Thankful For Worship.

Psalm 122

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." ­– Psalms 122:1 NLT

Today is Thanksgiving Day. It is the day we set aside as Americans to express thanks. But who are we to express thanks to? What are we thankful for? As we stuff our faces and fill up the hours with football, family, and friends, what will this day really mean to most of us, but just another holiday from work, school, and the usual responsibilities of life?

This Psalm, while short, is a perfect reminder of what we as Christians should be truly thankful for. In it, David expresses his joy at being able to worship God in Jerusalem. He was ecstatic about being able to go to the house of the Lord, the temple in Jerusalem, and offer sacrifices to God – along with every other faithful Jew. David was thankful for Jerusalem, this small, compact city where God had chosen to make His dwelling place among men. It was in Jerusalem that the sacrificial system, critical to the worship of God and the forgiveness of the sins of the people, was practiced. This one city was significant in maintaining their relationship with God. Sacrifices could not be offered anywhere else. God could not be met with anywhere else. So it's easy to see why David had such a love affair with Jerusalem. It was less about the city than it was about the God who chose to make Jerusalem his home.

So David prayed for Jerusalem. He had a vested interest in Jerusalem remaining free and unoccupied by enemy forces. He protected Jerusalem, because he did not want to think of a day when the worship of Yahweh would be eliminated due to war or the fall of the city of God. David said, "O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, 'Peace be with you.' For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem" (Psalms 122:7-9 NLT).

Now we live in a time when the worship of God is not limited to a single place. It is not even limited to a house of God or a building dedicated to that sole purpose. We can worship God at any time, anywhere. We can seek forgiveness of sins moment by moment and don't have to wait until a specific date on the calendar to get right with God. Yet, are we guilty of taking our places of worship for granted? Do we not share David's enthusiasm for being able to worship God in communion with other saints. Has Sunday become more of a burden or just another thing to do on our busy calendars? Or is it a privilege and a blessing? Perhaps this Thanksgiving Day, we would be wise to express to God our gratitude for our church home. What an incredible privilege we have to be able to assemble together to worship God each weekend – without fear of persecution or reprisal. It is not that way all over the world. There are those who must worship in secrecy and silence. They fear for their lives. They have no church building or place of worship, other than a secluded spot somewhere in the woods at night. Their church is wherever two or more of them are gathered together.

We have many things to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. Is the place where we worship among them? Do we pray for our church? Do we ask God's protection over it? Do we see it as a place where God meets with us and where those who don't know Him can meet His Son? We must pray for churches all across the world. Not the buildings, but the people they represent. We must pray for the assemblies of believers all across this planet who meet together to worship God. Pray for their protection. Pray for peace. Pray that the presence of God would permeate their midst. And prayerfully thank God that He has chosen to meet with all of us – faithfully and mercifully – whenever and wherever we meet.

Father, thank You for the church where I get to worship You each week with other brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank You that I get to worship in peace and security, with no fear of government reprisal or attack. Thank You that I can meet with You there, each and every week. But thank You also that I can meet with You any time, anywhere. Because of what Christ accomplished on the cross, I can come into your presence 24/7, 365 days a year. May I never take that reality for granted. Amen



What I Need.

Psalm 86

But you, O Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to get angry, full of unfailing love and truth. Look down and have mercy on me. Give strength to your servant; yes, save me, for I am your servant. ­– Psalms 86:15-16 NLT

This Psalm is titled, "A Prayer of David," but it could just as easily have been titled, "A Prayer of Ken." This prayer expresses my greatest need: For my God to hear my cry and answer me in His mercy and grace. David cries out, "Bend down, O LORD, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help" (Psalms 86:1 NLT). He knew He was asking the God of the universe to lower Himself and interact with mere men, but he also knew that God would. He was counting on it. You see in this prayer David's understanding of the transcendence of God and the sinfulness of men. God is holy, righteous, and just. Man is sinful, unrighteous and incapable of earning the favor of God. Even as king of Israel, David knew his position when compared with God. He knew he was asking the creator-God to condescend and enter into his world to save him from his problems. Which is exactly what Jesus did when He took on human flesh and entered into our world to save us from our sin.

David looked to God for salvation, protection, mercy, happiness, life, forgiveness, mercy, love, wisdom, and even vengeance against his enemies. In other words, he looked to God for everything. His God was not some disembodied entity that was impossible to see and even harder to find. His God was great, awesome, majestic, mighty, and other-worldly, but also nearby, intimate, caring, attentive, loving, involved, responsive, and quick to answer his prayers. David was blown away that this great God would involve Himself in the daily affairs of his life. He had seen it happen before. And he knew it would happen again. So to NOT call out to God in times of need would have been ludicrous to David. It would have been idiotic to attempt to solve his own problems when he had God Almighty available to call upon. David said, "I will call to you whenever trouble strikes, and you will answer me" (Psalms 86:11 NLT). What confidence. What faith. He knew his God. He had seen Him work. He knew he could trust Him. So he did. Why don't we?

Father, maybe it's because I don't fully comprehend Your greatness that I don't call out to You more. I don't fully appreciate just how mighty, marvelous, and holy You are. I know it theoritically and academically, but I don't know it experientially. I have not recognized Your greatness in my own life. I have read about it in the lives of others, but I have failed to experience it first-hand. So instead of calling out to You, I try to solve all my own problems. And the outcome is always the same. Father, I want to learn to trust You more. I want to learn to call out to You and no one else. I want to learn to lean on You. I want to be able to say, "I will call to You whenever trouble strikes, and You will answer me!" And believe it. Amen



What God Wants.

Psalms 32; 51

You would not be pleased with sacrifices, or I would bring them. If I brought you a burnt offering, you would not accept it. The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise. ­– Psalms 51:16-17 NLT

These two Psalms, written by David, have to do with the sins he committed during the whole Bathsheba affair. Not only had he committed adultery with Bathsheba, he tried to cover it up, then arranged to have her husband killed on the field of battle so that he could marry her. And it wasn't until Nathan the prophet exposed David's sin that he finally confessed it to God.

So these two Psalms reflect David's heart after he had finally confessed and received God's forgiveness. Keep in mind, both of these are songs, written to be sung by a choir. David is hanging out his dirty laundry for others to see. He is using his life experiences as a way to teach others of the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God. These are not some trite worship songs with shallow lyrics and generic statements about God's goodness. They are the brutally honest cries of a man who had blown it in a big way, but who knew that his God was a forgiving God. So he called out to Him. He pleaded with Him for forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration. David knew what he deserved, but He appealed to the grace and mercy of God.

It would appear that Psalm 51 was written first. Here David cries for grace. He knows that his sin has been against God and no one else. He has offended a holy God and so he cries out for God to wash him and purify him. David wants a clean heart and a restored relationship with his God. His sin has broken the fellowship he once he enjoyed. David also knows that without a broken spirit, a broken and repentant heart, all the sacrifices in the world will mean nothing. God is looking for David to express true repentance and brokenness over his sin, not just remorse or sadness that he had been caught.

In Psalm 32, which is the sequel to Psalm 51, David writes of the relief and blessing that comes with forgiveness. Without it, David experienced guilt, shame, and even physical sickness. But as soon as he confessed it, God forgave him. David had learned from his mistake, and he was willing to teach others the lessons he had learned. To refuse to confess and repent is simply stubbornness. To live with the guilt and sorrow is stupidity, when God offers forgiveness and restoration. David had learned his lesson the hard way, and he wanted everyone to benefit from his mistake. "Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD. So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!" (Psalms 32:10-11 NLT).

