Wednesday, February 28: 2Chronicles 22- When life is darkest God is still at work.

These are bleak days for Israel. Faithlessness is rampant. Treachery and murder dominate life. Sad, so very sad.

The depravity of the day struck me in the opening sentence. The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest son, king in his place, since the raiders, who came with the Arabs into the camp, had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign (1).

The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah… king. Where is the guidance from the Lord? As we read on, this is obviously the expedient decision, but it is also clear that there was no turning to the Lord for guidance.

How often do I make the expedient or obvious decision without even an inkling of seeking the Lord’s advice? Is that any different than the people of Judah in this case?

For Israel things move from bad to worse as Ahaziah solidifies his connection with the house of Ahab. Faithless leaders make faithless decisions.,

Even in the midst of the treachery and mayhem, following Ahaziah’s death, the Lord is at work upholding His covenant with Israel and bringing life out of death. The chapter ends with a hint of hope as Joash is hidden and protected in the Temple.

That is so like the Lord.  Even when life is darkest, He is at work preserving His people and remembering His promises.

There is much darkness in our world, but that does not mean the work of the Lord is extinguished. God’s light is still burning and those of us with His light within need to step up and live heroically as Jehosheba, and her husband the priest Jehoiada, did (see verse 11).

At this point I pause to pray…

Lord, is there some action You want me to take to correct a wrong or confront an injustice or save someone in need or preserve Your truth? Show me, Lord, lead me, Lord… and if not today, I surrender myself to You to deploy me for Your good at any time. I am Yours, assign me as You will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

 

Tuesday, February 27: 2Chronicles 21- He passed away, to no one's regret .

      Verse 20 concludes that may be the worst thing that could be said about anyone... He passed away, to no one’s regret.

That statement seems even worse given the fact that Jehoram reigned as king for 8 years. Nothing he did added any value to his country or his people. Yikes.

On a number of occasions I have read a line about someone and thought, that would make a great epitaph on a tombstone. The comment about Jehoram is the exact opposite. I shudder at the thought that anyone would have this said about them... he/she passed away, to no one’s regret.

Those words cause me to pause and ask, “How is my life benefiting others?” This is not an ego question but rather a question of life’s substance.

Have you ever asked yourself, “How is my life benefitting others?” It’s worth the ask...

Lord, I submit to You and I pray that my life lived in Your power is a blessing to others. I pray this in Jesu’s name. Amen.

 

Monday, February 26: 2Chronicles 20- Rooted faith trusts God .

The way in which Jehoshaphat handled his next crisis, the invasion by multiple armies, tells me that his return to the Lord in Chapter 19 was real, that faith had rooted firmly in his heart. I am encouraged by the faith he displayed as he stood before the people and rallied them to the Lord.

Rooted faith trusts God.

Rooted faith is visible to others.

Rooted faith encourages others.

The last verses, however, produce a chink in my enthusiasm. In his last years Jehoshaphat falls back into a sin of his youth. Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked. He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships. After these were built at Ezion Geber, Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made.” The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade (35-37). 

I am reminded to NEVER become complacent in my faith. None of us will be perfectly faithful this side of eternity. And I am encouraged that Jehoshaphat is described a king who followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD (32).  But I am duly warned that sin can rise to bite us at any time, so my only defense if vigilance –a continual seeking after the Lord, studded with honest confession and repentance.

Spurred by this thought I pray…

Oh, Lord, look deep within me and see where there is lingering sin. Root it out, Oh, Lord. Show me my weak areas so that I may admit them and lay them before You honestly.

Forgive my sin; cleanse me from the inside out so that my life might be a beacon of Your love to others. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Saturday, February 24: 2Chronicles 19.

I felt vindicated for my thoughts yesterday when I read the opening of chapter 19. When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is on you. There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God” (1-3). The Lord called Jehoshaphat on his mixed loyalties.

It seemed that this conversation with the Lord was a spiritual wakeup call for Jehoshaphat, who responded by calling the people back to the Lord.

