SCRIPTURE
The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, "The Lord is just." (2 Chronicles 12:6)
OBSERVATION
The Bible gives the background to this scene in chapter 12 of 2 Chronicles. Rehoboam, the king, and all Israel abandoned the law of the Lord. Because of their unfaithfulness, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. Shemaiah, the prophet, went to the people and told them the Lord had abandoned them because they had abandoned him. They responded by humbling themselves and in their humility declared, "the Lord is just". The Lord relented and delivered the people.
The people recognized God's justice in disciplining them through Shishak, king of Egypt. In other words, they knew they deserved it. The turning point came when they humbled themselves. God's justice is more clearly seen through humility. Specifically, when we've warranted his discipline through our disobedience. When we are prideful we tend to think we know more than God. When we think we know more than God, his discipline does not appear just.
Humility means to "arrange under." When we humble ourselves before God we arrange ourselves under him. We are the creature, he is the creator. Looking through the eyes of pride we see his discipline as unfair.Pride arranges God under us. We question his motives and goodness. We don't deserve it. Why is this happening? I'm a good person. Pride or humility will shape how we see God's activity in our lives.
APPLICATION
In those moments when I'm tempted to label God as unfair or unjust, I need to take a step back and ask what the condition of my heart is at that moment. I can arrange God under me, by pride, and critique his activity as unjust. It is in those times when I evaluating the events from a superior postion. But when I humble myself, arrange myself under God, I can trust him and see his justice. Even in the difficult things of life. Humility doesn't mean the event makes sense, but it does mean I place my life in the hands of a good, gracious, and just God.
PRAYER
Lord, I have often not seen your justice because of my pride. I've placed myself in a position where I am evaluation and judging your activity. When I live in humbleness, I also live in trust.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Great Pains
SCRIPTURE
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, David made extensive preparations before his death. (1 Chronicles 22:5)
OBSERVATION
It was in David's heart to build the temple. However, because of all the blood he shed during his reign, he was not the one to build it. That honor would go to his son Solomon. Once he understood that, he didn't sit back and relax, waiting for the day Solomon would begin construction. He did just the opposite. He made extensive preparations.
He organized the laborers and the supplies. The Bible says he took "great pains" to provide for the temple. As a father, he made sure his son would succeed. It's important to note the nature of this success was spiritual. He was working on the temple, the place under the Old Covenant where God would dwell. David was not wanting Solomon to build a great empire for himself but to build something of eternal significance.
APPLICATION
I'm inspired by David's pains. As a father, I am to make sure my son succeeds. I am to equip Josiah with the means and tools necessary so he can continue a godly legacy. My job is to prepare him the best way that I can not to just live without me but to live beyond me. I am to make sure he succeeds spiritually, continuing to to a great work in the kingdom. In the end it doesn't matter if he's the brightest in his class, excels in sports, or amasses a fortune in his lifetime. What matters is that he does something for God. I can play a part in his future by preparing him in the present.
PRAYER
Lord, you've challenged me to leave a godly legacy for Josiah. To take the "great pains" necessary so he can succeed in his work for you.
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, David made extensive preparations before his death. (1 Chronicles 22:5)
OBSERVATION
It was in David's heart to build the temple. However, because of all the blood he shed during his reign, he was not the one to build it. That honor would go to his son Solomon. Once he understood that, he didn't sit back and relax, waiting for the day Solomon would begin construction. He did just the opposite. He made extensive preparations.
He organized the laborers and the supplies. The Bible says he took "great pains" to provide for the temple. As a father, he made sure his son would succeed. It's important to note the nature of this success was spiritual. He was working on the temple, the place under the Old Covenant where God would dwell. David was not wanting Solomon to build a great empire for himself but to build something of eternal significance.
APPLICATION
I'm inspired by David's pains. As a father, I am to make sure my son succeeds. I am to equip Josiah with the means and tools necessary so he can continue a godly legacy. My job is to prepare him the best way that I can not to just live without me but to live beyond me. I am to make sure he succeeds spiritually, continuing to to a great work in the kingdom. In the end it doesn't matter if he's the brightest in his class, excels in sports, or amasses a fortune in his lifetime. What matters is that he does something for God. I can play a part in his future by preparing him in the present.
