Giving Back to 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 1 Chronicles 18:11,

"King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek."

We are told twice in this chapter that the Lord had given David victory wherever he went, verses 6 and 13. In verse 11 we read that David dedicated what he gained from those victories, as well as gifts he had received due to those victories, back to the Lord. When David gained from the Lord, he remembered the Lord and expressed that by giving back to him.

David was a man after God's own heart, and here we see in just one way of many how he expressed that. This of course brings to mind how I express my gratitude to the Lord for what I have received from him - and I have received plenty.

Through the Lord's unfathomable love, grace, mercy and kindness, he made payment for all my sins, for everyone's sins. He offered me a place at his table, as he has done for all of us. By only requiring me to place my faith and trust in him, he has given me all of the wonderful riches of the lavish inheritance he gives to all who become a part of his family - as co-heirs with Jesus Christ. He has provided me a breastplate of righteousness, making me fit for life in his family. He has sent his Holy Spirit to dwell within me, through whom he has enabled me with wonderful abilities to serve - providing me meaning, purpose, fulfillment and satisfaction in my life. And... so much more!

Following David's example, how will I give back to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all he has done for me?

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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No One Like 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 1 Chronicles 17:20,

"There is no one like you, Lord, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears."

This confession of David to God expressing his understanding of him is found in his prayer following God's promise to build a "house" for David. This "house" would culminate in a descendant of David that would sit on an everlasting throne. The descendant will be the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, who will be born to Mary a millennium later.

David acknowledges there is no one like God and that there is no other God. In my mind David is expressing that God is the one and only God who retains within himself those transcendent qualities that set him apart for who exactly he is.

David's Psalm 145 fleshes out something of David's understanding of God. It is an amazing psalm that speaks so clearly of why David would say that there simply is no one like God:

1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
    I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
    and extol your name for ever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you, Lord;
    your faithful people extol you.
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom
    and speak of your might,
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
    and faithful in all he does.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall
    and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature praise his holy name
    for ever and ever.

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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Why Worship? - 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 16:4,

"He [David] appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel..."

Following his bringing of the ark to Jerusalem, David made arrangements for the tabernacle worship before the ark. The ark had been captured for a period of time, and eventually brought to Jerusalem by David following his failure with an earlier attempt.

In our passage above we read that David made various appointments to insure an appropriate measure of worship was continually present before the ark, the object of God's renewed presence among his people.

The account brings to my mind again of the ultimate objective of worship. The worship of the Lord was ordained by the Lord himself. Why did he seek worship from his people? Is the Lord deficient in some way in his own self-satisfaction that he requires admiration? Is his level of self-esteem such that it needs bolstering at times? Such thoughts are an abomination - and yet are advanced by those who are ill-informed of the Lord.

Our Lord is perfect within himself and requires nothing from us whatsoever to exist in his fulness and his happiness. He is in no way in need of us at all. His interaction with mankind, his seeking us through his redemptive acts is borne by his love of us and not his need of us, "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [Jesus Christ], 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." Colossians 1:19-20.

It is that very fulness the Lord exists in that is the objective of our own spiritual growth, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness." Colossians 2:9.

It appears to me the ultimate purpose the Lord has in mind by his prescribing our worship of him is for our benefit, and not essentially his. Our worship of the Lord completes our reverence and celebration for our Creator who loves us and wants us. It is the very expression of our admiration of God in worship that enables our celebration of him. It creates within us a spiritual fulness. Additionally, and very importantly, our worship of God draws others to find out what all  the fuss is about. Our extolling God's greatness, the splendor of his person, the majestic works he has wrought all point to his worthiness, One to whom it is entirely appropriate to give ourselves to. It furthers God's great program of redemption by drawing others to what we behold.

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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Doing It In the Prescribed Way - 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 15:13,

"It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it [the ark] up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way."

In chapter thirteen of this book we read about a man, Uzzah, who was put to death by the Lord when he touched the ark to keep it from tumbling off the cart it was being carried on. David attempted to bring the ark to Jerusalem but left it at the house of Obed-Edom when the event occurred.

