Seeking God's Will - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 18:3-4,

"Jehoshaphat replied, 'I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war.' But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, 'First seek the counsel of the Lord.'"

When the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, went down to visit the king of the northern ten tribes, Ahab, Ahab asked him to join with him in attacking  Ramoth Gilead. Jehoshaphat's response to him is contained in our verses above. Jehoshaphat assured Ahab of his fidelity toward him but wanted to "seek the counsel of the Lord" before engaging his military.

The Scriptures tell us Jehoshaphat was a good king in the eyes of the Lord, whereas Ahab was wicked. To satisfy Jehoshaphat's desire for the Lord's counsel on it, Ahab had four hundred of his fake prophets come in with their baloney (we still have a lot of that type around today). Jehoshaphat objected and so Ahab reluctantly had a real prophet, Micaiah brought in. Ahab resented the counsel of the Lord provided through Micaiah because it was not in line with what he wanted to do. Ahab was eventually killed in the fray at Ramoth Gilead.

This account speaks to the need we all have in seeking the counsel of the Lord, and accepting that counsel. I question whether we need cousel on every last mundane thing in life (which chair should you sit in for dinner? - I think the Lord expects us to make many decisions without his regulating our every activity - he created us with a will and the ability to make many good decisions that do not require counsel).

However, I also recognize that wise people know when it is best to seek the Lord's counsel, his will in matters that require it. In Jehoshaphat's case, it was to bring in a prophet known to speak for the Lord. In our case, we do the same thing, but use the writings of prophets contained in the Scriptures to provide us guidance - the only difference is it is written, not verbal. Since we do not have a Micaiah in our hip pocket as Ahab did (more of a thorn in his side from his perspective), our pursuit of knowing God's will in a matter requires prayer and an understanding of the Scriptures. As such, the counsel we recieve today is often not as customized for a given matter, but the counsel we receive from that quarter is derived from priciples contained in the pages of Scripture.

There may be intervention in our lives with direct counsel from the Lord, but, at least in my case, I have found that to be a rare exception. Our God is in heaven and he does whatever it is he wants, and he isn't checking in with me first!

There are passages of Scripture that speak to this issue of seeking the counsel of the Lord - providing us counsel on how to get the cousel we need, for instance, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2. Also, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." Ephesians 5:15-17.

I'm sure you can find many more of these kind of verses. How wonderful the Lord provides us wisdom through the agency of hs will as contained in the Scriptures!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Emulating Jehoshaphat - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 17:7-10,

"In the third year of his [Jehoshaphat's] reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah. With them were certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people. The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat."

When Jehoshaphat succeeded his father, Asa, on  the throne of Judah, he placed the importance of the Scriptures upon all the people. He sent his officials and some priests and Levites to teach the Scriptures to the people and we read that "The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah..." This was not what many of the kings of Judah experienced. Unfortunately, many of those kings rejected the Lord and suffered severely for it.

But, Jehoshaphat was blessed by the Lord as he gave himself to the Scriptures and, as king, sought to teach all the people the Scriptures. Jehoshaphat, unlike so many others, made his choice to align himself with the agenda and purposes of God. 

I am reminded we can do likewise. The Lord has his agenda, his purposes. We can align oursleves with those things of the Lord and experience his blessings in both this life and the next, or we can refuse the Lord and pursue our own agenda.

The choice is ours. May we all emulate the wisdom of Jehoshaphat!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Our Great Help in Time of Need - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 16:7-9,

"At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: 'Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.'"

After King Asa sat for 35 years on the throne of Judah, King Baasha of the northern ten tribes of Israel moved militarily against him. Rather than seek the Lord's help, Asa approached Ben-Hadad, king of Aram with silver and gold. This was enough for Ben-Hadad to break his arrangement with Baasha and sent his army against him.

Following this, a prophet, Hanani ("the seer") approached Asa with the indictment of the Lord against him for not seeking the Lord, but others for help. The Lord had already demonstrated to Asa in the past that he could depend upon him, but he turned to another.

While I am sure there are many things in life that do not require us to seek the Lord's help, there are things that do. As we examine our own lives and see the shortcomings there, it is to the Lord himself he wants us to flee to for the forgiveness of those sins. Unfortunately, many fail to do so and pursue other "options".

This morning I am reminded the Lord is our refuge, our strength. He is the One to go to in times of need. He wants us to rely on him, to find our peace, our solice our help in time of need.

