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2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 167

Jun15

   Day 167—We are in the 6th month of Bible reading and continue with the history of Israel.

 Day 167 – 1 Kings 9, 2 Chronicles 8. (The LORD’s second appearance to Solomon and all Solomon’s building projects)

2 Kings 9. “As soon as Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD… the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time.”  “I have heard your prayer and your plea…. I have consecrated this house…. putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.”

“And as for YOU, if you walk before me…. with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing all I have commanded you… then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever.”   

“BUT, IF YOU TURN ASIDE from following me…. go and serve other gods and worship them… THEN I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight, and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among the peoples. And this house… will become a heap of ruins.”

Well, Solomon was forewarned by God. 

The rest of 2 Kings 9 and 2 Chronicles 8 describe Solomon’s massive building program that he undertook after the Temple and his Palace were completed (they took 20 years). He and Hiram, the king of Tyre, collaborated to build cities and ships for foreign trade. Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in Galilee, but after seeing them the king of Tyre didn’t like them. (Did he give them back??)

Again it’s mentioned that Solomon used all the non-Israeli people living in the land as slaves in all his building projects.  He also conscripted Israeli citizens, but they were for soldiers, officials, commanders, captains, chariot commanders, and horsemen. (I assume these were paid wages.)

In addition to the Temple and his own house, Solomon built up “the Millo” and the wall of Jerusalem. (The Millo was a landfill in the depression between the city of David and the Temple complex to the north. The north side of Jerusalem was vulnerable to attack, so this, and the wall were for protection.)

Solomon also fortified the “protection” cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.  He fortified or built other cities for his own uses, such as for “storage” or to house all his chariots, horses, and horsemen.  He built “whatever he desired to build” in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and all the land of his dominion.” 

Then he brought his wife – Pharaoh’s daughter – to the palace he’d built for her because he did not want this pagan wife to live in the House of King David or near the places where the Ark of the LORD had been.

(Smart move, Solomon. Too bad you didn’t keep the holiness of God in your heart throughout your entire reign.)

The end of 2 Chronicles 8 also tells how King Solomon followed the regulations of the LORD, concerning the daily burnt offerings, the Sabbaths, new moons, and the three Festivals Israel was to keep before the LORD.  He also kept the priestly appointment that David had set up for service in the Temple, plus the gatekeepers at each gate.  

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Psalm 84:1-2, 10.“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.”  “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

Psalm 100:5. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! For the LORD is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 164

Jun12

   Day 164—We are in the 6th month of Bible reading and continue in the History of Israel.

 Day 164 – 1 Kings 8, 2 Chronicles 5. (The Ark brought to the Temple, Solomon’s blessings)

These chapters tell of King Solomon now bringing the holy furnishings to the temple he (and his dad) built. He did it the “correct way” – carried by poles on the shoulders of the Levite priests.  

As they came from the heart of the City of David to the Temple Mount, thousands of sacrifices were made for sin and for thanksgiving. This was around the time of the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles. There was great rejoicing and celebration with music and congregational singing as the items were put into the new Temple.

1 Kings 8:9 says that nothing was inside the Ark except the tablets of law that Moses put there.  I wonder what happened to the jar of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded?

1 Kings 8:4 says that the old Tabernacle (tent) was also brought. I wonder what happened to it. Was it stored in some of those rooms alongside the Temple? A good topic to research, maybe.

When the priests came out of the Holy place, a great cloud of glory – the Shekinah of God – filled the temple, so much that the priests could not go near to minister.  “The glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.”  

And Solomon blesses the LORD before the people, telling them that God had fulfilled His promise to them, for a dwelling place among them.  Then Solomon turns and kneels before the great altar, spreads his arms wide, and offers prayer to the LORD God of Israel.  

"O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart, who have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth and with your hand and have fulfilled it this day.

"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven, and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house that I have built!  

"Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, that your eyes may be open at night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, My name shall be there, that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers towards this place,

"And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. 

"And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear......forgive.

Solomon’s prayer then includes all the possibilities of sin and calamity that may (will) befall the people and begs God to HEAR their confession, forgive their sins, and teach them the good way in which they should walk.

Then he turns again to the people and offers a benediction on them, finishing with: “Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandment.”

Then comes the sacrifices and offerings before the LORD almost without number, and a great feast for the entire assembly of Israel for seven days.

