Tenacious 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 2 Chronicles 24:17-19,

"After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. They abandoned the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God's anger came on Judah and Jerusalem. Although the Lord sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen."

King Joash of Judah took a direction away from the Lord later in his life. Earlier we read of him, "Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest." Verse 2.

Following the death of the priest Jehoiada, Joash made this bad transition in his life and led Judah astray. As a result we read the prophecy brought against him by Zechariah the prophet, "This is what God says: 'Why do you disobey the Lord's commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.'" Verse 20.

Apparently, Joash had a malleable faith. As long as he had the godly influence of the priest Jehoiada, Joash sought the Lord and ruled Judah in a godly way. Following Jehoiada's death Joash fell under the influence of the officials of Judah.

Tenacity in faith is an important issue for all of us. Instead of malleability, the hallmark of our faith should be resolve and firmness. If the mettle of our faith finds its strength in someone other than the Lord himself, we just may discover our resilience "in the Lord" dependent on that  "someone other than the Lord."

To be sure, we as believers need one another to build us up in the faith. The Lord raises up wonderful brothers and sisters in our lives for just such a purpose. But that building needs to find its appointed completion in the firmness of our faith dependent only upon our faithful Lord.

"I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—  God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:4-9.

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.

Jehoiada and Choosing Wisely - 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 23:16,

"Jehoiada then made a covenant that he, the people and the king would be the Lord's people."

Jehoiada was an amazing man. As priest, he took it upon himself to rectify a wrong that had taken place in Judah. When King Ahaziah (a bad king) died, his mother, Athaliah, seized the throne of Judah for herself and began killing off the rest of the royal family in Jerusalem. One son of Ahaziah, Joash, was spared when he was hidden from Athaliah at the temple. The remaining heirs were all slaughtered by Athaliah.

After seven years Jehoiada took action that resulted in the enthronement of the remaining rightful heir to the throne, Joash. Joash was a good king (not a perfect king) that sat on the throne for forty years.

I say that Jehoiada was an amazing man. He is amazing to me because he exercised his own free will to do the rightful thing. Strategic, tactical and cunning were traits he exhibited when he made his move to do that rightful thing with the Scripture casting it this way, "In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength." Verse 1.

That strength of Jehoiada was only latent ability and capacity until Jehoiada chose to make his moves. It was the choice that made things happen, Jehoiada's choice.

Some struggle with the concept of free will. Many are very confused when it comes to understanding free choice in a cosmos dominated by our sovereign God. For some reason they struggle with these concepts and back themselves into a theological corner that only understands mankind as being a race of marionettes that are manipulated by God.

A proper concept of mankind being empowered with self will, self determination is not just an important issue for us. It is every thing for us. A proper reading of the Scriptures informs us that we have arrived in this world to do one thing: exercise our free will that God has given us to choose him. All who do so are given a place in his family for eternity. Jesus told Nicodemus, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."

Jesus told Nicodemus that some will come into the light, will embrace the Lord because they choose to do so. Others choose to cling to their sin. It is all about choice. It is all about exercising our own free will. Whether we are heaven bound or facing eternal destruction, either destination is ordained for us based on how we exercise our free will. This is why the exercise of our free will is not just important, but that it is everything.

Jehoiada made his choice and chose wisely. How will we exercise our free will?

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.

Walk With the Wise! - 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 22:4,

"He [King Ahaziah of Judah] did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for after his father's death they became his advisers, to his undoing."

It is clear here that the counsel of those King Ahaziah surrounded himself with led to his undoing. He was put to death after reigning in Jerusalem for only a year.

One notable person Ahaziah sought advice from was his own wicked mother, Athaliah - who would later take the throne for herself for six years.

Proverbs 13:20 tells us, "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 22:24-25  tells us, "Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared."

We learn from the Scriptures that the people we choose to surround ourselves with have an impact on us, for good or for bad.

Unfortunately for Ahaziah, he learned the hard way that surrounding himself with ungodly people has a its price. We don't have to repeat his mistake. Rather, taking a tip from Proverbs, "Walk with the wise and become wise...!"