God wants two things: For us to have broken and repentant hearts when we sin that lead us to confess, and the pleasure of extending His grace, mercy and forgiveness to us when we do. God knows we are going to sin. But He has provided a way for us to enjoy a restored relationship, through the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. Forgiveness of sin is ours. Our sins were paid for on the cross. But we must still confess them when we commit them. We must still take ownership for them. Then God extends to us the forgiveness that Jesus paid for with His blood. "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong" (1 John 1:9 NLT).

Father, may I want what You want. To confess my sins when I commit them and the forgiveness that comes when I do. Help me to learn from David that there is no reason to hang on to my sin in stubbornness, attempting to hide from it or ignore it. All it does is cause guilt and shame. It separates me from You. It robs me of joy. I want to be pure. I want to be clean. Open my eyes to the sin in my life so that I might confess it and be forgiven for it. Amen



Living A Lie.

1 Chronicles 20

Then David and his army returned to Jerusalem. ­– 1 Chronicles 20:3 NLT

1 Chronicles 20 parallels 2 Samuel 11, where we are told the story of David's sin with Bathsheba. Interestingly, both chapters start out the same way, "The following spring, the time of year when kings go to war…" But then they depart slightly. 2 Samuel goes on to say, "…David sent Joab and the Israelite army to destroy the Ammonites. In the process they laid siege to the city of Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem." The book of 1 Chronicles says, "…Joab led the Israelite army in successful attacks against the towns and villages of the Ammonites." But in either case, David doesn't go into battle, but stays back in Jerusalem. At a time when kings should be going to war, David is sending and staying, not going. He sends Joab to do his dirty business, while he stays behind in Jerusalem. This decision would lead to his sin with Bathsheba and, ultimately, his murder of her husband Uriah.

But in 1 Chronicles, the writer leaves out what happened while David was back in the capital and concentrates on the victory over the Ammonites. If you just read this chapter alone, and not in association with chapter 11 of 2 Samuel, you would be lead to believe that this is just business as usual. David was sending out his troops and then going to meet them when the battle is over – just what good kings do. But when you know what David was up to while Joab and his men are busy fighting for David and the kingdom, it takes on a whole new light. And when you read that "David and his army returned to Jerusalem," it should kind of turn your stomach a little bit. Here is David, who has just committed adultery with Bathsheba, attempted to cover it up, and in desperation, had her husband killed by abandoning him in battle, leading his troops triumphantly back into town to the cheers of the people, as if he had been there all along. What hypocrisy!

What jumps out at me is how there is no mention of David doing anything in terms of fighting or doing battle with the enemy. Joab, Sibbecai, Elhannon, and Jonathan are all listed as men who led, fought and gained victory over the enemy. But David seems to take all the credit and more. "When David arrived at Rabbah, he removed the crown from the king's head, and it was placed on David's own head. The crown was made of gold and set with gems, and it weighed about seventy-five pounds. David took a vast amount of plunder from the city" (1 Chronicles, 20:2 NLT). When taken in conjunction with what we know from 2 Samuel 11, this paints an even grimmer picture of David. Not only has he committed adultery and murder, but he appears to be a glory hog. He wants to stay at home in the safety and luxury of his palace in Jerusalem, but bask in the glory of the victory that others have brought about. He wants to enjoy the benefits and blessings of victory without the risk.

I think this describes a lot of us as Christians. We want to enjoy the blessings of God without living lives of obedience. We want to stay in the safety and security of our everyday lives, and not step out into the world to do battle with the enemy. We want to enjoy the blessings of God, but refuse to obey Him in so many areas of our lives. We want ease and comfort when He has told us that this life will be a battle. We are at war. We live in a time of war. We have an enemy who is out to destroy us and the kingdom of God. But we want to live in peace and tranquility. But if any victories do take place, we want to somehow get credit for it. And victories ARE taking place, because God is faithful and there are those who are doing the will of God, risking their lives and doing battle with the enemy each and every day. The kingdom IS advancing, but are we playing our part? Or like David, do we simply show up in time to join in the victory parade? May we not be those who stay behind when there is a battle to be fought. May we take our role as soldiers of Christ seriously.

Father, there is work to be done, but too often we stay behind in the safety of our lifestyles, refusing to do what You have called us to do. We prefer our comfort over obedience. We don't want to risk anything. But You have called us to be a part of Your kingdom. You have placed us in the midst of an epic battle. And You have given us the tools necessary to fight successfully. May we do our part. May we fight the good fight. In Your power and according to Your will. Amen



A Man After God's Own Heart. Really?

2 Samuel 11-12

"Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged," David said. "The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow! Fight harder next time, and conquer the city!" ­– 2 Samuel 11:25 NLT

Unbelievable! Wow! Incredible! I can't believe what I'm reading! Is this really David – the same David that killed Goliath, trusted God all those years he was running from Saul, wrote a huge percentage of the Psalms, and was referred to by God as a man after His own heart? Really?

These are two of the most sobering chapters in the word of God. They offer one of the clearest representations of the depravity of man and the deceitfulness of the human heart. Here is David, the king of Israel, handpicked by God Himself, and we get a ring side seat to one of the most dramatic falls from grace in history. And with each turn, the story just seems to get worse. It all started out innocently enough. David, who should have been at the battle front with his men, had decided to stay back in the palace. You might say he was in the right place but at the wrong time. Rather than be with his troops, David had chosen to stay home. And while taking a leisurely walk on the roof of the palace one afternoon, he spied a woman taking a bath on a neighboring roof. And his initial look quickly turned to lust. His lust turned into inquisitiveness. He wanted to know who she was and so sent a servant to get the details. You would have thought that when he discovered that Bathsheba was the wife of one of his soldiers, who was off at war, he would have come to his senses, taken a cold shower, and ended the whole thing right there. But instead, David sent for Bathsheba, committed adultery with her, and then began an elaborate, if not inept, attempt to cover up the whole "affair".

David's lust turned into action and, ultimately, resulted in the death of Bathsheba's husband. And David was responsible for it all. He had fallen far and hard. As the chosen king of Israel, he was not immune to temptation or sin. He had within him the whole time the capability of committing the most heinous of sins. In fact, I think David had an ongoing lust problem. He loved women. God had commanded that His kings not have multiple wives. "The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will lead him away from the LORD. And he must not accumulate vast amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself" (Deuteronomy 17:17 NLT). David had at least eight wives and an assortment of concubines. You would think that this would have met David sexual demands, but it seems that he struggled with lust. When he saw Bathsheba, he had to have her. And he was willing to do anything to get her. Even if it meant having her husband killed.

What is really say is that David was trying to cover up his sin. It does not appear that he loved Bathsheba. He just did not want the truth out that Bathsheba's unborn baby was his! So he tried to concoct a plan to make it look like Uriah was the real father. But David's plan backfired at every step. He was left with only one option. Eliminate Uriah. At what point did this unbelievable and repulsive idea begin to sound viable to David? How could he bring himself to kill another man in order to cover up his own sin? And when he took Bathsheba as his wife after Uriah was killed, how could he live with himself? How could he stand to look at himself in the mirror? Somewhere along the way, David had learned to rationalize his behavior and excuse his conduct. After all, he was the Lord's anointed.

