Psalm 100

DAY 43
Psalms 89:14 - 108:13

Many who grew up in the church will notice Psalms 100. As a child, you may have memorized it.

1Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and *not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

You may also recognize the praise song I Will Enter His Gates by Gwen R. Shaw

I will enter His gates
With thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter His courts with praise
I will say this is the day
That the Lord has made
I will rejoice for He has made me glad
He has made me glad
He has made me glad
I will rejoice for He has made me glad

It is a beautiful Psalm that reminds us of our worship to the Lord.

It reminds us of that "The Lord is God."

It reminds us of God as Creator since "It is He who made us."

It reminds us of God as Sustainer, Protector and Provider since "we are His people, the sheep of His pasture."

It reminds us of the character of God. "For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."

Because of "Who God is!" and that "We are His!" we have the privilege of knowing Him. As we come to experience His grace, His mercy, and His love; JOY and GLADNESS fill our soul. So much that it overflows. And we cannot help but worship in His presence with praise and thanksgiving.

SHOUT FOR JOY TO THE LORD

External Link: Charles Spurgeon's Treasury of David on Psalms 100
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps100.htm

Day Off

DAY 42
Psalms 69:22 - 89:13

Feel free to share your thoughts on today's Psalms reading!

My Soul Finds Rest in God Alone!

DAY 41
Psalms 45:15 - 69:21


Rock of Ages is one of my favorite hymns; it is one of my resting places. We all need resting places; where we can go and fully rely on the Lord's strength, mercy, and lovingkindness. They can be songs, passages of scripture, or certain places that allow us to totally focus on God. It's the times that our spirit is quiet before the Lord.

I have shared this with my sunday school class, but thought it would be appropriate here, too.

We are so busy today, that rest is a premium.

Rest means we "cease from action" any self-effort on our part regarding our salvation. This alone should relieve the pressure to perform our works for anything but the glory of God alone.

Rest means to "be free from worry." One of the biggest joy stealers in our lives today is worry, but for a believer God has freed you and I from that.

Rest means to "be settled" and "secure." We are secure in Jesus's hand and our debt has been settled. We are secure in whom we have believed and settled that He is able.

Rest means "to lean on." I can't think of anything more secure than leaning on the One that created and sustains the world. That knows everything about me; yet still desires my relationship.

And the greatest rest of all comes from our faith in Jesus for our salvation. It is the ETERNAL REST!
Hebrews 4:3a "For we who have believed enter that rest"

As my show and tell today, is Psalms 62: it is another one of my resting places.

1 My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God*;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

11 One thing God has spoken,
two things have I heard:
that you, O God, are strong,
12 and that you, O Lord, are loving.
Surely you will reward each person
according to what he has done.

This weekend take some time to rest in God's presence.

Show and Tell 2

DAY 40
Psalms 25:1 - 45:14


We all get discouraged. There are times in our lives when we feel like everything is against us. We fell that we are outnumbered, that the prince of this world has the upper hand. And those that are against us ask "Where is your God?"

David felt discouraged on many occasions. There are times in my life where I have, too.

In those times, Psalms 42 is one of the places I can go. It's David's cry out to God in the midst of being oppressed by his enemies.

"As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?"

During those times, our spirit begs to meet with God. In the middle of our discouragement, we want to be reminded of who God is and whose we are. To be reminded of His love, His mercy, His protection, and His power. To be reminded that the Lord upholds us.

When we meet with the Most High God, it is impossible to remain discouraged. When we have truly sat in the presence of the Creator of the universe, we are reminded of his power to deliver us from our trouble. When we have spent time with the Saviour, we are reminded of His grace and mercy which is abundantly supplied to us. When we have rested in the God who is our Rock and Refuge, we are reminded of His ability to protect us from harm. And when we have been reminded of the character of God, we are given hope. And because of this hope, we can praise God.

"Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God."

When your soul is thirsty, remember to spend time with God and you will be lifted up out of your discouragement and given hope.