PRAYER
Lord, you've challenged me to leave a godly legacy for Josiah. To take the "great pains" necessary so he can succeed in his work for you.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Those Who Seek
SCRIPTURE
"Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." (Psalm 9:10)
OBSERVATION
We have to know God to trust him. Knowing his name is knowing his character. Who he is and how he acts. What he will do and what he won't do. Once we know him, we can trust him. Until we know him we are just speculators. We make our best guess as to who he is. If the guess is right, we love him because he confirmed our theory. If the guess is wrong, we are not disappointed with ourselves we are disappointed with him because he did not meet our expectations. The problem is never God. In order to know him we must seek him. Embark on a journey of discovering who he is and what his word say about him. We have the promise that when we seek him he will not forsake us, or turn us away but he will reveal more and more of himself to us.
APPLICATION
I am to seek God in order to know God in order to trust him. If I don't really know him, I'm not trusting him, I'm trusting my perception of him. Like a mirage in the desert, the perception appears to be real but it is only illusory. I need to seek God the moment I get out of bed in the morning. To look for his activity and working in my life. To read what his revealed in his word. The more I know him the more I trust him because I am building my faith on who he really is.
PRAYER
Lord, I love the promise that you will not forsake me when I seek you. You don't play hide seek with me but you want me to know who you are in order to trust who you are.
"Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." (Psalm 9:10)
OBSERVATION
We have to know God to trust him. Knowing his name is knowing his character. Who he is and how he acts. What he will do and what he won't do. Once we know him, we can trust him. Until we know him we are just speculators. We make our best guess as to who he is. If the guess is right, we love him because he confirmed our theory. If the guess is wrong, we are not disappointed with ourselves we are disappointed with him because he did not meet our expectations. The problem is never God. In order to know him we must seek him. Embark on a journey of discovering who he is and what his word say about him. We have the promise that when we seek him he will not forsake us, or turn us away but he will reveal more and more of himself to us.
APPLICATION
I am to seek God in order to know God in order to trust him. If I don't really know him, I'm not trusting him, I'm trusting my perception of him. Like a mirage in the desert, the perception appears to be real but it is only illusory. I need to seek God the moment I get out of bed in the morning. To look for his activity and working in my life. To read what his revealed in his word. The more I know him the more I trust him because I am building my faith on who he really is.
PRAYER
Lord, I love the promise that you will not forsake me when I seek you. You don't play hide seek with me but you want me to know who you are in order to trust who you are.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Face to the Wall
SCRIPTURE
"Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord. 'Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.' And Hezekiah wept bitterly." (2 Kings 20:2)
OBSERVATION
Hezekiah had just received news, through Isaiah, that he was going to die. He turned his face to the wall to dismiss Isaiah and enter into a solitary time with God. We can picture him lying on his bed, perhaps in the fetal position, looking at the wall to block out everyone else in the room. Isaiah came back and told him God heard his prayer and saw his tears. Prayer goes from our lips to God's ears and the tears that flow from our eyes are seen by God's eyes.
APPLICATION
Huh, a man crying in the Bible. Who would've thought? (Ok. Jesus did too and that's good enough fro me). Hezekiah wasn't afraid to pour his heart out to God and neither should I. In fact, Isaiah did not come back to rebuke him but encourage him...God truly did hear and see. When I need to, God allows me the pleasure of turning to the wall (blocking out everything else in life) and praying to him. If I ever feel that I can't face another problem, I can face the wall, and meet God there. I don't have to travel to Jerusalem to find the wailing wall, it can be found anyplace I turn to pour out my heart to God.
PRAYER
Father, thanks for meeting me at the wall. Hezekiah reminds me again, that you are the God who hears, sees, and cares.
"Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord. 'Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.' And Hezekiah wept bitterly." (2 Kings 20:2)
OBSERVATION
Hezekiah had just received news, through Isaiah, that he was going to die. He turned his face to the wall to dismiss Isaiah and enter into a solitary time with God. We can picture him lying on his bed, perhaps in the fetal position, looking at the wall to block out everyone else in the room. Isaiah came back and told him God heard his prayer and saw his tears. Prayer goes from our lips to God's ears and the tears that flow from our eyes are seen by God's eyes.
APPLICATION
Huh, a man crying in the Bible. Who would've thought? (Ok. Jesus did too and that's good enough fro me). Hezekiah wasn't afraid to pour his heart out to God and neither should I. In fact, Isaiah did not come back to rebuke him but encourage him...God truly did hear and see. When I need to, God allows me the pleasure of turning to the wall (blocking out everything else in life) and praying to him. If I ever feel that I can't face another problem, I can face the wall, and meet God there. I don't have to travel to Jerusalem to find the wailing wall, it can be found anyplace I turn to pour out my heart to God.
PRAYER
Father, thanks for meeting me at the wall. Hezekiah reminds me again, that you are the God who hears, sees, and cares.
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