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.

Is War Really Ungodly? - 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 21:16-17,

"The Lord aroused against Jehoram the hostility of the Philistines and of the Arabs who lived near the Cushites. They attacked Judah, invaded it and carried off all the goods found in the king's palace, together with his sons and wives. Not a son was left to him except Ahaziah, the youngest."

This observation was made following the documentation of the terrible choices King Jehoram of Judah made. When he ascended his throne, he had his own brothers killed to protect his position as king. He also led Judah into idolatry and followed the ways of King Ahab of Israel. The Lord brought his judgment against Jehoram by inciting the Philistines and Arabs near Cush to attack and invade Judah, his own chosen people.

The Lord used military opposition - war - to carry out his purposes with Jehoram.

And, yet, many people within the church today consider war to always be an ungodly thing. Many groups have adapted a perspective that yields "conscientious objectors" in any military context.

If war is ungodly, how do we account for the Lord's own use of it in so much of the Scripture's documentation of history?

I'm not overlooking the many points people may make, that because of the fallen nature of mankind, the Lord resorts to things he otherwise would not, etc. However, I make my point in the world we do live in. Can we say war is always an ungodly thing, that the Lord always opposes war, when in fact the Scriptures teach us otherwise? Are we to say God does ungodly things?

I make this observation, not from the standpoint that I am a fan of war any more than anyone else, it is just that it seems there are so many assumptions people make about the things of God with such little investment to find out about God, assumptions made at the expense of what God tells us about himself. This just happens to be one of those observations.

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.

Receive or Miss the Lord's Blessings? - 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 20:29-30,

"The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side."

This summation follows the account of King Jehoshaphat's conflict with the combined forces of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir who had come to invade Judah.

Upon hearing the threat, Jehoshaphat sought the Lord's help and received it. This is in marked contrast to the earlier military action when Jehoshaphat joined with King Ahab of the northern tribes of Israel in a fight against Ramoth Gilead.

In the fray between the combined forces of Judah and Israel against Ramoth Gilead, Jehoshaphat incurred the Lord's wrath, "When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, 'Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the wrath of the Lord is on you.'"

The lesson here could not be more clear. seek the Lord and receive his blessings or look elsewhere and miss his blessings.

Where in my life might that apply?

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 Lord: Just and Fair - 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 19:7b,

"...for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery."

This observation was made by King Jehoshaphat when he provided instructions to judges he appointed throughout the land. The Judges were to be just, impartial and fair. They were not to be influenced by anything that might distract them from this approach to their duties as judges, such as taking bribes. As judges over God's people, they were to both fear the Lord and to emulate the Lord.

Something that has not gone unnoticed by me and I'm sure others (maybe you as well) over the years is the proclivity of some to develop unwarranted doctrines or teachings where there is no provenance from the Scriptures. An example: the notion of the "age of accountability".

Perhaps you can show me in the Scriptures where this "age of accountability" is provided, but I certainly have never seen it. When I have asked the grounds for this teaching it becomes apparent that some seem to struggle with what King Jehoshaphat told his judges about the Lord. The Lord is fair and just.

The reasoning goes like this: since we learn from the Scriptures that salvation is by faith, if an infant dies and there was no opportunity for a response of faith to the gospel, a compulsion is felt to develop a doctrine to insure the baby makes it into heaven. Hence, "the age of accountability". Since the baby is under this "age of accountability", the baby is not a sinner and goes to heaven.

The first problem with this is that our theology, our doctrines, don't do anything. God does things, our doctrines don't. Our doctrines should faithfully reflect what God has taught us, and they should not embellish or "improve" upon what God has revealed to us. Even if it might make us feel better.

Here are what the Scriptures do teach: "Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies." Psalm 58:3. "Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?" Proverbs 20:11.