Show and Tell

DAY 39
Job 42:1 - Psalms 24:10

First, I want to give credit to Kiki Cherry for the picture. She used it on her website to direct people they are ministering to toward our church's journey through the Bible. And if you didn't know it, there are people from other states that have decided to join us in our quest.

Show and Tell was always the fun part of school. You could bring anything to class and share it with your friends. You would also explain why it was so important to you.

Psalms are very personal. We are drawn to the emotion that bursts through the tears, laughter, and shouts of the authors. Whether we have times of rejoicing, sorrow, fear, or trouble; we always turn to them to express how we feel. We use them as prayers and praises in our own lives.

So its your time for "Show and Tell." During each day's section of reading, if there is a Psalm that has personal meaning to you, I would love for you to share it and why it is important to you.

Here is my "Show and Tell" for Psalms 4:8 " I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

A few months after my youngest was born, I was sent overseas for Iraqi Freedom. My wife and I decided to read through the Psalms while I was gone. Right before the war started, our base cut all email and phone conversations back home. So for about two weeks, I didn't get to talk to my family. During this time, as we were flying combat missions into the unknown, I came upon this verse and memorized it. It allowed me to rest in the arms of God at night and trust Him with my safety. At the same time back home, my wife read this verse and prayed it for me. When we were able to talk again, we both shared this verse together. When I got back, we had it written above the doorway in our son's room. In the midst of turmoil, I am reminded that God alone is in charge of me. That only His decision can bring me home. Therefore, while I am still in this foreign land, I can lie down and sleep in peace because God is in control.

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Show and Tell

Job, Part 2: I Will Question You, and You Shall Answer Me

DAY 38
Job 25:1-41:34

Job is a difficult book about suffering. It covers physical suffering, mental anguish, despair, and feelings of abandonment from God. Job and each of his friends try to explain why Job is suffering. What has Job done to deserve such disfavor from God? Obviously, Job has committed sin against God?? Job defends his righteousness before the Lord in response to his friends. Even God says at the beginning of the book, that Job was blameless and upright.

But that is precisely the problem!! Job and his friends are focusing on the wrong person. They are talking about Job's character, when they should be talking about God's character.

When Elihu speaks beginning is chapter 32 we see a change in the conversation from why Job is suffering to who God is and what is God's character.

When the Lord speaks in chapter 38 he starts with "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me." Notice the Lord does not explain Job's suffering, God uses the next few chapters to make a statement about who He is! And God questions Job's character (and ours), by defining His Character!

His power and authority
Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? (38:4)
Have you ever given orders to the morning (38:12)

His knowledge and wisdom
What is the way to the abode of light, where does the darkness reside? (38:19)
Do you know the laws of the heavens? (38:33)

His provision of grace and mercy
Who provides food for the raven (38:41)
Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn? (39:1)

Then comes the questions that God asks Job, the question that God asks all of us in the midst of our sufferings! Job 40:8b Would you condemn me to justify yourself?" In his attempt to explain his suffering, Job was elevating his status, and questioning God's character. But after experiencing God's character, Job responds with repentance.

Our repentance should reveal that The Lord our God is holy, righteous, and powerful. There are mysteries I will never understand. I am unworthy and repent of my pride.

When we realize God's character and our position we will finally also understand God's grace and mercy. Our answer to the questions is:

"I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved. He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light." (Job 33:27-28)

So when we go through suffering, make sure you have the right perspective. Instead of focusing on ourselves, focus on the God who loves you and who provides you. Trust in God's character

Job, Part 1: God Doesn't Leave Us Alone

DAY 37
Job 8:1 - Job 24:25
(Excerpt from Job 5 & 7)


Job 5: 17-18 "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal."

This part of Job is extremely personal. I will admit my parents had to correct and discipline me quite a bit as a child and as a young adult. The Word of God continually explains that correction "drives folly from a child", "imparts wisdom", but most importantly "shows love." I wouldn't have admitted it at the time, but I am extremely thankful that my parents chose to discipline me. Their love shown through their corrections sowed the seeds of a God honoring life. Other people God has chosen may have come in my life, watered the field, and picked out weeds. But my parents prepared the field, and for that I am eternally grateful. One of the reasons why I can say that my parents loved me, is because of their discipline.