It wasn't until God sent Nathan the prophet to confront David that he finally confessed to his sin. Who knows how long David might have gone had not Nathan pointed out David's hypocrisy as he shouted, "You are that man! The LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. I gave you his house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah and stolen his wife.'" (2 Samuel 12:7-9 NLT). By doing what he did, David had shown contempt for the word of God. He had snubbed his nose at everything God had said regarding adultery and murder. He had taken all that God had given him and said, "It's not enough!, I want more!" Anytime we sin, we are doing the same thing. We are telling God that what He has given us is not enough. We are telling Him that we know what is best for us. Even if His Word denies it, we will go ahead and grab it. We tell ourselves that we deserve it. We've earned it.

David ultimately confessed his sin, and the amazing thing is that God completely forgave Him. "'I have sinned against the LORD.' Nathan replied, 'Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won't die for this sin'" (2 Samuel 12:9 NLT). There would be consequences for David's sin. He and Bathsheba would lose the child their affair had produced. David attempted to get God to spare the life of the child, but to no avail. And upon hearing that his child had died, David immediately turned to the Lord and worshiped. He returned to the one who offered him forgiveness in spite of his sin. He returned to the one who remained faithful in spite of David's unfaithfulness. And God would go on to give David and Bathsheba another son – Solomon. God's grace is indeed amazing. You see it all through this story. In the midst of our greatest failures, God extends grace, mercy, and forgiveness. David could do nothing to earn it or deserve. There was no way he could pay God back for what he had done. He had to rely fully on the forgiveness and faithfulness of God.

This story should give every one of us hope. We, like David, are fully capable of falling, but as God's chosen ones, we can never fall from His grace. His grace never runs out. He knows our weaknesses. He knows our failings and faults. He offers forgiveness. And all He asks in return is that we return – to Him. That we come back in repentance and dependence on Him – for His grace, mercy, and forgiveness. David would go on to accomplish great things for God. God would do great things through David. His sin did not disqualify him. It simply revealed who he was and what he was capable of when he stepped away from the protective presence of God.

Father, what a story. What a reminder. What a wonderful, gracious, and forgiving God You are. Thank you for this timely reminder. Amen



Calling On God.

Psalms 69-70

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "God is great!" ­– Psalms 70:4 NLT

Who do you call on in times of need? When your world is caving in around you, where do you turn for help?

In our two Psalms today we hear the David calling out to God. He is going through a time of difficulty. These are essentially entries in his daily prayer journal, containing frank and honest declarations of just how he is feeling. He pulls no punches. He is painfully open about how he he feeling. And the amazing thing is, both of these are songs. They were intended to be sung. Why would David put these kinds of words to music? They make some country western songs sound downright upbeat! I think they are a reminder to us all that difficult days will come. We will face adversity in this life. Jesus even promised us that we would. So what do we do when the tough times come? We follow David's example. We call out to God. We tell Him how we are feeling. We express our emotions, openly and honestly to the only one who can do anything about it.

Look at the words David uses. He asks for God to save him. He cries out to God to rescue him. He confesses his sin. He describes his circumstances in all their gory details. And things don't appear to be changing. But he keeps calling out. "But I keep right on praying to you, LORD, hoping this is the time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation" (Psalms 69:13 NLT). David doesn't give up just because God doesn't seem to show up. He keeps calling out because he knows that his only hope for salvation is his God. No one or nothing else can provide what he needs. Salvation and comfort will come only from the Lord. So he keeps crying out. "Answer my prayers, O LORD, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Turn and take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful" (Psalms 69:16 NLT). And in spite of the seeming silence and delay of God, David is confident that He is going to act. He will rescue. "The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help live in joy" (Psalms 69:32 NLT).

Do you have that kind of confidence in God? Do you cry out to Him when times are tough? Do you keep calling on Him even when it appears as if He is not hearing you or answering? David trusted in God. He was confident that even the delays were part of God's sovereign plan for his life, so he was willing to wait. And when God answered, David was willing to give God all the praise. These two Psalms are songs of faith in God. They are honest reminders that life on this fallen planet can sometimes be hard. But our God is always faithful. Calling out to Him in times of difficulty is an expression of our faith. Trusting Him in the hard times is not easy. Trusting Him in the good times is. Our faith is best tested in the crucible of crisis. Do we trust Him? Then let us call out to Him. Let us turn to Him and no one else. If we believe He is our only hope, then we will call on Him religiously and relentlessly. Just as David did.

Father, I want to trust You more. I want my prayer life to reflect my faith in You. I want it to show that You truly are my only hope for salvation during times of difficulty. But I tend to reveal that I don't really believe You will rescue me. I turn elsewhere. I try to solve my own problems far too often. Give me the faith of David. May I sing of Your salvation, even in the midst of the trials of life. Amen



Bragging On God.

Psalms 65-67

Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is. Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!" ­– Psalms 66:2-3 NLT

How great is your God? How much do you brag about Him? When was the last time you just had to tell someone else what God has done for you?

In these three Psalms, we have a virtual love-fest where the attributes and actions of God are shouted from the roof tops. Whether it's His forgiveness, answers to prayers, creative power, abundant provision, past miracles, present protection, or attentive ear; there is much for the Psalmists to brag about when it comes to God. And he just can't keep silent. He has to tell the world just how glorious and great his God is. His God has a history of greatness and goodness. His God is compassionate and caring. His God is powerful and yet, at the same time, merciful.

He sacrifices to God, not out of some sense of duty, but out of delight. After all God has done for him, it is the least he could do for God. And he gives God his very best. He wants anyone and everyone to know about the greatness of God. And he wantsto hear others talk about the greatness of God, too. "Say to God, 'How awesome are your deeds!'" (Psalms 66:3 NLT). He is reminding everyone he knows, Israelite and non-Israelite, that God is responsible for the world in which they live, the blessings of nature they enjoy, any abundance they may experience, or any periods of peace they may benefit from. God is responsible for it all. And as His people, we also get to enjoy His forgiveness, mercy, and abundant grace. We of all people have a lot to shout about. But sometimes we remain silent, only speaking up to utter a complaint or an poorly aimed finger of accusation against God for what we believe to be His silence, undeserved punishment, or poor timing.

Maybe if we thought more about God's awesome deeds, we would recognize them when they come. Maybe if we were more thankful for what He has done, we would be more grateful and expectant for what He is going to do. If our God is great, and He is, why don't we brag about Him more? Why don't we sing His praises, even outside the context of a worship service on a Sunday morning? May we say along with the Psalmist, "Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me." (Psalm 66:16 NLT).

Father, You are a great God and greatly to be praised. I apologize for the many times I have spent complaining instead of proclaimingYour greatness and goodness. I have much to praise You for. Help me to see it, shout it, and give You glory for it. Amen



Boast All You Want.

1 Chronicles 19; Psalm 20

Some nations boast of their armies and weapons, but we boast in the LORD our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm. ­– Psalms 20:7-8 NLT

The New King James version translates these verses this way: "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God" (Psalms 20:7-8). To remember the name of the Lord is to invoke His name in prayer. To pray to Him is to place your trust in Him. That is what this Psalm is all about. In the midst of the battles David was going to face, like the one described in 1 Chronicles that he fought against the Ammonites, David sought the Lord. He remembered who God was and all that He had done for him over the years. He remembered God's power and His promises. He remembered God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. He remembered God's guidance and direction as they navigated the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. He remembered God's involvement in the victory at Jericho.