Here we learn that Uzzah was put to death because of the lack of reverence David and company approached the ark with when they attempted to move it to Jerusalem. They had not inquired of the Lord about how to move it "in the prescribed way." The prescribed way the Lord had established was that it was to be moved only by Levites, not just anyone. The Levites were to have been set apart, and them alone, for the task.

The account brings to mind that there are some things in life that are only to be done "in the prescribed way". I suspect most things in life are left to the intelligence and volition of mankind, but there are some things that are only to be done in a way the Lord has prescribed. We are simply not free to do some things our own way.

Possibly the most important thing in life is to recognize that if we want entrance into God's family, it is to be done "in the prescribed way." Not just any way. Some folks think if they behave themselves, if they are good enough, if they go to church, participate in the confessional they can make their own way into God's family. Not so. It must be done in the prescribed way of faith.

I am reminded of Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Here is something in which we are not free to "just roll our own". It must be done in the prescribed way. "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Romans 10:9-10.

I'll bet you can come up with a number of things where we must do them in the way God has prescribed.

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 Man of Faith - 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 14:9-10,

"Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of God: 'Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?'"

When the Philistines heard that David had been made king over all of Israel, they came to fight him. In this passage we learn that David sought direction from the Lord over the pending fight. David wanted to know if the Lord would give him victory over his enemy.

There was another occasion in this chapter when the Philistines raided the valley. Again, David inquired of the Lord and received instructions from the Lord as to how to attack them. We are told, "So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer." Verses 13-16.

David was not a perfect man. We are told he was a man of bloodshed, which prevented him from building a temple to the Lord in Jerusalem. He was also guilty of murder and adultery. However, what David was, was a man of faith. He brought his concerns to the Lord and sought him out as illustrated on these two occasions.

I am reminded that even when I fail the Lord in some sin, I should not allow it to shipwreck my faith. I am not a perfect man, but I can choose to keep my faith kindled and strong in spite of what I or others around me may do.

In the event of sin, it is important for me to get up, dust myself off, climb back into that saddle of faith, ask the Lord's forgiveness and press on with the Lord.

David had an amazing faith, a faith demonstrated in Israel's history, and on full display in the book of Psalms. Not a perfect man, as I say, but a man of deep and abiding faith. It is the Lord himself that inspires such a response from 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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Maintaining Fear and Reverence for 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 1 Chronicles 13:9-10,

"When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God."

David's first attempt at bringing the ark to Jerusalem from Kiriath Jearim ended in disaster. When the oxen that pulled the cart carrying the ark of the Lord stumbled, a man who was moving it, Uzzah, reached out to keep it from falling, and incurred the Lord's wrath, putting him to death.

The thought is made that the excitement and celebration David and company engaged in due to the retrieval of the ark while it was in transit resulted in such a festive atmosphere that they became overly familiar with what was God's. This led to a failure to maintain a rightful reverence for the object of the celebration, and when Uzzah touched the ark, the Lord put him to death.

Uzzah putting his hands on the ark was a ritual offense in that only certain persons chosen by the Lord, the Levites, were authorized to carry the tabernacle with its furnishings, which would include the ark.

As I read this, the thought that strikes me is that I should never fail to maintain a healthy fear and reverence for the Lord and those things which are his. In this tragic way, David was reminded that our enthusiasm and celebration of the Lord may obscure our sensitivity of his holiness and the fear that is due 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 and Military Might - 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 12:38,

"All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel."

The first king of Israel was Saul. Saul turned out to be one who did not place his faith and trust in the Lord. This is on full display as we read in account after account how Saul allowed his circumstances to dictate his decisions and actions, rather than trust in the Lord.

Unlike Saul, the Lord found David to be a man after his own heart. Not a perfect man, but a man fully given to faith and trust in the Lord. Paul quotes God as saying of David, "I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do." Acts 13:22. God determined to replace Saul with David over his people Israel. David would lead the nation into what the Lord desired Israel to be in that day.

