We Should Not Worry About Physical Things...It Is What Is In Our Heart

1 Chronicles Chp 17

I am struck by David's initial focus on a physical home for the ark where God's presence can be felt.

¹ After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.”  (verse 1)

And even more struck by God's response to Nathan on this subject.

⁴ “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. ⁵ I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. ⁶ Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd my people, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ (verses 4-6)

First of all, why should we as humans think that we know what God needs?  Not to judge David (because we all do this from time to time), but how foolish!  Second, we should know that God is everywhere and most importantly he is in our hearts.  And finally, God does not want us to focus on earthly matters such as this.

We are most importantly to love Him and to love others.

My Prayer: Lord, your love is great...and it is so great that it cannot be contained!  Forgive me when I place walls around our faith and our love.  I should not compartmentalize and say that this place is not for God's love or this person is not for God's love - forgive me indeed!  Please Lord help me live life knowing that your love abounds and it cannot be contained and that I am to let my love of you flow freely and thoroughly from me both to you and to others with a purpose of glorifying you, serving you and bringing others to you.

Do I Wear My Love of Lord on My Sleeves?

1 Chronicles Chp 15

Although it was only 3 months ago that I read in 2 Samuel this same story, it is an important lesson and through a second reading I have gained addl insight. 

²⁹ As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.(verse 29)

If I am truly being a light, it is not just my worship that I must proclaim publicly, it is MY ENTIRE LIFE.  And now I recognize my sin because in my workplace I know I am not being a light and I am clearly not following God's will.

²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters[.] Colossians 3:23

My Prayer: Lord, you are great and your wisdom and compassion is great.  I have sinned gravely for my horrible attitude at work.  Please forgive me and please help me remember that I am not working for human masters but for you and for your glory.  Help me do everything that I do with all of my heart so that people can clearly see my work as an instrument of God and have God shine through me.

Stay Close to the Lord, Inquire of Him, and Follow His Direction

1 Chronicles Chp 14

Here, David demonstrates how he stays close to the Lord, inquires of Him, follows Him, and he is blessed.

⁸ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them. ⁹ Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; ¹⁰ so David inquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?” 

   The LORD answered him, “Go, I will deliver them into your hands.”

 ¹¹ So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. (verses 8-11)

and once again:

¹³ Once more the Philistines raided the valley; ¹⁴ so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, “Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. ¹⁵ As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” ¹⁶ So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. (verses 13-16)

The challenge then is:
1. Am I staying close to the Lord (reading God's word, reflecting on His word, praying and seeking His guidance in all things)
2. Doing God's will

My Prayer: Lord, your blessings in my life are many fold and I am not worthy.  I forsake what you have provided because I don't think they are good enough for me.  Please forgive me.  Help me stay close to you and help me follow your will.  I love you Lord.

Repentence and Love of Lord Does Not Mean No Suffering or Punishment

2 Kings Chp 23

Wow...rough story.  Here we have King Josiah, who after reading the Book of the Law, renews his covenant with the Lord (as did his followers), destroys all remnants of sin used by his predecessors, and loves the Lord as no one had done previously or after him:

²⁵ 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. (verse 25)

This is quite remarkable because we have King David who, albeit far from perfect, we all acknowledge as a great king and one who loved the Lord. Yet Josiah was truly great because he did as God asked most importantly which was to love and follow God with all of his heart and soul.

Although we know God as full of mercy and compassion - it is through grace alone.  Here he remains angry.

²⁶ Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to arouse his anger. (verse 26)

And finally, we see Josiah killed:

²⁹ While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo. ³⁰ Josiah’s servants brought his body in a chariot from Megiddo to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. (verses 29-30)

While we are left to somewhat speculate how long Josiah lived and how full a life he lived, that he died in battle is testament to the notion that it is through grace alone that we live and are spared for any sin we commit.  God has a plan, and we must live with the end in mind.

My Prayer: Lord, I have seen your designs in my life and your mercy.  Your plan is perfect and your mercy and love is boundless.  Forgive me for my sin - help me purify myself from my sin as there is much to purge - worry, selfishness, laziness, greed, etc.  Help me focus on you and your will.  Help me love you as Josiah loved you.

Forgiveness is Available...You Must Repent

2 Kings Chp 22

When we read the bible, truth is revealed to us and we get a sense of how great God is, how much he loves us, how fallen we are, and that we have a God who died for us so we can be free of the cycle of sin, shame, and eternal damnation. 

Here we see young King Josiah who reads the Book of the Law and truth is revealed to him.

¹¹ When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. ¹² He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: ¹³ “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.” (verses 11-13)

Josiah's response is appropriate and it is through God's grace alone that Judah is not destroyed.

‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: ¹⁹ Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse^[b] and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the LORD. ²⁰ Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’”(verses 18-20)

Here we see our God and again how truly compassionate he is - while it is not promised that we will not be punished for our sin, forgiveness is always available, but as Josiah shows we must first demonstrate repentance.

My Prayer: Lord, your love truly abounds.  I am thankful for your mercy and compassion in my life and seek your forgiveness for my own behavior, particularly in the area of worry and behavior at work.  Help me with this and help me trust you more.

I Am Compelled To Take My Role As Head of Household Seriously

2 Kings Chp 21

Although I am no king, I am struck by the language used here to describe how King Manasseh led his people astray:

But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.(verse 9)

Leaders are in roles of great responsibility and consequence and we must take these roles seriously.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48)

As a husband and father I am clear what my role is as a husband and a father and as head of the household, I need to shepherd the hearts of those in my family, including my wife, and my children.  The consequences of my inability to do this are great and the example of Manasseh implores me to really step up.

My Prayer: Lord, your example as a shepherd is great as you love all of those in your flock and care for each one with amazing love.  Many times if not most of the time I fall short of being the husband, father and servant leader that you call me to be.  Forgive me for this and please help me step up.  Give me strength.

Easy Come, Easy Go...

2 Kings Chps 18-20

King Hezekiah trusted in the Lord:

 ⁵ Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. ⁶ He held fast to the LORD and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. ⁷ And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. (Chp 18:5-7)

While he was successful, we must note that this success belongs to God and to God alone - we are not to claim it for our own glory.

In part because of Hezekiah's faithfulness to the Lord, God protects Israel from the Assyrians:

 ³⁵ That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! ³⁶ So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.(Chp 19:35-36)

And once again, Hezekiah is blessed by being healed:

⁴ Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: ⁵ “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. ⁶ I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’” (Chp 20:4-6)

Yet, even as he is blessed, we learn that it is only through the grace of God alone, not through our own doing that we are blessed and in good fortune.  God can just as easily take it all away:

¹⁶ Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD: ¹⁷ The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. ¹⁸ And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” (Chp 20:16-18)

My Prayer: Lord, I KNOW I am blessed...I am so blessed that cannot even acknowledge all the ways that I am blessed - there are too many.  It is because you love me and because all you do is because you love me.  Forgive me when I refuse to acknowledge your love for me or see you bless me.  Help me focus on how great you are, how blessed I am, and how I need to love you more, obey you more, follow you and seek you out more, desire you more and trust you more.  Help me with all of this Lord.