Rather than put his trust in armies, chariots, horses, physical resources, or human might, David and his people would take their chances with God. David had had experience with bad odds and lopsided victories. He had taken on Goliath as a young man and won. He had survived against Saul's hired mercenaries, who hunted David down day and night. David had seen the people of God win battles against the Philistines and other enemies when they were outnumbered and under-equipped. Chariots and horses were no match for the power of God. Just ask Pharaoh.

God is the key to victory and to survival in a harsh, violent world. We live in difficult days, just as David did. We have a real enemy who wishes nothing more than our ultimate destruction. And because he is not flesh and blood, our battle with him cannot depend on our strength or our own resources. We need God's help. We need to remember God when faced with difficulties. Rather than boast in our own abilities, we need to boast in Him. Like the people of Israel, we need to pray, "In times of trouble, may the LORD respond to your cry. May the God of Israel keep you safe from all harm. May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem" (Psalms 20:1-2 NLT).

What are you putting your trust in today? Where is the first place you turn when times get tough? David turned to the Lord. He put His trust in God.

Father, when will I ever learn to trust You? You have never given me reason not to. You have never failed me or let me down. I have seen You step in and deliver me time and time again, but I have short-term memory loss. I forget. And when I face difficulties I begin to put my trust elsewhere. I begin to turn to other places for help. I look for the chariots and horses in my life. Forgive me. Help me to remember You and all that You have done. Only You can truly deliver. Amen



God's Will and Our Willingness.

2 Samuel 10

Be courageous! Let us fight bravely to save our people and the cities of our God. May the LORD's will be done. ­– 2 Samuel 10:12 NLT

David was a king, and kings sometimes have to fight the enemy. It's not all royal dinner parties and leisurely days spent relaxing in the palace. David's reign was regularly threatened and his kingdom was always under attack by the enemies of Israel. Even though God was with him, David was still expected to do his part. God didn't fight his battles for him. God gave him wisdom, direction, and even intervened in miraculous ways, but David still had to pick up his sword, lead his army, and take on the enemy in battle. Notice the words that Joab spoke to his brother Abishai: "Be courageous! Let us fight bravely to save our people and the cities of our God." As one of David's military commanders, Joab knew that they were going to have to take on the Ammonites and all the mercenary armies they had hired to fight against Israel. He was calling his brother and all those under his command to fight bravely, to do their part. But then he reminded Abishai that the results were up to God. They would do what they could do and trust God to do what was in His will to do.

Waiting for God's will doesn't mean we sit on our hands and do nothing. Remember, this whole situation in 2 Samuel 10 began with David attempting to show sympathy to the new king of the Ammonites over the death of his father, the former king. David wants to extend an olive branch in recognition of the late King Nahash and his former loyalty to David. But the king's son listens to the advice of his counselors and rejects David's kind offer. He embarrasses David's emissaries and hires thousands of mercenaries to fight against David. David is forced to respond. So he gathers his troops and prepares for war. But he and his military leaders recognize that the results of this conflict are ultimately up to God. They will do what they have to do, but the outcome is up to God. The well-being of Israel and her inhabitants is being threatened by this upstart king, so David responds with action. It is his job to protect the people of Israel. He has a job to do. He is not being rash or hasty. He is only responding to the actions of the enemies of Israel. He is going to do his part and trust God to do His.

Isn't that what we are all called to do? Yet oftentimes we are lulled into a sense of complacency and inaction, thinking that waiting on God's will means doing nothing. David was simply doing his job as king. He was performing the task that God had given him to do. And you and I have responsibilities given to us by God. We are His ambassadors and representatives on this earth. We are to make disciples. We are to carry on the ministry of reconciliation. We are to stand against the enemy and to fight the good fight. We are to spread the gospel and live as salt and light in this world. We are to love others. We are to take up our crosses daily. We have work to do, and we must do it diligently, trusting that ultimately, God's will will be done. We are to do our part and leave the results up to Him. Like Joab, we are to fight bravely in order to save our people. We are to fight for the body of Christ all around the world. We are to do all that we can do to care for the people of God who are under attack. That is our job. That is our responsibility. That is our duty. So we must do our part and leave the results up to God. We must be willing to do what we have been called to do, and trust that the will of God will be done.

Father, we ask that Your will be done here on earth. But don't allow us to sit on our hands waiting for You to do it all. You have chosen us, empowered us, equipped us, and commissioned us to do great things here on earth. May we be busy doing what You have called us to do, and trusting in the reliability and accuracy of Your will to be done. May we see ourselves as partners with You as we live out our lives on this planet. Give us courage to do our part, because we know You are going to do Yours. Amen



With-full Thinking.

Psalms 60; 75

With God's help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes."­– Psalm 60:12 NLT

Things didn't always go well for David. His reign wasn't always easy. It was marked with war and not all the battles went his way. And there were times when he wondered just exactly what God was doing, what He was up to. Psalm 60 records just such a time. From David's perspective, it felt as if God had turned against him.

You have rejected us… (Vs 1)

…broken our defenses… (Vs 1)

You have been angry with us… (Vs 1)

You have shaken our land and split it open… (Vs 2)

You have been very hard on us… (Vs 3)

But in spite of the circumstances surrounding him, David fell back on the promises of God. He placed his hope in God's faithfulness. He called out to God and reminded Him of His promises to the people of Israel. "Use your strong right arm to save us, and rescue your beloved people. God has promised this by his holiness : 'I will divide up Shechem with joy. I will measure out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine. Ephraim will produce my warriors, and Judah will produce my kings. Moab will become my lowly servant, and Edom will be my slave. I will shout in triumph over the Philistines.'" (Psalm 60:5-9 NLT).

David knew he needed God's help. He knew the answer to his problem was God and God alone. No mere man was going to be able to deliver him. His hope was to be found in God. "Oh, please help us against our enemies, for all human help is useless" (Psalm 60:11 NLT). David feared the rejection of God. He knew just how serious that would be, so he refused to take God's presence for granted. He was fully aware just how vulnerable he and his kingdom would be without God. So he appealed to God for His help. David knew that WITH God, all things were possible. There was no predicament too difficult or foe too strong. "With God's help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes" (Psalm 60:12).

It reminds me of the words of Paul to the Philippians: "For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need" (Philippians 4:13 NLT). Do we believe that? Do we live our lives as if that is a fact and not just some empty statement we quote to someone else when they are going through difficulty? Paul believed it, just as David did. They both knew that with God all things were possible, but that without Him they were weak, vulnerable, exposed, and incapable of surviving in this world. As believers, sometimes our life with God is nothing more than our hope of eternal salvation. We believe, and rightfully so, that because of what Christ has done on the cross, we are assured of our future salvation and a place in heaven. But we tend to live our lives in this world without God. It is as if we believe that we are on our own as long as we are living on this planet. We make decisions without God. We plan our days and our lives without God. We do battle with the enemy without God's help. We raise our children without God's wisdom. We celebrate our successes without giving God thanks or credit. We suffer setbacks and trials without calling out to God for help or deliverance.