If we are willing to take correction from our parents and give correction to our children, Why are we so unwilling to be disciplined by God?

Like Job said, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble!" We are the clay in the potter's hands, shall we not accept His guidance to bring us into perfection? His love is perfect, shall we not trust it.

Job was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. So why does God correct him? It's because the Lord loves Job so much, He doesn't want to leave him short of perfection.

Job 7: 17-19 " What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention, that you examine him every morning and test him every moment? Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant?"

Praise God, that He doesn't leave me alone for even an instant, that the Lord doesn't look away from me, that Jehovah examines my life, that He gives me attention.

The Lord wants all of His children to reach their full maturity. One of the ways He does that is through correction and discipline.

Because His correction is the reason I can say without any doubt that He loves me and that I am one of His children.

For that lesson, I want to say
Thanks Mom and Dad.

Esther: For Such a Time as This!

DAY 36
Nehemiah 13:15 - Job 7:21


The Story of Esther is about how a person can be used as an instrument of God. Both Esther (Hadassah) and Mordecai were used by God to preserve and protect His chosen nation of Israel.

God placed Mordecai in a position to save King Xerxes life; to thwart a plot to assassinate the king. Therefore, Mordecai gained favor from the king. God placed Esther in a position where King Xerxes made her the queen, and she gained his favor. When Haman successfully arranged to have King Xerxes sign an edict to eradicate the Jews, Esther and Mordecai were in a position to influence the king.

This is what Mordecai said to Esther in 4:14 "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Esther's response to Mordecai was "When this is done (3 days fasting), I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

We often wonder about the times we live in. We might even feel like we don't fit in. We sometimes ask, 'What if I had been born earlier?' The truth is we have been placed in the positions we are, "for such a time as this!" For at no greater time has the capability existed to share the gospel. At no greater time has the church had the capability and ability to minister to a lost world. At nogreater time has the world been more in need of the message of Jesus.

Esther and Mordecai were in a foreign land and in a foreign place subject to someone that was not their king. But they remained faithful to God.

You and I are in a foreign place and the prince of this world (Satan) is not our king. God still exerts control and puts us in places we need to be. And our duty is to be obedient to Him and proclaim the gospel.

Let us not remain silent and neglect our duty and miss out on the blessings of obedience to God.

You were made for such a time as this!

Nehemiah:Nothing is Impossible with Godl

DAY 35
Nehemiah 1:1 - 13:14


If you haven't seen it yet, Facing the Giants is an excellent movie. You will notice something missing though: all the glitz, special effects, and big-name movie stars. We've been fooled by most movies we see these days, they have pretty packages and glamourous people - but they lack substance.

This movie has substance. It's whole focus is the glory of God. It deals with real world problems in a Christian way.

But, why do I bring it up?? Good question.

It's because it references Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the wall. The fact that rebuilding the wall was an enourmous task and seen by the Hebrews as impossible. In fact, many people tried to discourage the builders.

So, how did they accomplish this task? They relied on God and depended on His strength. They also divided the work in small pieces. So each family was assigned and worked on a section of the wall; many at the places right where they lived opposite their homes.

What appeared to be impossible, was made possible by God and finished in 52 days. Wow!

Spreading the gospel of Jesus to the entire world seems like an enourmous task. But it's not, because God has made it possible. The work has been divided up; you and I are responsible for helping rebuild the kingdom of God right where we live.
Across the street.
Next door.
At work.
At school.

Remember, with God, all things are possible.

Ezra: God's Provision of Grace

DAY 34
2 Chronicles 35:16 - Ezra 1O:44

Reading through Ezra we obtain a beautiful picture of Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord will provide.

