OT: 1 Chronicles 14-22
NT: Matthew 6
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1 Chronicles 22:5-6 — David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death. Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel.
Have you ever wondered what your children will think of you when you're gone? Have you wondered what kind of legacy you'll leave? Will it be godly or gaudy? Will it be worth repeating or only good for burial? David wanted badly to build a temple for the Lord. Ever since Mt. Sinai in 1446 B.C., the Ark of the Covenant, the physical symbol of the Lord's presence, was housed inside a tent of animal skins and wood beams. For 500 years it was constantly on the move, without a permanent resting place. So David wanted to build a grand temple — however, God wouldn't let him. You see, David was not a man of peace. He had killed many souls in his lifetime and had led many aggressive military and guerrilla campaigns. David had blood on his hands. So his hands were not allowed to build the holiest of houses.
Solomon, however, was a man who knew no war. He was wise and level-headed. So David did what any parent would want to do for their child -- he left a legacy and paved the way for his son to succeed. David wanted Solomon to have every advantage, just as you or I would want your child to have a smoother path in life. So David collected blueprints and building blocks, built alliances and left instructions, giving Solomon a great advantage that would simplify the task of building the Temple. What kind of legacy are you leaving your children? Are you looking for potential obstacles that might trip them up? Are you busy clearing away those obstacles?
Be God's.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The Turning of the Season
OT: 1 Chronicles 10-13
NT: Matthew 5
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1 Chr. 10:13-14 — Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
After nine chapters of genealogies and lists, the author of Chronicles turns to a familiar subject to his Jewish readers: the history of the kingdoms of Judah and Ephraim (Northern Israel). He summarizes the reign of Saul in one chapter and then "condenses" David's reign to 12 chapters. Ironically, both kings reigned about 40 years over Israel. He shows his readers that the changing of the kingship from Saul to David was as a direct result of faithfulness of Saul. Saul, if you remember from 1 Samuel, started off his kingship strong but allowed a variety of temptations to overcome him and he turned into a bitter, paranoid, and mentally unstable man. So God tore the kingdom away from Saul and gave it to a young shepherd from Bethlehem, David.
David was a man who sought the Lord's own heart. He was the spring to Saul's winter. David did not always act in righteousness but he did always return to the Lord in humility after falling away. Indeed, the dynasty of David was blessed by the Lord eternally and, as we saw in 2 Kings, God preserved the royal line even into the exile of Judah. What can we learn from the turning of Israel's season? Maybe we can learn a warning. Saul did not keep the word of the Lord, and we need to be mindful of our own actions and attitudes when it comes to God's word. Saul also consulted outside forces for guidance, and we need to remember that the only sure guide is God Himself. Anyone else is capable of leading us astray. Saul did not inquire of (prayer) the Lord, and we need to value prayer in our lives. The Father wants us to come before Him with our needs and desires and He has promised to provide all we need. So let Saul's failure be a warning for us to examine ourselves and follow God's word, lean on His guidance and keep in communication with Him.
Be God's.
NT: Matthew 5
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1 Chr. 10:13-14 — Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
After nine chapters of genealogies and lists, the author of Chronicles turns to a familiar subject to his Jewish readers: the history of the kingdoms of Judah and Ephraim (Northern Israel). He summarizes the reign of Saul in one chapter and then "condenses" David's reign to 12 chapters. Ironically, both kings reigned about 40 years over Israel. He shows his readers that the changing of the kingship from Saul to David was as a direct result of faithfulness of Saul. Saul, if you remember from 1 Samuel, started off his kingship strong but allowed a variety of temptations to overcome him and he turned into a bitter, paranoid, and mentally unstable man. So God tore the kingdom away from Saul and gave it to a young shepherd from Bethlehem, David.
David was a man who sought the Lord's own heart. He was the spring to Saul's winter. David did not always act in righteousness but he did always return to the Lord in humility after falling away. Indeed, the dynasty of David was blessed by the Lord eternally and, as we saw in 2 Kings, God preserved the royal line even into the exile of Judah. What can we learn from the turning of Israel's season? Maybe we can learn a warning. Saul did not keep the word of the Lord, and we need to be mindful of our own actions and attitudes when it comes to God's word. Saul also consulted outside forces for guidance, and we need to remember that the only sure guide is God Himself. Anyone else is capable of leading us astray. Saul did not inquire of (prayer) the Lord, and we need to value prayer in our lives. The Father wants us to come before Him with our needs and desires and He has promised to provide all we need. So let Saul's failure be a warning for us to examine ourselves and follow God's word, lean on His guidance and keep in communication with Him.
