The Approachable God

Psalms 1-2, 15

O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. ­– Psalms 15:1-2 NASB

In Psalms 1, we read these familiar words, "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night." (Psalms 1:1-2 NASB). I don't know about you, but when I read these words I get a little nervous. Why? Because there are days when I actually walk in the counsel of the wicked, I stand in the path of sinners, and I sit with the scoffers. There are days when I don't delight in the law of the Lord. And as far as meditating on it day and night, well, I fail that test miserably. But when you read these Psalms, you could easily become defeated because it seems to paint a picture of God being in heaven and holding out some fairly unattainable goals for us as His children. The blessings seem so conditional, and I tend to fail to hold up my end of the bargain so often. The standards of God are high. And the ability of man to meet those standards has always been low. In fact, it is impossible for any of us to meet the righteous requirements of God.

But then I remember that it is because of Christ that I am able to approach the throne of God. It is because Christ has paid for my sins on the cross with His own life that I am reckoned as righteous before God. I have access to the Father not because I can keep His holy standards, but because Christ has done it for me. I am the recipient of Christ's righteousness. These Psalms remind me that my God is holy and that He has high standards. He blesses the righteous and condemns the wicked. But I can rest in the knowledge that I AM righteous before God because of all that Christ has done. My sins have been forgiven. My debt has been paid. I stand before God uncondemned and clean. I do not have to EARN His favor, it has been freely extended to me. Now, any efforts at make at living a holy life are done out of love, not obligation, and they are made possible by the Holy Spirit living within me. I don't have to muster up the strength to live a holy life. God makes it possible through His Spirit. Paul reminds me of this fact. "I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20 NLT). Even though I sometimes find myself still walking in the counsel of the wicked, standing in the path of sinners, and sitting in the seat of the scoffers, I have the ability to choose differently. And more often than not, I do. Why? Because God has made it possible for me to live a righteous life. He has given me the power to choose His way over mine.

Father, thank You for grace. I would have no hope if You had not sent Your Son to die in my place. There is no way I can keep Your standards. I can't measure up to Your righteous requirements. But because of what Jesus did, I don't have to. He did it for me. And now You have given me Your Spirit to make it possible for me to live a life that brings glory and honor to You. Amen



The Lord Reigns.

1 Chronicles 15-16

Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Tell all the nations, "The Lord reigns!" ­– 1 Chronicles 16:31 NLT

The Lord reigns. He rules. He sits on His throne ruling over all mankind and accomplishing His divine will as He sees fit. As David begins his long-awaited reign as the king of Israel, he reminds himself and his subjects that God is the ultimate king of their nation. David makes sure he sets up the Ark of God in the capital city of Jerusalem in order to assure himself and remind the people that this kingdom is a theocracy first, and a monarchy second. David reigns on God's behalf and at His bequest. God put him on the throne, but God could just as easily remove him, as He did Saul.

David leads the people in a celebration of God's goodness and grace. The arrival of the Ark in the city of Jerusalem is a reminder that God is intimately involved in their lives. And for that reason, He deserves their praise, worship, allegiance, and thanksgiving. David reminds them of all that God has done on their behalf. He recalls God's faithfulness and redemptive work in their lives over the years. He is a good God who is worthy of much praise. It is only their relationship with God that sets the Israelites apart from all the other nations. He is the difference maker. It is He who makes them a unique people group among all the other people groups that populate the planet at that time. He is real, not an idol. He is powerful, and not just a figment of someone's fertile imagination. And He is intimately involved in every aspect of their daily live. And for all that, He is to be worshiped, praised, and obeyed. What a timely reminder to those of us today who call ourselves His people. He is as amazing today as He was then. He deserves our praise as much as He did theirs. He is worthy of our thanks, praise, honor and attention. Because He alone is God.

Father, I do praise you enough. I do not acknowledge Your greatness enough. I do not sing of your worthiness enough. Yet You are as faithful, powerful, reliable, and gracious as You have ever been. Praise You!!! Amen



The Presence of God.

1 Chronicles 13-14

It is time to bring back the Ark of our God, for we neglected it during the reign of Saul. ­– 1 Chronicles 13:3 NLT

These two chapters record the same basic details as found in 2 Samuel 5-6. David attempts to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, the new capital of the nation. The significance of this event is that the Ark represented the presence and power of God. The people had actually tried to use the Ark as a good luck charm when fighting with the Philistines, sending for it in the hopes that it would give them victory over their enemies. But instead, the Ark was captured by the Philistines. With the loss of the Ark the people also lost the glory of God. "The glory of God has departed from Israel, for the ark of God was taken" (1 Samuel 4:22 NASB). The Ark symbolized the power and presence of God. With its loss, both had departed from Israel. After its return by the Philistines, the Ark had been left in Kiriath-Jearim for 100 years. During the entire reign of Saul, the Ark had been ignored and abandoned, and with it, the power and presence of God had also been overlooked.

David wanted to begin his kingdom in the right way and he knew the he would be dependent on both God's power and presence. David knew the significance of the Ark and the role it had played in the history of Israel all during their years wandering in the wilderness. It had been a prominent fixture in the tabernacle where it sat in the holy of holies. In making the Ark a permanent fixture in his new capital, David was clearly indicating his desire to have the presence and power of God a part of his kingdom and reign. David wanted God involved in his kingdom. He inquired of God for direction and insight before acting. Having God intimately involved in his kingship was vital to David. And God confirmed His power and presence by answering David's inquiries and fighting on his behalf. How much do we need the power and presence of God in our lives? It begins with acknowledging our need for Him. It involves including Him in the daily decisions of our lives. It means that we turn to His Word for wisdom, guidance, and direction. We listen for His voice. We don't act until we have confidence that He has spoken. Saul had learned to operate independently from God. David was beginning his reign completely dependent on God. "So David’s fame spread everywhere, and the LORD caused all the nations to fear David" (1 Chronicles 14:17 NLT).

Father, I cannot survive without Your power and presence. I try, but the results are always the same. So help me grow in my dependence on You. I want to live my life with You, not without You. I want to seek You, not ignore You. Give me a heart like David had. Amen



The Kingdom of God.

2 Samuel 5:11-25; 6

And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. ­– 2 Samuel 5:12 NLT

A lot has been written and said about David over the centuries. He is held up as an icon of faithfulness and a man after God's own heart, despite his many faults and flaws. He was the prolific composer of many, if not most, of the Psalms. He was a successful king, but also a less-than-successful father. He ruled and reigned well. He was a mighty warrior and a skilled musician – kind of a renaissance man. He was powerful, yet humble. His kingdom was expansive and yet he didn't seem to have an ego to match.

