And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.

Leviticus 9

And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. Leviticus 9:23-24

This afternoon, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing with chapter nine - Powerful Worship - covering Leviticus 9:1-24, looking specifically at the theme - Powerful Worship Results from God's Visitation.  The commentary highlights v9:23-34 to unequivocally state that the Israelites experienced powerful worship as "the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people." The commentary then goes further to ensure that this demonstration of God's visitation is what all believers should seek from worship and to avoid any focus on anything that people do as part of worship, like music or worship.  We are pointed to Leviticus 9, the inaugural worship service for the Israelites, where the commentary states "the people produced no music." Similarly, throughout the Bible, we see how God works through ordinary people to produce miracle after miracle - the message is consistent: God is enough; we should not focus on any specific type of music or any particular speaker we believe is powerful or insightful.  The commentary encourages us to seek God alone in our worship.  Pastor Jared delivered a sermon this past Sunday (26SEP2021) that underscores the very important message that "you don't need more than Jesus, you need more of Jesus."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are more than enough and all that I need!  You do it all for me and You died for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You do everything for me and how You died for me.  I lack patience and I have anger.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cacner and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.

2 Kings 23

Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. v25

Further evidence (see also yesterday's post) that God does not promise a trouble free life.  Josiah loved the Lord and led God's people in Judah to renew their covenant with the Lord (v3).  

Yet the Lord remained angry with Judah (v27) and Josiah ends up being killed in battle (v29).

We cannot love God with the expectation that He will bless us in earthly ways - He may or He may not.  We must find joy in God alone - when all else is stripped away - even our life, we have Jesus. 

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ[.] Philippians 3:8

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who has rescued me from very difficult circumstances and You have given me joy these circumstances.  You have given me You Son, the Holy Spirit, my church, my family, brothers and sisters in Christ, etc.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry and I am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me.  Help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

1 Samuel 8

And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” v7-9

When we cry out to the Lord because of troubles we experience we must be mindful of what God is doing - the Israelites turned away from God and God either punished them or allowed difficult circumstances to befall them.  Here the Israelites sought an earthly King - essentially admitting that God alone is insufficient.  

I must be mindful that when I complain or worry - it is that I don't believe that God alone is sufficient.

Please forgive me Jesus!

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone are sufficient for me for I know that provide for all things and You steady my feet during times of difficulty.  Thank You for seeing me through hard times and providing for me during all times and for the overwhelming blessings You pour out for me.   I am not worth such love and blessings.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as Your Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.