But the Psalmist knew that life without God is no life at all. Paul knew that success and survival were both dependent upon God. With God's help, we can do mighty things. We can do all things with the help of Christ. For the life of a believer, the word "with" is more than a preposition. It's the key to living the life we've been called to live. With God, a life of holiness is possible. With God, sinful habits can be defeated. With God, joy can be a reality. With God, Satan can be resisted. With God, abundant life can be experienced. With God, trials can be rejoiced in, not just endured. A life with God is a full life. So why not include Him in yours today?

Father, I tend to live my life too much without You. Please forgive me. Today's reading has been a reminder of just how much I need You. But that thought needs to permeate my thinking each day, all day. Continue to remind me just how much I need You. Amen



Attitude Vs. Actions.

Psalms 50; 53

I don't need the bulls you sacrifice; I don't need the blood of goats. What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High. Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory. ­– Psalm 50:13-15 NLT

We can get so busy doing things for God that we actually lose sight of God. We think we are giving God what He desires – acts of service, attending Bible studies, having out quiet times, going to church, giving money – but all our busyness isn't what God needs or desires. What He wants is our hearts. He wants a relationship. According to the Psalmist, God wants our thanks. He wants us to recognize who He is and all that He has done for us. It is our thanksgiving that should produce sacrifice. Our gratefulness will result in genuine acts of service to Him. Gratitude is an attitude that results in actions. We will love Him more when we realize just how much He first loved us.

Over in Psalm 51, the writer reminds us of something else God desires from us, and once again, it isn't our actions and efforts.  "Unseal my lips, O Lord, that I may praise you. You would not be pleased with sacrifices, or I would bring them. If I brought you a burnt offering, you would not accept it. The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:15-17 NLT). God wants a humble, repentant heart. He wants an attitude of humility and brokenness before Him. Yet what we tend to do is just get busy for Him. We do more. We sacrifice more. We get involved in more. We may even read our Bibles more, all in an attempt to please Him. But there have been plenty of times when I have read my Bible more out of duty than out of delight to hear from Him. I do it as a chore to be done, something to check off my to-do list. The same can be true of attending church. How many times do we go, but never hear from God. We sit in services and sing songs, pray prayers, and listen to sermons, but we walk away having never really heard from or having met with God.

It is this attitude that Jesus despised in the Pharisees of His day. They were the kings of religious ritual and going through the motions. Yet Jesus said of them, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away." (Matthew 15:8 NLT). They were religious superstars, but didn't have a heart for God. They were outwardly religious, but inwardly distant from God. Their actions did not stem from a right relationship with God.

It seems that God wants our thanksgiving and our obedience. But He wants our obedience to come from a right heart, not just some sense of religious rule keeping. Because God knows we can DO all the right things, yet have hearts that are far from Him. In fact, the Psalmist indicates that a day is coming when God will judge those who pretend to be religious: "Recite my laws no longer, and don't pretend that you obey me. For you refuse my discipline and treat my laws like trash. When you see a thief, you help him, and you spend your time with adulterers. Your mouths are filled with wickedness, and your tongues are full of lies. You sit around and slander a brother -- your own mother's son. While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn't care. But now I will rebuke you, listing all my charges against you" (Psalm 50:16-21 NLT). God knows our hearts. He knows when our actions are just that – actions without the right attitude. He knows when we are going through the motions – acting religious, yet living lives that reflect a double-standard. We pretend to be in love with God, but in reality we're in love with the world and the things it offers.

God wants our hearts. He longs for our attitudes to influence our actions. He doesn't need our sacrifices. He desires our hearts to desire Him. "But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me" (Psalm 50:23 NLT). Thanksgiving is a reflection of our understanding and appreciation for who God is and all that He has done for us. Obedience is an action that flows from a right attitude. We obey Him because we love Him. We serve Him because we appreciate Him. We serve Him because we are grateful to Him.

My lips will praise You,

for You are holy;

My voice will ever rise before Your throne.

My heart will love You,

for You are lovely,

And You have called me

to become Your own.

– My Lips Will Praise you, Twila Paris

Father, You deserve my thanksgiving. You deserve my praise. You deserve my obedience. May I learn to serve You more out of gratitude than some sense of obligation or duty. Don't let my relationship with You turn into religion and ritual. I want to praise You with my life and my lips. Amen



Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due.

1 Chronicles 18

So the LORD gave David victory wherever he went. ­– 1 Chronicles 18:6 NLT

David subdued and humbled…

David also conquered…

David destroyed…

David captured…

David killed…

David brought…

David dedicated…

David reigned…

At first blush, it would appear that this chapter is all about David. After all, his name is mentioned 16 times, so it would seem that he is the focus of the chapter. And in a way, he is. But there is one other character who plays an even more significant role in the story being told here. And that would be God. Without Him, none of David's exploits would have been possible. Without God, David would not even be the king of Israel. His presence in this story is what sets the reign of David apart from that of Saul and every other king who had ever ruled over a nation. The chronicler makes it clear: "So the LORD gave David victory wherever he went" (1 Chronicles 18:6 NLT). God gave the victory. David got the credit. He got to enjoy the thrill of the victory. He got to experience the rush of winning a decisive battle and watching the enemies of Israel cower at his feet. He got to see his royal coffers overflow with the plunder of each successive victory. But without God, none of it would have been possible. When David's army defeated the Moabites, the chronicler wrote, "This was another example of how the LORD made David victorious wherever he went" (1 Chronicles 18:13 NLT).

God is the behind-the-scenes star of this story. He always is. We may not see Him, but He is always there. David was God's man. He had chosen him to be king. He had anointed David as Saul's replacement and now that David was on the throne, God was blessing his every move. But David had a part to play. And it was not just to be successful. David's exploits are not nearly as important as David's heart. God had chosen David because he was a man after His own heart. David had a heart for God and it showed up in his obedience to God. Unlike his predecessor, David sought the will of God. He asked for God's guidance. And he seemed to know that his reign was only as strong as his relationship with God. Which is why David acknowledged God in his victories and sought God in times of defeat. As the spoil of battle began to add up, David made sure that he did not try and take credit for his victories. "King David dedicated all these gifts to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had taken from the other nations he had subdued" (1 Chronicles 18:11 NLT). David knew that he was being blessed by God for a reason. If you recall, at one point David wanted to build a temple for God, but God told David that he would not be able to do so. That job would be up to David's son, Solomon. But David's victories were going to pay for the construction of that temple and much of the plunder of war would be used in furnishing the temple. "Later Solomon melted the bronze and used it for the Temple. He molded it into the bronze Sea, the pillars, and the various bronze utensils used at the Temple" (1 Chronicles 18:8 NLT). David was dedicated to God. Everything he did, he seemed to do for the glory of God. Was he always perfect in this pursuit? No. But we see in this chapter a characteristic of David that truly set him apart. And it is a quality that should mark our lives as Christ-followers. We should recognize that God is the behind-the-scenes star of our life story as well. He has called us. He has chosen us to be His sons and daughters. He is orchestrating the events of our lives in order to bring us good and Himself glory. It is our job to acknowledge Him and to realize that any "victory" we experience is due to Him, not us. We cannot take credit for our successes and blame God for our failures. And we cannot enjoy the benefits of a relationship with God without realizing that the blessings of God are not just for our own benefit. God blesses us in order that we might be a blessing to others. Our victories are not for us to bask in. God blesses us for a reason. David's successes were not for him, but for the glory of God and the good of the nation of Israel. Our successes are not for us, but for the glory of God and the good of the body of Christ. This is God's story, not ours. He is the star. And He alone deserves the credit.