But 2 Samuel 5-6 reminds us that this isn't about David. He is NOT the star of the movie. He is just another bit player in God's incredible play about the redemption of mankind. Even David recognized that God was the central character of this drama in which he found himself. It was God who had made David king over Israel. It was God who had blessed David – all for the sake of His people Israel. This was not about David. It was and is, as always, about God. We so easily lose sight of that fact. We become confused and begin to think that this event called "life" is all about us. We begin to believe that the universe revolves around our lives and our decisions, so we view everything from our very limited perspective, convincing ourselves that everyone and everything, including God, is here to make our lives more enjoyable and comfortable.

But God reminds us that we are walk-ons in His great drama of redemption. We will come and go, much like David did. He was a tool in the hand of God to accomplish His will and establish His kingdom on earth. God's divine plan continues on long after David has been gone. No man, including David, is allowed to play fast and lose with God's will and ways. Just because David was a man after God's own heart did not mean he could interact with God however he wanted. He learned that lesson the hard way when he attempted to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, but chose to do it without following the strict guidelines provided by God. Rather than transport the Ark on poles carried by the Levites, David decided to expedite matters and put it on a cart pulled by some oxen. He even made sure it was a NEW cart. But when the cart became unbalanced and Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark with his hand, he was immediately struck dead by God. He had violated God's command. Disobedience had brought death. But wasn't David just trying to do right? Wasn't he simply attempting to return the Ark of God to the city of God? What's the big deal? Why did Uzzah have to die? Because God is holy and His Word is law. He is to be feared and obeyed. David may have been king, but God was the sovereign ruler over Israel. His word was not to be violated or altered in any way. David's clever plan for transporting the Ark could NOT replace God's commands. Any attempt to do so would end in disaster – and did.

Chapter six ends with David celebrating the arrival of the Ark into Jerusalem. They eventually got it there when they did it God's way. And David led the festivities as he danced before the Ark in joyful celebration of the goodness and greatness of His God. David knew that his position was completely dependent on God's will. He was nothing without God. He would not survive without God's protection, guidance, and presence. He would not succeed without the help of Almighty God. This was His kingdom, not David's. These were His people, not David's. This was His story, not David's. And it is still His story today, not ours.

Father, it has been and always will be about You. Forgive me for trying to make it about me so much of the time. Give me the ability to see the world through Your eyes. Give me a greater and grander perspective. Help me get my eyes off of me and onto You. I would not be here without You. Amen



Rejected. Returned. Restored.

Psalm 107

Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. ­– Psalms 107:2 NLT

In this Psalm, we have four word pictures of the people of God being returned by God from captivity. If you are reading along with us in The Quest, our daily reading through the Old Testament, we have been going back and forth from the Psalms to 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. In Chronicles, the author is addressing the people of Israel who have just recently returned to the land of Israel after having spent 70 years in captivity in Babylon. This Psalm addresses that same group. It emphasizes the lovingkindness of God expressed toward them even though they had rebelled against Him. He uses these four word pictures or visual metaphors to paint the dire nature of Israel's fate. One is that of a person on a journey who has lost his way (Psalms 107:4-10). The second is person who finds themselves locked away in a prison (Psalms 107:11-16). The third is a person who suffering from illness (Psalms 107:17-22). And the final image is of a sailor lost in a storm (Psalms 107:23-32). In each case, their problem has been caused by rebellion against God. As a result, they find themselves in a predicament with no way of escape. This causes them to pray, crying out to God to spare them. In each scenario, the result is that God hears and provides a way of escape or deliverance. The response? Praise to God for His lovingkindness and mercy.

In four little stories, the Psalmist reminds his readers of just how bad things were when they were in captivity. They were lost with no way to get home. They were prisoners in a foreign land, as good as behind bars, with no way of escape. They were as good as dead, in need of healing, suffering because of their own sinfulness. And they were like sailors lost in a violent storm, at the mercy of the sea. Yet in every case, God responded in mercy and grace. He delivered them. He led them. He satisfied them. He filled them. He saved them. He brought them out. He broke their bonds apart. He shattered gates of bronze. He healed them. He guided them.

God delivers the needy. But we must reach the point of need. As long as we stubbornly hold onto our pride and independence, refusing to admit our problem and cry out to Him, we remain in our predicament. But as soon as we humble ourselves and pray for His deliverance, He hears and He delivers. "When they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, misery and sorrow … He sets the needy securely on high away from affliction, and makes his families like a flock" (Psalms 107:39-41 NASB).

So what's in this for us? "Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord" (Psalms 107:43 NLT). We will learn from the lives of the Israelites. They rebelled and suffered the consequences. They refused to obey the Lord. They rejected His leadership in their lives and they reaped the results. But as soon as they realized the folly of their ways and recognized their need for God, humbly crying out to Him for His help, He responded. He loves to respond. He loves to deliver. He loves to redeem. He loves to save. He loves to show Himself strong on behalf of His children. But we must cry out before God will reach down. We must recognize our need for Him if we desire to be delivered by Him. We must come to an end of ourselves and our stubborn desire to solve all our own problems. God is in the restoration business.

Father, what a great reminder. You want to restore me. You desire to bless me. But I must reach an end of myself. I must humble myself before You and cry out. I must admit my need for Your help and my own inability to save myself. Forgive me for the many times I stubbornly remain in the middle of my problem just because I refuse to admit that I can't fix it. And all the while You are patiently waiting for me to call out to You for help, to admit my neediness and helplessness. When I reach the end of me, I discover the beginning of Your grace and mercy all over again. Amen



A Primer On Praise.

Psalm 106

Even so, he pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries. He remembered his covenant with them and relented because of his unfailing love. ­– Psalms 106:44-45 NLT

In the book of Chronicles, we have been reading a recap of the history of Israel aimed at an audience that had just come back from 70 years in captivity. In the book of 2 Samuel we have been reading about David's long-awaited ascent to the throne of Israel, after years of isolation in the wilderness running from Saul. In both cases, these are individuals who might have reason to question the goodness of God and His faithfulness to them. Why had He allowed them to go through all that they had gone through? How could a good and loving God allow His children to suffer for so long?