I am quite certain that those who have had no opportunity to respond to the gospel (aborted babies, infants, the mentally infirm, etc.) by the usual means the Lord has provided are not condemned. But I don't arrive at that conclusion by an invented doctrine. I arrive at it because the Lord has revealed to us that he is just and fair, as King Jehoshaphat told his judges.

Rather than me being busy about insuring I "improve" on what the Scriptures "lack", I find it much better to embrace what the Lord has to say and rest in him. And, what he has to say is that he is just and fair.

Exactly what 'ole Jehoshaphat said!

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.

What A Wake Up Call That Awaits! - 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 18:23,

"Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. 'Which way did the spirit from the Lord go when he went from me to speak to you?' he asked."

This exchange took place when King Jehoshaphat of Judah went up to see King Ahab of the northern tribes of Israel. Ahab had urged Jehoshaphat to join with him in a military venture (to attack the city of Ramoth Gilead). Jehoshaphat wanted to inquire of the Lord first, so Ahab (an ungodly king) had all of his fake prophets come to prophesy before the two of them. These prophets came and delivered their fake prophecies before the kings saying the kings would prevail, "'Go,' they answered, 'for God will give it into the king's hand.'" Verse 5b.

When Jehoshaphat challenged Ahab over these fake prophets, Ahab relented and had a true prophet, Micaiah, brought in. When the true prophet Micaiah contradicted the false prophets, one of them, Zedekiah responded to Micaiah as we see in our verse above.

As I read the account I wonder if Zedekiah had any idea he was slapping a real prophet from the real God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You see, when you don't know true spiritual things, you are unaware that others just might. You are limited to see beyond your own capacity. Since Zedekiah was a fake prophet, he didn't know the Lord, he didn't know true statements from the Lord, and I am quite sure he was entirely ignorant of the things of God.

It is from that perspective Zedekiah might have acted toward Micaiah. On the other hand, maybe he was aware of the things of God, but simply clung to his sin rather than turn to God. In any event, this is how the exchange went.

I also can't help but think of all the fake and false religions, their officials, their alleged "expert" theologians and fake doctrine they cling to today. It is all around us today. And, at times we are all treated to their fake stuff and I suspect many of them are really unaware that there is real truth, real revelation from the one true God - that has been revealed to others.

Talk about a wake-up call when they arrive in the next life! 

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.

What Am I Devoted To? - 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 17:6a,

"His [Jehoshaphat] heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord..."

King Jehoshaphat, the fourth king of Judah following the split of the nation after King Solomon, was a godly and good king. "His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord."

In his sermon on the mount Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Matthew 6:24. Jehoshaphat chose God.

If what Jesus had to say is true, and I certainly believe it is, then I need to be singular in what I devote myself to, and the object of my devotion needs to be the Lord.

Is not today a wonderful day to take stock? To what am I devoted to?

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.

Yesterday's Faith Won't Do - 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 16:12,

"In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians."

Asa was Judah's third king following the division of Israel after Solomon's death. Early in his reign he was noted as a good king, one who pleased the Lord. In 2 Chronicles 14:2 we read, "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."

We also read of him in 2 Chronicles 15:17b, "Asa's heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life."

However, later in his life Asa sought deliverance from the advancing threat of Baasha king of Israel. Asa approached the king of Aram instead of the Lord for help. The Lord sent a prophet, Hanani with the message that because Asa did not seek the Lord's help, but relied on another nation, Asa and Judah would be at war from then on. Asa expressed a lapse of faith in the Lord.

Likewise, as we read in 2 Chronicles 16:12, when afflicted with a terrible disease in his feet later in his reign as king, he only sought help from physicians and not the Lord. Asa again expressed a lapse of faith in the Lord. "In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians." 2 Chronicles 16:12.

I am reminded that yesterday's expression of faith demonstrated my commitment to the Lord yesterday. It does not, however, "carry over" to today. It does not "cover" things for me today in my life with the Lord, my walk with the Lord, my expression to the Lord today of my love, my commitment, my reliance upon him.

