Week of 3/7/21 - Pages 115 - 129

I spent time last week with a 93 year-old woman who shared stories about her life growing up in New York. Her father was a butcher and her family lived above his shop. She had 2 brothers and 1 sister and she fondly remembers family meals around the kitchen table. But what stands out to her most about that time is how her mother, a devout Catholic, would spend one hour every day in prayer. No matter how much there was to do raising 4 young children in the midst of the Great Depression and World War II, her mom lived by the adage that she was too busy not to pray.

If I’m being completely honest, I must confess that I struggle in my prayer life. Often I’m focused on all I have to get done and I leave little room for slowing down to pray. Often I’m not sure how to pray; there is so much going on in our world and in my life that I don’t even know where to begin. And then there are the times I doubt whether my prayers will really change anything—will God really act because I pray. Perhaps that is why I am drawn to Nehemiah’s prayer from this week’s Scripture reading. 

The book of Nehemiah demonstrates how prayer is powerful and pleasing to God and it shows us how to approach prayer in our own lives:

1.    His prayer invoked the character of God – Nehemiah’s prayer described and praised God at the same time (great and awesome God). It then made God’s character the foundation of God’s response to the prayer (the one who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love and obey him).

2.    His prayer recalled God’s promises — Nehemiah reminded God of his promise that if his exiled people returned to him in obedience he would redeem them and bring them back to the Promised Land. I am beginning to see that remembering God’s promises is critical to answered prayer.

3.    His prayer confessed the sins of himself and his nation – Nehemiah acknowledged his own guilt and admitted the sins of his people in not obeying God’s commands. 

4.    His prayer emphasized his great need – Nehemiah prayed out of a broken heart weeping for the troubles his people were experiencing. Aren’t our prayers most fervent when we pray with the sense of great need and anguish?

After Nehemiah prayed, he still had to step out in faith to bring his plan before the king. The king could have charged Nehemiah with divided loyalty, but instead he responded with whole-hearted favor. Nehemiah’s prayer unleashed all of God’s influence and molded the will of the king. Such an important lesson as we begin to understand that we are too busy not to pray!

Week of 2/28/21 - Pages 103 - 115

God had promised through his prophet Jeremiah that he would bring his people back from captivity.  See Jeremiah 29:10-14.  The book of Ezra describes God’s faithfulness to his people and the events surrounding their return.

Upon their arrival, the priests rebuilt the altar and reinstituted sacrifices; then came the rebuilding of the temple; and finally (as we will see in Nehemiah) the Israelites rebuild the wall.  I find this sequence significant: first, comes a need for forgiveness and a way to get right with God; second, they need a means for worship and a place to meet with God; and then the people need security and protection from external threats.

Carrying out God’s plan was not without its challenges for the Israelites.  Enemies began opposing the temple rebuilding.  Notice their tactics: initially, the enemies pretend to offer their help to the Israelites, then they frustrate their plans, then they slander them to the authorities, and finally threaten them.  But, God’s will finally prevails and the temple is completed.

Of this same temple, Jesus said in Matt 12:6, “I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the temple!”

How could Jesus make such a bold claim about himself?

God is immense.  Paul says in Acts 17:24, “He is the God who made the world and everything in it.  Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples”.  In fact, Solomon says after building the first temple in Jerusalem, “But will God really dwell on earth?  The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you.  How much less this temple I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27)

And yet, in Jesus, “God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood , shed on the cross.” (Col 1:19-20)

Not only that, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to all who put their trust in him.  1Cor 3:16 says, “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?”

Col 1:13-14 says, “For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.  God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins.”

So, how is Jesus greater than the temple?  He accomplished what the altar, the temple, and the wall could never do.  Those were symbols pointing us to the way, the truth, and the life.  Jesus brought us out of captivity from the kingdom of darkness and established us in his kingdom.  Jesus himself was the sacrifice once for all, that all who would believe in him would receive forgiveness of their sins.  He made a way for God to dwell in our hearts, and for us to worship him in Spirit and in truth.  And, he protects us; for nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (see Rom 8:39)

Let us worship God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Week of 2/21/21 - Pages 87 - 102

This is a raw and fascinating section of Judah’s history. Three things really stood out for me:  the importance of authentic God centered leadership; the seductive and derailing impact of spiritual pride for anyone, even ‘good kings’; and the times we either get ahead of God or don’t see our next assignment/direction from God correctly.  In the last one we carry out ‘our plan’ sometimes with far reaching and painful results.