If you consider the context, this Psalm takes on a whole new light. In it, the Psalmist is calling on the people of God to praise God. He wants them to give God thanks for His goodness and lovingkindness. He wants them to remember all that God has done for them. And just in case their memory is spotty and they have a hard time recalling just what it is that God has done on their behalf – he tells them. In not-so-subtle fashion, he outlines the not-so-pretty history of the people of Israel and their interactions with God. He reminds them of their sin and rebellion, how all the way back to Egypt they had been questioning God and rebelling against His plan for them. Even after He had miraculously released them from captivity in Egypt, they rebelled against His leadership when they found themselves at the Red Sea with no way across and the enemy bearing down on them. They questioned His lovingkindness and doubted His power. Yet He still provided a way of escape. While they were in the wilderness, they repeatedly complained against His leadership, His ability to provide, and the integrity of His plan for their lives. At one point, the Psalmist reminds his readers that "In the wilderness, their desires ran wild, testing God’s patience in that dry land" (Psalms 106:14 NLT). Driven by their physical desires, and not just for food, the people continually rebelled against God. The list goes on and on. Their track record was not a good one. They worshiped idols, forgot God, and complained continually. They even rejected the idea of the Promised Land, demanding to be allowed to go back to where they had been in captivity for over 400 years. They had rather be slaves in Egypt than servants of the one true God in the land of promise.

God punished them repeatedly over the years for their rebellion. He sent nations against them, using these foreign lands to subjugate the people of God to slavery and oppression. Then He would miraculously deliver them. Only to see them fall back into the same sin and rebellion. Then the cycle would repeat itself. This is the story of the period of the Judges. "Again and again he delivered them, but they continued to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their sin" (Psalms 106:43 NLT).

Nevertheless. Even so, Yet. Still. Depending on the translation you use, we are reminded in a few words the key to this whole passage. In spite of all that they had done to alienate and rebel against God, He responded in love, kindness, mercy and grace. He looked down. He heard their cry. He remembered His covenant with them. He relented. Even when they found themselves in captivity in Babylon, God caused their captors to show them mercy – to the point that they allowed the people of God to return to their own land. God cared for them even though they had rejected Him. That is why He is worthy of our praise. He had saved them. He had gathered them from among the nations. So their response should be to glorify His name, to bless Him for who He is and all that He has done, and to thank Him for His undeserved grace and mercy. This message would have resonated with the people of God and with David. God had been good to them. They were now back home and David was now on the throne.

But what about us? Do we fully understand all that God has done for us through the death, burial and resurrection of His Son on our behalf? Do we comprehend the magnitude of our own sin and rebellion, our alienation of God just due to our inherited and inherent sin nature? We were at one time separated from God by a gulf that was too wide for us to cross. We were condemned by sin and worthy of God's righteous and just punishment. We were dead in our sinfulness. And yet, nevertheless, even so, still – God sent His Son. "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8 NASB). We couldn't save ourselves, so God did it for us. He sent His Son to die in our place. He showed us mercy when we deserved wrath. He extended grace that was unwarranted and undeserved. And now we stand before Him as forgiven, righteous, redeemed, restored, with full access to His throne as His own children. So why wouldn't we praise Him? Why wouldn't we constantly thank Him for all that He has done? Why would we waste a single second complaining about the petty little things we feel like He has dropped the ball on? Why would we even think about whining about our lot in life, when we He has saved us from captivity to sin and the penalty of eternal death? "And let all the people say, "Amen." Praise the LORD!" (Psalms 106:48 NASB).

Father, I have so much to praise You for, but I need nothing more than the fact that You have saved me in spite of me. You took me when I was at my worst and provided a way of salvation I couldn't have come up with on my own. I was dead and You made me alive. I was captive to a life of sin and You set me free. I was condemned to death and You pardoned me. You paid the price for my sin that I could never have afforded to pay. I stand before You restored, redeemed, and fully forgiven by You. So You are more than worthy of my praise! Amen



The Beauty of Unity.

Psalm 133

How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along! ­– Psalms 133:1 MSG

This is a song of ascents. It would have been sung by pilgrims as they ascended the paths to Jerusalem each year to celebrate the feasts. What an appropriate song to sing in anticipation of meeting together with brothers and sisters from all over Israel as they gathered in the holy city to worship God together. Attributed to David, this Psalm celebrates the bond followers of Yahweh shared as His chosen people. Twelve tribes, but united under one banner – the banner of the Lord.

David uses two different visuals to help describe just how precious and beautiful this unity is. In one sense it is like the anointing oil that Moses poured over Aaron's head when he anointed him as Israel's first high priest (Leviticus 8:12). That oil would have been poured liberally over Aaron's head and would have flowed down onto his robe covering the breastplate that held the 12 names of the Israelite tribes. Just as the oil would have soaked Aaron's head, beard, robe, and the breastplate, flowing all the way to his feet, so unity "covers" the people of God – making them one and acceptable in His eyes.

The second visual David uses is the dew that descended onto the top of Mount Hermon, the highest mountain in Israel. In a land where drought was a common problem, dew was a welcome and refreshing sight. Dew has invigorating properties, bringing life to parched ground and plants. Unity among believers has a refreshing and restorative quality to it. It brings joy and invigorates all who experience it.

Unity is to be sought by God's people. When we are unified, we can properly perform our duties as His priests. In 1 Peter 2:9 we read: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." We have a priestly role to play. But disunity disqualifies us from service. Jesus Himself prayed that we might be one. Over in His High Priestly Prayer recorded in John 17, Jesus asked His Father, "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father––that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me" (John 17:20-21 NLT). Unity among believers is testimony to the fact that we are in Christ. It is only possible because of the finished work of Christ on the cross. When the world sees us living together in unity, they are drawn to the reality of God and their own need for Christ. So why wouldn't we pursue unity at all costs?

Father, I long that we may be one just as You and the Father are one. May our love for one another reflect Your love for us. Show us what real unity looks like. So that the world may know. Amen



Even On Our Worst Days, God Shows Up.

1 Chronicles 12

The following men joined David at Ziklag while he was hiding from Saul son of Kish. They were among the warriors who fought beside David in battle. ­– 1 Chronicles 12:1 NLT

The chronicler is still building a case for the validity of the reign of David. He is convincing the people returning from exile that David's reign as king, even though long ended, was the work of God. And God's promise of a future king to sit on the throne of David was going to happen. To satisfy the people of David's legitimacy and unite them as one people, the chronicler recounts the story of David's flight to the land of the Philistines to escape the wrath of Saul. This story is told in 1 Samuel 27. Things had gotten so bad for David that he decides the only thing for him to do is to hide among the enemy, so that Saul will think he has defected. Not exactly a great plan. It would cause David all kinds of problems in the long run, and there is no indication that it was a plan given to him by God. Yet, in the midst of one of David's greatest moments of despondency and desperation, God shows up. This time He shows up in the form of the "mighty men of valor."