From the very beginning, the Lord moves King Cyrus's heart so that he allows the Hebrews to return to Judah to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. And God does leave them empty-handed. He provides "silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God" (1:4). Then all their neighbors provided even more silver, gold, livestock, and valuable gifts. (1:6). Not only that but King Cyrus gave back all the articles of the temple of the Lord that they had taken. (1:7-11). King Artaxerxes and King Darius were also later moved my God in the provision to the people of Israel.

As Ezra prays to the Lord about forgiveness for the sins of His people there is an amazing verse found in Ezra 9:8 that illustrates that the Lord provides our greatest need.

"But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the Lord our God to preserve a remnant for us and give us a stake in His holy place. Even in our slavery, God has given us new life and light in our eyes."

Jehovah-Jireh, the provider of grace.

Even in the midst of our slavery to sin, God shines a light into our lives. " I am the light of the world, Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

That light leads us to the new life that is found in Christ, it restores us to a relationship with God. "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand" (John 10:28)

And after we are delivered, God gives us a place in His eternal kingdom. He also preserves us as a remnant here on earth to spread the news of the light. "You are the light of the world." (Matt 5:14).

This moment of grace is brief, it does not go on forever. One day the Lord will return and The Lord that provides will grant us the gift of His presence in eternity.

External Links
Jewish Exile to Babylon
http://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/080.htm

Return of the Jewish Exiles to Judah
http://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/085.htm

A Lesson Learned from Hooks and Shackles

DAY 33
2 Chronicles 23:16 - 35:15

What events and experiences in life draw people to Jesus? What does it take for someone to come to God? Does everyone come to God in the same way?

In 2 Kings 21:1-18 and 2 Chronicles 33:1-20 we meet King Manasseh of Judah. To put it bluntly, he wasn't a very nice man. He didn't have any excuses because his father was King Hezekiah who was one of the few leaders of Judah that followed God. But here is what the Word of God has to say about him.

He did evil in the eyes of the Lord
He followed detestable practices
He rebuilt the high places to Baal and Asherah
He bowed down to the stars
He built idol altars in the temple
He sacrificed his own son in the fire
He practice sorcery and consulted mediums
He shed much innocent blood
He placed a carved image in the temple

King Manasseh was a very evil man, so God handed him over to the King of Assyria. He was captured with hooks and bound with shackles and dragged back to Babylon.

At this point, many of us would say he got what he deserved. We might even say he needed harsher punishment, maybe even put to death. We would say that God dealt with him justly.

Manasseh was at the end of his rope, down and out, and no one to blame but himself. He was broken, but he humbled himself and prayed to God.

AND GOD WAS MOVED BY HIS PLEA AND DELIVERED HIM!

It doesn't fit our neat system of justice. But I am sure he has some friends like the woman at the well, Matthew the tax collector, Paul the persecutor, and the adulterous woman who escaped a stoning. And if we are totally honest, we would probably fit into that crowd too. A glance at the Ten Commandments or the Sermon on the Mount will show how we all have been enemies of God and have done evil in the sight of our Lord.

No matter who we are, what we have done, or where we come from; we all come to God the same way. We are all sinners, with no distinctions. And we must approach God the same way Manasseh did with a humble prayer admitting our plight, asking for help, and accepting God's deliverance.

When that happened, God changed Manasseh into a servant of God. And the Lord does the same for you and I.

Today, thank God for hearing your humble prayer. (even if He had to use hooks and shackles)

Advice from the Prophets!

DAY 32
2 Chronicles 7:11 - 23:15

Have you ever heard a famous quote or saying and wish you would have said it? Do you ever desire to have the wisdom of Solomon, the intelligence of Einstein, the timing of a comedian, or the profound moment of a politician.

"Ask not what your country can for you, but what you can do for your country" (John F. Kennedy)

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." (Abraham Lincoln)

"Make my day." (Clint Eastwood)

We could go on and on. Everyone has famous quotes they admire or remember because of an experience in their lives.

The Bible is full of prophets and seers that come on the scene out of nowhere, make a statement, and disappear back into God's story. Some give warnings, some pronounce judgements, some give blessings, and some just give us profound statements.