In 2 Chronicles we see what a ‘good king’, someone who lives a life that is pleasing to God, has an immense positive influence over a tribe or nation.  Good character in leadership has a profound impact on people.  A king’s integrity, actual behavior, focus, and the words he use’s matter in the office of King as defined by YHWH. 

These kings continue the pattern of rule where their actions are ‘evil or displeasing to the Lord’ and or pleasing to God.   Hezekiah and Josiah were the ‘good’ Kings and four were not,  Manasseh, Amon, Jehoahaz, (Eliakim, aka Jehoiakim),  and Jehoiachin.  Although Manasseh, does a remarkable about face from a very ‘evil king’ to a ‘good king’.  In his journey as a King of Judah he would be conquered, then ridiculed and imprisoned by the Assyrian military commanders.  The scriptures give us some insight in his transformation.

But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God! (2 Chron 12-13)

To see this child king leave his twisted and arrogant ways to become ‘all in’ on the way of YHWH is stunning! His turn about is evident in his zeal for undoing what he had done with idol placement in the Temple and worshipping of idol’s, restoring God’s Temple, encouraging the people of Judah to worship the LORD their God, and rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. A sign of of hope for even the most hardened souls! The condition of “deep distress’ coupled with a humble sprit is often the seed for transformation to a better place when walking toward God instead of away.  King Manasseh led his kingdom down one path which brought tremendous turmoil for Judah’s people, war, death, and captivity by an occupying force.  When Manasseh changed and God accepted him Judah’s focus and outlook changed for the positive.

 The second observation is with King Hezekiah, a fascinating king. He broke away from the status quo by seeing King David and not his own father, King Ahaz, as the way to rule going forward. Young, wealthy, mindful of God’s ways, learning from Judah’s history, and a man of action he makes an important connection as a twenty-five year old king. 

Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They abandoned the Lord and his dwelling place; they turned their backs on him. They also shut the doors to the Temple’s entry room, and they snuffed out the lamps. They stopped burning incense and presenting burnt offerings at the sanctuary of the God of Israel.

“That is why the Lord’s anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes. Because of this, our fathers have been killed in battle, and our sons and daughters and wives have been captured. But now I will make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. My sons, do not neglect your duties any longer! The Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to him.” (2 Chron 29: 6-11)

King Hezekiah’s words are a timeless warning for a believer, a small group, a fellowship, a church, a denomination, an a nation that claims to follow God. 

In his rule, King Hezekiah demonstrated a clear vision of return to the covenant ways taught by Moses. Personal modeling of the very behavior he asks the people of Judah to follow in giving their resources toward worship, show his tangible support of the priests and Levites. He invited all of Judah to return to God for corporate worship.

I did not recall this bit of “Holy flexibility’ in my past readings.  Isn’t it sweet to see God’s mercy displayed because He see’s what is in the heart!  

Since many of the people had not purified themselves, the Levites had to slaughter their Passover lamb for them, to set them apart for the Lord. Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law. For Hezekiah said, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon those who decide to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony.” And the Lord listened to Hezekiah’s prayer and healed the people. (2 Chron 30: 17-20)

In these years of King Hezekiah’s rule there was peace, prosperity, an abundance of spiritual worship and generosity to others.  Even over the top JOY.  Relationally it seems like God was pleased and the people were in the right state of mind and engagement for worshipping/glorifying God.

The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, including the priests, the Levites, all who came from the land of Israel, the foreigners who came to the festival, and all those who lived in Judah. There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David’s son. Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people, and God heard their prayer from his holy dwelling in heaven. (2 Chron 30: 25-27)

King Hezekiah was successful as a follower of YHWH, a worshipper and leader.  

Then he faced a profound challenge when the Assyrian King Sennercherib was on conquest to take over Judah.  Hezekiah’s leadership skills kicked in and he led his military and people to prepare for a great siege. He was both shrewd and traditional in his preparation. Sennercherib had momentum as a conquerer.  He had defeated every tribe/nation and their ‘gods’  that stood in his way devastating all.  In his pronouncements YHWH’s demise would be no different.  In Judah, there must have been a see-saw of emotions vacillating between fear and courage.  Can we trust God against such a treat?  Hezekiah encouraged his people with these words.

“Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people. (2 Chron 32: 7-8)

When Sennercherib continued not only destroying and torturing the people in surrounding cities he added psychological warfare, to put doubt and confusion in the people of Judah minds and to undo any trust in YHWH. Sennercherib’s officers contempt was so strong that they mocked the LORD God as if he was just another wooden idol.  This challenged Hezekiah’s leadership to it’s core.  How would you or I respond to such a full attack? 

Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to God in heaven. And the Lord sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army with all its commanders and officers. So Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace to his own land. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him there with a sword.  That is how the Lord rescued Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all the others who threatened them. So there was peace throughout the land. From then on King Hezekiah became highly respected among all the surrounding nations, and many gifts for the Lord arrived at Jerusalem, with valuable presents for King Hezekiah, too. (2 Chron 32: 20-22)

With the prophet Isaiah in passionate prayer we see Hezekiah’s faith displayed in the crucible of a ‘winner take all’ battle.   A tremendous miracle in history results with a surprise end for Sennercherib.

In the last sentence, ‘… King Hezekiah became highly respected among all the surrounding nations … with valuable presents for King Hezekiah, too.” my second point takes shape.  Hezekiah experiences the glow of YHWH’s victory.  Respect and gifts come from other nations for this outcome. Could it be that Hezekiah’s inner life begins to focus on himself for the success? Did Hezekiah lose focus and perspective in the role of his office and personal walk with God?  

As the story continues Hezekiah confront’s a deathly illness and seeks God’s mercy.  God gives a dramatic and rarely seen extension to his life based on Hezekiah’s plea which reminded God of what he has done in the past for the LORD.  We learn in the book of  2 Kings he is given 15 more years of life!  He receives it and somehow in his personal spirit, pride would grow to his detriment and it would impact the people of Jerusalem as well.  Hezekiah became self-aware as God’s displeasure was expressed against Hezekiah and Jerusalem. Hezekiah humbled himself and repented of his pride.   The author says “The LORD’s anger did not fall on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime’.  Another  huge grace moment for Hezekiah. 

Hezekiah is recorded as a person that ’succeeded in everything he did’.  Yet it is not the last statement about him in 2 Chronicles. 

 However, when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about the remarkable events that had taken place in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart. (2 Chron 32: 31)

We know from 2 Kings 20 that Hezekiah would live in the tension of the self pride of accomplishment and wealth verses a spirit of humility.  God was aware of this.  Thus the test.   In the Beatitudes Jesus describes one of the key traits of citizens of the Kingdom of God, is a humble spirit. Will God test me and/or you in our walk’s when we become distracted by ‘our’ accomplishments or successes?  When spiritual pride creeps in and takes root for us?  Does it need to be dealt with?  Yes! This Old Testament story shows even THEN God was disciplining/guiding those that called him LORD of their life.  God will discipline you and me.

The last observation in this text comes from King Josiah. A remarkable start for a child king who was a ‘good king’ and did what was pleasing to the Lord as he matured.  At an early age he was drawn to follow the example of King David.  Like Hezekiah he was very responsive to the teachings from the Mosaic covenant when the scroll, ‘the Book of the Law” was found in the Temple and read to him. He was like Hezekiah as a king. His journey gives testimony to those people who hear the Word of God and respond by doing it.  

Josiah had his great challenge too.  When King Neco of Egypt was traveling to a region north east of his kingdom to battle the Babylonians with those in Carchemish on the Euphrates River. Josiah took it as a treat to Judah.  Even after King Neco spoke through messengers to King Josiah that he had ‘no quarrel with the king of Judah’ Josiah was not convinced and took decisive action.  

The outcome was tragic.  Josiah died from his battle wounds.  A tremendous sorrow and lament fell across the land of Judah. 

Why Josiah?  Why did you choose this way?  The following is speculation. Two possibilities come to mind.  One, in Josiah’s zeal and devotion to God did Josiah move ahead of God’s leading?  When God is silent does impatience set in,  especially when we have a sense of urgency?  Is this another side of pride or taking control of the situation? Was he fighting the right battle in God’s timing and view?

A second possibility: Did Josiah ignore the obvious in the recorded dialog? King Neco’s was clear he was not looking for a battle with Judah.  Could Josiah not trust the King of Egypt?  He couldn’t see that God was using King Neco in a bigger picture?  

There is no record here if Josiah consulted his military advisors, the prophets, or God directly. This seems strange especially for a big decision like battling a powerful armed neighbor.  Other kings in Israel made their own decision’s and suffered the consequences. It does not appear God was planning to end Josiah’s life in this timeframe. No specific prophecy is recorded. Josiah made his choice and the consequences were severe not just for Josiah,  the last ‘good king’ of Judah. Judah itself would suffer with 3 more evil kings.  The demise of Judah would come soon with the fall of the Assyrian empire and it’s ally Egypt by King Nebuchadnezzar with the rise of the Babylonians.   Nebuchadnezzar would succeed in conquering and destroying Jerusalem as the prophets had foretold in 589 BCE. 