The replacing of Saul with David was an action the Lord chose to take. His choice had consequence relative to what the Lord's purposes were with Israel at that time. My point being here that the Lord's decision and action in replacing Saul with David had its origin in heaven with an eventual impact on preparing the nation for her coming Messiah.

With this heavenly spiritual accomplishment in mind, I note this morning the proximity of military might fielded by the Lord and exercised by David to bring it about. This chapter lists various fighting men made available for David to exploit to bring about the Lord's intended purposes.

The church all too often today fails to see how military might and activity brings about the Lord's purposes. Instead, an unfounded assumption that our God wants all nations to live in peace and behave themselves precludes the ability to see what the Lord may be doing on the world stage today and in the future.

I question the wisdom and the supposed insight in the efforts of various denominations, etc. in establishing what a "just war" might be and how military might should be exercised. Particularly when the defined criteria often appears to fail to take into account the many uses of military might by the Lord in days passed and in days to come (just read John's Revelation!).

In laying the circumstances God desired for the coming of his Savior for the world and his atonement for mankind, and the resulting gospel enterprise launched, the Lord not only provided Koine Greek as a common language many cultures could communicate with (courtesy of Alexander the Great's military), and Roman roads for the apostolic expansion of the gospel (brought by Rome's military), the Lord also used the Roman occupation of Palestine for his purposes during Jesus' earthly ministry and following - an occupation that was brought through the military might of Rome.

We see sinful mankind with his nefarious use of military might pursing evil. We also find the Lord, his purposes, his accomplishments, and military might often working together. I am quite certain this is just as true today as it was in David's day as well as the upcoming days we read of in the book of Revelation.

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 Lord of Kept Promises - 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 11:3,

"When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, he made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel, as the Lord had promised through Samuel."

The first of two promises of the Lord acknowledged in this chapter finds its antecedent in 1 Samuel 15:28 and 1 Samuel 16:1-13. (The second promise observed is found in verse 10 where we read that the chiefs of David's warriors, along with all Israel, extended David's rule over "the whole land, as the Lord had promised.")

The Lord makes promises and he keeps his promises. All of his promises.

Here is a fascinating promise of the Lord: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:9-13.

Today we sit expectantly, awaiting the fulfillment of this great promise given us in 2 Peter. Exciting times ahead!

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: In Pursuit of His Desires and Purposes - 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 10:13-14,

"Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse."

In this short conclusion to King Saul's life, the first king of Israel, we find that the Lord "put him to death." Saul was not made of the stuff the Lord wanted for the king of his people. Not this man, not at this time.

Saul was anything but a man who feared and revered the Lord. We read he was unfaithful to the Lord, violated the word of the Lord and flaunted the law of the Lord. He was not a man of prayer, but chose to give himself instead to worthless things, like mediums, for guidance. Rather than inquire of the Lord, he chose to inquire of what the spiritually dark side provides fallen mankind.

Saul had to go in order to install a new king, David. David, unlike Saul, gave himself to the Lord. God himself said of David, "I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do." Acts 13:22.

God doesn't always put an evil man to death as he did with Saul. The answer to that appears to me to be that the Lord had his agenda for that time and it was not going to come to fruition with Saul. It would with David, but not with Saul. therefore, Saul had to go.

I am a firm believer that the Lord has his agenda, he has specific things he desires to accomplish and he pursues those. Even when it means taking someone out of the way of achieving that agenda. I am reminded of Isaiah 55:10-11, 

"As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

God has his desires and purposes and aggressively pursues them. I think it behooves me to be aware of what those are.

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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Mystery in Israel's History - 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 7:21-22,

"Ezer and Elead were killed by the native-born men of Gath, when they went down to seize their livestock. Their father Ephraim mourned for them many days, and his relatives came to comfort him."

This rather cryptic account took place relatively not long after Jacob and his family joined Ephraim's father, Joseph, in Egypt. There is not much history provide us of the four centuries Israel dwelt in Egypt before the exodus, and this piece is the only place in Scripture where this account is found.

In that Ephraim mourned the loss of his sons, he himself, of course, was still alive. From this, it must have taken place early in Israel's extended sojourn in Egypt. 