"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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To Seek or Not to Seek - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 15:1-2,

"The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded. He went out to meet Asa and said to him, 'Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.'"

Asa was king of the southern two tribes of Israel. This message from the Lord was a great encouragement for him and he and all the people joined in an oath to follow the Lord.

One of the aspects of Azariah's prophecy that capture's my thoughts this morning is that there were only two possible positions Asa and the people could take: seek the Lord and be with him, or forsake the Lord and be without him. I note there is no third possible position to take relative to the Lord. To fail to seek the Lord was to forsake the Lord.

I suspect there are many today who seek to avoid entering that spiritual fray whatsoever. They may not be interested in seeking the Lord, and they do not particularly want to forsake the Lord either. Just avoid the choice altogether. However, that is not possible. To fail to seek the Lord is to forsake the Lord. There is no neutral ground here.

There is no third consequence at the great white throne judgment. Either a person will be embraced into to the Lord's family with their sins forgiven, or cast into that fiery lake of burning sulfur. There is no Purgatory, there is no holding place, there simply is no third alternative.

Perhaps that is why so many who reject the truth are so opposed to the notion that life and reality has no black and white to it, just merely shades of grey. I suspect if I failed to embrace the Lord, I might want to fool myself into thinking that things were not so cut and dry.

But real life is cut and dry. And, either we embrace the Lord or we fail to do so. There simply is no third option here.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Syncing With the Lord's Agenda - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 14:2-6,

"Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the Lord gave him rest."

Asa was a good king in the eyes of the Lord. I notice the blessing of the Lord on him for following the Lord, and the peace Judah lived in as a result.

This is contrasted with what Judah experienced under Rehoboam. In 2 Chronicles 12:1-4 we read, "After Rehoboam's position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord. Because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam. With twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen and the innumerable troops of Libyans, Sukkites and Cushites that came with him from Egypt, he captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem."

The message in 2 Chronicles could not be more clear. When Judah rebelled against the Lord, they experienced the pain of the Lord making "adjustments" to the nation, conforming them to good use for the Lord's purposes. When the nation embraced the Lord, placing themselves in a position to be used by the Lord, they experienced his blessings.

The Lord was preparing Israel and the world for its coming Savior. When people place themselves to be useful to his purposes, they experience his blessings, and conversely, when they place themselves outside of what the Lord is pursuing, they experience something else.

The Lord always has his agenda that he pursues. The wise inform themselves of that agenda and join with him in his pursuit of it.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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What Are We Relying On? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 13:18,

"The Israelites were subdued on that occasion, and the people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their ancestors."

The fight between the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Israel during the reigns of Jeroboam and Abijah, respectively, turned to Abijah's victory over Jeroboam.

We are told in the above verse that Judah was victorious "because they relied on the Lord, the God of their ancestors."

Alignment with the Lord always brings ultimate success. When we are in pursuit of the Lord's agenda and rely on him, victory is at hand. Many Christians have it the other way around. They rely on the Lord in pursuit of their own agenda, not the Lord's. And, I am sure that some do not even rely on the Lord.

However, Jesus words should be our guiding principle if we seek victory, "seek first his [God's] kingdom and his righteousness". It is here we gain the victory, it is here we are successful, it is here we achieve real accomplishments in life: seek God's kingdom and his righteousness, and rely on him.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Lord Responds To Our Choices - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 12:7,

"When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: 'Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance...'"

We are told at the beginning of this chapter that after Rehoboam's position as king had become established in Judah and that he had strengthened his rule as king, he and all the people abandoned the Lord. This is a common theme in the Scriptures, helping us to understand the nature of our sinful nature. Give us peace and prosperity and we will drift away from the Lord. Here is why the "health and wealth" crowd in the church has it wrong. When they say, "The Lord loves you and doesn't want you to be poor, does he?" The answer should always be, "Because the Lord loves me, he insures I am always dependent upon him."

In any event, as Rehoboam and all Israel abandoned the Lord, the Lord sent the king of Egypt, Sheshak, and captured much of Rehoboam's kingdom. In response, Rehoboam humbled himself and the Lord responded through the prophet Shemaiah as our passage above states.

Here is yet another example of how the Lord responds to decisions we make. The Lord brought his judgment against Rehoboam due to his turning from the Lord, and when Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord responded by stopping his own judgment. 

Far from being minarets, when the Lord created us, he gave us each our own free will. He has chosen to respond to the choices we make. Rehoboam rebelled, the Lord responded one way, Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord responded another way.