I began wondering about how I respond to the Lord’s rebuke. Am I willing to change my heart and ways and return to the Lord or do I brood?

This week we had opposite examples in Asa and Jehoshaphat.  Confronted by the Lord, Asa turned his heart from God; Jehoshaphat turned to the Lord.

As I penned the above God said to me, “Whose example will you follow?”

I pray I follow Jehoshaphat. I pray I always turn back to the Lord when I stumble and fall and someone shows me God’s way…

How about you? How do you respond to the Lord’s rebuke?

Oh, God, soften my heart to You. And when you place a plumb line upon my life and find I am out of square, send Your Holy Spirit to help me turn back to You and NEVER away from You. I need Your help, Oh Lord, for I am a mere fallen human being, broken and sin filled. And apart from YOU I can do no good thing. Help me, Lord God. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Friday, February 23: 2Chronicles 18 Who are you allying yourself with?.

Why would Jehoshaphat ally himself with Ahab? Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage (1). I cannot fathom this. Jehoshaphat was faithful and Ahab was the epitome of faithlessness.  Even if somehow the Israel brotherhood was strong for Jehoshaphat, as the story continues, he had plenty of evidence that Ahab was not walking with the Lord. For example verse 6: But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?”

I kept wondering, why Jehoshaphat wouldn’t back out gracefully once Ahab’s true colors began to show? At least he pressed the issue and had a true prophet come in. After that, why would he continue? I have so many questions.

As I meditate on this, I began to scan my life wondering how often I continue in some kind of a business or working relationship with someone who shows their colors as someone like Ahab… feigning faith but serving another god. It is much easier seeing problematic ways in other people’s lives than seeing it in my life.

I am pleased that the Lord continues to protect and watch over Jehoshaphat particularly when he called out to the Lord (see 31-32).  However, that doesn't excuse him for being in that situation in the first place.  I certainly don't want to presume on the Lord to save me if I am foolishly diving into an ‘empty pool.’

I am also wondering if this association with Ahab will rise up and create problems in the future.

Associations are vital to our growth and are sometimes a key factor in our fall…

Lord, help me to be honest about my associations and to do so with my ears open to Your voice and whisperings. Protect me where I am weak or off base and help me cement those relationships that will help me grow closer to You. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen

 

Thursday, February 22: 2Chronicles 17- What are you doing for the Lord?.

Jehoshphat, Asa’s son, was faithful to the Lord. This was my big take-a-way from the chapter. As I sat with that thought I began to see that Jehoshphat’s faithfulness translated into action. Verse 6 helped crystalize this for me. His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.

As I chewed on this God seemed to whisper to me, “Bill, where is your faith driving action in your life? Where is your belief in Me causing you to live differently than people who don’t believe in Me?”

And this led me to take an inventory of my life, which I will not journal for all to see. As I pondered my inventory, many, even most of the items I listed I have been doing for years, some since I was a babe in Christ…

It was at that point that the Lord raised the stakes some and queried me again, “Bill, where are some new places or what are some new actions you can do that reveal My life in yours?”

I don’t have immediate answers to this query by the Lord. And this drove me to prayer…

Lord, to copy Isaiah, ‘here am I send me’. Lord, open my eyes to things that break Your heart and break mine and send me forth…. Amen.

 

Wednesday, February 21: 2Chronicles 16- So sad.

My heart trembles as I read this chapter… How can someone so faithful become so hard against the Lord? I knew it was difficult to receive a rebuke from the Lord, but Asa seemed to shut his heart to the Lord. The line at the end was particularly sad for me to read… Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians (12). He did not and apparently he would not seek help from the Lord. Oh, my!

I never quite understand the journey from faithfulness to faithlessness… but at the same time I feel a sense of warning. If Asa could fall any of us can fall, and more to the point, I could fall. And this scares me and drives me to my knees…

O God, protect me. Keep me safe. I throw myself on Your mercy. Lord, I cling to You and I hold to the Word particularly in Romans 8:28-30: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Lord, I hold to the truth You will see me to glory. I love You, Lord, and I praise You as my Savior, Lord and Redeemer. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

 

Friday, February 16: 2Chronicles 12 Masking things.