Although it is not readily apparent from the text who the "they" were that "went down" to rustle cattle, most commentators agree the aggressors were the men of Gath who were the culprits rustling. The phrase "went down" would typically mean those going from Palestine to Egypt rather than the other way around.

We don't know much of anything else from the account. However, it points out the presence of danger Israel faced, even though living under Egypt's protection at the time. 

For me, it also points to the reality there is history we are not provided with in the Scriptures. I wonder about those several centuries Israel lived in Egypt prior to Moses. What took place in the life and fabric of Israel at that time?

We do have access to some historical materials - but not much in the way of detail found in the Scriptures. What we do have provided us is what the Lord wants us to be aware of, e.g. some of the genealogies provided in Chronicles span this time frame. 

I feel comfortable with the notion that the Lord does not intend to communicate that just because something is not provided us in the Scriptures, we should assume nothing took place. I'll bet all kinds of things took place between Israel's entrance into and exodus from Egypt that we might find fascinating! I find it a period of mystery in Israel's history.

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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Hacking Israel - 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 6:15,

"Jozadak was deported when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar."

When Judah was overrun and Jerusalem destroyed by the Babylonians, it was the Lord's doing "by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar."

The simple answer as to why the Lord had his people defeated with a remnant shipped off to captivity was that they had sinned against the Lord. God's people had rejected him, abandoned him, and went their own way.

As we read the history of Israel with their God, we find that the Lord had to bring some changes to his people to prepare them for the coming of their Messiah. Through their sinful proclivities (which all mankind share in since the fall in the garden) they went the way of the pagan nations around them and worshiped and served false idols.

The impact of God's precise dealings with the nation can be seen in the gospel accounts where Israel rejected and repudiated all the nations around them, even the half-breed Samaritans. Although as a nation they ultimately rejected their Messiah, the imprint of God's dealings with them has remained a permanent part of the fabric of their national life. God hacked the nation of Israel.

In Romans 11:25-26 Paul assures us that eventually the nation will embrace Jesus Christ as her Savior. "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved."

One thing I note in this passage is that the Lord often works through the agency of others. In this case it was "by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar." The Lord will often cloak himself in his doings such that an environment may exist to provide for the opportunity of faith to manifest itself in the hearts and lives of people. 

Who might the Lord be working through in our 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!

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The Key to Answered Prayer: Faith! - 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 5:19-20,

"They [the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh] waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. They were helped in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him."

These tribes of Israelites at this time trusted in the Lord. They had called out to God for help in the midst of battle and the Lord responded by answering their prayers. Their faith placed them squarely in the middle of the Lord's intentions and so received the Lord's help.

James tells us the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective, James 5:16b. He tells us this in the midst of his point that faith brings the Lord to bear in a time of a need. 

Faith and answered prayer go hand in hand!

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 Prayer of Jabez - 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 4:9-10,

"Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, 'I gave birth to him in pain.' Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request."

Years ago a book came out called "The Prayer of Jabez". Although a small book, it made big claims and became wildly popular in the evangelical community. Its author had been a faculty member of the Bible college I attended and had left the school the year before I started. I recall him coming back to the school and addressing us with the main points he would later include in the book that would be forthcoming.

Although initially impactful - I recall being impressed with how so much could be learned from such an obscure passage in 1 Chronicles! - it fell into disfavor with me.

The book, as I recall, focused on how much we could obtain from the Lord if we would but boldly ask what we desired from the Lord, e.g. the influence of "our ministry" could be strengthened and broadened if we, like Jabez, asked the Lord to bless us and "enlarge" our territory and the like.

However, what seemed to me to be given short shrift in the book was that the Lord's answer to Jabez by blessing him came as a result of how this passage begins. "Jabez was more honorable than his brothers".

The author emphasized we need to be overt, be bold, and ask of God those things we desired. Think big. God wants to bless us.

My perspective is that God granted Jabez's request because he was an honorable man in his eyes. Just as Solomon had aligned himself with God's purposes when he asked for wisdom (and received it from the Lord), so Jabez must have aligned himself with God's purposes and as a result found honor with him.