After that, the people go home, joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had shown to David and to Israel His people.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 161 & 162

Jun10

    Day 161 & 162—We are in the 6th month of Bible reading. Praise God!  What have you learned so far about God and his purposes in your life? Share in the comments.

(Note: SUNDAY’s and MONDAY’s readings are combined.)

    Day 161 – Proverbs 22 – 24. (More proverbs and wise sayings, some compiled by Hezekiah)

There are many familiar and quoted proverbs in this section. It’s good to remember they are “wise sayings” that are generally true and meant for godly living, but NOT promises, prophesies or law.

22:1a – “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches…”

22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

22:7b – “…the borrower is the slave of the lender.”

22:13 – “The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”.

22:15 – “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from Him.”   23:13-14 – “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.”

23:4-5 _ “Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.”

23:22, 24, 25 – “Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.”

An almost laughable description of a DRUNKARD.

23:29-33 – “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without a cause? Who has redness of eyes?  (It is) Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wind. Do not look at wine when it is red when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end, it bites like a servant and stings like an adder. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast. “They struck me” you will say, “but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink.” 

24:1-2 – “Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, for their hearts devise violence and their lips talk of trouble.”  24:19-20 – “Fret not yourself because of evildoers and be not envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.”

24:11, 17-18 – “Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.”  “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger.”   (These verses remind me of Jude 22-23 – “And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”

Instruction learned from the sluggard.

24:32-43 – “Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber and want like an armed man.”

KNOWLEDGE: knowing facts. UNDERSTANDING: knowing what the facts mean. WISDOM: knowing how to apply the facts.

24:3-4 – “By wisdom. a house is built, and by understanding, it is established; by knowledge, the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. 

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    Day 162 – 1 Kings 5 – 6, 2 Chronicles 2 – 3. (Solomon builds the HOUSE OF THE LORD in Jerusalem.)

1 Kings 5 and 2 Chronicles 2.  These two chapters tell of King Solomon’s preparations for building the Temple. His father had collected tons of gold, silver, and precious stones. Now Solomon made a deal with King Hiram of Sidon (Lebanon) to purchase and cut all the cedar and cypress week needed. (It’s a LOT.) They struck a deal. Hiram would send the logs down via the Mediterranean Sea as rafts, and Solomon would supply Hiram with LOTS of grain and oil each month. 

It seems that King Hiram had a great relationship with David and now with his son, Solomon.  And Sidon’s King even had respect for their God. “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.”  2 Chronicles 2:12. 

Solomon drafted forced labor to be stone cutters and burden-bearers. (1 Kings 5:13-16.)  The account in 2 Chronicles 2:17-18 reports that these 153,500 laborers were “resident aliens who lived in the land of Israel.”

2 Kings 6 and 1 Chronicles 3 describe the details and dimensions of the Temple building and surrounding court, that Solomon built on Mt. Moriah, the land David had purchased from the Jebusite after his ill-fated census taking. It was also where Abraham had attempted to sacrifice his son Isaac, before God provided a ram for the offering.

It was a grand and glorious place, on the pattern of the Temple, only solid. The foundation was made of massive dressed stone (weighing hundreds of tons each). as were the walls, all lined inside with cedar boards and covered with gold. Carved cherubim, palm trees, open flowers, and chains were the gold-covered decorations.   Inside the Most Holy Place two massive cherubim with outstretched wings spread across the 30-foot square room over the “throne of God” (Ark of the Covenant).

Two massive pillars of 4″ thick bronze stood at the front of the temple. They were 52.5 feet tall, with an additional 7-food capital on top decorated with chains like a necklace, lilies, and a hundred pomegranates on the chains.  Solomon named them Jachin (“he shall establish”) and Boaz (in it is strength). 

It took Solomon SEVEN YEARS to start and finish the Temple, the House of God in Jerusalem.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 152

May31

   Day 152—We are almost finished with the FIFTH month in our reading and have begun a new book in the Bible. – 2 Chronicles. 

   Day 152 –  2 Chronicles 1, Psalm 72 (Solomon’s request, fame & glory, wealth.)

2 Chronicles 1. Much of this chapter is a repeat of 1 Kings 3. in Solomon’s sacrifices to God, God’s request of him, and Solomon’s seeking wisdom and understanding to lead the people of Israel.