In this chapter we are given a detailed accounting of the tens of thousands of Israelite warriors from every tribe who defected to David's side even while he was living with the enemy. This says much about their respect for David and indicates that God was a part of this plan. Here was David, living in enemy territory, as far from the throne of Israel as he could possibly get, and yet God is building his army for him. And not just any army. He is surrounding David with the best and the brightest, the strongest and the bravest. Every day a new batch of battle-hardened soldiers showed up on David's doorstep. Don't you think the first group were a shock to David? As a matter of fact, when they showed up, David thought they had come to capture him. He senses betrayal, and for good reason. It had happened before. But these men pledge their allegiance to David and indicate that they knew that God was with David and not Saul. With each passing day, David's army grew. "Hardly a day went by without men showing up to help--it wasn't long before his band seemed as large as God's own army!" (1 Chronicles 12:22 MSG).

Even in the midst of the Philistine camp, God was confirming David's future and preparing him for his eventual ascension to the throne. God was working in ways that David never would have dreamed. His desperate attempt to hide among the Philistines could not hide him from the will of God. God was going to finish what He had begun, and in a spectacular fashion. With this many men defecting to David, it is no wonder that Saul was so easily defeated in battle against the Philistines and took his own life. God had removed the greatest warriors from Saul and given them to David. God's hand was on David. He was God's hand-picked successor to Saul and nothing was going to prevent His will from being done.

In your worst moments do you tend to see the hand of God or do you simply see darkness and despair? God is there working. He is bringing into your life "mighty men of valor." It could be in the form of an encouraging word from a friend. It could be a surprising answer to prayer. It could be a passage that you have read a thousand time that suddenly speaks to you in a fresh and exciting way. It could be by giving you an insight into an area of your life that He wants to work on. God is always at work in the lives of those He has chosen and loves. Even in our darkest days.

Father, thank You for this encouraging word. I want to look for you in each and every circumstance, because I know You are there. You are working behind the scenes in ways that are unexpected and sometimes unseen. But You are there. Let me see You today. Amen



Is God With You?

2 Samuel 5:1-10; 1 Chronicles 11

David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him. ­– 1 Chronicles 11:9 NASB

David had been through a lot over the years. But now he was seeing his circumstances take a decidedly positive turn. Rather than running for his life, he was being crowned king of Israel. Instead of living the life of a renegade and outlaw, he was being recognized as the legitimate ruler of the kingdom. All his past deeds on behalf of the nation were suddenly remembered and the people were glad to put him on the throne. Not only was he God's choice, he was the people's choice. They overwhelmingly supported David as their king. All thoughts of Saul had disappeared.

From this point forward, the chronicler is going to begin to focus his attention on the glory years of David's reign. He is going to recount David's rise to power and his establishment of Jerusalem as his capitol. The capture of Jerusalem was going to be critical to Israel's future. It was there that the Temple would eventually be built and the sacrificial system that God required would be practiced. Jerusalem would play a significant role in the history of Israel from this time forward – and continues to do so today. The chronicler also recounts the rise of David's Mighty Men. This group of valiant warriors had been attracted to David by his courage, military know-how, and his character. They recognized a good leader when they saw one. Most of these guys gave their allegiance to David while he was still running from Saul. These men would rather have risked their lives living on the run with David, than serving a less-than-godly leader like Saul. The bravery of these men is clearly outlined for us and it shows the kind of men that David attracted. His leadership and character were magnets attracting men of strength and integrity.

But the greatest point in these two passages is the reference to God's presence. David was who he was, not because of his exploits, not because of his capture of Jerusalem, and not because of the kind of men with whom he associated. David was who he was because God was with him. And God was with David because David shared God's heart. He loved the things God loved. He had a passion for the same things God did. David was a man after God"s own heart. Was he perfect? Obviously not. Would he make mistakes? Yes, he would make many. But he never lost his heart for the things of God. He loved God and all that God loved. So God was with Him, and God prospered Him. God blessed Him. And the same is true for us today. God longs to bless those who share His heart, who love what He loves, and pursue what He desires. David's interests were the same as God's. And God recognized that. As long as David put the things of God first, God put David first. He prospered and protected him. Is God with You today? Do you have a heart for the same things He does?

Father, give me a heart that longs for and loves the same things You do. I desire Your constant presence in my life. I want to be a man after Your own heart. Amen



O Come Let Us Adore Him!

Psalms 103-104

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. ­– Psalms 103:1 NASB

When's the last time you expressed your love and adoration to God? I mean, really let Him know how much you love and appreciate Him? These two familiar and incredible Psalms of praise to God ought to remind us just how infrequently we verbally let God know how much He means to us. In both Psalms, David speaks to his soul. He reminds himself to praise God because of who He is, for all that He has done, and all the myriad ways He shows us His love, mercy, and grace each and every day. Because God is out of sight and out of mind for most of us as human being – in other words, we can't see Him – we have to make an effort to think about Him and look for His activities and actions in and around our lives. For David, it was to put it in song. For you and me, it might be a favorite CD with some songs of praise to God that we listen to regularly and that remind us of His goodness and grace. It might be that we start each day by reading these two Psalms

Let's fact it, most of us take God for granted. We rarely think about the fact that each breath we take is a gift from Him. Unless we happen to be standing at the brink of the Grand Canyon looking out over its majestic landscape, we probably don't get blown away by God's creative handiwork too much as we drive to work or mow the yard. But if we could train ourselves to think "Godly" thoughts, to look for Him each and every day in the world that surrounds us, we would probably be more grateful and a lot less grumpy!

So come let us adore Him. Sing His praises. Shout about His incredible mercies. Remind one another of His limitless love. We have a lot to adore, and there's more to come.

Father, give me eyes to see You, lips to praise you, ears to hear you, hands to serve you, feet to follow you, and a lifetime that is filled with adoration for who You are and all that You have done. Amen



Some Things Never Change.

