December 1, 2013 Courageous Peace

Read 1 Chronicles 19

Courage for Peace

2 So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. When David's men came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him, 3 the Ammonite nobles said to Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending men to you to express sympathy? Haven't his men come to you to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun seized David's men, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away.

WHAT began as an expression of sympathy, honor and peace from David to the Ammonites turned into a ferocious war of great destruction. Hanun and his men deeply humiliated David’s men who headed home looking to be slaves instead of men of rank and honor. The beard to a man in this culture was a proud symbol of their manhood. For all intents and purposes, these men were naked before their own people.

     Thus a war breaks out as David avenges this insult. What would have kept the peace?

     First of all, the antagonist Hanun could have rejected his servants’ advice. He seems to have forgotten the supporting relationship between his father and David. There was no evidence supporting their claims. He could have stood courageously for what was right against useless suspicion.

     Second, David could have acted against the cultural pressures and said, “Let’s talk to Hanun.” The easy thing for David to do was to get even with Hanun. The trouble is, getting even usually means getting the upper hand with worse actions in return. Yes, David should have been mindful of the harm revenge would bring to his own people. He could have said, “Let’s find a way to peace.”

    

A Moment’s Thought: Peacekeeping takes courage.

Novembe 30, 2013 Just and Right

Read 1 Chronicles 18

Just and Right

14 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.

TO say of anyone that his actions are “just and right” is an extraordinary compliment. Other than Jesus, who would fit into that category?

     To live under the rule of one who is just and right would be a great experience. A just leader would be moral, ethical and right in all actions and decisions. The just leader stands tall for truth and responds appropriately to all circumstances. He knows what is proper and decent. He is honest in all of his dealings. He’s a man of integrity because he does what he says, and he believes in the power of appropriately enforcing the law.

     To be right is to be accurate, true and correct. A right person bases decisions on what is true and does not allow perceptions and opinions to interfere with a proper course of action. We would do well to make such goals as 1) I will be just in all my business dealings. 2) I will focus my words on what is right.

     What is the result of a nation, a family, a company or a church that exists under the leadership of a man who is just and right? A great peace develops in those organizations. People under such leaders know they can trust him to lead them correctly. They are not anxious for the good of the organization because they trust the leader. They can believe what he says. They understand his motives are to care for them, and they rest in the knowledge that all is well in the hands of such a man.

A Moment’s Thought: Here’s a just and right leader: “I am the way and the truth and the life.”  (John 14:6)

November 30, 3013 Temple Building

Read 1 Chronicles 17

Temple Building

6 “Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd my people, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”

GOD’S story through the Bible describes how he moves from generation to generation, to accomplish his eternal purpose. As we begin the Advent season, be alert that Advent is not only remembering Jesus has come to Bethlehem, but it is a time to remember Jesus will come again in glory to establish a new heaven and new earth!

     Chronicles 17 is a snapshot of God’s ultimate plan of salvation. It records God’s eternal plans for David’s family and God’s response to David’s desire to build a temple for God. One way God said, “Not now.” is to remind David that he was content without a temple.

     One lesson we can learn from this is that God uses many, many people to fulfill his plans. For example, Moses led the people out of Egypt. Joshua led them into the Promised Land. Peter began preaching to the Gentiles. Paul took it much farther. As a disciple of Jesus, God has called you to do certain things in your lifetime. Listen to him and discern his call. Respond to God with no more, no less than what you hear him say.

     A second lesson we can learn is to know how personal God is with you. God doesn’t dwell in a building, does he? Yes, we can go to places to more acutely feel his presence, but truly he dwells in you. The best temple you can build for him is a life of faithful devotion to him.

A Moment’s Thought:  Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

November 28, 2013 Thank God

Read 1 Chronicles 16

Be Thankful for God

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. 24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

DAVID and the Levite priests have established the ark of God in Jerusalem. Now it is time to celebrate! The words of verses 8 to 36 are also found in Psalms 96, 105 and 106. They proclaim praise and thanksgiving to the great power and l.ove of God.  

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. (Psalms 105:1)

And

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalms 106:1)

One of David’s great gifts was to form words into emotional poetry of praise, thanksgiving and celebration. As a “man after God’s own heart” he is repeatedly purposeful to call on the love in his heart to proclaim God’s enduring love.

     Thankfully, the celebration didn’t stop on that day. David gives to a priest named Asaph the responsibility of continuing the celebration. Asaph was a gifted lyricist and musician, too. Twelve psalms are to his credit. (50, 73-83). They, too, ring with praise, worship and thankfulness for God’s great and glorious work.

     On this day and on each day, I hope and pray that as people ask you, “What are you thankful for?” that you will respond with, “I am thankful for my God, who saves me, my Jesus, who loves me and my Spirit, who lives in me.”

     Declare to God, to your family, to your friends and to your church, “My God saves. Praise his holy name!” Begin a celebration of thanksgiving, and may it endure forever.

A Moment’s Thought: Thank God.

November 27, 2013 Right Way

Read 1 Chronicles 15

Right Way

14 So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.

THIS is the second time David will have the ark of God brought to Jerusalem. The first time failed as God killed Uzzah when he tried to prevent the ark from falling (2 Samuel 6). The lesson David learned out of that incident is this: You will faithfully complete God’s work when you walk in God’s ways. Now David acts in God’s ways. Only Levites are allowed to carry the ark in a specific way.  

     Note, also in the text the word “consecrated”. This word means the priests made themselves pure or holy in God’s sight through a series of washings and sacrifices. Again, God’s Law prescribes the priests’ consecration or purifying processes.

     Consecration now relates to the Christian life in the word “sanctification”. Sanctification is a process of living in a way to become more holy in your life as you grow and mature in the knowledge of God. Sanctification is growing deeper into your relationship with Jesus through Bible study, worship, prayer and fellowship. Sanctification is a process at work in Jesus’ faithful disciples that Paul describes in

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  

     Live each day with an intention to walk in God’s ways and your steps will be steady to the day you enter into God’s holy presence.

A Moment’s thought: Walking in God’s Gospel makes your footsteps sure.