That the Lord will change what might otherwise take place based on choices we make is the efficacious principle behind prayer. 

On the flip side of this account is the reality that the Lord does those things to bring about what he desires. His agenda during the time of the judges, the kings, the captivity of Judah, and her return to the land was to prepare the nation for the coming of her Messiah.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Where Did That Come From? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 11:4,

"Do not go up to fight against your fellow Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing."

When the northern ten tribes split from Judah and Benjamin, following King Rehoboam's foolishness and folly, the Lord told Rehoboam not to fight against them. It was his doing.

We live in a world where many of us assume everything that happens is our doing. However, from the Scriptures we find that not all that takes place in our world is our doing. Sometimes things happen that have its origin elsewhere, from the lofty heights of heaven itself, and that, right from our Creator's own hands.

I am entirely convinced that many of the things we see in the news today have their origin in the will and determination of God. I don't intend to say that all things that take place find its cause in heaven, I'm certain that the fallen nature of mankind has wrought all kinds of evil here on earth.

I suspect we can assume Rehoboam felt the northern ten tribes departure from him was an evil, but it actually was an action of God in pursuit of his agenda of the redemption of mankind. The Lord was busy preparing Israel for her coming Savior.

The rub comes in trying to determine that which has its origin in heaven, and that which has its origin elsewhere. The Sanhedrin faced this dilemma when they were confronted by the evangelistic activity of the apostles. As many religious leaders are apt to do, they felt threatened (by this new movement of followers of Jesus Christ) and sought to put them to death. A wise Pharisee named Gamaliel intervened and said, "Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." Acts 5:38-40.

As I say, the rub comes in determining what it is we see taking place in the world: is it from God or elsewhere? I'm afraid all too many who are not that acquainted with the Scriptures, make assumptions and really have no way of knowing - including many of our "religious leaders."

Here is yet again a very important reason to keep our noses in our Bibles. We can all have our opinions about what we see about us, but only those who have taken the time, energy and effort to know the Lord by what he has revealed to us in the pages of Scripture have any hope of knowing the origin of things about us.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Lord Behind the Political Curtain - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 10:15,

"So the king [Rehoboam] did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite."

The Lord had decided to split the nation of Israel and give the northern ten tribes to Jeroboam as king. Rehoboam would retain Judah and Benjamin as king of these tribes. There would now be a divided Israel: Northern Kingdom and Southern Kingdom.

In the account we read that the Lord brought about the following events: following the hardship Solomon placed on the people for his ambitious building projects, the people approached his son, Rehoboam, when he succeeded him on the throne. They asked for relief. Rather than listen to the wisdom of the elders that served Solomon, Rehoboam consulted the young, inexperienced and foolish friends he had grown up with. They advised Rehoboam to respond in threat to the people. Consequently, all but Judah and Benjamin deserted Rehoboam and made Jeroboam their king.

We read that all of this was from God. The political intrigue that took place appeared to be nothing more than poor decisions by poor political leaders. Yet it all happened because the Lord brought it about.

It makes me wonder about our politics today. How much of what goes on these days is from the Lord? I suspect a lot. More than we all think...

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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A Purpose of Worship: Drawing Others - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 9:1-7,

"When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, she came to Jerusalem... She said to the king, 'The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard. How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!'"

The queen of Sheba had heard amazing things about Solomon and went to go see for herself what it was that was so fascinating about him. As we read in the passage above, she was not disappointed. At first she could not believe what she heard, then, seeing for herself, she exclaimed she had not heard the half of it!

I may be going out on a limb here, but this account is a bit of an allegory to me concerning one of the many purposes of worship.

I am completely convinced that the overriding purpose of this life is the building of God's kingdom, his family. This life is all about the redemption of mankind since the fall in the garden. One of the many aspects of worship is that the Lord is not the only audience in public worship. Others are affected by our worship. I am sure many have been impacted by the worship God receives from his people and it prompts them to find out for themselves: who is this Jesus Christ that moves people so?

When we hear something or someone is wonderful, we want to find out for ourselves, we are drawn to it. We just may want to partake of it ourselves.

God does not require our worship of him to feel good about himself. However, it is good for us to communicate to him our adulation and reverence for him. In addition, our worship of him brings about other things in our own lives and the lives of others, as well.

Just as the queen was drawn to find out for herself about these wonderful things of Solomon, so others are drawn to the Lord when they hear the wonderful things we have to say about the Lord in our worship.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Inconsistencies Before the Lord - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 8:11,

"My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the Lord has entered are holy."