God gives him abundant wisdom, as well as riches and honor. Verse one says, “…and the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.” As for riches, Solomon “made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stone…”  

However, this rich and wise king disobeyed God’s words about how kings should live in Deuteronomy 17 by importing thousands of horses and chariots from Egypt and Kue. These were not only for himself, but he also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria. (Huh???)

(NOTE: Kue is possibly Cilicia, including Tarsus, located north of Israel, Lebanon, and Syria.)

Psalm 72. This is a “coronation psalm” written either by David or Solomon himself. It’s a prayer for the king to be a righteous judge of the people. It’s challenging him to care for the people by defending them and supplying their needs. It states the desire for there to be righteousness and peace in all his kingdom as it expands in all directions. 

“Long may he live… May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all day!” (How many of us pray for our leaders continually and invoke God’s blessings on them?) Many more blessings are prayed for the king, his people, and his kingdom.

Then the psalmist directs the reader to the One who makes it all possible. “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory!”

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 73

Mar13

    Day 73 —  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the THIRD month so far! Praise God!

   Day 73– Deuteronomy 8 – 10 (Remember, don’t forget, not your righteousness, 2nd chance)

In these chapters Moses continues with his admonitions, reminders and challenges to Israel while on the brink of entering the Promised Land.

In Chapter 8 Moses tells them to remember how the LORD led them and took care of them for 40 years. How he humbled and tested them, how he fed them and kept their clothes from wearing out and their feet from swelling.

He also tells them not to forget the LORD once they are in that good and fruitful land, and their homes are built, crops & herds flourishing, and bellies full.  But remember how he kept them in that terrifying wilderness and watered and fed them there.  They are to remember it is the LORD who gives them the power to get wealth, and to NOT forget their God and go after idols.

In Chapter 9, Moses reminds them them that it was NOT THEIR righteousness that brought them to the Promised Land, but because of the wickedness of the nations they will be driving out.  These nations’ iniquity had grown to full ripeness, and Israel was going in to pluck and destroy it.  THEIR wickedness, not ISRAEL’S righteousness is bringing them into the Land, for they are a stubborn people.

Moses reminds them of the horrible golden calf they built and worshiped, and how he fell flat on his face before God for forty days interceding for them and for Aaron that God would not destroy them all, not for THEIR sake, but for HIS great name’s sake.

In Chapter 10, He tells them again of the tables of stone which contain the Ten Commandments for them to keep. “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD…..for your good.”

And they were to “circumcise their hearts and no long be stubborn, for “the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, the awesome God.”  “He is your praise, He is YOUR God.”

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 72

Mar12

    Day 72 —  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the THIRD month so far! Praise God!

   Day 72 – Deuteronomy 5 – 7 (Recap of the Ten, Admonishment, the Shema, Promises, God’s chosen & loved people)

These chapters are full of the goodness and sweetness  and majesty of the LORD for Israel. Attributes that made them want to promise to fear and obey Him always.   (But, alas, God knew they would/could not.)

Chapter 5 Moses reviews the Ten Commandments by first calling them together with, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them.”

The people proclaim God’s glory and greatness, and claim that, what He says, “we will hear and do it.”

God answers with longing, “Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever.”  (Amen, for me too.)

In Chapter 6,  Moses gives the “greatest commandment.”  “HEAR, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your might.”

And HOW to do them? By keeping them in their heart, teaching them diligently to their children, talking about them when they sit in their house, walk by the way and lie down, and rise up. They should bind them as “a sign” on their hand and forehead (what they do & think). They should write time on the doorposts of their homes and on the gates.  (They are to be totally surrounded and emersed in the Words of God.)

Then follows a warning to them (and to us) that when they are in the land of good and plenty, that they should NOT forget Him, but fear and serve and love Him ONLY. And not put Him to the test.

In Chapter 7, Moses assures Israel that they are a people holy to God, “The LORD your God has CHOSEN you to be a people for his treasured possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was NOT because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his LOVE on you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that He swore to your fathers.”

“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who LOVE HIM and keep his commandments to a THOUSAND GENERATIONS.”

And God goes on to list many great and wonderful promises of blessing, fruitfulness, health, freedom from enemy attack and fear.  If they would but serve and worship HIM ONLY!!

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 13

Jan13

Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?  (You can also listen to an audio recording.) It only takes a few minutes and you will be blessed.