These three kings, Hezekiah, Manasseh, and Josiah offer great lessons in our own lives as we follow God. Our actions (especially if we are in a position of authority/servant leadership/shepherds that are good or evil will have an influence on those around us. As you walk with God staying in the place of humility, knowing God is in control, and listening for direction is a great posture to live out. Consulting with those brothers/sisters that have walked a little longer on the big decisions may serve you well.    

Week of 2/14/21 - Pages 76 - 87

Wholeheartedly

Wholeheartedly. In this week’s reading, this one word virtually jumped off the page at me. 

“Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. … He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly.” II Chronicles 25:1-2

Each new ruler chronicled in this book is introduced with an identity that illuminates their interaction with God. The rulers either: (i) did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight; OR (ii) did not do what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. For me, these catchphrases serve to signal whether I will be reading with anticipation…or anxiety.

I like to think I do what is pleasing in the Lord’s sight, and I don’t want to find much in common with King Amaziah. However, I’m afraid that “not wholeheartedly” is a descriptor that met some sad resonation in my soul. My mind immediately drifted to my own wanderings and the recurring root cause of such excursions. And what is this wretched root? Here it is: a stubborn “I’ve got this” disposition in certain aspects of life.

In our culture, an “I’ve got this” attitude is viewed as positive – a kingly impersonation of confidence in our control for a desired outcome.  My social life, my job and my finances, my family relationships, my … – “I’ve got this.” Really? I have even heard this phrase used in relation to the current pandemic! Yet, clearly “I” do not have this. Do you?!

Now, let us not dwell here in the negative, flogging prideful thinking. Rather, let us rest in this knowledge: In everycircumstance, the One who “has got this” is the Lord God Almighty!

Consider this week: Do you have “not wholeheartedly” areas of your relationship with God? I encourage you to aggressively identify obstacles between you and your Heavenly Father, and proclaim – with humble and submissive confidence – that “God has got this!” One of my favorite, classic hymns, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Robert Robinson, 1758), captures this trusting, “give-it-up” sentiment well:

Oh, to grace how great a debtor

daily I'm constrained to be!

Let thy goodness, like a fetter,

bind my wandering heart to thee:

prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

prone to leave the God I love;

here's my heart, O take and seal it;

seal it for thy courts above.

Amen!

Week of 2/7/21 - Pages 63 - 76

From this week's reading, my mind was captivated by the words on the second half of page 67 through the first half of page 69. On those pages the history lesson focuses on King Asa of Judah. More specifically I was captivated by the attributes of King Asa that earned him favor with the Lord. I realize that after the new covenant came into effect after Jesus, we do not have to earn favor with the Lord, that favor is a gift from Jesus, but I still love to learn from history what is pleasing to God. I still want to be pleasing to God, not to earn His favor, but to thank Him for inviting me (through the sacrifice of Jesus) into the shelter of His Kingdom.

On page 67 it says that king Asa “did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God. He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles”. Further down, it says “Asa also removed the pagan shrines as well as the incense altars from everyone of Judah’s towns”. It goes on to say that “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him”.

While the new covenant was a game changer in terms of what is required of us to be acceptable to God. I don’t believe it changed God. So the eyes of the Lord may still search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. Boy do I need strengthening. So this morning as I walked and prayed I sought out any sacred pillars, idols, shrines or sinful patterns in my life. I really want to smash them. Possibly without those things I will be viewed as "fully committed to him" and He will search me out for a dose of His strengthening.

May God bless you all!

Week of 1/31/21 - Pages 50 - 62

This section of 2 Chronicles is a continuation of God’s covenant story with His chosen people Israel through the reign of King Solomon, King David’s son.  Solomon’s reign of prosperity was initially grounded in faith with praise to God for all things.  During the time Solomon and the people of Israel placed God first and worshipped no other gods, the nation of Israel was an example of faith to all nations and prospered.