Right out of the gate we learn of Rehoboam’s faithlessness. After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD (1). And the Lord judged him, punishing him by the attack of Shishak, Pharaoh of Egypt. As part of God’s judgment Rehoboam became subject to Shishak who carried off all the gold finery from the temple and palace (see 2-8).

I understand that Rehoboam humbled himself before the Lord, so that was good. God’s judgment served its purpose of bringing Israel back to Himself.

There is a curious aspect of the account the got the wheels of my mind and heart turning. When Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem, he carried off the treasures of the temple of the LORD and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields Solomon had made. So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. Whenever the king went to the LORD’s temple, the guards went with him, bearing the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom (9-11).

By making the bronze shields, Rehoboam is masking the pain and punishment of the Lord. He created the illusion that nothing happened, that all is well, that the treasuries of the Lord remain full.

I wonder if Rehoboam’s actions don’t reveal a human sinful trait.  We attempt to minimize God’s correction and we try to carry on as if all is okay when it is not.

In the church we can carry on rituals that originated with deep spiritual meaning but now ring hollow. And I can do that personally as well.

The God Father was an acclaimed movie in the 1970s (??). There is a famous scene where the young son, Don Corleone, is taking over the father’s business. Two events are happening simultaneously and the movie cuts back and forth between the two. Don’s son is being baptized in the church, all the family is gathered around where pledges of fidelity are made to the Lord and Don’s henchmen are murdering in cold blood all Don’s enemies.

The symbolism is penetrating…

Rehoboam kept the pomp and ceremony of faithfulness, but was he???

I can do that too. Do I? Do I keep the rituals without the spiritual significance embedded in them?

Do you? Think about it.

Lord, unmask my carnal-ness. Help me see myself for who I am so that I can truly repent and walk with You. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Saturday, February 17: 2Chronicles 13.

Faithfulness was not completely gone from Israel. In the providence of God, Abijah son of Rehoboam, was a person of deep faith. When a war erupted between him and his father’s nemesis, Jeroboam, Abijah proclaimed his allegiance to the Lord and God gave him victory.

Preserving this history was a testimony to all Israel that the Lord reigns and saves His people when they rely on Him.

I found myself wondering, where did Abijah’s faith come from? His father was no paragon of faith or wisdom for that matter. His grandfather Solomon was a mixed bad. Since in all likelihood he never met his grandfather,/3. all he knew about him was from stories, which likely highlighted his faithfulness. So this may be a source of his faith. Did it come from his mother? Can’t say one way or the other.

Somehow God preserved a flame of faith and caused it to burn in Abijah.

Passing on the faith to the ensuing generations is part faithfulness and part mystery. God works in mysterious ways. My role, however, is clear… live faithfully, speak, teach and model faith and trust in God to take the seed and make it grow.

Lord, I ask You to take my life and use it to spread Your name and fame to people around the world, including my progeny and younger generations. Amen and amen.

 

Monday, February 19: 2Chronicles 14- it is so easy to slide away from God.

I thought how quickly things can change. It had only been 20 years since Solomon’s death and Reheboam began his reign. He reigned 17 years and Abijiah 3 years. Now as Asa ascended to the throne a revival of sorts is needed to purify the habits of the people. Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the LORD gave him rest (2-6).

In 20 years, maybe more if it stretched back into Solomon’s reign, altars to foreign gods, sacred high place to foreign gods, Asherah poles and other pagan religious practices proliferated in every town in Judah. How easily people can slip from the worship of the Lord into idol worship. Some of these pagan practices may have mimicked the cultic practices of the Lord but much, if not most, were completely divergent from worship practices of Israel. Israel had to know the gods they worshiped were not the Lord.

I am back to my initial thought. How quickly our worship focus can change if we are not careful. This is as true today as it was back in Asa’s day. The slide from the truth of God’s word is so easy. Change can happen subtly –the proverbial boiled frog in the water; change the temperature slowly and the frog doesn't realize what is happening. Change can also come suddenly when one generation of unbelief locks its belief into the consciousness of society.