Psalm 102

But You, O Lord, abide forever, and Your name to all generations. ­– Psalms 102:12 NASB

This is one of those Psalms most of us can relate to. We've all had times in our lives where we felt just the Psalmist did. He is crying out to God. He is asking God to hear his prayer, but he feels as if God has turned a deaf ear to his plight. Things are so bad, he can't sleep, he's lost his appetite, and he feels like everything is caving in on him. Sound familiar? It does to me. The fact is, we all go through moments like that, because it is part of living in a fallen world. We are surrounded by hurt and heartache. People do mean things to other people. Difficulties and trials come, and seemingly, always at the wrong time. It was true in the Psalmist's day and it is true in our day. Some things never change.

But right in the middle of this Psalm of lament, we read the word "But," and with it, the Psalmist takes a slightly different direction with his message. He reminds himself and us that God is also unchanging. In the midst of all the suffering and sorrow of life, God is a consistent and constant presence. For the Psalmist, the temple in Jerusalem was the dwelling place of God's presence. It was there that He met with His people. But God is also enthroned on high and from His unique vantage point He can look down on the sufferings of mankind and act. He hears the groanings of the prisoner. He sets free those doomed to death. God is not bound by time or limited in how He can deal with the difficulties we encounter in this life. The Psalmist compares the brevity of his own life to the eternalness of God. He is finite. God is infinite. God will outlast the very world He created. He will be around long after we are gone. His years will not come to an end, but ours will. And while my life may end, God will still be there faithfully and sovereignly interacting with those who follow after me. Suffering is a part of life. So is the sovereignty of God. So when we think everything is out of control, we need to remind ourselves that He is not.

Father, help me to continue to learn to focus on You and not my surroundings. You are the unchanging one. You are the ONLY thing I can count on in this life. You are consistent and constant, faithful and unfailing. And Your eternalness reminds me that I have a secure future – forever. This is NOT all there is. Amen



A Refresher Course.

1 Chronicles 9-10

Saul died in disobedience, disobedient to GOD. He didn't obey GOD's words. Instead of praying, he went to a witch to seek guidance. Because he didn't go to GOD for help, GOD took his life and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse. ­– 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 MSG

For nine chapters the chronicler has painstakingly presented the genealogies of the twelves tribes of Israel. He has reminded them of their unique and rich heritage as God's chosen people. They have returned from exile due to the grace and mercy of God. Chapter nine pictures a reinstituted priesthood and a revitalized sacrificial system at the temple in Jerusalem. This mention of the holy city reminds the people of their duty to worship God and Him alone. Jerusalem is also the city where the king resides. It is the place where David and Solomon had their palaces and conducted their reigns as the kings of Israel.

Now the writer is going to give the people a refresher course in how they got to where they are. He starts out in chapter 10 by revisiting the unflattering demise of Saul. He is going to juxtapose the reign of Saul with that of David and he does so by simply concentrating on Saul's death. Chapter ten is virtually word for word what is recorded in 1 Samuel 31. What a contrast we seen in the life of Saul and that of David, the man after God's own heart. Saul was the king appointed as a result of the people's demand for a king just like all the other nations had. They got what they wanted. Someone who looked like a leader, but lacked the integrity and character that true godly leadership requires. Solomon was the king after the people's heart. His name means "he who was requested." But Saul had a problem. He refused to obey God and His prophet Samuel. Unlike David, Saul was not a man after God's own heart. In fact, he really didn't have a heart for God. Since Saul refused to listen to God, God reached the point where He stopped listening to Saul. God even chose Saul's successor long before his life and his kingdom came to an end. God chose David.

The writer makes it clear that Saul died because of his own trespasses. He had sinned against God. Saul had refused to obey God and worship Him as God. In telling Saul's story, the chronicler is telling the story of the people of Israel. They had been in exile all these years for similar reasons. They had failed to listen to and obey God. In fact, the very fact that Saul was ever on the throne goes back to the people's stubborn insistence that they have a king – instead of being satisfied with God as their king.

The following chapters will contrast the faithfulness of David with the unfaithfulness of Saul. David was God's choice for Israel. Because David was faithful, he reign was blessed. The book of Chronicles makes a repeated tie between blessing and faithfulness and judgment and disobedience. We can probably stand to listen to what the writer of Chronicles is trying to tell us. God is a holy God who demands that His followers live holy lives. But the good news it that He is not expecting us to manufacture this holiness on our own. He supplies all we need through the presence of His Holy Spirit and His written Word. We can live faithful lives and enjoy the blessings of God. We can live in obedience. We can be a people after God's own heart. He has equipped us to do just that.

Father, may obedience mark our lives more than disobedience. May we be a people who turn to You and not the counterfeit gods of this world. We want to be faithful. We want to be pleasing to You. Thank You for making it possible through the indwelling power of Your Spirit and the truth found in Your Word. Amen



One Nation, Under God.

1 Chronicles 7-8

Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malkishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. ­– 1 Chronicles 8:33 NLT

We finally reach the end of this lengthy list of genealogies as the writer provides a more detailed accounting of the tribe of Benjamin. But with that done, he has included the twelve tribes of Israel. In reality, he has left out the tribes of Dan and Zebulun. He had included the tribe of Levi and had dealt with the two halves of the tribe of Manasseh separately. So if he had included Dan and Zebulun, it would have added up to 14 tribes. So it seems that it was more important to the writer to keep intact the 12 tribes than worry about which ones got left out or included. But notice that he gave special emphasis to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The tribe of Benjamin is covered in verses 6-12 of chapter 7, but then again in greater detail in all of chapter 8. Judah was also given more extensive coverage. Why? It seems that these two tribes held special significance because the first two kings of Israel came from them. Saul was of the tribe of Benjamin. David was of the tribe of Judah. Saul was the first king and the people's choice. David was the second king and God's choice.

But it seems that the chronicler is going out of his way to emphasize that God is the God of all the tribes of Israel. They had all been returned by God from exile in Babylon to the land of promise. Every person who read this account could trace back his lineage to one of these tribes. They could relate to the history of Saul and David. They all shared the same covenant-keeping God. God had a plan for all of Israel, not just Judah. But He was going to use Judah to establish His kingdom – in the future. From the tribe of Judah would come the Messiah.

By providing the lengthy genealogies, the writer is reminding the people of Israel of their significance in the world. They have a rich heritage and are each descendants of Abraham, and, as such, are the chosen people of God. This fact could have easily been forgotten after spending 70 years in exile. So God reminds them of who they are and from whence they have come. He has returned them to the land, and while things might not look so good at the moment, He is far from done.