When Solomon became king, his first public act was to lead the leaders and the entire assembly in worship where God’s Tabernacle was located.  Solomon asked for the Lord’s guidance, worshipped Him, and sacrificed thousands of offerings to the Lord.  When the Lord asked Solomon early in his reign what Solomon wanted, Solomon sought wisdom and knowledge from God to properly govern his people.  This answer pleased the Lord because Solomon put the Lord first.  As a result, the Lord gave him wisdom and knowledge but also blessed him with wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king before him has had nor in the future would ever have.    

Solomon sought the Lord’s will first and honored the Lord God by building a Temple for God’s people to worship God and offer sacrifices.  Solomon knew that God was bigger than the Temple but understood the people needed a place to worship and be reminded of God’s preeminence in their lives and the laws given through Moses.   Solomon also recognized through wisdom from God that the Temple and Solomon’s prosperity witnessed to others God’s love and care for His people.   King Hiram of Tyre, a neighboring country, praised the Lord who made the heavens and the earth.  The Queen of Sheba also declared “praise to the Lord who delighted in Solomon and placed him on the throne as king to rule for the Lord.” (page 61)

God blessed the Temple upon its completion by filling it with His presence in a thick cloud and spiritually uplifting all onlookers, including Solomon who praised God as he stood before the people.   Solomon’s words about God’s covenant with David and the future for God’s people reminded the people to put God first.  “If their descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow God’s Law, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.”    

On the other hand, if they did not follow the Lord and were punished, they could repent and be restored in their relationship with Him.  They “…are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against God, and if they turn back and acknowledge God’s name and pray to God here in this Temple, then [God will] hear from heaven and forgive the sin of [the} people Israel and return them to this land…” (page57)  

In the New Testament, Jesus always sought the will of God, the Father, first.  His desire above all else was to do the will of the Father.   Jesus knew his other needs would be met.   Through Jesus, God was ushering into the world the Kingdom of God in a new covenant with us to place God and service to Him first.  Jesus as our example for daily living demonstrated how to put God first in all aspects of our lives.  Jesus’s words in Matthew 6:33 highlighted this principal for daily living to us:  “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (physical needs) shall be yours as well.”

In this time of sheltering in place with fewer distractions competing for our attention, let us continue to focus our attention on the Lord first.  May the Lord and the Kingdom of God grow even stronger as our top priority when God delivers us from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Week of 1/24/21 - Pages 38 - 50

As I write this blog it is the 16th of December and we all await the celebration of the birth of our Lord. Now along the road to my spiritual journey I have come to understand that along with the birth of a savior came an easier more convenient opportunity to worship our Lord. David was to instruct his son, Solomon, to build a temple to honor and praise the Lord. So much thought and instruction had been put into place to complete it. Each phase of this temple had such specifics such as, which family and which descendants would be responsible for each job. Such care was taken to supply the job with materials of certain kinds. To lengthy to list were all the other jobs assigned. I soon got the feeling that a lot of thought and love for the Lord was behind all this planning. Honestly, it exhausted me to read it let alone be a part of this Temple raising. It was clear, for the time, this was the honoring way to accomplish the building.

Today, if we want a church we watch as it goes up by a construction company along with all our hopes and dreams of all we will do in this church to honor and worship our Lord. We are taught about the Holy Spirit and how we can always call on him to speak to us, telling us what direction to go in so that we can please and honor our Lord. In our church we can offer up prayer to a God who listens. Today we are fortunate to be able to do what God asks of us and offer our efforts up to him in praise. Long gone are the days of weights, measures, stone bricks and lumber. Those were relevant back in those times. Jesus came and died on the cross and paved our way.

Week of 1/17/21 - Pages 26 - 37

Discerning the right thing to do versus gathering more information – which is most important?  The reading for this week reminds us that both are important to our effective Christian walk as maturing believers.

David gathered more information when he asked God plainly, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines?  Will you hand them over to me?”  The Lord answered David plainly, “Yes, go ahead.  I will hand them over to you.”  And so it was.  A second time, David asked God directly how to conquer the returning Philistines and, once again, God answered him plainly, even telling David about angels that would be assisting in the battle.  David followed God’s directions and the victory was won.

In contrast, when David considered building a Temple to house the Ark of the Covenant, he did not ask God.  Instead, he asked Nathan the prophet.  Nathan’s response was “Do whatever you have in mind for God is with you.”  What we know about this scene is that David’s heart was absolutely in the right place in wanting to “do a good thing for God”.  The problem was that God never asked him to, and David never inquired directly of God about it.  If David had, God would have told him plainly that it was not for him to do.