Be God's.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
A Godly Interlude
OT: 1 Chronicles 1-9
NT: Matthew 4
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1 Chr. 4:9-10 — Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
The books of Chronicles (originally just one book) were given their name because they contain several long, detailed lists of people and possessions— much like a genealogy. In any genealogy, there are certain elements that you might expect to see, like names, dates of birth and death, places, etc. And the unknown author of these books includes a lot of names and places, so many that one might be inclined to just skip these opening chapters. But then we'd miss the short story of Jabez. What strikes me most about Jabez is not what he prayed to the Lord nor that he was given what he asked. It is the simple fact that Jabez was different than his brothers. He stood out. And his story stands out in the midst of a whole lot of Jewish brothers. Jabez was a honorable man who knew of the greatness and grace of the Lord. Why else would he ask for the Lord's blessing?
Jabez was just one of many names in this genealogy but I think he represents a bigger picture of faith. Looking at my own genealogy, I see a bunch of names I don't recognize. There are no George Washingtons and Abraham Lincolns. But I am confident that within each of our families there have been both godly and ungodly persons. We just don't know specifics, unlike Jabez. God works in individual lives each and every generation and He asks for individual responses. Jabez asked God for blessing and it was given to him. In this generation He is asking for your response and mine. Will you stand out among your brothers and sisters? Will you seek the Lord's blessing? Will you be willing to be a Jabez in the genealogy of your family?
Be God's.
NT: Matthew 4
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1 Chr. 4:9-10 — Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
The books of Chronicles (originally just one book) were given their name because they contain several long, detailed lists of people and possessions— much like a genealogy. In any genealogy, there are certain elements that you might expect to see, like names, dates of birth and death, places, etc. And the unknown author of these books includes a lot of names and places, so many that one might be inclined to just skip these opening chapters. But then we'd miss the short story of Jabez. What strikes me most about Jabez is not what he prayed to the Lord nor that he was given what he asked. It is the simple fact that Jabez was different than his brothers. He stood out. And his story stands out in the midst of a whole lot of Jewish brothers. Jabez was a honorable man who knew of the greatness and grace of the Lord. Why else would he ask for the Lord's blessing?
Jabez was just one of many names in this genealogy but I think he represents a bigger picture of faith. Looking at my own genealogy, I see a bunch of names I don't recognize. There are no George Washingtons and Abraham Lincolns. But I am confident that within each of our families there have been both godly and ungodly persons. We just don't know specifics, unlike Jabez. God works in individual lives each and every generation and He asks for individual responses. Jabez asked God for blessing and it was given to him. In this generation He is asking for your response and mine. Will you stand out among your brothers and sisters? Will you seek the Lord's blessing? Will you be willing to be a Jabez in the genealogy of your family?
Be God's.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Power of Grace
OT: 2 Kings 25
NT: Matthew 3
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2 Kings 25:27-30 — In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Evil-Merodach became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin from prison on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table. Day by day the king gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived.
Many Christians have chosen to largely ignore the Old Testament in favor of studying the New because they see two different sides of God in the two volumes. In the New Testament, they see a God of grace and love, who sent His one and only Son to die on the cross for the world. But in the Old Testament, these same Christians see a wrathful, unkind God who is hardly loving and graceful. This view is very sad, for the same God exists in both testaments and His grace and love are lined up side-by-side with His justice and wrath in both places. As I study the Scriptures, the more I am convinced that God has not changed. His grace is just as powerful in the time of Christ as it was in the time of Zedekiah, the last official king of Judah.
Judah was a nation under God's judgment and Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, saw to it that the judgment of God was exacted on the Jewish country. The temple was burned, the walls knocked down, the people carried into exile, and the land bullied by foreign leaders and armies. But God did not stop with wrath. He continued with grace towards the line of David, to whom He had made an unconditional promise hundreds of years earlier. God preserved Jehoiachin, son of Josiah, in exile and, through the new king of Babylon, blessed him the rest of his life. How marvelous is the power of God's grace to the undeserving! Even in the midst of horrid sin, His grace exists. And His promises never fail. Have you experienced this?