I'm not talking about my salvation. The Scriptures are clear about the settled nature of my salvation. I'm talking about my daily relationship with the Lord and how I can live my life in a manner that pleases him from day to day.

Yesterday's victories of faith in my life simply will not do for today. Faith needs to find its expression in my life each and every 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.

Seeking 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 15:15b,

"They [the southern kingdom, of Israel] sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the Lord gave them rest on every side."

Earlier in the chapter we read of a prophecy from Azariah, son of Oded. Having had the Spirit of God come upon him he went to meet the king of Judah, Asa. Asa was one of the eight good kings of the twenty Judah had prior to the Babylonian captivity. Azariah told King Asa, "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." Verse 2.

In this prophecy we see a promise from God to his covenant people Israel. If they would seek God, they would find God, "The Lord is with you when you are with him." A wonderful promise that expresses God's invitation. He offers himself and his wonderful blessings if he is sought. This Judah did and they were blessed by him, "the Lord gave them rest on every side."

The wonderful news is that this prophecy is for us as well today - for all people. God is building his kingdom, his family and he invites all. if we seek God we will find him and reap the wonderful blessings he has for us, eternal life!

Additionally, when believers set their hearts to seek God, to draw close to him, James tells us God reciprocates and draws close to us! "Come near to God and he will come near to you." James 4:8. How wonderful is that?!

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.

There is a Refuge! - 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 14:11,

"Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you."

The Cushites came against Judah with a huge army. The above verse was Asa's (the king of Judah) first response. He found his deliverance and help in the Lord. He identified himself with the Lord and called on the Lord for his help, "do not let mere mortals prevail against you".

We are told that Asa was a good king. "Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God." Verse 2. Because of this he aligned himself with the Lord by taking actions that were consistent with the Lord's agenda for the nation, "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." Verses 3-5.

Asa was delivered from the advancing hordes of Cushites by the Lord, "The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah." Verse 12.

The Scriptures are full of accounts that teach us to find our help, our deliverance, our refuge in the Lord. We don't face Cushites as an enemy, we face the Lord's own judgment of us for our sins. He teaches us to find our deliverance from his justice by turning to him and embracing him in faith.

How wonderful that in his love he has provided for our sins and is willing to be our refuge!

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.

Roll-Your-Own Religion - 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 13:8-9,

"And now you [Jeroboam and northern Israel] plan to resist the kingdom of the Lord, which is in the hands of David's descendants. You are indeed a vast army and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods. But didn't you drive out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make priests of your own as the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may become a priest of what are not gods."

Oh, the compulsion of mankind to invent religion! A persistent impulse of mankind to abandon his Creator to fabricate a god to replace the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! This is the first spontaneous inclination that seems to be pursued when sinful mankind goes his own way!

In this passage Judah's King Abijah calls out the secessionist northern kingdom of Israel, the northern ten tribes, for abandoning the Lord, the priesthood the Lord had established in Israel, and replacing it all with their "roll-your-own" religion.

This kind of thing is all about us today. Outside the church, our culture is in a mad rush to enforce its recently-minted social justice religion. Inside the church, we find it divided up in to all kinds of isms and schisms that reflect this compulsion toward "roll-your-own" religion.

How about we drop all the fake religion and turn back to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? He is the only God, there is no other. And, were we to do so, might we find he is a stranger to all the trappings prevalent in so many churches of 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!

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 Path to Spirituality: Paved in Humility - 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, 12,

"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. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.'"... "Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord's anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah."

Twice in this chapter humility is observed, a humility expressed by the leaders of Israel and King Rehoboam. That humility was rewarded by the Lord in preventing Judah from being totally destroyed by Shishak, the king of Egypt.

Humility is a quality that is no stranger to the Scriptures. We learn much from the book of Proverbs about humility. Peter observes a reference from Proverbs 3:34, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5b. This was certainly Rehoboam's experience.

