The temple, or the house of the Lord needs rebuilding in the book of Ezra. Sometimes the temple in our hearts where God dwells gets broken down, and the walls need to be rebuilt.
When the foundation was laid, a great shout of praise arises from the hearts of God's people. With praise and thanksgiving, they sang to the Lord, "He is good, his love to Israel endures forever." (chapter 3:11). This should be a natural expression when a new foundation is laid in our hearts, that of worship, praise and adoration to our God.
Once the temple is dedicated, 6:16 tells us that the people of Israel celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.
Do we rejoice when a new foundation is laid? It should be a common occurrence in our lives...
Friday, August 29, 2008
II Chronicles
We read in II Chronicles again of kings and their kingdoms rising and falling. One king that especially stuck out to me was Manasseh, King of Judah. He started reigning when he was 12 years old. I think I could tie my shoes when I was 12, forget about leading a kingdom. He ended up reigning for 55 years.
Manasseh did evil in the site of the Lord. It says that he performed detestable practices. He erected altars to Ball. He worshiped the stars, He built altars inside the temple. He sacrificed his sons in the fire, he practiced withcraft, consulted mediums and spirits. Verse 6 says that he did much evil in the eyes of God, provoking him to anger. Manasseh lead the kingdom astray so that did horrible evil things. God spoke and he ignored him.
The Lord allowed Manasseh to be taken into captivity. In his distress, verse 12 tells us, he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. The Lord heard his prayer and was moved.
This reminds me that there is no evil that God cannot forgive. I am not out of the grasp, or the reach of the mercy and grace of our God. I can always return to his favor. I can regain his audience. I never leave his love, but I can return to his favor. Thank you Lord for your grace and mercy in my life!
Manasseh did evil in the site of the Lord. It says that he performed detestable practices. He erected altars to Ball. He worshiped the stars, He built altars inside the temple. He sacrificed his sons in the fire, he practiced withcraft, consulted mediums and spirits. Verse 6 says that he did much evil in the eyes of God, provoking him to anger. Manasseh lead the kingdom astray so that did horrible evil things. God spoke and he ignored him.
The Lord allowed Manasseh to be taken into captivity. In his distress, verse 12 tells us, he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. The Lord heard his prayer and was moved.
This reminds me that there is no evil that God cannot forgive. I am not out of the grasp, or the reach of the mercy and grace of our God. I can always return to his favor. I can regain his audience. I never leave his love, but I can return to his favor. Thank you Lord for your grace and mercy in my life!
I Chronicles
In I Chronicles, we start to read a repeat of what occurs in I Kings, but from a different perspective. David continues to be an amazing warrior for God. We read of David's prayer of worship in I Chronicles 29. David asks a purposeful question in V14, "But who am I, and who are my people that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have gien you only what comes from your hand."
We are blessed. We are all a very blessed people. I'm thankful for how God has blessed me and my family. But who am I? I'm but a fraile, fragile individual. I am nothing compared to the greatness of God. We give generously because God has given generously.
God is an awesome God. We aren't only talking about financial giving, but we talk of giving of the best of our talents, our time, our resources. We give back to him, because without him, we truly are nothing.
We are blessed. We are all a very blessed people. I'm thankful for how God has blessed me and my family. But who am I? I'm but a fraile, fragile individual. I am nothing compared to the greatness of God. We give generously because God has given generously.
God is an awesome God. We aren't only talking about financial giving, but we talk of giving of the best of our talents, our time, our resources. We give back to him, because without him, we truly are nothing.
II Kings
There are many things that occur in II Kings that I found interesting. We see many kings and their kingdoms raised up and destroyed, but there's a little golden nugget found in II Kings 6. Some of the prophets surrounding Elisha decide to make a dwelling. They go to the Jordan and start to cut down some trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, his axhead comes off and lands in the water. His exclamation was that it was borrowed.
Elisha finds out where the axhead lands, he throws in a stick and the iron floats. What an amazing spectacle! The impossible is possible when the hand of the Lord is involved.
This is such a small section of Scripture, but it speaks to me in such a profound way. Elisha was a man of God. God uses him in the lives of those around to increase their faith. That same iron floating power if available to us today. Won't we believe that what he has done in years gone by, he can continue to do that work today. Will we believe him?
Elisha finds out where the axhead lands, he throws in a stick and the iron floats. What an amazing spectacle! The impossible is possible when the hand of the Lord is involved.
This is such a small section of Scripture, but it speaks to me in such a profound way. Elisha was a man of God. God uses him in the lives of those around to increase their faith. That same iron floating power if available to us today. Won't we believe that what he has done in years gone by, he can continue to do that work today. Will we believe him?
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