Father, You do deserve all the credit for any successes I have experienced in my life. But it is so easy for me to rob You of glory by taking the credit myself. I over-value my own self-worth at times. I forget that I am nothing without You. Any good I experience, any blessings I enjoy – all come from Your hand. Help me continue to learn to give You all the credit. Thank You for being the behind-the-scenes star of my life's story. Amen



The Unmerited Favor of God.

2 Samuel 8-9

And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly with David, as though he were one of his own sons. ­– 2 Samuel 9:11 NLT

We have in these two chapters of 2 Samuel, a dramatic contrast. On the one hand, you see David, the conquering king experiencing victory after victory – all because God is with him. "So the Lord made David victorious wherever he went" (2 Samuel 8:6b NLT). On the other hand, you see David the gracious king, extending kindness to the grandson of his old nemesis, Saul. In these two contrasts we see a picture of God and His relationship with mankind. God is the conquering King, the warrior-God, before whom no king or nation can stand. He is all-powerful and nations fall before His might. Yet, He is also the gracious King who extends mercy and favor to those who do not deserve it and could never earn it. David had the hand of God upon him. He was unstoppable. He was winning battle after battle against anybody and everybody. And while he could have justified a desire to search out and destroy any descendants of Saul, thus eliminating any claim they might have to the throne, he instead seeks out Saul's descendants in order that he might show them grace – unmerited favor.

Mephibosheth is a picture of you and me. We are crippled by sin, weak and defenseless before the mighty King. We deserve His wrath and judgment. We have inherited the legacy of our "grandfather" Adam. We are sinners just like he was. We stand before God as guilty. We are usurpers to the throne of God. And while we deserve His wrath, He instead extends to us His grace. He seeks us out. He invites us into His throne room. He gives us what we do not deserve – which is grace. And He does not give us what we do deserve – which is mercy. No, like Mephibosheth, we find ourselves standing before God as guests in His home, eating at His table, enjoying the benefits of His grace.

Those of us who are in Christ have been extended the same grace as Mephibosheth. We stand before God as His children. We enjoy the benefits of His mercy and grace each and every day. Crippled by sin and powerless to provide for ourselves, we eat at the King's table and take advantage of His remarkable kindness. What an honor. What a privilege. What a God we serve.

Father, may I never lose sight of the magnitude of the kindness You have extended to me. May I never stop marveling that I am Your child and that I enjoy the benefits of Your grace, instead of Your wrath – all because of what Your Son did for me on the cross. Amen



A Healthy Fear of God

Psalms 33; 36; 39

But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. ­– Psalms 33:18 NLT

The fear of the Lord seems to be something we are afraid to talk about in the church today. I guess it just sounds so foreign to us. Fear is something we run from, not embrace. It doesn't fit with our sanitized concept of God. Our God is loving and kind, gentle and forgiving. He is more like a kindly old grandfather figure who doles out treats to his grandchildren than a holy, righteous, and sometimes wrathful God who can and does get angry and hates sin. So we choose to reject any concept of fearing God. It makes Him seem too unapproachable and unattractive. Yet the Psalmists seemed to talk about the fear of the Lord a lot. And it seems to be a theme within the three Psalms in today's reading.

So what is this fear of the Lord? And do we experience it? If not, why not? The Psalmist says God watches over those who fear Him, and that fear is linked to a reliance on God's unfailing love. So the fear of God and the love of God seem to go hand in hand. They are not mutually exclusive. The Psalmist goes on to say, "For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything he does is worthy of our trust. He loves whatever is just and good, and his unfailing love fills the earth" (Psalms 33:4-5 NLT). He then goes on to talk about God's creation of the world. "Let everyone in the world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command" (Psalms 33:8-9 NLT). God is great, mighty and awesome. He is the creator God, who brought into existence everything we see. There is no other god like Him. That fact alone should create a fear and awe of Him. He is not ordinary and pedestrian. He is not normal and run-of-the-mill. He is extraordinary.

And the Psalmist goes on to speak of God's power over the nations. "The LORD shatters the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes" (Psalms 33:10 NLT). He is greater than any human power has ever been. He is more powerful than any nation on earth that has ever existed. And recognition of that fact changes how we view God. "We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only he can help us, protecting us like a shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone" (Psalms 33:20-22 NLT).

A healthy fear comes from an understanding of who God is and what He has done and is capable of doing. He is all powerful. He is in complete control. He is capable of shattering mountains and nations. He created all things and He can destroy them. And yet, He has chosen to have a relationship with mankind. He has chosen to show His love to men and women, and extend to them His love, mercy, and grace. The Psalmist recognized and appreciated this. "What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen for his own" (Psalms 33:12 NLT). That God would show love to any of us should blow us away. My love for God is directly linked to my fear of God. That a God this powerful, holy, righteous, and just should love me should astound me. And it should set me apart from those who do not love the Lord.

The Psalmist describes those who do not fear the Lord in sobering words. "Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God to restrain them. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are. Everything they say is crooked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do what is good. They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots. Their course of action is never good. They make no attempt to turn from evil" (Psalms 36:1-4 NLT). With no fear of God, they have nothing to restrain them. They fear no consequences. Even if they believe in God, they do not think He is going to do anything. Their attitude is a lot like those described in the following passages:

"'The LORD isn't looking,' they say, 'and besides, the God of Israel doesn't care.' Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on? Is the one who made your ears deaf? Is the one who formed your eyes blind? He punishes the nations -- won't he also punish you? He knows everything -- doesn't he also know what you are doing? The LORD knows people's thoughts, that they are worthless!'" – Psalms 94:7-11 NLT

"'Do you people think that I am some local deity and not the transcendent God?' the Lord asks. 'Do you really think anyone can hide himself where I cannot see him?' the Lord asks. ''Do you not know that I am everywhere?' the Lord asks" – Jeremiah 23:24 NET

It is our fear of God that prompts us to obey God. It is His love for us that empowers us to obey us. Fear alone will not last. But if I can comprehend His love and balance it with my fear of Him, I will respond in grateful love and obedience in return. Without fear, I will live in open rebellion. Without an understanding of His love, I will live in guilt and with a sense of burden. But when I recognize that the holy, powerful, all-knowing God has extended His love to me, I should respond in love. My fear of Him does not go away, but it will be coupled with an astounded and grateful love for Him.

Father, may I never cease to fear You so that my love of You is never superficial and maudlin. I don't want it to be a sentimental kind of love, but one that understand who You are and all that You have done for me. Amen



A God Worth Worshiping.

Psalms 25; 29

Show me the path where I should walk, O LORD; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. ­– Psalms 25:4-5 NLT

Where do you turn in times of trouble? David turned to God. Why? Because He knew that God would hear him and answer. He knew his God to be compassionate, kind, loving, good, upright, truthful, trustworthy, wise, and forgiving. He knew God would lead him, teach him, and show him the right path to follow. And in the end, God would save him – from whatever difficulty he found himself in. David also knew that his God was a forgiving God who, although holy and righteous, would forgive David's sins time and time again. Which is why David could pray, "For the honor of your name, O LORD, forgive my many, many sins" (Psalms 25:11 NLT). David had confidence that he could come to God with his sins, confess the, and God would forgive him – each and every time. In his times of difficulty and trouble, David knew he could come to God and call out for help. "Turn to me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins. See how many enemies I have, and how viciously they hate me! Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for I trust in you" (Psalms 25:16-20 NLT).