Father, too often we forget our heritage. We forget that we are sons of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We live like we are exiles, living in a strange land and getting comfortable with the lifestyle of those around us. But like you did with the Israelites returning from Babylon, You remind us of our unique heritage. We are Your sons and daughters. We are Your children. And You have chosen us so that You might bless us. Let us never forget who we really are. Amen



A Right Response To A Righteous God.

Psalms 92-93

O LORD, what great miracles you do! And how deep are your thoughts. ­– Psalms 92:5 NLT

Thanksgiving. Singing. Declaring His lovingkindness. Gladness. Joy. Fruitfulness. Recognition of His sovereignty.

These two Psalms paint a clear picture of how the people of God should respond to Him. As we learn to reflect on all that He has done in the past and all that He is doing around us in the present, we will see life from a different perspective. As we read the Word and discover His character and learn about His great acts of goodness and righteousness to His people over the years, we grow in our optimism and trust. We are more apt to rejoice even when things do not appear to go the way we would like them to go, because we know and understand His character. Thanksgiving and praise come more readily and freely because we see life from God's perspective. He is powerful, loving, righteous, just, and causes His people to live fruitful lives even in times of difficulty.

One of the things we tend to forget is that God is ruler over everything and everyone. Because we see the world as out of control, we tend to believe that God is somehow a powerless spectator to the events going on around us or, worse yet, a disinterested deity who could do something about it, but just chooses not to. But the Psalmist reminds us that God reigns and rules on high. "The LORD is king! He is robed in majesty. Indeed, the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken" (Psalms 93:1 NLT). God is in complete control. And He is powerful. "But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore––the LORD above is mightier than these!" (Psalms 93:4 NLT).

Praise and thanksgiving come naturally when we truly believe these things about God. But when we are filled with doubt about His power and majesty, when we don't recognize His faithfulness and love for us, then we find it hard to thank Him in times of difficulty. But where do we learn about God? How can we grow in our confidence in His character and power? One way is through the reading of His Word. As we read the Scriptures, we are given a glimpse into the incredible character of God as it is exposed in the stories of God's interactions with mankind. We see His love, mercy, kindness, and righteousness, but we also see His anger, justice, holiness, and hatred of sin. We also see God's redemptive nature. How He wants to rescue mankind out of their slavery to sin and gave the life of His own Son to make it happen. The Bible is a picture of who God is. The stories are reminders of His character. He is the same today as He was then. But we also can learn of God's character as He works in and around our lives today. We can see His character revealed in our lives and in the lives of those around us. But we have to know what to look for. We can see His faithfulness and love as we encounter other believers who come alongside us in times of difficulty. Their love is an expression of His love. We can see God's power when we see marriages restored or sicknesses healed. We can see God's provision every time we eat a meal, deposit a paycheck or pay a bill. He provided the means to do them all. We can see God's matchless mercy and grace every time we find ourselves falling into sin yet again. Each time we do, we can go to Him for forgiveness and He always extends it. We can see God in our lives, but we have to train ourselves to look for Him. And when we learn to see Him, we begin to thank Him, to sing His praises, to declare His goodness and mercy. Just like the Psalmist.

Father, it is good to give thanks to You. I spend far too much time complaining and far too little time being grateful. And You have given me much to be grateful for. Amen



The Dark Night of the Soul.

Psalms 81; 88

You have thrown me into the lowest pit, into the darkest depths. Your anger weighs me down; with wave after wave you have engulfed me. ­– Psalms 88:6-7 NLT

Dark nights of the soul. We've all experienced them. Those moments in life where everything seems to be caving in onyou. When God seems distant and your prayers appear to go unanswered. The two Psalms in today's reading stand in stark contrast from one another. Psalm 81 has God Himself crying out to His people to remember and repent. He reminds them of His faithfulness and of His redemption of them from slavery in Egypt. He also reminds them of their rebellion and disobedience. Then He gives them the key to restoration. "But oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes! Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him; their desolation would last forever. But I would feed you with the best of foods. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock" (Psalms 81:13-16 NLT). Listen. Follow me. Walk in my paths. God is looking for obedience. He longs to bless, but His blessing requires obedience. In verses 8-10 God makes it clear that their disobedience had to do with following after other gods. They had replaced Him with the false gods of Egypt and the land of Canaan. He required fidelity and faithfulness, but they had failed to remain true to Him and Him alone. Yet He longed to restore them and bless them.

Where Psalms 81 seems to give a view of life from God's perspective, Psalms 88 is totally from man's view point. In it, the Psalmist describes the dark night of the soul in which he find himself. His world is collapsing around him. He is under extreme pressure. He is even close to death. Yet he keeps crying out to God. He begs for Him to listen to him and rescue him. He even seems to believe that it is God who has brought all of this upon him. "You place me in the lowest regions of the pit, in the dark places, in the watery depths. Your anger bears down on me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves" (Psalms 88:6-7 NET). He feels completely rejected by God. And unlike most of the other Psalms, this one ends in sadness, with no resolution or declaration of God's righteousness or faithfulness. There are no statements regarding God as his rock, fortress, redeemer, or rescuer. It ends as it began – in despair.

So what do we do with these two Psalms? How do we resolve the apparent conflict? I think it is all in how we view them. It's all about perspective. One Psalm gives a horizontal view of life – from man's limited perspective. The other Psalm gives us a view of life from God's vantage point. During the dark nights of the soul, it is easy to lose sight of God's bigger perspective. While the write of Psalm 88 seemed to have an understanding of God's sovereignty, it was fairly negative. Yes, he believed that God was in control, but that God only brought bad things into his life. God brought punishment and nothing else. Since God was in control, all the pain and suffering in his life had to come from God. And God does allow pain and suffering to come into our lives. Sometimes He even uses it to admonish us or get our attention. But Psalm 81 reminds us that God always has a method to His seeming madness. He has a reason for and a plan behind the events that take place in our lives. But we have to look beyond and behind those vents to see His perspective. He has our good in mind. Even when He punishes us, it is for our own good. The writer of Hebrews understood this concept. "And have you entirely forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you, his children? He said, 'My child, don’t ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children'" (Hebrews 12:5-6 NLT). Correction and discipline do come from the Lord at times. But sometimes the suffering we encounter is a result of living in a fallen world. Death, disease, and disappointment are part of the result of the fall. And they impact everyone – the saved and the unsaved. As believers we are not immune to these things. The economy affects us just like everyone else. We are susceptible to disease just like everyone else. We can be hurt and disappointed just like everyone else. But we know that God loves us. He sent His Son to die for us. He has our best interests in mind. He is in the process of transforming us into the likeness of His Son. And He uses these events in and around our lives to do just that. We just have to see life from His perspective. Is He punishing us? Perhaps. But it could just be that we are experiencing the affects of the fall on our lives. And He is allowing this dark night of the soul to remind us of our need and dependence upon Him. He wants us to do just what the writer of Psalms 88 was doing – to call out to Him. To wrestle with Him. To even blame Him if that is what it takes to get us to call out to Him. It is okay to ask Him "Why?" and "When?" But when we learn to see life from God's perspective we will learn to patiently wait for His answer to our questions because we know that He loves us and has our best interest in mind. Our questions will begin to be "What?" and "Where?"  What are you trying to teach me? What are You wanting to do in my life? Where can I see Your hand at work? It's all about perspective.