There are four in our readings today that I want to share with you: Shemaiah, Hanani, Micaiah, and Jahaziel.

Shemaiah

Rehoboam and Judah had abandoned the law of the Lord, the prophet Shemaiah said to the leaders of Judah that God would abandon them the Shishak the king of Egypt. When the Israelites humbled themselves unto the Lord, He spared their lives but subjected them to Shishak. 2 Chron 12:8 "They (Judah) will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me (God) and serving the kings of other lands."

Many parents have gone through something similar with their children. We want our children to learn, and we do that by allowing them to reap the consequences or rewards of their decisions. Most of the times we train our children in controlled environments. In this situation, God was controlling the environment Judah was in and allowing them to learn a lesson. God does that for us; He is in ultimate control of our lives, but allows us the learn that serving God is vastly superior to serving anything else.

Hanani

Asa was King of Judah and he did right in the eyes of the Lord. He removed the altars and high places. God blessed him and Judah. However, at the end of his reign Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah. Instead of relying on the Lord, Asa relied on Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, to deliver Judah. Hanani, the seer, announced to Asa in 2 Chron 168b-9: "Yet when you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war."

We live like God doesn't see what we are doing. We do a lot of foolish things. We also forget who delivers us. But, God sees everything and everyone in His creation. He searches for those hearts that are committed to Him. And when He finds them, the Lord strengthens them.

Micaiah

Jehoshaphat and Ahab were planning to go to war against Ramoth Giliead. So they sent for Micaiah to inquire of the Lord. Ahab didn't like Micaiah because he always prophesied bad things about Ahab when all the other prophets were always saying good things for Ahab. When the messenger approached the prophet to bring him to Ahab, they wanted him to agree with the other prophets. Micaiah's response in 2 Chron 18:13 "As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what my God says."

As believers, we have a habit of taking away or adding to the message of God. We find a hard time balancing between legalism and license. And therefore, we place God in our human derived systems and theologies. But God's word speaks for itself and interprets itself. How I wish that I would only tell people what God says, and not what I think.

Jahaziel

A vast army of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites were preparing to make war against Jehoshaphat and Judah. The people of Judah gathered together to fast and seek the Lord. And the Spririt of the Lord came upon Jahaziel and this is what he said in 2 Chron 20:15b " Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's"

What a comforting statement! There are numerous armies that try to invade our lives, to steal the joy and peace God has granted. And I don't have to rely on my own strength or wisdom, but on God. God is the one that has done all the work for deliverance, that has won the battle. All I have to do is enlist.

What advice from the prophets!

The battle is not yours, but God's. (I wish I would have said that)

Seek and You Shall Find

DAY 31
1 Chronicles 24:1 - 2 Chronicles 7:10

It's interesting to watch young kids with a magnifying glass. They will look at just about anything, even each other. The funny thing about magnifying glasses, they actually work both ways. They can "bring into focus" things from both directions.

1 Chron 28:9 "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever."

Did you catch it? If you seek Him, He will be found by you.

So, why don't more people find God?

The Lord searches every heart and understands every motive. God knows the hearts and motives of all of His creation. The magnifying glass work in both directions. God searches our heart, and we search for God. And God offers a promise.

Anyone with a willing mind towards God, will find Him!

Anyone with a heart of devotion for God, will find Him!

Anyone who wants to serve God, will find Him!

Anyone who truly seeks God, will find Him.

Anyone who truly wants to know God, will find Him.

Anyone who truly wants a relationship with God, will find Him.

That is an amazing promise!

David's Prayers and God's Promises

DAY 30
1 Chronicles 10:1-23:32


David's Song of Praise in 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm of Thanks in 1 Chronicles 16 are amazing prayers that give us an insight into his heart for God. They are also a taste of what we have in store in Psalms. Listen to a person's prayer and it will reveal to you their heart.