The prayer of Jabez must have been answered by the Lord in his blessing of him because Jabez was concerned with the Lord's affairs and had given himself to them. I don't think the boldness of the prayer was what brought Jabez the Lord's blessing nearly as much as his pursuit of the Lord and being found honorable by him.

Not that prayer is not important (it is!) - I'm just saying I think we have a "cart before the horse" issue here. Perhaps if we were to find honor with our God first, we might find all kinds of blessings from our requests 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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Why Genealogies in Scripture? - 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 3:1a,

"These were the sons of David born to him in Hebron..."

The beginning chapters of Chronicles documents various genealogies. This one being of sons born to David by various wives when he was in Hebron. Another list immediately follows providing a list of his sons born to him in Jerusalem.

The importance in my mind of genealogical records is that they provide an appropriate authentication for the historical accounts we read in the various histories provided us in the Scriptures. Apart from these records, together with geographical data, dates (often expressed in the numbered year of a king's reign), and other identifying material, the accounts provided us might appear to be without validity.

However, what we do read of in the Scriptures are accounts of actual historical events and, as such, have their context within time and space. Real time and real space. No "fake news" here! Genealogies help provide the context for these historical events.

The Lord desires we come to know him. To help us in this regard, he has provided us revelation of himself that includes his interaction in the affairs of mankind. This includes these historical accounts that are affirmed by the identifying information they provide - as in genealogies.

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.

The Taking of Devoted Things - 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 2:7,

"The son of Karmi: Achar, who brought trouble on Israel by violating the ban on taking devoted things."

In this lineage of Judah we find Achar who was called Achan in Joshua 7. Achan had taken a robe and some silver and gold from the city of Jericho, which Israel had defeated.

The loot from the city was to have been "devoted" to the Lord (which means given to the Lord, often by totally destroying it, as in burning it up). However, Achan, who later claimed he coveted the stuff, brought the Lord's ire and caused Israel to loose their next battle. Joshua 7 provides the account of how Achan was found out and put to death for violating Israel's covenant with the Lord.

"The Lord said to Joshua, 'Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.'" Joshua 7:10-12.

Israel was to acknowledge the Lord by refraining from taking what was to be the Lord's, no matter how much they themselves may have wanted it. Some things are the Lord's and are not to be taken.

I feel there is a principle in this. Some things are the Lord's and I need to keep my hands off of them. They are not to be taken by me. They may be things I have given him and I am not to take them back. Time, treasure and talent promised by me to him is not to be taken back. Perhaps this is why we are given the caution in Proverbs 20:25, "It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one's vows." Another caution that comes to mind is found in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5, "When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.

Don't take what has been dedicated to 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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Books that Reside in Heaven - 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 1:1-4,

"Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah. The sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth.

The book of 1st Chronicles begins with a genealogy. The section documents a brief outline of the generations from Adam to Noah. It is brief in that it highlights only a few of the people that lived during that period. Perhaps the reason not all are listed is that the intent is not to list all who lived but just those that support the purpose of the book.

I am reminded of other books that we read about in the Bible that will have a complete accounting. These are books that have no human authorship involved and are maintained in heaven itself. We read of such books in the account of the upcoming great white throne judgment that we read of in Revelation 20:11-15,

"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."

We are speaking of very important books here. Our destination in eternity, whether it be heaven or hell, is determined by the presence of our name in a book called the "book of life". "Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire." 

Other books present at the judgment record the deeds of all. The accounts documented in those books provide for the judgment coming to each individual "The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books."

Just as generations are documented in 1st Chronicles, so other books document other things. In Revelation 20 our very lives are documented, specifically the things we have done. 

Records are kept, documentation is made, and nothing gets past the Lord, as he will exercise precision judgment of us. "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. 

How wonderful I have the Lord Jesus Christ as my advocate. He himself will be the judge of every individual who has ever lived, and as astonishing as it is, he himself has paid the penalty for those sins he would otherwise hold against us. That is what the cross of Jesus Christ is all about. All he asks of us is to embrace him in faith!

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.