Our only defense is constant study and conformity to God’s word. Study is important, but then I (and we) must consciously submit to obey and follow God’s word. There is no substitute for obedience.

Asa was correct. As a people we need to seek the LORD… and to obey his laws and commands.

Day in and day out sitting with the Word open, listening to its message and trying to bring it into my heart is my first line of seeking…

Thanks for seeking with me.

Lord, may the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Tuesday, February 20: 2Chronicles 15- Seek Me, invites the Lord.

For revival or renewal to truly settle into Israel, the people must embrace the Lord. If it remained a dictum from ‘on high’ and was not brought into the average person’s life then renewal would never really take root.

Encouraged by a prophet’s word, Asa continued his reforms and gathered the people for a celebration. 

Then he assembled all Judah and Benjamin and the people from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who had settled among them, for large numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. They assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.

At that time they sacrificed to the LORD seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats from the plunder they had brought back. They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. All who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. They took an oath to the LORD with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side (9-15).

Now revival had a chance because the people had embraced it… they pledged their lives anew to the Lord.

There is something about verbalizing our commitment to the Lord. Speaking our allegiance out loud in a public setting is often a powerful moment. I have been with tens of thousands of men at a Promise Keepers rally and in congregations of various sizes when we renew our love and commitment to the Lord… these have been powerful moments or rededication.

Moments and events will only carry a person so far, but they do provide a jumpstart. I have learned that I have to live into my rededication by continuing to trust the Lord and press into His will through study, prayer, and mutual accountability.

I love the fact that when God’s people seek Him with all their heart He is found by them (15). God is wooing me (and you). “Seek Me,” says the Lord, “because you will find Me.”

With the beckoning from the Lord I am drawn to prayer… to be with Him…

O Lord, refresh my heart. Draw me closer to You. Give me strength and a community that will help me cast of sin and cling to You. Unfurl Your glory that I might experience You… I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

 

Thursday, February 15: 2Chronicles 11- The hand of God.

The opening of this chapter gives me pause…

When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered Judah and Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand able young men—to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam. But this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God: “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, ‘This is what the LORD says: Do not go up to fight against your fellow Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’ ” So they obeyed the words of the LORD and turned back from marching against Jeroboam (1-4, bold underling mine).

So God is behind the splitting up of the kingdom?

When I read things like this I find myself holding tightly to Isaiah’s words about God’s ways and thoughts being higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8) because I don’t really understand. I don’t understand how breaking up His people pushes His will and agenda forward. But God is God and this is one of many instances where surrender and trust come in. I surrender and trust His Word and His will and way.

I know some people who believe that certain countries have the blessing of God upon them and that it is God’s will that they succeed. This might be so, however, when I read passages like the one above I also realize that our human way of seeing and understanding things does not necessarily align with God’s. For a few centuries God used Rome for the birth and great expansion of His New Covenant agenda. But then God brought Rome to an end and His will was still advanced. I don’t see God being tied to any one country or any one people. He lifts up and pulls down as He sees fit to best serve the advance of His kingdom and agenda.

These thoughts remind me that while I love my country, even with its faults and problems, God is not bound to keep us prospering. For my part, and our part, I (we) need to remain faithful to Him and by His grace He will watch over us.  Should God choose to reduce us as He did Israel or Rome, I still need to remain faithful. Remaining faithful is my calling as a Christ Follower in good times and in bad.

There are so many things about the Lord and His will and way I do not comprehend, but I cannot let this negatively affect my faithfulness to Him, who saved me by His grace.

Lord, I bow to You. You are Lord God, Almighty; I am not. I am a mere servant, part of Your creation. I will trust in You… Alleluia. Amen.

 

Wednesday, February 14: 2Chronicles 10- .

I have read about Rehaboam assentation to the throne of Israel many times and it seems each time I focus and ponder his choice of counselors. But this morning was different. I found myself contemplating a comment about his father, Solomon’s governance.