Day 13 – Job 35 – 37 (Elihu continues.)

In chapter 35, Elihu continues to speak to Job (and his other three friends), and he is as far off the truth as they were.  He tells Job the reasons why God hasn’t answered him are three. First was his pride (10 & 12). Second was that Job had wrong motives (13). And the third thing was that Job lacked trust (14).  

Well, actually, those are reasons why OUR prayers are not sometimes answered too. It’s just a shame that God’s silence towards job had nothing to do with them.  (And soon – very soon – God IS going to respond. And then, Job and his friends had better listen!)

Chapter 36 starts out with Elihu claiming to speak on behalf of God. He says his own words are not false and that he is one who is perfect in knowledge.  (Cough! Choke!  Really Elihu???)  He then goes on self-righteously (in my opinion) to describe how Almighty God, his maker, deals with mankind.

He does say some truth about God’s majesty in creation, and (I like this) “God is great, and we know Him not; the number of His years is unsearchable.” (36:26)  He got that right because God IS from eternity past and will go on forever into eternity future. 

He goes on in chapter 37, proclaiming God’s majesty in nature, specifically in the elements; storms of wind, rain, ice and snow.  I love this in verse 13, “Whether for CORRECTION or for His LAND, or for LOVE, He causes it to happen.”  Think of that the next time you read about (or experience) blizzards, flooding, tornados, or heat waves. Wow.

And at the end of the chapter, he almost (unknowingly) preaches at HIMSELF!  “Therefore men fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”  (Hah, Elihu!  Remember 36:4?)

(But alas, am I not like that too?  Lord, forgive me. Thank You.)

 

On Sunday and Monday (posts together, and concludes Job), we will read God’s words to Job and his friends, in a series of hundreds of questions, the answers always pointing to God Himself.  Wow. Talk about an interrogation! 

May 5, 2021 – #5 of 31 Days of Biblical Women

May5

Eve ~~

Genesis 2:15-25

Eden, fresh from the hand of the Creator. Beautiful beyond imagination. Self watering and weed free. Every tree bearing delicious fruit, just for the picking. Yes, there were two special trees in the very heart of the Garden. The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

There was only one prohibition. Do not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

They why plant it there? To see if man would choose life.

Then from His loving heart, the Creator put the man into a deep sleep, took one of his ribs and closed the flesh. Out of the rib, He made a perfectly matched and fitting together, helpmate. A woman. And the man was “wowed!”

Naked and unashamed the roamed and worked the Garden, eating fruit as they desired, learning about each other. Heaven on earth.

One day, walking together, the woman laughing and frolicking, her toes treading deep in the soft dewy grass, they came upon a magnificent tree.

“No, Eve. Let’s go on. We aren’t to eat the fruit on that tree.”

“Why not?” she asked her husband.

“The LORD God said so,” Adam told her.

“But why not?” she said again, walking toward the tree, her eyes wide with wonder.”

“He said we would surely die.”

“What does ‘die’ mean, Adam?” she said circling the trunk of the enticing tree, delight on her face.

“Why, hello there,” came a silvery voice from the heavily laden branches. “Did God actually say ‘you shall not eat of any tree in this lovely garden?”

The woman peered closer and saw a beautifully colored serpant weaving before her.  “We may eat of all the trees here except this one. He said we would ‘surely die’ if we did. We may not even touch it,” she added coyly.

“You shall not surely die,” came the sensuous, deep voice. “For God knows that when you do eat of it, you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

He paused then continued, “Here, try one. It is sweeter than any fruit you have ever eaten.”

The woman saw that the fruit would be good for food, and wasn’t that her tummy growling?

It was a beautiful fruit as well, so shining and deeply hued. She fancied she could even smell the warm fruitiness. Her mouth began to water.

And, if eating the fruit would make her wise, well, why wouldn’t anyone want that. She reached up, touched one of the fruits, and it fell into her hand.  She put it to her mouth and took a bite. It was so sweet and juice ran down her chin. “Ohhhhhh!” she moaned in pleasure.

“Here, husband, you must have one too!”

And Adam also ate.

Instantly the eyes of their soul were opened and the knew they were naked and they were ashamed. They crept into the trees, hands and arms covering the parts of their bodies they had deemed beautiful before. The half-eaten fruit lay in the grass, already beginning to rot. Flies hovered nearby.