God’s response to David through Nathan the prophet was vehement, bordering on angry – in fact, maybe it was angry!  Certainly it was chastising to David.  Never mind that David’s heart was in the right place, he had never inquired of the Lord about it and he was completely running ahead of Gods’ plans.  Even so, God continued in His plans to bless David and eventually the Temple was built by David’s son, Solomon.

How many times have I run ahead of God?  How many times have I wanted to “do a good thing for God”?  Failed to inquire of the Lord, failed to listen so that I understand what my part is in a matter and what is not.  Invariably, when I run ahead I encounter fatigue, resistance, confusion and sometimes even resentment because the doors simply don’t open as I expect them to.  Nothing good comes of it.  

God is well able to do anything He chooses through anyone He chooses.  Our task as His children is to listen, inquire, lean in and only then do we move forward to action.  Don’t be afraid to ask what seems like obvious questions.  Is this for me to do Lord?  What are your plans for me?  The end result of living this way is God gains all the glory, while we gain His peace and rest, which is priceless.  

Week of 1/10/21 - Pages 15 - 26

In the OT Challenge section this week we read about genealogies, the story of Saul, Jonathan and his brothers’ deaths in battle, and about some of Israel’s warriors, including King David's mighty men.  But what stuck out to me was a subtle element of God fulfilling his promise regarding the return of his people from Babylon to the promised land.

On pages 18-20, we read just a short portion of the long story that started when God had his prophets foretell of their capture and exile – 70yrs they would be exiled - but there in exile they would realize how far they have been from God’s design for their lives. They would repent, and eventually God would bring them back – being true to His promises in Lev 26:33-44.  Lev 26:44 “Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them, neither will I abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them, for I am the LORD their God.”

Like the Israelites, we too can find ourselves in what seems like a kind of exile from God’s presence in some seasons of our lives. While most of us are not literally carried off to a foreign land because of our poor choices, our habitual decisions (or lack of habits that allow Jesus to become and remain Lord of our lives), can make hearing the Lord very difficult.  Sometimes a sudden life change (good or bad) can happen in our lives, and we don’t recognize for a while that this event put us on a road that is taking us away from the Lord.  But I think most often for sincere Christ followers who find themselves feeling far from God, we have let the demands and pressures of life slowly nudge us further and further from the Lord’s presence, to the point where we either can’t hear Him well, or we think He does not want to talk to us because of our neglect of the relationship. 

Sometimes it is just very real pressures of this life: work, kids, illnesses, relationships that need extra attention for a season,…sometimes we can literally feel trapped in the middle of our well intentioned hard working lives, and all we have the energy to do is to survive the day, veg in front of the TV for an hour, and go to bed.  

Back in Chronicles I love what God does, for He is always close and working on the behalf of those whose hearts are His. In their exile the Israelites have repented and turned back to the LORD, and God is preparing for their return.  On page 18 it says: “The first of the exiles to return to their property in their former towns were Priests, Levites, Temple servants, and other Israelites.” It talks about thousands of families from the lines of Judah and Benjamin returning. In all 1760 priests returned and 212 gatekeepers – one of the important jobs in the life of the Temple. 

I love this.  What might seem subtle or even random, surely was God providing His Priests to help His people retuning from exile. Whether it was people who grew up only in exile and never knew the behaviors of a free people following God’s plan for their lives, or people feeling unworthy because of intentional sin and selfish acts that created distance from God. Whatever the reason, God made sure people were there to help His people draw close to Himself.

It is much easier for anyone living on this side of the Cross to return from exile, a separation from God. If Jesus is not yet your Lord, you simply have to believe on the risen son of God, Jesus, accept Him as your Lord and Savior, and then God promises His Holy Spirit will dwell with you and help you draw near to Him.  If we do profess Jesus as Lord and still find ourselves on an unfamiliar road that seems far from Him, we need only to STOP, turn toward Him, and from a position and posture of sincere humility – repent and seek His face.  He most certainly may ask us to stop some behaviors that hinder our closeness and to start ones that help our closeness to Him. But if we are sincere in our desire this will be no surprise and even be a source of joy and strength once we start obeying. That is what Truth does, it shines a light on non-truth. And don’t let the sin of pride or the evil one keep you from asking a Priest for help, for God has placed at least one near to you (remember we are all the Priesthood of believers), and every single one of us needs help at times.

As we start this new year, one that we ALL sincerely pray is better than the last, take a few moments and evaluate your closeness with the Lord. If it is good, give thanks, rejoice and pay attention to the Lord in case He is asking you to be a humble Priest in someone’s life.  If it is not close, if you do not often sense His nearness, take stock in where you invest the FIRST FRUITS of your time, your talents, and your treasure.