Because God remebers His covenants, (16:15)
Because God is great and worthy of praise, (16:25)
Because the Lord reigns, (16:31)
Because God's is good and His love last forever, (16:34)

We can "Cry out, Save us, O God our Savior." (16:35)

Before we realized our sickness, God had already provided the cure.
Before we loved Him, God already loved us.
Before we knew our need, God already had the solution.
Before we even knew we needed a Savior, A Savior had been provided.
The Lamb of God and King of Kings is ready.

1 Chron 17:11-14
"I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish His kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me; and I will establish His throne forever. I will be His father, and He will be my Son. I will never take my love away from Him, as I took it away from your predecessor. I will set Him over my house and my kingdom forever; His throne will be established forever."

And what is concealed in the Old Testament, is revealed in the New Testament!

Matt 1:1 "This is the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham."

Matt 3:17 "And a voice from heaven said "You are my Son, whom I love, with Him I am well pleased"

Luke 3:35 "The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His hands."

Heb 1:8 "But about the Son he says, Your throne , O God, will last for ever and ever"

Today,
Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name
Make known His salvation to those you meet
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him
Tell your neighbor of His wonderful acts
Give glory to His holy name
Let the hearts of seeking know of the Savior
Look to the Lord and His strength
So you can share His goodness and mercy
Remember the wonders He has done
Proclaim His love that endures forever
And let everyone know to cry out
"Save us, O God our Savior"

Gatekeepers

DAY 29
1 Chronicles 1:1 - 9:44


At the end of today's reading, we see a section about the gatekeepers of the house of the Lord. (1 Chron 9:17-34) We will see the gatekeepers again in 1 Chron 26:1-19. They were few in number, but their responsibilities included

Guarding the house of the Lord,
Safekeeping of the treasuries in the temple, and
Opening the gate for access to God.

Even today as believers we have the first two responsibilities. As we mature in our faith we are responsible for guarding the house of the Lord which is in our heart. We must guard against sin's attacks at the gate. We must protect the gate with the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, prayer, and the fellowship of believers. These enable us to cast a discerning eye on all things that want access to our lives and protect the treasure of our relationship with God.

Without them we allow entrance into our heart for things like pride, jealousy, hate, selfishness, dissension, fear, etc. As these sins enter into our tabernacle, they will steal and devour the treasures that God has placed there. They steal away the intimate relationship with God.

It is very important we realize that the passage includes a sharing of duties. There are times in our lives when we are weak and unable to protect the gate. It is these times that we need to reach out to our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us protect the treasures that God has placed in our hearts.

The last responsibility of opening the gate and gaining access to God belongs to Jesus. He is the the gate and the only one with the key.
John 10:7 "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep."
John 10:9 "I am the gate, whoever enters through me will be saved."
The only one that can grant access to Almighty God is Jesus.

The gatekeepers to the house of the Lord held an extremely important job. We don't have the key to the gate. We don't decide who can enter the gate. But we can be a doorman and show people the gate and who holds the key.
Psalms 84:10b "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of the wicked."

Cleaning House!

DAY 28
2 Kings 15:27 - 25:30

In today's section of reading, Hilkiah finds the Book of the Law in the temple. (Now why it was lost is a whole other discussion). When Josiah the king heard the words of God he tore his robes and inquired of the Lord about what to do.

Notice in 22:19 what effect God's word had on Josiah, "your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord." When the written Word and the Living Word convict the heart, we have seen in the Bible that some hearts are hardened while others are turned to God. But both are changed.

Over and over again, we see that the Kings of Judah and Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord by allowing idols into their lives. This allowed the people of God to continue in their sin. Even those kings that did right in the sight of the Lord, allowed the high places to stay. As a result, sin returned to their lives.

Josiah, was an exception. He went through Judah and destroyed all the idols and high places. He reinstated the Passover. He cleaned house and Judah enjoyed a period of blessing from the Lord. " Neither before or after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did - with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses" (23:25)

It's a lesson we all need to remember. When God's Word or the Holy Spirit convicts us of something in our lives that needs to be removed, we need to get rid of it. Just like Josiah, we need to be responsive and humble. If we don't; we allow Satan and our sinful nature the opportunity to return to the high places.