Be God's.
NT: Matthew 3
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2 Kings 25:27-30 — In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Evil-Merodach became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin from prison on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table. Day by day the king gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived.
Many Christians have chosen to largely ignore the Old Testament in favor of studying the New because they see two different sides of God in the two volumes. In the New Testament, they see a God of grace and love, who sent His one and only Son to die on the cross for the world. But in the Old Testament, these same Christians see a wrathful, unkind God who is hardly loving and graceful. This view is very sad, for the same God exists in both testaments and His grace and love are lined up side-by-side with His justice and wrath in both places. As I study the Scriptures, the more I am convinced that God has not changed. His grace is just as powerful in the time of Christ as it was in the time of Zedekiah, the last official king of Judah.
Judah was a nation under God's judgment and Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, saw to it that the judgment of God was exacted on the Jewish country. The temple was burned, the walls knocked down, the people carried into exile, and the land bullied by foreign leaders and armies. But God did not stop with wrath. He continued with grace towards the line of David, to whom He had made an unconditional promise hundreds of years earlier. God preserved Jehoiachin, son of Josiah, in exile and, through the new king of Babylon, blessed him the rest of his life. How marvelous is the power of God's grace to the undeserving! Even in the midst of horrid sin, His grace exists. And His promises never fail. Have you experienced this?
Be God's.
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Mighty Word
OT: 2 Kings 24
NT: Matthew 2
2 Kings 24:1-4 — During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the land, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. But then he changed his mind and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. The LORD sent Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders against him. He sent them to destroy Judah, in accordance with the word of the LORD proclaimed by his servants the prophets. Surely these things happened to Judah according to the LORD’s command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was not willing to forgive.
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Truly Isaiah was right when the prophet wrote, "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Towards the end of the nation of Judah, the contrast between the word of man and the word of God became very evident. Jehoiakim was the son of good king Josiah but he reneged on a promise to be Nebechadnezzar's vassal (subject) and was punished accordingly. His word was no good. By contrast, the word of the Lord was sure and true, unwavering in the midst of trial. God had said the nation of Judah would pay for the wickedness of Manasseh, Josiah's grandfather, and God's word stood firm.
When we come to the promises of God in the Bible, it is easy to just laugh and call them wishful thinking. After all, who can believe that hearts of stone can become hearts that melt (Jer. 31)? And who can believe that God cares for lowly sparrows and flowers the same as He cares for you and me? (Matt. 6). Yet He does. Because His word never fails. Do you believe in the promises of God? Can you trust in His word? The words of man may be weak and shaky but the word of God stands forever.
Be God's.
NT: Matthew 2
2 Kings 24:1-4 — During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the land, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. But then he changed his mind and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. The LORD sent Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders against him. He sent them to destroy Judah, in accordance with the word of the LORD proclaimed by his servants the prophets. Surely these things happened to Judah according to the LORD’s command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was not willing to forgive.
-----
Truly Isaiah was right when the prophet wrote, "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Towards the end of the nation of Judah, the contrast between the word of man and the word of God became very evident. Jehoiakim was the son of good king Josiah but he reneged on a promise to be Nebechadnezzar's vassal (subject) and was punished accordingly. His word was no good. By contrast, the word of the Lord was sure and true, unwavering in the midst of trial. God had said the nation of Judah would pay for the wickedness of Manasseh, Josiah's grandfather, and God's word stood firm.
When we come to the promises of God in the Bible, it is easy to just laugh and call them wishful thinking. After all, who can believe that hearts of stone can become hearts that melt (Jer. 31)? And who can believe that God cares for lowly sparrows and flowers the same as He cares for you and me? (Matt. 6). Yet He does. Because His word never fails. Do you believe in the promises of God? Can you trust in His word? The words of man may be weak and shaky but the word of God stands forever.
Be God's.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Looking Back to Move Forward
OT: 2 Kings 23
NT: Matthew 1
2 Kings 23:21-23 — The king gave this order to all the people: “Celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” Not since the days of the judges who led Israel, nor throughout the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah, had any such Passover been observed. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the LORD in Jerusalem.
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It's amazing to me how we tend to forget many of the good things of the past. I'm not talking about vinyl records or bell bottom pants here, but the many spiritual things we have forgotten in the name of moving forward. Many churches have forgotten about educating their people in Sunday schools or mid-week classes. They instead pour their efforts into Sunday morning sermons. Other Christians have decided to forget about studying church history, choosing instead to overlook 2,000 years of the Holy Spirit's work in and through the Church.
King Josiah knew that the Law of Moses mandated that the Passover be observed, so he made sure that the nation of Judah had a celebration unlike any other in the past 500 years. He went all out because he must have realized that the celebration of the ancient feast was not meant to hold his nation back from growth but instead to refocus his nation towards its identity as God's chosen people and direct it towards a brighter spiritual future. The Passover was obviously a good thing. Just as many of the spiritual elements of the Church past are good things to be carried into the future. Just like fellowship meals (maybe even pot lucks!) and prayer meetings. Just like the public reading of Scripture and corporate worship. Sometimes it's good to look back if you want to move forward.
Be God's!
NT: Matthew 1
2 Kings 23:21-23 — The king gave this order to all the people: “Celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” Not since the days of the judges who led Israel, nor throughout the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah, had any such Passover been observed. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the LORD in Jerusalem.
------------------
It's amazing to me how we tend to forget many of the good things of the past. I'm not talking about vinyl records or bell bottom pants here, but the many spiritual things we have forgotten in the name of moving forward. Many churches have forgotten about educating their people in Sunday schools or mid-week classes. They instead pour their efforts into Sunday morning sermons. Other Christians have decided to forget about studying church history, choosing instead to overlook 2,000 years of the Holy Spirit's work in and through the Church.
King Josiah knew that the Law of Moses mandated that the Passover be observed, so he made sure that the nation of Judah had a celebration unlike any other in the past 500 years. He went all out because he must have realized that the celebration of the ancient feast was not meant to hold his nation back from growth but instead to refocus his nation towards its identity as God's chosen people and direct it towards a brighter spiritual future. The Passover was obviously a good thing. Just as many of the spiritual elements of the Church past are good things to be carried into the future. Just like fellowship meals (maybe even pot lucks!) and prayer meetings. Just like the public reading of Scripture and corporate worship. Sometimes it's good to look back if you want to move forward.
Be God's!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
The Re-Tooled Devotion
You have probably noticed that there have been no devotion posts over the past two months and been curious as to why. Well, the answer is simply "time." Back in June I started a new full-time job at my church and time-management became a thorn in my side. I used to write my devotion late at night, when I was the most alert and awake (yes, I'm a proverbial night owl) but in those days I reported to the church later in the morning and early bedtimes were not necessary. Over the summer... they are. So my time to write the devotion was lost to the necessity to wind down earlier in the evenings and then go to bed. Not being a morning person (my brain doesn't work well before 10am), I was in need of a new time to read, meditate on and write the devotion, which took about 30 minutes per post.
Because of the time crunch I am now in, the Daily Devotion will be changing in form to become both writer-friendly and, hopefully, reader-friendly. Each day I will post two readings -- one Old Testament, one New Testament, and a short two-paragraph devotion. It will be more like a read-though-the-Bible tool to help both you and I dig deeper into God's Word. Starting tomorrow, the Daily Devotion will be back in this new format:
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OT: 2 Kings 22
NT: Matthew 1
"Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes."
The reign of Josiah was like a drink of cool water in the middle of a barren desert. His grandfather was Manasseh, the most evil king of Judah. But Josiah? He followed his great-grandfather Hezekiah and the God Hezekiah obeyed. When confronted with the truth that his nation had not followed the Law, Josiah does what godly men and women should do when confronted with the truth: he immediately fell in humility before the Lord. He wanted to know if there was anything he could do to right the wrong. The Lord said, "No." Judah would suffer for its apostasy. But Josiah would live to his fullness of years and die in peace.
The Lord is always gracious to those who follow Him -- to those who are called by His name. He held no condemnation for the faithful ones of the Old Testament and He holds no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus today (see Romans 8:1). Our God is just, just as He was with Judah, but He is also a God of Grace. He loves you and me. If you have trouble believing that, dust off the old Bible and read with me: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4:10)."
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Be God's!
John Newton
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