 I pray you desire to draw near to Jesus, the one who loves you so much more than you can possibly know, and it will make 2021 a fantastic year, regardless of the circumstances.

Week of 1/3/21 - Pages 1 - 14

My Dear Brothers and Sisters of Life Together! Happy New Year!  I am thrilled to share with you a brief introduction to Chronicles written by the authors that have created bibleproject.com.  

Below is a fantastic blueprint of understanding the unique and unexpected richness that Chronicles brings to any student of Scripture.  Enjoy!  Pastor Lee

Okay friends, it is about time we discussed those two books in the Bible you may have been avoiding. Or, maybe you never really noticed they were in the Bible in the first place: the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles. 

I admit that starting any book with nine chapters of genealogies (see 1 Chronicles 1-9) isn’t the best way to grab a modern reader’s attention. However, once you understand how 1-2 Chronicles are a work of literary genius that’s in conversation with the rest of the Old Testament, you’ll come to see these books as one of the many gems in the Bible.

A New Lens

The story begins with page one of the Bible: the first word of 1 Chronicles is “Adam.” From there, the Chronicler has woven the entire story of Abraham’s family leading up to David and beyond into a series of elaborately arranged genealogies. 

For ancient Israelite readers, these genealogies weren’t just a matter of family lines but a shorthand way of retelling the stories of all these characters in an annotated form. These names would have provoked whole memories of earlier scriptural stories. The genealogies were meant to activate all kinds of mental links and collective stories deeply ingrained in Hebrew culture. After reading through the genealogies, readers come to the very brief story of Saul’s reign and failure as a king (1 Chron. 10), and then we quickly move on to King David (1 Chron. 11-29), which retells the stories from 2 Samuel. You might even come to appreciate these genealogies. They are the introduction to a retelling of Israel’s entire story, focusing on the future hope of a messianic king like David, who will restore the temple and God’s kingdom over the nations. 

The books of Chronicles, composed as one unified literary work, was produced by an anonymous author living in Jerusalem more than 200 years after the return from exile. Look at the genealogy in 1 Chronicles 3:1-24; this takes you six generations after the return from the exile that took place in the 530s B.C. Bible scholars refer to this author as “the Chronicler,” which is a pretty awesome title!

1-2 Chronicles is in large part a retelling of the story you read in the books of 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings. This is why the books often get overlooked, as readers assume it is just a repeat of what they already read. But this book is way, way more! The Chronicler was living at a time when the Jewish people had long resettled in Jerusalem after returning from the Babylonian exile. Things were okay (read Ezra-Nehemiah or Malachi for a flavor of daily life in this period), but there was a growing awareness that God’s ancient covenant promises to Abraham, Moses, and David, which were reaffirmed by the prophets, had not yet come to pass. They awaited a messianic king of Isaiah who would rebuild the temple and invite all the nations into God’s kingdom (see Isaiah chapters 2, 9, 11, and 60 Isaiah 2, Isaiah 9, Isaiah 11, Isaiah 60 for an overview).

And where was this new David? 

Reshaping a Story

One of the main goals of the Chronicler was to reshape the stories of Israel’s past to rekindle hope for the future. He had before him most of the books of the Old Testament (if you pay attention he’s adopted material from the Torah, Joshua-Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, the Psalms, Proverbs, and more!), and he retells the stories of David and Israel’s kings in a way that turns them into models and portraits of the future king they hope for. The book of Chronicles is kind of like the “Reader’s Digest” of the Old Testament. This author has reflected on the Scriptures and offers an interpretation of Israel’s past that highlights their future hope. These books were designed to sustain the hopes and prayers of God’s people as they wait for God to fulfill his ancient promises. 

Resist your desire to skip this part because you’ve already read the version in 2 Samuel. A surface reading of these books just won’t give readers an awareness of the Chronicler’s genius in editing and compiling his work. You have to go deeper and compare the stories in Chronicles with his sources, especially 2 Samuel. When you compare carefully, you’ll find all kinds of stories about David in 2 Samuel that the Chronicler has omitted, and all kinds of new stories that the Chronicler has included. And what is the result?