We learn from the Scriptures that humility is what paves the path to spirituality and well-being. Here are a few verses from Proverbs:

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Proverbs 11:2.
"Wisdom's instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor." Proverbs 15:33.
"Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud." Proverbs 16:9.
"Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor." Proverbs 18:12.
"Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life." Proverbs 22:4.
"Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor." Proverbs 29:23.

If these statements be true, and I certainly am entirely persuaded they are, then the issue of humility appears to me to be something to be engaged as a priority in our lives.

Just sayin'...

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.

Each of Us Walk Our Own Path - 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 10:8,

"But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him."

Rehoboam was king Solomon's son who succeeded him on the throne following his death. Following Solomon's death, the people asked Rehoboam if he would lighten the heavy burden Solomon had placed on them for all of his construction projects.

At first Rehoboam consulted his father's advisers, who counseled him to give the people a favorable response. Rehoboam rejected the advice of these elders and sought the validation of his own foolish devices from the young men he grew up with.

The foolishness of Rehoboam led to a rending of the nation of Israel that lasted until the nation was destroyed by Assyria and then Babylon years later.

From the wisest man in David's household to one of the most foolish men in one short heartbeat! All the blessings Solomon had received from the Lord in the form of wisdom did not redound to Rehoboam.

What I learn from this is that the blessings of God do not necessarily get passed down to following generations. Likewise, the bad things accrued in one generation by foolishness do not necessarily get passed down to following generations. I'm sure there are exceptions here and there, but generally speaking, we simply do not ride our parents coattails into the kingdom of God.

Each and every one of us hold our own responsibility regarding the things of God. Just because my parents might have been Christians, and that we might have come from a "Christian home" does not a Christian make me. That choice rests on my shoulders. Likewise, just because my parents rejected Jesus Christ doesn't mean I don't have an equally advantageous opportunity to embrace Jesus Christ.

Each of us walk our own path

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.

On Being Astounded 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 2 Chronicles 9:5-7,

"She [the queen of Sheba] said to the king [Solomon], '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 was astonished at what she found when she went to see King Solomon after hearing about him and his accomplishments.

I can't help but think that this will be our reaction [and more so!] when we all finally arrive to see the Lord and all the he has for us in the resurrection. I am quite certain we will all be astounded and amazed to find what it means to be a co-heir with Jesus Christ, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ..." Romans 8:16-17a.

I can't wait. How about you?

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.

A Chasing After the Wind - 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 8:1-6,

"At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built the temple of the Lord and his own palace, Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram had given him, and settled Israelites in them. Solomon then went to Hamath Zobah and captured it. He also built up Tadmor in the desert and all the store cities he had built in Hamath. He rebuilt Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon as fortified cities, with walls and with gates and bars, as well as Baalath and all his store cities, and all the cities for his chariots and for his horses—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled."

Not only did Solomon build the massive temple and his own grand palace, he engaged in these projects as well. In Ecclesiastes 2:4-9 he says of his accomplishments, "I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man's heart. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me."

In Solomon's wisdom, his assessment of all his accomplishments was, "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." Ecclesiastes 2:10-11.

We might have an appreciation for his perspective, because what happened was that Solomon died and left it all to others. Those others lost it all as well as one generation passed it all to the next, and then eventually, when Jerusalem, Judea and all of Israel was destroyed several centuries later, it was all destroyed. While he may have enjoyed the fruits of his labor for a short time, the fact is that it all eventually vanished, "All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." Ecclesiastes 2:17b.

I say we might have an appreciation for Solomon's perspective on the things he did, but we don't. We refuse the wisdom provided us from someone who had it all and could speak authoritatively on the amassing of wealth, etc. Solomon had it all, and as one who had it all, he turns back to the rest of us to say, "This is not where 'it' is at!", the very same thing George Harrison of the Beatles observed after they had attained amazing fame and fortune at a young age.

I am reminded of Jesus' words, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21.

Here is a great message to the "name it and claim it" crowd, the "health and wealth" folks in our midst. It is also a great message for me and you, a message to be reminded of from time to time. The purpose of this life is not to accumulate wealth or power to ourselves. The purpose of this life is to provide us an opportunity to join God's family for the wonderful things God has for us in the life that is to come. The purpose of this life is the very same as the OB ward at the hospital - we are here for a hopefully successful and healthy birth, that is, a successful and healthy rebirth.