Solomon's wife here was Pharaoh's daughter. Solomon moved her (one of his hundreds of wives) out from Jerusalem in deference to the sanctity of places the Lord had manifested his presence via the ark of the covenant. In 1 Kings 3:1 we read, "Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem." When the king's palace and the temple were completed, he moved her out of the city of David.

Here is an interesting contradiction in my mind: why would Solomon take a wife (even if to strike an important alliance with Egypt) that, to him, was unacceptable in the locale of the Lord's presence? Solomon clearly had a zeal for building the temple and dedicating it to the Lord's presence on the one hand, and yet on the other, engaging himself with that which, in his own mind, was unacceptable to the very presence of the Lord.

This contradiction in Solomon's life was not without consequence. In 1 Kings 11:1-6 we read, "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, 'You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.' Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done."

It wasn't just Pharaoh's daughter, but many women became the catalyst for Solomon's shortcomings before the Lord.

Some day I hope to meet the man in the resurrection, and far be it from me to cast stones! How about the inconsistencies in my own life? Solomon's life manifests something found in my own. Where Solomon had a very significant place in history and incredible resources to make his accounts all the more spectacular, I have to admit to my own inconsistencies.

Here is where the grace of God, his mercy, his love, his forgiveness is so important to me! Unlike the caricature held up in front of us by the do-gooders in our midst (and, you know who you are) as what "perfect Christians" should look like, I don't occupy that ideal. I do reach for it, I aspire to it, I yearn for it, but the truth is I fail at times with those contradictions so evident in my life.

I will say, it keeps me humble and causes me to continue to throw myself at the feet of the Lord's mercy. How wonderful the mercy of God and the payment Jesus Christ made for all my sins!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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God's Supremacy, Our Free Will - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 7:17-20,

"As for you [Solomon], if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will... [respond in one way]... But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will... [respond in a different way]"

Many today subscribe to a theology that does not allow for what the Lord told Solomon following the completion of the temple. They have the perspective that God determines all that happens. Therefore, if Solomon obeyed the Lord, the Lord made him do it. Likewise, if Solomon disobeyed the Lord, the Lord made him do it (well, not exactly - they would say that the Lord withdrew his hand which would automatically render Solomon completely compelled by his sinful nature, ensuring he would disobey the Lord.) Either way, they see it as the Lord predestining all that happens. This they postulate in an effort to preserve what they consider to be a pristine view of the total supremacy of the Lord over his creation (preserving the concept of God's transcendence in our theology).

However, that is not how the Lord's interaction with us is presented in the Scriptures. Here in this passage, the Lord takes the formula of: do this and I will respond with that, don't do this and I will respond another way. The Lord left it in Solomon's hands. Unfortunately, the second alternative eventually was taken by Solomon and everything turned out exactly as the Lord said it would for Israel. Solomon did entertain other "gods" and Israel paid dearly as the nation followed suit. "I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble." Verses 20-21. This is precisely what happened in 586 BC when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. It was a different route the Lord took Israel through to accomplish what he intended in the first place, had Solomon heeded the Lord to begin with.

What we are taught in the Scriptures is that the Lord has given each of us our own will. He asks us to exercise our volition in such a way that achieves his purposes and accomplishes what he desires. The Lord's transcendent supremacy is exercised and manifested in his response to how we exercise our wills he has created us with. His response stands. His response is unalterable. His response cannot be challenged or changed. His response brings about his justice and maintains his righteousness. His response to us eventuates into what accomplishes his purposes.

Yes, the Lord will respond to the choices we make. We are told in a number of places that the Lord observes us and determines what he does as his response to the choices we make. "The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good." Proverbs 15:3. "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13.

(Yikes!)

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Stunning Promises of God! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 6:4,

"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David."

This begins Solomon's address to the whole assembly of Israel at the completion of the temple. In it he refers to the Lord's promise to his father, David.

Following his address to the people, he offered a prayer of dedication for the temple where he again refers to the promise of the Lord. "Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today." 2 Chronicles 6:14-15.

There are eight references to the promise of the Lord to David in this chapter. The Lord is our great God of promises! "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David." Verse 4.

Our God makes promises that we can take total assurance in - he makes them and keeps them without fail. Our God is faithful and will do all he promises!