Father, give me Your perspective on life. Help me to see the events of my life from a higher vantage point. It's hard sometimes, but I know You are willing to open my eyes and give me Your divine perspective. When I enter those dark nights of the soul, help me to see Your light shining in the midst of them. Amen



The King and the Priest.

1 Chronicles 6

Only Aaron and his descendants served as priests. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and the altar of incense, and they performed all the other duties related to the Most Holy Place. They made atonement for Israel by following all the commands that Moses, the servant of God, had given them. ­– 1 Chronicles 6:49 NLT

As the people of Israel once again stood on the land promised to them and provided for them by God, the writer of Chronicles wants to remind them of two important facts: The role of the king and the importance of the priesthood to their lives. In his careful, if not boring, list of genealogies, he has spent a great deal of time outlining the lineage of Judah, the tribe through which not only David the king and his descendants came, but through which the Messiah would come. Now he methodically presents the lineage of the tribe of Levi, the tribe appointed by God to serve as priests to Him. While the people have been in exile, the priesthood has effectively been suspended. They could only serve as long as Israel remained in the Promised Land, and as long as the temple where God's presence dwelt remained standing. One of the most significant benefits of returning to the land was the reinstitution of the sacrificial system. This would have been suspended as long as the people were in exile. The priesthood was essential to the restoration of community life and the peoples' covenant relationship with God. The priests and the Temple were central to life in Israel and had been missing for more than 70 years. This chapter reemphasizes their importance.

This list also reminds the people that it was God who had chosen Aaron and his sons to serve Him as priests. When God rescued the people out of captivity in Egypt, He had claimed the firstborn son as His by right. They were to be dedicated to His service for their lifetimes. But instead, God had chosen to allow the Levites to serve in their place. They were His hand-picked representatives and this chapter clearly indicates their importance in the covenant community.

Remember, this book was written to a people returning from Exile. Many, if not most, had been born in exile and were ignorant of the history and unique relationship that God had with the people of Israel. This is the writer's attempt at reminding them of just how unique they were as a people. God was intimately involved in the history and daily life of the people of Israel and these newly released exiles needed to be reminded. Sometimes we need a refresher course on just how unique we are as the people of God. Tainted by the world and numbed by constant contact with the things of the world, we lose sight of the reality of our unique position as God's chosen people. Christ is to serve as priest and king in our lives. He is our savior and sovereign Lord. He is the one we are to worship and obey. We are not like any other people group on earth. We have a High Priest who has offered the ultimate sacrifice for our sins – His own life. We have a King who rules and reigns from His throne in heaven and who is one day going to return to reestablish His rule here on earth. Those two facts should change the way we live and think.

Father, never let me forget the reality of the fact that Your Son reigns as king of my life and serves as the High Priest of my life. His sacrifice is what gives me access to the throne of God. His sovereignty and power give Him the right to rule over my life. He is the Son of David, the rightful heir to the throne. He is the great High Priest, the one who offered the final sacrifice for my sins. May I willingly obey Him. Amen



Perfect Recall.

Psalms 77-78

But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago, they are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. ­– Psalms 77:11-12 NLT

There is a pattern to many of the Psalms. They start out with the Psalmist questioning God's presence. Where is God? Why does He seem to be nowhere to be found? From the Psalmist's perspective, it appears as if God has vacated the premises and left the inmates in charge of the asylum. From all appearances, things look out of control. The world appears to be falling apart and our lives seem surrounded by pain and suffering.

But just as suddenly as the Psalmist began, he takes a turn toward the positive. He begins to speak of God's faithfulness and unmistakable reliability. What brings about this radical change in perspective? A brief review of God's actions on behalf of men. Just about the time he finds himself whining over his lot in life, the Psalmist remembers all that God has done. He begins to remind himself of God's holiness and redemptive power. He takes a look back and gets renewed hope for the present. The God who was is the God who is. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. And sometimes we just need to be reminded of that fact.

Psalm 78 reminds us to remind our children of all that God has done. We are to tell the next generation about the mighty works of God. How will they know if we don't tell them? If we fail to tell them, they will grow up stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God (Psalms 78:8). Psalms 78 is a picture of God's faithfulness despite man's unfaithfulness. It is a reminder of God's sovereign rule over man. He sent … He gave … He destroyed … He abandoned … He loosed … He led … He drove out … He rejected … He abandoned … He routed … He chose … He took. God was involved. He was in charge. And remembering His unquestionable sovereignty over the past should remind us that He is just as much in control over the present.

Just about the time we begin to think God has forgotten us, we need to remember Him and all He has done for us. He CAN be trusted.

Father, increase my capacity to remember. Especially when things are looking scary. When I can't see you at work in my present circumstances, help me to recall Your past mercies. You have never let me down and You never will. Amen



Losing Our Focus.

Psalm 73

But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness."­– Psalms 73:2-3 NLT

I like to run. Mostly outdoors, but if it is rainy and cold I will sometimes resort to running on a treadmill. But it can be a dangerous experience. There is something about me and treadmills that make for a dangerous combination. If I lose focus, I can fall. If I find myself distracted in any way from the task at hand, and start looking around at what else is going on in the room, I can end up stepping off the center of the mat and running right off the treadmill. Believe me, it's happened – one time in a crowded YMCA in the middle of the lunch hour workout crowd. I was running along at a nice pace, when I decided to check out who was running on the treadmill next to me. I wanted to compare pace, running style, see if he was as tired as I was. That's when it happened. As I turned to look, my body slowly followed my head and I stepped right off the side of the treadmill. The next thing I know I was laying flat on my face at the back of the treadmill where the belt had deposited me when I fell. I was unhurt, but highly embarrassed. I had lost my focus. I had gotten distracted. I had forgotten why I was there in the first place.