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 Majestic Splendor of God's Glory - 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 7:1-3,

"When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, 'He is good; his love endures forever.'"

This took place at the occasion of Solomon's dedication of the temple with his wonderful prayer. This had to be an amazing and dramatic scene. I am trying to picture in my mind what exactly was encountered when it was observed the priests could not enter the temple to perform their duties because the glory of the Lord filled it. What was that like? How did the Lord's glory impact them specifically?

I wonder if this passage was in Paul's mind when he said to Timothy, "... God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see." 1 Timothy 6:15-16.

In any event, the glory of the Lord is something that manifests itself in our world as a singularly anomalous and unique event. I can't begin to imagine that presence when our God of majestic splendor reveals his glory.

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.

God Dwells With Humans! - 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 6:18,

"But will God really dwell on earth with humans?"

Solomon's prayer of dedication at the completion of the building of the temple is quite a prayer. Among other things, he asks the Lord to listen to his people when they come to the temple to pray. As he anticipates the temple as the locus of God's presence among his people, he asks the rhetorical question above. Will God indeed dwell with men?

The previous chapter closes with the following words, "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." 2 Chronicles 5:13b-14.

I am reminded that today, the answer to Solomon's question finds itself answered in a very unique way - a way that was established on the day of Pentecost, following Jesus' ascension into heaven, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?" 1 Corinthians 6:19.

Not only does God dwell on earth with humans, but he dwells on earth in humans! In all those who have embraced him in faith, those who have received him, the Holy Spirit comes to make his presence right within our very hearts and lives!

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 Commands Demonstrate Our Sin - 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 5:10,

"There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt."

When the priests brought up the ark to place it in the new Temple Solomon had built, the two tablets of the covenant with the ten commandments were all that remained in it. Previously it contained Aaron's rod that budded and a jar of the manna the Lord provided Israel for food in the desert.

The importance of those commands of God in the ark cannot be overstated. It is the commands of God that demonstrate our sinful condition. "through the law we become conscious of our sin." Romans 3:20. As we attempt to live our lives pleasing to the Lord, we find we are unable to do so. We struggle with keeping those commands. Paul tells us of his own struggle in Romans 7, a passage we can all identify with.

It is our very failure at keeping the commands of God that prompts us to throw ourselves at the feet of his mercy. In faith we must approach God's throne of grace and find our forgiveness there, our only opportunity for eternal life.

How wonderful that our Creator made a way 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!

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.

Seasons for God's Endeavors - 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 4:19-22,

"Solomon also made all the furnishings that were in God's temple: the golden altar; the tables on which was the bread of the Presence; the lampstands of pure gold with their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed; the gold floral work and lamps and tongs (they were solid gold); the pure gold wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and censers; and the gold doors of the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and the doors of the main hall."

This chapter concludes the construction phase of the temple. The temple was built, its furnishings and utensils now ready for use in the temple worship that was to come.

Solomon's father, David, provided much in preparation, providing the design of things to be made (that was given him from the Lord), securing materials and talent. But now the time for planning and preparation was eclipsed by the doing, the making, the construction, the completion of the temple with its furnishings, tools and utensils. This will be followed by the inauguration of the temple worship for which the temple was built.

There is a season for everything regarding the things of God. The temple had its planning phase, its construction phase and then its utilization phase. There is a progression to the things of God.

I am reminded that another temple, one that God dwells in today, the temple made of all those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith has had its phases as well. The design of this temple was foretold by God's own prophets. Planned and executed by the Lord himself, with its development furthered through apostolic ministry. He provided us our redemption making his presence among those who are his possible. And, now, God dwells within this temple today as a foreshadow of the fulness of his presence among us in his kingdom in the next age.

It is an amazing story, a story to be told to all.

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.