Another great chapter of promises is found in Romans 4. There, Paul refers to the promise God made to Abraham, that he would become heir of the world. Abraham and his offspring, an offspring designated by all who share in the faith Abraham manifested in God's promises are heirs of the world, co-heirs with Jesus Christ. There we read, "He [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.' The words 'it was credited to him' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead." Romans 4:20-24.

It is all about our faith in the promise of God! God has made his promises and our God of life brings us the possession of eternal pleasures at his right hand (Psalm 16:11) for all eternity based on our faith in those stunning promises!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Glory in God's Temple! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 5:13-14,

"Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God."

Following the building of the first temple in Jerusalem, it was furnished with the articles Solomon had made for it. Then the ark of the covenant was brought into it as sacrifices beyond number were being offered. When it was, we are told the temple was filled with the glory of God, represented in a great cloud that could be seen. The Lord's glory was so intense, it prevented the priests from carrying out their duties.

I am reminded a different temple exists today with the Spirit of the Lord dwelling within. That temple is a "spiritual house" where spiritual sacrifices are offered by a royal priesthood, "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5.

Believers today are that royal priesthood, with the Holy Spirit dwelling within our hearts, a "spiritual house." The glory of God manifests itself in the reverence, praise and adoration with which we embrace our transcendent Lord. The glory of the Lord also manifests itself in the wonderful changes the Lord brings to those he dwells within. Everything the Lord touches brings a breath-taking beauty: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Galatians 5:22-24.

No matter what criticisms can be leveled at God's people, I am reminded we are a people, a temple, a "spiritual house", because the Lord has made us so. As such there is an intrinsic beauty, a glory that manifests itself through the lives of his people as he dwells within our hearts.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Pursuing Trifles or Eternal Treasure? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 4:1,

"He (Solomon) made a bronze altar..."

In this chapter we read that Solomon had the most amazing furnishings for the temple made. Along with the bronze altar (a structure that was 30 feet long by 30 feet wide by 15 feet tall!), he made the huge "Sea", that held 18,000 gallons of water and sat on twelve bulls. It was to be used by the priests for washing, verse 6. Basins, gold lampstands, tables, sprinkling bowls, pots, shovels, pillars with capitals, and much more.

These were all for furnishing the temple Solomon had built. He was a busy man! Not that he had done the work himself, but was certainly engaged in ways that required his devotion to it and consumed much time. Solomon had built an enormous amount to provide for those things the Lord had in mind. I don't think he had much time for TMZ or video games or those things that so many today allow their lives to be distracted by.

I think of how productive Solomon was and then I look at my own life. How productive have I been? I don't mean to imply that I have ever been destined to do anything on the order of what Solomon accomplished (to the contrary!) However, the Lord has given me 68 years so far, what have I done with it? I have 168 hours a week just as Solomon had, what have I done with all those hours?

Don't misunderstand me. I certainly do not mean to imply that entertainment and diversions are unnecessary and are wrong some how. But there is room to consider how productive I have been with my life.

Life is a treasure. How much of it will I expend on trifles? Or, as Solomon, will I be engaged in productive things that have eternal consequence?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Get It Done!- Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 3:1-2,

"Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David. He began building on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign."

The temple Solomon built in Jerusalem was a grand and massive affair. The particulars provided are stunning, with the gold, carved paneling, and the rest of it. Much preparation had been made, beginning with David stockpiling the materials that would be used.

However, when Solomon ascended the throne and established his reign, secured additional materials and artisans, he built it! He did not fiddle around, he did not procrastinate, he did not plan it death. Yes, much planning took place, but that planning was the precursor to action. Solomon built! He did it.

I find others in Scripture who were "doers". People of action. Not happy with mere talk, they launched and did great things for the Lord. Paul observes, "So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ." Romans 15:19. It doesn't appear Paul had endless manager meetings, it doesn't appear he talked things to death, it doesn't sound like he put things off. Paul was a man of action.

We see the same in Peter in the book of Acts. John was a man of action as well.

How about us today? Are there things the Lord desires us to do? If so, when do we get to them? When do we pull the trigger on those things the Lord wants done? Are we content to just talk about things? Should we be holding off on what it is the Lord wants us doing?

Perhaps Paul's advice to the Romans is good for us as well, "...do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here." Romans 13:11-12.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Worthy of the Lord - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 2:5-6,

"The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?"

As Solomon requested materials and a craftsman from the king of Tyre to build a temple to God in Jerusalem, he considered the project in the light of what might be worthy of God.