In verse 4 we read Jeroboam’s complaint about Solomon: “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” Having just read the chapters on Solomon there was no indication that he put a heavy yoke on this people. Certainly Solomon was a builder, but it seemed like he put the heavy burden of building on the shoulders of the foreigners (see chapter 8). However, this comment said that there was a huge burden put upon everyone. I don’t know how Solomon treated his people, but it was clear that the glories of this kingdom came at a price. David was beloved, Solomon was not.

As the account unfolds, the people actually revolt when they do not get word that Jeroboam  would ease their burden. Maybe it was taxes. Maybe he required manual service by the men. We don’t know but, whatever it was, people were willing to revolt over it!

I found myself wondering about the price the people paid for Solomon’s glory. It is sad that many people build their glory on the backs of average people. Solomon apparently did.

Jesus was not fan of this, saying that His disciples weren’t to lord it over others but rather serve them (Mark 10:xx)

Am I a server or a user of other people?

Are you? Think about it…

O, God, give me a servant’s heart, I pray. In Jesus’ name Amen.

 

Tuesday, February 13: 2Chronicles 9- .

As I was reading this chapter Solomon’s wealth, one might even call it opulence, struck me. The Queen of Sheba was impressed with his wisdom, the lavishness of his palace, and presentation of his food that won her over (3-4). It struck me that there was minimal mention of the temple. For all the beauty of the temple it was Solomon’s lifestyle that grabbed her.

I wondered about the lavish displays and the amount of gold pouring in. I wondered if the people lived in poverty or if he cared for them. Power and fame and money have a corruption influence on most humans and his story in Kings suggested that he did in fact succumb to these temptations.

As I was noodling on all this and continuing my read I came to verses 30&31: Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. Then he rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David his father…

It hit me, he rested with his ancestors. We all face death… the wealthy, the poor, the wise and foolish. Yes, we all face death and in death our wealth & wisdom count for nothing. Only faithfulness to the Lord matters.

We can’t buy our way into eternity. We can’t argue or talk our way into eternity. The only entrance door to eternity is faith in Jesus. And Jesus requires that we surrender all to Him. So we may be wealthy, but how does He want us to use our wealth? We may be wise, but how does he want us to use our wisdom? These are the kinds of thoughts that should drive us. How can we best serve the Lord who loves us…

And that is a thought worth chewing on today…

Lord, I am Yours, bought with the price of Jesus’ sacrifice. How might I best serve You today, and all of my todays? I pray in His name. Amen.

 

Monday, February 12: 2Chronicles 8- Small deviations can become large problems.

 

Recently I have been reading the story of the US Apollo Moon Project. It was an incredible story of human ingenuity, grit, determination and some fortuitous ‘luck.’ To reach the moon astronauts would have to perform routine mid-course corrections, small rocket firings at precise times to keep the spacecraft on the correct trajectory. Given the vast distance between the earth and the moon even a small degree off course meant that the spacecraft would miss its orbit by 10s of thousands of miles. Small deviations can become large problems.

Reading this chapter I noticed seemingly incidental small deviations from God’s stated will. Although they didn’t seem like much, I know that in the history of Israel they created significant problems.

In verse 11, Solomon brings his wife, Pharaoh’s daughter, to the palace he built for her saying, “My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the LORD has entered are holy.” As I read this I wondered, “What about God’s injunction not to marry foreign women??? Didn’t this count for a king?” Of course it did.  And yet, matter of fact, the text announced what Solomon did.

No correction, no recognition that this was not God’s will and over time this small sin grew into a large problem for Solomon who was led astray by his many pagan wives.

Then in verses 7-8 we read how Solomon continued to force the foreign people who were never conquered in the land. There were still people left from the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites). Solomon conscripted the descendants of all these people remaining in the land—whom the Israelites had not destroyed—to serve as slave labor, as it is to this day (7-8). What Solomon did with them seemed wise but I wondered why didn’t God command Israel to take the land way back in Joshua. Israel never completed that task… and these peoples were constantly a snare for Israel.

Another small deviation from God’s announced will that became a major problem.