That is what I think of when I read this Psalms. The Psalmist writes that he almost lost his footing. Why? Because he started looking around at his surroundings. He became distracted by the proud and their lot in life. He started to compare himself with others. And as soon as he did, he began to lose focus. He lost his perspective. This is a dangerous game that all of us play from time to time. Forgetting why we are here, we begin to compare our lot in life to those around us. We start looking around at the "wicked" and begin to notice that they seem to be better off than we are and we're the good guys. They seem happier, healthier, wealthier, and all despite their blatant disregard for God. All our efforts to live righteous lives start to look like a royal waste of time. We begin to second guess ourselves and doubt God.

That's when we need a new perspective. We need to get back on track. For the Psalmist it meant getting back in touch with God by going to the sanctuary of God. In other words, he had to get back into God's presence. He had to take his eyes off the world and put them back where they belonged – on God. When he did, his perspective changed. But as long as he kept his focus on the perceived inequities of life, his heart grew hard and his thinking clouded and distorted. Perspective changes everything though. Keeping our focus on God helps us view life from His vantage point, instead of our own. We have limited perspective, which is why we need to see things from His point of view.

When he turned his attention back to God, the Psalmist realized just how good he really had it. He could say, "Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever" (Psalms 73:25-26 NLT). "But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do" (Psalms 73:28 NLT). Now that's a change in perspective.

Father, I want to see the world from Your point of view, not mine. Forgive me for the many times I get distracted by what I see going on around me. I take my eyes off of You and I fall. I lose my sense of balance and begin believing that what I see taking place around me is the truth. It is reality. But only You are reality. Only You can be trusted. May I learn to trust You despite what I see going on around me. Amen



Glimpses of Faith.

1 Chronicles 4-5

…they cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him. ­– 1 Chronicles 5:20 NASB

More names. So many names that it is tempting to just give this section a quick, cursory reading and move on to more interesting parts of this book. But if you take the time and energy to wade through the lengthy list of difficult-to-pronounce names and confusing genealogical records, you stumble across a few important verses that give you a glimpse into the lives of a faithful few. Most of these individuals just remain names. We know little about them. But there is the occasional Jabez or the valiant sons of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. Jabez was an obscure individual who we know next to nothing about, but he is singled out by the author of the book as a man who prayed. He called out to God and God answered. He is an example of faith in the midst of a people who struggled with faith. Remember, the audience reading this book are coming back from 70 years in exile. They had been punished by God for their spiritual adultery. Jabez is a reminder to them of what their relationship to God should have been like. He asked God for blessing and abundance, requesting that God keep him from harm. We're told that God granted his request. The sons of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh were warriors who cried out to God in the day of battle and He answered their prayer – because they trusted God. They were doing what He told them to do, which was to remove the existing people from the Promised Land. They were being obedience and they were asking for His help. And He gave it.

The author also reminds the people what happened to Reuben because of his sin. As the firstborn of Jacob, he would have been in line to inherit all the blessings that come with that position, but he forfeited his rights because he had an adulterous affair with his father's concubine. As a result, he was passed over, and his rights were passed on to his brother Judah. Jacob lost out on the greatest blessing because of his sin. His actions had lasting ramifications.

The sons of the half-tribe of Manasseh are also given as an example of what happens to those who are unfaithful. We are told that they "acted treacherously against the God of their fathers and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land" (1 Chronicles 5:25 NASB). So God allowed them to be taken into captivity. Their unfaithfulness resulted in their punishment.

So in these two chapters listing out the descendants of five of the tribes of Israel, we see glimpses of faith and faithlessness, obedience and disobedience, trust and distrust. While the majority of the people had turned their back on God, there were a few who faithfully served Him, trusted in Him, and were blessed by Him. And it could be so again!. God is looking for those who will serve Him faithfully. He stands ready to answer their prayers and to bless their lives. He wants to show Himself strong on behalf of those who place their faith and trust in Him. And the same is true today.

Father, I want to be like Jabez, who placed his faith and trust in You. I don't want to be listed among those who were unfaithful and served other gods, turning away from the one true God. Give me a heart for You. I can't manufacture it. You have to instill it in me through Your Holy Spirit. Make me increasingly dependent on You and less self-sufficient. Amen



God Is Not Done Yet.

1 Chronicles 3

Now these were the sons of David… ­– 1 Chronicles 3:1 NASB

Remember, the book of Chronicles was written to a group of Jews returning from exile in Babylon where they had been for 70 years. They are suffering from an identity crisis, so the writer is reminding them of who they are and who God is. He is faithful. These boring genealogical lists mean little to us, but they would have been words of comfort to these people. Chapter three starts out with the descendants of David and traces them all the way into the restoration period in which these people found themselves. The truth is, David's kingdom had come to en end the moment Jerusalem fell and the Israelites were taken into captivity in Babylon. Yet God had promised that David would always have a descendant on his throne. This promise is summarized in the book of 2 Samuel: "For when you die, I will raise up one of your descendants, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house––a temple––for my name. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever" (2 Samuel 7:12-13 NLT). It was partially fulfilled in Solomon, but will ultimately be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Part of the Davidic Covenant also promised Israel a permanent homeland. "And I have provided a permanent homeland for my people Israel, a secure place where they will never be disturbed. It will be their own land where wicked nations won’t oppress them as they did in the past" (2 Chronicles 7:10 NLT). They had lost their land for 70 years, but were now being returned to it. God had kept His promise. But this promise will also ultimately be fulfilled completely through the Messiah – Jesus Christ.

By tracing David's line the writer was giving his original readers hope that God would fulfill His promises. The future did not depend ultimately on the decisions of Cyrus, king of the Persian Empire, but on the faithfulness of Yahweh (cf. Haggai 2:21-22). God is a covenant keeping God. He will do what He says He will do. Solomon was long gone. There was not king on David's throne at this point. Many of the men who followed David as king had been godless leaders. Israel had done their part. They had not kept their side of the covenant. Yet God was keeping His. He had returned them to the land. He would restore them. But He was far from done. God will one day send His Son again to restore things completely. He will sit on David's throne and rule in Jerusalem. He will fulfill every promise of God completely and fully. There is on name not on the list in this chapter, but we know who it is. Jesus Christ. He is the coming King!

Father, thank You for reminding me of Your plan. Sometimes things look bleak, but I can always count on the fact that You are in control and are working Your plan to perfection. I have nothing to fear. Amen