Through prayer and the study of the Word, we have the ability to do some house cleaning in the rooms of our heart everyday. Cleaning house is never fun! But the alternative is even worse. Instead of sweeping our idols under the rug or throwing them in a closet, it's time to take them to the garbage. God will even provide the strength to carry it out the door.

I've got to go, I heard there was a sale on double-ply garbage bags. With Psalms and Proverbs coming up in more than a week, I think I'm going to need them.

Lessons from a Floating Axe Head!

DAY 27
2 Kings 4:38 - 15:26


There are numerous stories in the Old Testament that make you scratch your head and ask, "Why is that story in there?" What in the world can we learn from a floating axe head?

Well, apparently quite a bit. One pastor wrote a serman called "Losing the Cutting Edge" about regaining the power of the Holy Spirit", another about the "Miracles of Elisha." But what is most interesting is this story's capability of foreshadowing the gospel.

2 Kings 6:4b-7 "They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. 'Oh my lord' he cried out, "it was borrowed!" The man of God asked, 'Where did it fall?' When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. 'Lift it out, ' he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it."

Losing the Axe head
The axehead fell in the water.
We were made in the image and likeness of God. We had the ability and capability to walk with God, to hear His voice, and speak to Him. But sin has marred both our ability and capability to have that privelege. Sin has devastating effects on our "spirit." It dulls our sense of truth and prohibits us from accessing God.

The Cry of the Lost
When the prophet lost the axe head, he cried out.
At some point, we realize that there is something missing. As we attempt to go about our lives, we find out that what we are doing isn't working and doesn't make sense. Through God's providence, we are convicted and called.

The Significance of Borrowed
Iron was extremely rare and expensive during this time. It would have been impossible for the prophet to pay back the debt he owed to the person who lended the axe.
We also have a debt that can never be paid, by any actions on our part. It is impossible for us to repair the damage that sin has done.

Cut a Stick
Elisha cut a stick and threw it in the water and the axe head floated.
In Old Testament pictures we see God's power and authority exhibited through staffs and rods. Moses used his on many occasions. Eventually, God's plan involved Jesus dying on a cross and providing a remedy for the sin that barred our access to God. He provided the atonement for our guilt. But just as important Jesus enabled believers to live in the image and likeness of God again through the Holy Spirit's power.

Reach Out Your Hand
The only thing left is to reach out and grab the axe head, now that it is floating on the water.
God has done all the work to make salvation possible, we just have to reach out and grab it.
God has provided the restoration and means to be whole again, we just have to reach out and grab it.

How amazing is a God that cares about lost axe heads. (Mine would be the blunt one)

P.S. If you want to know how the axe fits back on the handle, God provided for that too. It can be found in the example of Jesus.

Questions God Asks?

Day 26
1 Kings 16:21 - 2 Kings 4:37

We have a God that pursues! And He also asks questions, ones that are meant to probe the depth of our hearts. The type of questions that invite a response. We have already passed over some of them.

In Gen 3:9, Adam and Eve sin and hide in the garden. God calls out to them and asks "Where are you?"

In Gen 3:11, the Lord asks Adam "Who told you that you were naked?"

In Gen 3:13 God asks Eve ( and Cain in Gen 4:10) "What have you done?"

In Gen 4:9, Cain kills his brother Abel and God asks Cain "Where is your brother?"

In our text today, God asks Elijah after he had fled to Mt. Horeb. "What are you doing here?"

Our merciful God asks the same questions of you and me today.

When He first pursues you and later when we fail to spend time with Him,
He asks "Where are you?"

When we listen to the counsel of the ungodly and to the lies of Satan,
He asks "Who told you?"

When we fall into sin and disobey His commands,
He asks "What have you done?"

When we neglect to love others and forget to share the gospel to a dying world,
He asks "Where is you brother?"

When we have become discouraged or fearful, when we have lost our way and forgot our mission, when we have gone down the wrong path,
He asks "What are you doing here?"