 

Later, in the cool of the evening when they always walked and talked with their Creator, they heard His voice. That voice that had inspired such great joy within them, now struck terror.

“Where are you, my children?”

Adam crept out from the bushes, the hastily woven leaves covering his genitals. “I… we…heard your voice and were afraid because we are naked.”

“WHO told you, you were naked?” thundered the voice of God. “Have you eaten of the tree which I commanded you not to eat?”

“The woman you gave me to be with, she gave me the fruit and I ate.” Adam answered his voice quavering.

God turned to the woman, “What have you done?”

“The…the…serpent deceived me… and… I ate,” her voice barely a whisper.

The God of the Universe turned to the serpant and roared, “You are cursed above all things. I will put enmity between you and the offspring of the woman. You shall bruise His heel.  But HE, He shall crush your head!”

“And as for you, woman, you will have pain now in childbearing. Your desire will be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

Majesty turned then to Adam. And in a still but intense voice, He said, “Because you listened to your wife, cursed is the ground because of you. In pain you shall eat of it all your days. Prickling, painful thorns will it bring forth for you, to tear your flesh. You will sweat and toil and in the end you will return to the dust from which I made you.”

Then in saddness and anger the Creator drove the humans He’d created out from the Garden He’d made for them. He placed one of His myriads of cherubim with a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the Tree of Life.

Lest the man and woman now eat of it and live eternally in their SIN.

The picture represents Eve in shame before Mary who is carrying the promised offspring, the Son of God, who will indeed die by the serpant’s wiles, but who will rise from the dead triumphant to crush death and Satan forever.

 

 

LORD, help me to seek Your face and Your ways, and to love and obey you with my whole heart. Lead me not into temptation and deliver me from the Evil One.

Jh

May 2, 2021 – #2 of 31 Days of Biblical Women

May2

 Michal ~~  

2 Samuel 6:16-23

King David was finally able to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem and put it in the place he had set up for it. His heart was bursting with indescribable joy and praise to Almighty God who had chosen him to be King, and now had allowed the sacred object that symbolized His very Presence among His people to be brought near.

As the procession wound it’s way from the former safe-keeping place, David made sacrifices to God. All of Israel rejoiced with him. Their shouting was joined with the echoing sound of the rams horns heralding the wonderful event. The Ark of God was coming to the City of God, and David, elated beyond measure, took off his kingly robes and danced for joy before the LORD.

From her window in the palace, Michal saw her husband dancing for the joy of the LORD, and blessing His Name continually, and she despised him. She was a daughter of Saul, the former king, a second choice who was given to David as a reward for a military victory. She was bitter and jealous, and when she saw what she considered dispicable behavior by her husband, hatred and anger burned in her.

When David came in to bless his own house, Michal went to meet him and spat out her disdain. “Oh how the king of Israel “honored” himself today, uncovering himself before the eyes of his female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”

Surely this was as a bucket of ice water over the elated King.

“It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and all his house to be prince over Israel, the people of the LORD,” David reminded her firmly.  “And I will make merry before the LORD. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this! And I will be abased in your eyes! But the female servants of whom you spoke shall hold me in honor.”

Michal chose on that day whom she would honor and love. Not the LORD God of Israel and not her husband, the king of Israel. Her heart had frozen to stone. 2 Samuel 6:23 “And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.”

 

Lord, help me to “Keep my heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

“Create in me a clean heart, O god, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Our God reigns!

May1

Awesome GodIsaiah 52:7 ~~~ “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God Reigns‘.”

God is sovereign. He is all powerful. He is majestic in beauty. He rules. He creates. His righteousness is forever. Heaven and earth will pass away, but He remains forever.

No matter what man does or thinks about Him, they will vanish like a vapor, but God remains. He is a rock. He is eternal.

His ways and thoughts are far above ours. His plans and promises endure; they are ALL that will endure forever.  Nothing man can do can change Him (mere fruit flies attacking the Washington Monument).

Our God reigns! Omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, immutable. He reigns glorious!

O hosts of heaven worship Him. O children of God, saved by his mercy and grace, worship Him. Magnify Him. Praise Him. Glorify Him. Halleluia!

Our God reigns. No question!

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time, he may exalt you.” ~~~ 1 Peter 5:6