Finally, I needed to turn to myself… “Am I allowing small deviations from God’s announced will to linger in my life?” If so, they can become snares for me creating larger problems in my life. The answer is mid-course corrections, which in my spiritual life means self-examination, repentance and confession. Never fun. Always spiritually worthwhile…

Think about it.

Open my eyes, Lord, and help me to see myself for who I am… to face my failings and to confess them to You. Help me to live, understanding that spiritual mid-course corrections are what will get me home safely. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

 

Saturday, February 10: 2Chronicles 7.

I was captivated by the immensity of the sacrifice. And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God (5, underline mine). 144 thousand animals sacrificed. Even if that is describing the 7 days of worship that is over 20,000 animals sacrificed a day for 7 days!

On many levels I cannot fathom those numbers. I can’t imagine the amount of work necessary to butcher all those animals, the fires needed to sacrifice them, and the streams of blood (because all the blood needs to be drained before they are burned).

What a celebration… what an extravagant celebration of praise to the Lord!

I am trying to fathom a comparable worship event… honestly, I can’t.

Then again, this was a momentous event. God was establishing a permanent physical presence with the dedication of the temple. And so a level of worship unseen before is warranted.

As I was writing this, I thought, “Yes, there was a comparable momentous event. The incarnation of Jesus… the one and only son born in Bethlehem.”  And for that event, God arranged for a heavenly choir and chorus of angels to mark that event. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:13-14).

God is worthy of praise and worship… this thought washes over me like a wave pounding the beach shore…

Yes, God –Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit –is most worthy of praise.

What a wonderful devotion as I prepare to gather with God’s people tomorrow in worship!

Lord, may we raise the roof in adoration of You tomorrow when we gather to celebrate You tomorrow. Fill our gathering with Your presence and allow us to declare Your praise for all the world to hear. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Friday, February 9: 2Chronicles 6.

My time with the Lord was interesting this morning. As I sat down to read this amazingly faithful temple dedication prayer by Solomon, swimming in the back of my head was the thought, ‘How did such a faithful man stray so far from the Lord’?

I know the Solomon’s story well enough to know that his many wives led him astray. I kept wondering, how did that happen?  Deep down inside I was not as concerned about Solomon as I was about me…

If the man who prayed this prayer fell, then anyone could fall. Such was my reasoning.

My desire was to know what I could do to maintain faithfulness. The thought that kept rising to the top as I pondered this question, from one angle and another is spiritual vigilance…

Staying with the Lord day in and day out.

Regular examination of my life under the scrutiny of the Word and Spirit.

Confession and repentance.

Regular worship with the body of Christ.

Accountability with other brothers.

And the like…

Oh, yes, trusting in the perseverance of the saints, trusting that God will bring those He has called home to eternity with Him.

Romans 8vv

In all of this Lord, what I cling to most strongly is Your right arm. You will preserve my life and bring me to glory. I am not absolving myself from doing the spiritual disciplines needed to grow and mature, but my trust is not in me. It is in YOU! Alleluia to the God Most High! Through Jesus, my Lord, I pray. Amen

 

Note: my burdened heart lifted as I realized my fate is in God’s hands. Alleluia.

 

Thursday, February 8: 2Chronicles 5- .

This chapter closes with the placing of the ark in the holy of holies. At that point we read, The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.”

Then the temple of the LORD was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God (13-14).

The imagery of the cloud filling the temple reminded me of the cloud God filled as He led Israel through the desert… cloud by day and fire by night (Exodus xx).

I found myself contemplating the presence of God… here God’s presence is experienced in the cloud. In Theophanys it is through the Angel of the Lord. Moses also experienced the Lord in the still small voice (xx). Most perfectly, humankind has experienced the presence of the Lord in the person of Jesus Christ, the Word become flesh (John 1:1-14).

The presence of God has born His people through across the ages. Moses at one point refused to continue if the presence of God was not with him (Exodus bb).  So important is the presence of God.

How have I and how do I experience the presence of the Lord?

--In the stillness of my quiet time as God gives me a thought or understanding in the text.