The important questions God asks are for our benefit, they are to draw us closer in our relationship with Him. They are an invitation to talk to One and Only God.

When we get to Luke 9:20, we will find a question Jesus asks not only of Peter, but everyone. "Who do you say that I am." And the only response that saves is the same as Peter's. "The Christ of God."

There is one more question God asks. It is found in Exodus 14:11, the Lord asks Moses "How long will they refuse to believe in Me." It shows the longsuffering of God, that He still waits for some to believe. But one day God's patience will be done.

So listen for God's questions, and be prepared with some answers.

Solomon's Important Question?

DAY 25
1 Kings 7:38 - 16:20

1 Kings 8:27
"But will God really dwell on earth?"

It's one of the most important questions of all time. Now that Solomon has built the temple, will God dwell on earth with man? A yearning for a time back in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve walked with God in the cool of the day. It's asked in many different ways, but it usually comes down to:

Will God be a part of our lives?

The question is just as relevant today. There are millions of people searching for relevance and significance. Is there a God? Does He even care about me? The Tabernacle and Temple were the ways that were instituted for a holy God to make His presence known to man. It was the means by which sinful man could still approach his Creater and Sustainer. It was a foreshadow of when God would take on human flesh and dwell with man in person.

John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

And His life was lived as an example to all His creation. It showed man how to love God and to love others. At the end of His life, He became the substitutionary atonement for our sins. He became the means by which sinful man could gain the remission of sins and have access to God. At His death, burial, and resurrection, He promised never to leave us alone by providing the Holy Spirit to guide us in our relationship with God, the Father.

Matt. 28:20 "Teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

Yes! God dwells on this earth! But instead of dwelling in a physical structure, He dwells in the heart of every believer. And God's restoration of man continues. For now, the Holy Spirit has fellowship with your spirit, and walks with you in the garden of earth. It too is a foreshadow of what will come; when there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Then we will see Him face to face!

I am glad the answer to Solomon's question is Yes!

External Links: Plans of Solomon's Temple
http://www3.telus.net/public/kstam/en/temple/study/temple.htm?study=on

3D Project of Solomon's Temple
http://www3.telus.net/public/kstam/en/models/models.htm

Timeline for the Kings and Prophets of Israel and Judah
http://www.miketaylor.org.uk/xian/bible/timeline.html

A Charge to Keep

DAY 24 (THIS IS A NEW POST)
2 Samuel 22:19 - 1 Kings 7:37

This is one of the beautiful hymns that Charles Wesley wrote. It is based on Matthew Henry's commentary on a passage in Leviticus.

"We have ev­ery one of us a charge to keep, an eter­nal God to glor­i­fy, an im­mor­tal soul to pro­vide for, need­ful du­ty to be done, our gen­er­a­tion to serve; and it must be our dai­ly care to keep this charge, for it is the charge of the Lord our Master, who will short­ly call us ac­count about it, and it is our ut­most per­il if we ne­glect it. Keep it “that ye die not”; it is death, eternal death, to be­tray the trust that we are charged with; by the con­sid­er­a­tion of this we must be kept in awe."

People pass on many things from generation to generation: antique heirlooms, money, jewelry, secrets, etc. Some, like David, give their dying wishes to their children.

It was the last instruction David gives to the new king Solomon. The last words of a faithful man.

Kings 2: 2-3 "So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in His ways, and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go."

The world has its own definitions of success; its own definitions of what a man and woman are. But to be God's man or woman is to be faithful and obedient to what He has commanded. There is no measurements of wealth, fame, popularity, and material success in God's kingdom. The only measurement is faithfulness.

In verse 4 the promise was that if Solomon kept God's commands that there would be a descendant of David on the throne forever. As we know, Solomon didn't keep all of God's requirements.

But God kept His promise. How wonderful and compassionate God is since Jesus (the son of David) sits on the throne forever in God's kingdom of believers.

Each of us has a charge to keep....and to pass on!

External Link: The Kingdoms of Saul, David, and Solomon
http://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/053.htm