David had no problem worshiping God because he trusted in God. He had learned the compassion and mercy of God firsthand. God had proven Himself to David time and time again. David had been in trouble before, and God had delivered. David had been in distress before, and God had answered him. David had needed direction before, and God had provided it. For David, worshiping God was like appreciating a warm jacket on a cold day. It was like experiencing a cool drink of water when dying of thirst. David had experienced the character of God firsthand. He had felt the compassion of God. He had enjoyed the forgiveness of God. He had benefited from the wisdom and direction of God. This was not some esoteric and academic understanding. It was real. It was real life. And David couldn't help but worship.

Father, may my experience of You become increasingly more real and not just academic. May I trust You more and more because I have trusted You. May I turn to You more and more because I have proven You trustworthy time and time again. May I come to You for forgiveness regularly because You always provide it faithfully. May my worship of You be based on my experience of You. You are active in my life and I am grateful. But let me express it more because I realize it more and more. May I learn to give You the honor You deserve. Amen



The Death of a Vision

1 Chronicles 17

Go and tell my servant David, '"his is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build me a temple to live in." ­– 1 Chronicles 17:4 NLT

David had a great idea. He wanted to do something for God that would reflect his gratitude for all that God had done for he and the nation of Israel. He would build God a permanent temple or dwelling place. Just like all the other gods of the nations had. This idea made sense to David. God had given him a kingdom and he had built himself a palace, so why shouldn't God have a temple in which to dwell? And David knew he wanted to have God's presence as a permanent part of his kingdom if he was going to be successful. Where did David get such an idea? Well, obviously not from God as the text makes clear. He probably got the idea from looking at the nations around him. As he conquered other countries, David would see that their capitols contained a palace and a temple, because in the Near Eastern mindset the relationship of the king and the god of that nation were inseparable. The palace was the earthly residence of the king. The temple was the earthly residence of the deity that stood behind that king. So David was simply wanting to have what the other nations had.

His desire was not necessarily wrong or evil. He was wanting to honor God and his plan was based on his understanding that his kingdom was only as powerful as his God was close. But God had other plans for David. He wanted David to be a kingdom builder, not a temple builder. He reminds David that He is the one who chose him and put him on the throne. He did not ask for a temple to be built. David did not need to build a house for God to assure himself of the presence of God. God had been with him the entire time he was hiding in the wilderness. And He was with David now.

God had a job for David to do. He was the warrior-king. He was to do battle with the Philistines and the enemies of Israel. He was the shepherd-king. He was to shepherd and care for the people of Israel by providing them with protection from their enemies. David's desire to build God a temple would have proved to be a distraction from the very task God had called him to perform. And the same can be true for us. In our desire to do great things for God, we can miss out on the job God has called and equipped us to do. "Often we may have to accept that the work which we would dearly like to perform in terms of Christian service is not that for which we are best equipped, and not that to which God has in fact called us. It may be, like David's, a preparatory work, leading to something more obviously grand. Recognition and acceptance of our true measure is the first and necessary step towards seeing the significance of what, in God's purposes, we really can achieve and have achieve."– J. G. McConville, 1 & 2 Chronicles.

By doing what God had prepared him to do, David would be establishing Israel as a powerful force in the region. He would be setting up Israel as the dominant nation in that area of the world, so that when Solomon took the throne he would enjoy a time of unprecedented peace. And it would be during this time of peace that Solomon would build the temple David dreamed of building. Sometimes our work is preparatory. We are paving the way for something else. Our work may appear less important or somehow less significant, but we must do what God has called us to do. David was going to have to die to his vision. It would be painful and disappointing. But it would prove the best thing that ever happened to David and the nation of Israel. God didn't need a temple. God needed a man who would obediently do what he was called to do; and leave the rest to God.

Father, sometimes I can come up with all kinds of ideas for serving You. I can get all excited about my plans for making Your kingdom great. But in doing so I have often forgotten to ask You what Your thoughts are. I fail to recognize that my plans can actually get in the way of Yours. And I can lose sight of the work You have called and equipped me to do. Keep me focused on and faithful to Your will, not mine. If I have to die to my vision, give me the strength to do so, and to willingly follow Your plan over mine.  Amen



You Can't Out-give God

2 Samuel 7

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed, "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?" ­– 2 Samuel 7:18 NLT

David wanted to build a temple for God – a dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant. He had been able to build a palace for himself and God had allowed his kingdom to experience a period of peace. David had been able to complete to a great degree what Joshua had begun – to occupy the land of Canaan. And now David wanted to do something for God. He wanted to build Him a dwelling place fit for the God of the universe. When you think about it, it really was a grandiose dream. How in the world could a mere man, even the king of Israel, hope to build a suitable home for God? But David's heart was in the right place.

But God had other plans. Just when David thought he was going to do something great for God, he ends up being the recipient of God's blessing yet again. God informs David that he is not going to get to build God a house because He does not need one. He never even asked for one. Instead, God would build a house for David, but not a literal house. No, He was going to build a dynasty for David. In this chapter we have the Davidic covenant. God promises not only to let David's son ascend to the throne after him, but He promises to establish David's throne forever. This does not mean that there would be an unbroken chain of David's descendants on the throne, because that possibility was eliminated when the people of Israel and Judah went into captivity. But God was promising David that one day He would reestablish the throne of David and place on it a descendant who would reign forever. That descendant is Jesus Christ, and He will sit upon the throne of David at the time of His second coming.

Here was David hoping to build a temporal home for God and yet God was promising to build a permanent dynasty for David. Even when Solomon was given the opportunity to build a dwelling place for God, it would not last long. It would be destroyed. But the house of David would last forever. Isn't that just like God? When we think we are blessing Him, He turns around and blesses us. We can't ever out-give God. And David's response was one of praise. "How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you––there is no other God. We have never even heard of another god like you!" (2 Samuel 7:22 NLT). David recognized that He could never out-give God. He could never do more for God than God could do for him. Even if those blessings were completely undeserved. And like David, we have received blessings from God that are for greater than our capacity to return the favor. God has given us eternal life and the promise of unbroken fellowship with Him. David owed everything he had and everything he was to God. Now he owed the future of his kingdom and the promise of his future house to God as well. Regardless of enemies or the sinful failings of future kings who sat on the throne of David, nothing could prevent God from fulfilling His promise that David's throne would one day have a descendant who reigned forever. And that king is Jesus.