Solomon asks the question- since the highest heavens cannot contain God, who was he to build a temple for him? As great a man as Solomon was, he recognized himself to be unworthy to build a temple to God. In considering the nature of it, and his appointment to build that temple, he sought the very best in materials and workmanship to get the job done.

Solomon was unworthy (anyone would be), yet he pressed ahead and invested the very best he could to build the greatest temple he could.

I am reminded that we ourselves have an assignment from the Lord. The writer of Hebrews says, "Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity... We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." Hebrews 6:1, 11-12.

This, we are to do, with the same consideration Solomon gave to his task, to do it in a manner that would best approach what would be worthy of the Lord. "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." Ephesians 4:1. In Colossians 1:9-12 Paul tells us, "We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light."

May we all engage our new life in Jesus Christ in the light of doing so in a manner that is worthy of him, worthy of his love for us, worthy of the sacrifice he made of himself for us.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Solomon's Example - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 1:6-7,

"Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, 'Ask for whatever you want me to give you.'"

When Solomon received his wisdom (and wealth, etc.) from the Lord, it was preceded by this action of Solomon. In his position as king, he led the nation in the worship of the Lord.

This chapter tells us Solomon first "established himself firmly over his kingdom" because the Lord was "with him" and "made him exceedingly great." Verse 1. Then Solomon spoke to the whole nation, all the leaders, heads of families, judges, military commanders and led them to where the tabernacle was located in Gibeon to worship the Lord.

I find throughout the Scriptures the Lord responds to choices we make. The Scripture is very clear the blessing Solomon received of his great wisdom was that, when offered anything from the hand of God, Solomon chose to ask for an ability that would be useful and necessary to fulfill an important roll in what the Lord wanted to do through the nation of Israel. Solomon aligned himself with the Lord's agenda - rather than ask the Lord for what would be considered his own personal agenda.

Perhaps there is something here for us. We may not be kings, but the Lord is afoot these days, accomplishing his agenda of building his family through the gospel, and there are important roles we can play in what the Lord is doing today. As Solomon chose to be useful to the Lord in what the Lord was doing then, so, we too can choose to be useful to the Lord in what the Lord is doing today.

If we might not feel we are very blessed by the Lord, if we feel we lack a certain fulfillment in life, purposefulness in life, we can emulate Solomon's example. Discover in the Scriptures what the Lord is doing today and then ask him how we fit in, what can we do. Ask him to give us a part and the ability to do exceeding well in that part - and then, do it!

We can make ourselves available to the Lord just as Solomon did when he received an extraordinary blessing from the Lord.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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David's Doxology - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Chronicles 29:10-13,

"Praise be to you, Lord,
    the God of our father Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
    and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
    for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
    you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you;
    you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
    to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks,
    and praise your glorious name."

This doxology was given by David when he called Israel together to prepare for the building of the temple in Jerusalem. It is simply breath-taking in its acknowledgment of God.

David points to the praise due the Lord from eternity past through eternity future. His greatness, power, glory, majesty and splendor is acknowledged in grand expression.

The Lord's ownership, his possession of all things, both in heaven and earth is observed by David. As such, all wealth comes from him. Since the Lord is head over all, all honor comes from him. The Lord is the ruler of all things. Not just some, but all. Since the Lord is transcendent in strength and power, all strength comes from him.

Because he is these things and because all we have comes from him, he is due our grateful thanksgiving. He is due our worship and praise.

To me, these are the rightful things for us to consider, to embrace, to celebrate, to exclaim and to rejoice in. David's great doxology here should rightfully be our doxology to the Lord!

When David told the assembly, "Praise the Lord your God" that is exactly what the assembly did- we need to do so as well!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Best Advice, 3,000 Years Ago as well as Today - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Chronicles 28:9,

"... the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever."

These words were spoken by David to his son, Solomon, in the assembly he called of all of his officials. Solomon was to succeed David on the throne and build the temple for the Lord that David was not allowed to. Here, David reminds Solomon in the presence of all of the importance of following the Lord and never forsaking him.

David pointed out to his son that since the Lord searches hearts, and understands the desires and thoughts of all, if he would follow the Lord, he would find the Lord, but if he rejected the Lord, the Lord would reject him.

I am reminded that this is still true today. The Lord knows everything we think, do, say and feel. If we embrace the Lord he will embrace us. If we reject the Lord, he will reject us. 

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword,it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:12-13.

David's advice to Solomon is just as valuable to us today as it was to Solomon in his day!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.