In 1-2 Samuel, we saw the rise of David as the underdog who bests the giant Goliath, outwits his adversaries, and unifies the people. David is presented as a king after God’s own heart who sings his praises, has crazy dance fits for the Lord without regard for his own dignity, and is an all-around upstanding man and king... Well, except for his adulterous scandal that resulted in murder (see 2 Sam. 11-12)

Oh yeah, and the stories of his murderous, sex-crazed children who perform heinous acts of abuse and murder (see 2 Sam. 13-20)

Upon reflection, the story of David shows us a mixed-bag kind of king. 1-2 Samuel presents us with a portrait of David that was constantly fleeing powerful adversaries like Saul (1 Sam. 21-26) and his own son Absalom (2 Samuel 15-18). resolving to hide in the hills of the Judean wilderness. We also saw the weakness of David’s character when he ordered his successor to assassinate his political opponents and those who created more tension than was desirable during David’s tumultuous years of struggle (1 Kings 1:2).

And that’s our first clue. Almost all of these stories in 1-2 Samuel that portray David as weak and morally flawed are missing from Chronicles. It’s like the Chronicler purposely chose not to add the messy stuff. Which raises the question: Why?

Let’s eliminate one possible interpretation: that the Chronicler was whitewashing David’s story and denying that David was a flawed human being. He knows perfectly well that anyone can read the version of David’s story that portrays him as a mix of good and evil. The book of Chronicles is a journey through the entire Old Testament that makes crystal clear that the story isn’t over.

The Great Chronicler

The Chronicler is doing something else. He is using all of the best moments in David’s story and creating a “literary portrait” of a “greater than David.” The Chronicler had also read and pondered the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah, who pointed towards a “new David,” that is, a future king from David’s line who would be the kind of king that Israel’s kings never quite lived up to. Even historical David was not the ideal king, but he was a good start. Good enough that the Chronicler adapts the past portrait of David to become an image of the future, hoped-for David that Israel was still waiting for after the exile. 

In this way, the Chronicler is acting as the first commentary on the Old Testament. He’s offering us a prophetic interpretation of Israel’s history that is meant to guide the reader’s attention forward to the hope of a coming king who will restore order and pursue the Lord as David once did, at least mostly. In other words, 1-2 Chronicles are a “prophetic work.” That is, they represent God’s point of view on Israel’s past, and announce that exile and disappointment is not the end of the story. This author is offering the same prophetic hope we find in the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and in the rest of the prophets. 

However, the Chronicler is not only in the business of omitting material from the earlier stories of David and his descendants. He also adds to them. He had access to all kinds of traditions and archival materials that told stories about David and Israel’s kings that you do not find in 2 Samuel through 2 Kings. In David’s story alone, there are seven chapters of new material in Chronicles that work to further paint the portrait of David as an ideal king (1 Chronicles 15-16, 22-29; 1 Chronicles 15-16, 1 Chronicles 22-29.

For example, we discover that although David did not oversee the building of the temple, he did begin the planning and resource building processes. He’s even portrayed as a “new Moses.” The Chronicler tells us that he received the blueprints for the Jerusalem temple as a “pattern” shown him by God just as Moses was shown the “pattern” for building the tabernacle in the wilderness. This use of David as an image of the future hope extends to the portrait of Solomon presented in Chronicles (see 2 Chronicles 1-9).

The Chronicler includes more stories about Solomon’s failures than he did for David. However, he also added new material to Solomon’s story to make him a figure of future hope for those living centuries after the return from exile. Take for example this completely new portion of Solomon’s temple blessing presented in Chronicles:

If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. For now, I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually (2 Chronicles 7:13-16).

The Chronicler is making a new presentation of old material in a way that speaks greater volumes to the audience during the post-exilic period. These words from Solomon, therefore, are reaching across the boundaries of time to pull readers back to the covenant and create expectant hope in the Day of the Lord’s mercy.

Chronicles is, therefore, functioning as both a commentary upon the Hebrew Scriptures and as a theological statement in its own right. So what does that mean for us? 

The book of Chronicles is a journey through the entire Old Testament that makes crystal clear that the story isn’t over. We’ve looked at just a few examples and details. Every page is brimming with more evidence of the future prophetic angle of 1-2 Chronicles. 

And this wasn’t just cool theology for the Chronicler. The book’s message has a pastoral purpose: to bring comfort and hope to generations of God’s people who were tempted towards despair, or apathy. During a time when many wondered if God was ever going to fulfill his promises, the Chronicler retold the story of their collective past in order to rekindle hope for the future. As you read and ponder these retold stories, may you find your own faith and hope reignited as we still await the return of the world’s true king.