Father, You give and You give and You give. You have done far more for me than I could ever deserve or repay. Just when I think I am doing you some kind of a favor by my efforts on Your behalf, You remind me that nothing I do adds value to who You are or merits any worth in your eyes. You don't need my sacrifices. You don't need my praise. You have no needs. But my praise and my efforts on Your behalf are simply the response of a man who has been given so much – undeservedly. You have given me eternal life. You have given me forgiveness of sins. You have given me the righteousness of Your son, in exchange for my unrighteousness. How could I ever even think I could somehow repay You?  Amen



An Obedient People

Psalms 101; 105; 132

All this happened so they would follow his principles and obey his laws. Praise the LORD! ­– Psalms 105:45 NLT

God's lovingkindness, faithfulness, righteousness, truth and strength have been established. He is the covenant-keeping God whose word can be trusted. He is the God who calls and delivers. He has chosen His people and He has communicated His plan for them. And all along the way, He has kept His end of the bargain. So what does He expect in return? Obedience. He set them apart in order that they might live lives set apart. They were to be different. They were to live to a different set of standards – His. In Psalm 101, David makes it clear that he understood this. He knew his reign as king was to be different from that of Saul or any other king of any other nation. He said, "I will be careful to live a blameless life … I will lead a life of integrity in my own home" (Psalm 101:2). David wanted nothing to contaminate himself or his kingship. "I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all crooked dealings; I will have nothing to do with them" (Psalms 101:3 NLT). He didn't even want to have those who disobeyed God in his presence. He knew that he was to live a life that was truly set apart, obedient to the commands of God.

God is a faithful God. He keeps His word. But He also expects His people to keep His Word as well. "The LORD swore to David a promise he will never take back: 'I will place one of your descendants on your throne. If your descendants obey the terms of my covenant and follow the decrees that I teach them, then your royal line will never end.'" (Psalms 132:11-12 NLT). God is a faithful God, but He also expects His people to be faithful to Him. He demands obedience. And as Christ-followers we are also expected to live set-apart, obedient lives. Not only that, He has given us His Holy Spirit to make sure that we are able to do so. Because without His indwelling presence and power, we would be incapable of keeping a single letter of His Word – just like the Israelites. We can live obedient lives. We can live differently. We can live distinctively. We have the capacity. But do we have the desire? Is it a priority for us? Are we willing to remove those things from our lives that prevent us from living the lives He has called us to live? Is His faithfulness to us enough to make us want to be faithful to Him?

Father, may we be a people who understand that obedience is not an option. You require it. You demand it. You are holy and righteous. You expect Your people to live holy and righteous lives. And You have given us Your Spirit to make it possible. Yet we still live according to the flesh and according to the world's standards too often. Open our eyes and let us see just how faithful You have been to us so that we might be encouraged to be faithful to You. Amen



The Worthy God.

Psalms 89; 96; 100

Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. ­– Psalms 100:3 NLT

Lovingkindness. Faithfulness. Righteousness. Truth. Strength.

These three Psalms give us a glimpse of what it means to worship God. It is less an activity than an awareness of God's character and attributes. It is a recognition of who He is, what He has done, and what He is going to do as a result of His unchanging character. God is loving and kind. He is holy and righteous. He is powerful and completely in control. What He says He will do, He will do. He can be trusted. As we saw in Friday's readings, He is reliable. Even when things do not appear to be going as we expected, and God seems nowhere in sight, we can trust that He is there. How? Because that is His character. It is consistent with His behavior. It is in keeping with His word. If we do not truly know who God is, we will never truly worship Him. It is the reality of HIS faithfulness that allow us to be faithful to Him. If we doubt that He can be trusted, we will not trust Him. We will doubt Him. If we do not believe His promises, we will never rest in them.

Our worship is fickle and feeble at best. It tends to be based on present circumstances. If things are going well, our God is good and we will praise Him. If things are going poorly, we begin to doubt Him and even complain about our lot in life. We even turn worship into an activity only participated in on Sunday. It has been relegated to a worship hour and a particular music style. If we enjoy ourselves in our worship service of choice, if we like the music that is sung and the message that is given, then we believe we have worshiped. But we can go through that entire process and never acknowledge God's lovingkindness, faithfulness, righteousness, truth and strength. We can feel good, but feel nothing about or towards God. In essence, the worship service becomes more about us than Him.

These three Psalms remind us that God is to be our focus. Not because of what He is currently doing for us, but simply because of who He is. He is God and there is no one else like Him. He is God and He is completely trustworthy and true. He is God and He is powerful, capable of doing whatever He chooses to do. And if He is not doing what we THINK He should be going, He has a very good reason. If He is allowing difficulty into our lives, He is not asleep, apathetic, or impotent; He has a plan. He made us. We are His sheep. We belong to Him. He knows what is best for us. But do we trust Him? Do we believe He is strong enough to meet any and all of our needs? Do we comprehend just how much He loves us? The Psalmist reminds us that when God made a promise to David that his kingdom would endure forever, even the unfaithfulness and disobedience of the people could not alter the reality and reliability of that promise. God's word endures. His faithfulness is unfailing. His lovingkindness is everlasting. His truth never falters. His strength never diminishes.

Tell the nations about his splendor! Tell all the nations about his amazing deeds!For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise; he is more awesome than all gods. – Psalms 96:3-4 NET

Father, so often I attempt to worship who I do not know. I try to sing the praises of a God I don't fully understand or appreciate. I tend to sing only when I feel like it. I praise You only when I feel like You have done something for me that I deem worthy of praise. Yet You are worthy of praise all the time. You are loving and kind, righteous and holy, true all the time, and powerful to save. Help me better come to know You so that I might better worship You. Not just for what You do but just because of who You are. Amen



The Reliable God

Psalms 22-24; 47; 68

The Lord deserves praise! Day after day he carries our burden, the God who delivers us. Our God is a God who delivers; the Lord, the sovereign Lord, can rescue from death. ­– Psalms 68:19-20 NET

In these five Psalms we see what appears to be a dramatic span of emotions and opinions from the writers. There are shouts of praise for God's power and might. But then there are questions regarding God's lack of activity and seeming indifference suffering. There are reminders of God's powerful acts of deliverance in the past and cries for God's help in the present. But the one consistent theme throughout is that God is reliable and trustworthy. The very reason the Psalmist is crying out in Psalm 22 is because He know that God has a reputation for answering the cries of His people. He has proven Himself reliable. So even though it appears as if God is far away and not listening, He cries out. He makes his request known to God, because he believes God is reliable and will answer Him. These Psalms all speak of the attributes of God that make Him reliable and trustworthy.

He is the King of all the earth. (Psalms 47:7

He reigns over all the nations from His holy throne. (Psalms 47:8)

Our fathers cried out to Him and were delivered. (Psalms 22:5)

He is my shepherd. (Psalms 23:1)

He restores my soul. (Psalms 23:3)

He is strong and mighty. (Psalms 24:8)

He is a father to the fatherless. (Psalms 68:5)

He is a judge for the widows. (Psalms 68:5)

He daily bears our burdens. (Psalms 68:19)

He is the God of our salvation. (Psalms 68:19)

He is the God of deliverances. (Psalms 68:20)

He gives strength and power to the people. (Psalms 68:35)

God is the one we should cry out to because God is the one who can make a difference. He can deliver. He can restore. He can provide a solution. Because He alone is God. He is worthy of our praise AND our cries for help. He is worthy of our pleas for assistance and our praises of thanksgiving. These Psalmists knew this about their God. Do we? Have we found Him to be reliable?

Father, You have never shown Yourself to be unreliable to me. You have always been there for me in every situation. Yet I still doubt. I sometimes refuse to call out to You. I try to solve my own problems and be my own savior. Yet You have always been faithful. You have proven it time and time again. May I continue to learn to cry out in times of need and shout out Your praises when times of deliverance come. Amen