He is not to be confused with the Israelite army commander of the same name, who lived hundreds of years earlier.) Joshua the High Priest was a descendant of Aaron’s son Eleazar, and faithfully served the Lord during his time as High Priest.
As had been the norm since Aaron handed over the role of High Priest to his son Eleazar, now Joshua handed over the responsibility to his own son, Joiakim. Joiakim kept the faith of his father Joshua, and passed that faith on to his own son, Eliashib, who became high priest after him. Eliashib in turn passed it down to his son, Joiada.
In Redemption, Joiakim and his grandson Joiada join the three existing Zerubbabel’s Temple priests to become the five heroes who are protected by Zerubbabel’s Temple. Additionally, both of these new priests gain benefits if Zerubbabel’s Temple is in play. Joiakim’s ability to use OT enhancements of any good brigade is useful in open decks, and is extremely helpful in booster draft. Joiakim’s ability to band to his son is a good reminder of the history of the hero, and makes a 17/16 that is nigh “invincible” when combined with Zerubbabel’s Temple and Covenant with Phinehas. Players might have to start looking for more creative ways to stop rescue attempts when so many cards they used to rely on suddenly become impotent against half the heroes in their opponent’s deck.
Herod’s Temple
Zerubbabel’s Temple remained in use until it was enlarged and upgraded extensively by Herod just prior to the birth of Christ. At that point, it became known as Herod’s Temple. Herod’s Temple was destroyed around 70 A.D., and no Jewish Temple has existed since that time.
Today’s Temples
But just as God does not need a fancy Ark on which to sit, neither does he need a hand-built Temple in which to live. Since the death and resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ, and the coming of the Holy Spirit, God now abides in human hearts – in the hearts of those who believe in his Son.
Now we are members of the priesthood of believers. We are not Tabernacle Priests, or Solomon’s Temple priests, or Zerubbabel’s Temple priests, or Herod’s Temple priests, but Priests of Christ. And we are Temples of the Holy Spirit – simultaneously priests and temples. Let us be holy temples and faithful priests.
To buy singles, sealed product, and other gaming supplies mentioned, please visit Three Lions Gaming!