--As I speak with Him in prayer and sense His answer or His nearness.

--In worship, particularly in those moments of community praise, when our hearts joined together seem to soar to the throne.

--In moments of hush in worship or in private when I feel enveloped by the Lord.

--When I am engaged is service and ministry for and with Him.

--When the Spirit releases a spiritual gift for ministry.

These are among the many ways I have and do experience the Lord’s presence. How about you?

Oh, Lord, praise be to You for Your presence. Thank You for allowing me to experience You and to do so in different ways… a reminder that You are beyond full understanding. Open my heart that I might seek You and long for You all the days of my life. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Wednesday, February 7: 2Chronicles 4- .

The detail in this chapter was too much for me to imagine. So I spent some time looking on the Internet for images of the temple, just so I could visualize everything.

Elaborate, ornate and functional is how I might describe it. Maybe this picture will help you.

The worship of God was central to Israel and sacrifice of animals was essential to Israelite worship.

I am wondering how central worship is my life these days.

 

 

Tuesday, February 6: 2Chronicles 3- The Temple.

Opulent, extravagant, over-the-top, such was the temple Solomon built. Gold everywhere, literally. Measurements precise. Symbolism rich.  Such was the temple Solomon built.

One difference between this temple and the opulence of some of the European estate/castles, like Versailles, is that the temple was dedicated to and honoring the Lord God Almighty, not a particular king or family dynasty. It was designed to be as a place of sacrifice and performing the rituals of faith. A second difference was its size. 60 cubits by 20 cubits translates to roughly 90 feet by 30 feet. There are rooms in Versailles which are larger.

David’s design and Solomon’s execution was to honor the Lord, to extol the God who called them to be a people and protect them as a people.  I am also reminded that David put a huge amount of his personal wealth into the construction of the temple.

I am wondering how can I and do I honor the Lord in my life? I am certainly not going to build a temple or a shrine of any kind. So my measurement would be in faithfulness… a few probing questions trickle out of my thoughts:

Am I sacrificial?

Am I dedicated?

Do I give the Lord my best or leftovers?

Am I extravagant or ‘opulent’ in my honoring of the Lord?

Looking at my life would others see the greatness of the Lord as they did when they looked at the temple?

Lord, I battle mixed motives all the time. Purify my life. Burn off the chaff that my life might be of service to You. Through Jesus, I pray. Amen. 

 

Monday, February 5: 2Chronicles 2- A temple for the Lord.

Solomon, now established, commissions the building of the temple. I found myself wondering, what exactly is the temple?

It is a holy place. It will house the ark, which has been described as the footstool of the Lord (1Chronicles 28:2). Solomon answers my question in his dialogue with Hiram, king of Tyre, who will provide the lumber for the temple.

The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him? (5-6).

The temple is a showcase for the Lord, a grand monument primarily for the offering of sacrifices to the Lord. As such, the temple is a place where people can connect with the Lord personally, as well as the corporate center for the worship of Yahweh. The structure itself announces the greatness of the Lord. Its grand scale and elaborate ornamentation speaks to the indescribability of the Lord Himself.

But the temple must never be confused with the Lord Himself, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain the Lord, much less a human constructed building.

While considering the temple, my mind made the leap to the church and believers in Jesus, being the temple of the Lord today.

We, God’s people, are His showcases to the world. Instead of there being one temple in one location, now the temple of the Lord can be found almost anywhere in the world. Christ followers working in fields, rice patties, office buildings and open seas, serving in the military or government, golden agers and millennial are all showcases for the Lord. In us and through the way we live, people are supposed to see the grandeur of the Lord.

But let us never get a big head over this; we are not the Lord, never will be and never can be. We are merely a display through which people receive the tiniest glimpse of the grandeur and wonder of the Lord God Almighty.

I am awed and humbled by these thoughts.

Awed, that God would choose to display Himself to the world through me. Humbled because I am completely and utterly unworthy of this calling. I can’t find the correct words… I am also disappointed, saddened (?) because I am such a poor showcase. With all the mars of sin in my life I am afraid that people are seeing a poor, almost unrecognizable, representation of the Lord in my life. My eyes tear at my lack…

Oh, God, I do not know how or what to pray… make me a better showcase for Your glory. Like a fine craftsman, shave off my blemishes, fill my cracks and replace my weak and broken parts so that I might better display Your wonder. Do this Lord, not for me or my sake, but for Yours.

All glory, laud and honor be Yours, Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit. I pray through Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Saturday, February 3: 2Chronicles 1- What would you wish for?.

What would I ask for if God appeared to me and invited me to ask for anything? If I take that question seriously, I don’t know what I would ask for.

Obviously after reading a chapter like this one, I would like to think I would be noble and selfless and, like Solomon, ask for wisdom or peace throughout the world or food for everyone or…. but….had this question come suddenly out of the blue would I be this selfless? Ugh, I just don’t know!!

When I was a youngster, I remember the hearing the story of Aladdin and I would daydream about being given three wishes by a genie in a bottle. Those wishes were far more self-focused. I would think about what wishes gave me the best benefit. Often my third imaginary wish was for 3 more wishes.

This mental exercise shows me how much of myself remains to be crucified to Christ.

On this eve of worship, Lord, prepare my heart to worship You with Your family tomorrow morning. Soften my heart to be attentive to You, listening for Your voice and following Your lead. I pray for a heart to follow after You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

 

Friday, February 2: 1Chronicles 29- A man after God's heart.

What joy reading this chapter. First there was David. His joy as he presents all he has done to provide for the temple. Not only did he do a masterful job providing the necessary materials, but then he gave liberally from his own resources. His example coupled with his call to other leaders to step up brought in a great offering for the Lord and His temple.

Leading from the front, leading by example, David excelled in this.

Then there was his prayer, totally God focused and God exalting. As I read and prayed along with David, I felt my heart begin to soar, with joy and praise to the Lord. So many prayers I hear these days, seem so earthly, me focused. David’s is looking to the heavens and to the Lord. This prayer reveals much about his heart. David truly was a man after God’s heart. His love for the Lord and devotion to the Lord is inspiring for me. 

Oh, to be a man after God’s own heart like David… Lord, show me how I can grow to be more like David. Lead me, Lord God, into a deeper devotion with You. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Thursday, February 1: 1Chronicles 28- The Handoff.

 

The best leaders understand that someday their leadership must be handed off to someone else. Every generation needs to recognize that at some point they must hand off leadership to the ensuing generation. The legacy of George Washington could have been scuttled by John Adams.

Even Jesus understood that He needed to hand the reigns of His movement to His disciples. Leadership handoffs are critical if movements are to continue.

Today we read David’s leadership handoff.

The people are established. There is order and organization. And for David’s deep desire and calling to build a temple –a place rest for the Ark of the Covenant (2) –David has provided plans and materials.

David not only provides for the ongoing work of the people of God, today he calls all the leaders and particularly his son Solomon –the next king –to continuing devotion to the Lord. David knows a people devoted only to the Lord will be blessed by the Lord.

My first thought… am I providing what the following generations need in order that they, too, might serve the Lord and complete His call of extending His name and fame to the ends of the earth?

Second, am I remaining faithful to the Lord and am I calling the following generations to faithfulness? Faithfulness is essential in building the work of God, which is the primary calling of the church today.

Am I steadfastly faithful?  Are you?

Am I helping those younger than me grow in faithfulness? Are you?

Am I giving them the tools they will need to build God’s kingdom? Are you?

These are the questions that are burrowing into me as I sit with this chapter this morning.

As I paused to pray I found myself praying the words of a song ‘Holiness’ (take my life) by Scott Underwood …

O Lord,

Faithfulness, Faithfulness is what I long for

Faithfulness is what I need

Faithfulness, Faithfulness is what You

want from me

So, take my heart and form it

Take my mind and transform it

Take my will and conform it

To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord

 

I have printed only stanza 2. And you can listen to the entire song free on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHeEytocJVY.