Author: David

The heart of worship

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HIGHLIGHT

2 Chronicles 30:20 (ESV): 20 And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

EXPLAIN

King Hezekiah determined from the very first moment of his reign over Judah to serve God. He began by cleansing the Temple and restoring worship there.

Then, Hezekiah determined to celebrate the Passover. He sent couriers not only throughout Judah, but also Israel calling the people to celebrate this festival.

There were some logistical problems. Not enough priests had consecrated themselves, so they had to change the date. But the king and the assembly thought God would overlook this change, seeing their heart to celebrate the Passover once again, a festival that had often been neglected.

The time came and a large group gathered in Jerusalem, but the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for those who were not ceremonially clean. Many had not taken care to follow the proper regulations.

But Hezekiah prayed for the people and God forgave and healed them, as the highlighted verse notes.

The people celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days, and then kept the feast for another week.

The spiritual impact was astonishing. The people then went back through all the cities of Judah and destroyed the various idols and altars to false gods.

Hezekiah appointed divisions of priests and Levites to oversee worship at the Temple. The people began to bring in tithes and offerings until there was a large amount of contributions left, much more than was needed by those attending the worship of God.

God prospered Hezekiah, because the king sought to follow God fully.

APPLY

In this scripture we see the heart of worship. Yes, the people worshipped at the wrong time. Many of the people were not properly prepared to worship. But most important was that people wanted to worship God again.

God did not deny the people fellowship and communion with him because they got the day wrong nor even though they were not ceremonially clean. God’s heart rejoiced that his people recognized their need for him and wanted to reconnect with him.

And as a result, the people’s hearts were changed. They determined they would serve God once again.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me to understand the heart of worship. Thank you for your grace that accepts and changes me, even though I am unworthy of you. Amen.

Copying the world

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HIGHLIGHT

2 Chronicles 28:22–23 (ESV): 22 In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the Lord—this same King Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.

EXPLAIN

After the reigns of Joash, Amaziah, and Uzziah, three kings who were blessed as they followed God but all ended their reigns badly, Jotham rose to the throne. He was a godly king, but the people as a whole followed corrupt practices.

His son, Ahaz, then reigned. He was a wicked king, making metal images for Baals, offering pagan sacrifices, and also making his sons pass through these offerings (or burning them as offerings).

Ahaz suffered a great defeat by Syria and Israel. He sought a treaty with Assyria, but they caused him trouble instead of helping him. In the midst of all this, Ahaz became more faithless, deciding to worship the gods of Syria, by whom he had been defeated, hoping that these false gods would be appeased and help him.

APPLY

The example of Ahaz should teach us to stop and carefully consider our actions, and our path in life. Ahaz lived and ruled wickedly, but instead of recognizing God’s hand against him, he thought by worshipping the false gods of those who had defeated him, he might somehow succeed.

When the Christian looks with envy at the success of the world, and then seeks to emulate the world’s thinking, strategy, methods and more, is he or she following the example of Ahaz?

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me to keep my eyes on you, and never be fooled into thinking that copying the sin of the world is the way to success. Amen.

Finish strong

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HIGHLIGHT

2 Chronicles 25:15 (ESV): 15 Therefore the Lord was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of a people who did not deliver their own people from your hand?”

EXPLAIN

2 Chronicles 24-26 tell a sad story of three kings who started well, following God, yet who ended sadly.

Joash was the first. After being saved from murderous Athaliah by Jehoiada the priest and then ascending to the throne, Joash led the people in living for God. The Temple was repaired.

But after Jehoiada died, Joash turned from God and even killed the priest’s son for standing up to his sin. Joash himself was assassinated not long after.

Joash’s son Amaziah then reigned and led the people well over all, although not totally following God. God provided an amazing victory against his enemies because Amaziah trusted him. 20,000 enemy soldiers perished. But Judah also suffered a raid in which 3,000 people were killed and much spoil was taken.

Amaziah turned from God and refused to listen to God’s counsel through his prophet. He attacked Israel and was badly beaten. Not long after, Amaziah was assassinated.

His son Uzziah then reigned for many years, seeking after God. But after growing strong, Uzziah became proud. He sought to offer incense in the Temple, and was struck by God with leprosy. He lived the rest of his life in a separate house.

APPLY

A grave danger we face spiritually is that after having received God’s blessing we do not become proud and forsake him for other gods, or even for our own wisdom.

It is my understanding that John Wesley lamented this phenomenon in his day, noting that people converted to Christ tended to prosper greatly, and their prosperity then led their hearts away from God.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me to live true to you all my life. I do not want to start strong and then turn from you. Let my life be marked by humility, self-discipline and faithfulness to you. Amen.

What legacy will you leave?

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HIGHLIGHT

2 Chronicles 23:21 (ESV): 21 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword.

EXPLAIN

The most notorious king in the history of the northern kingdom of Israel was Ahab, who married Jezebel, daughter of the king of Tyre. Along with Ahab, Jezebel made Baal the dominating religion in Israel, ruthlessly killing or driving out the prophets of Yahweh.

At a certain point in the history of Judah and Israel, these two nations came together to do battle against other threats. Jehoshaphat of Judah was in battle with Ahab when the latter was killed according to God’s revelation.

Some years later, King Ahaziah of Judah went to visit King Jehoram of Israel who was sick. During that time, Jehu was executing judgment against the house of Ahab and killed both kings.

Judah was left without anyone able to rule the kingdom, and 2 Chronicles 22:10 tells us that Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, rose up and killed all the male descendants to the throne, save one who was secretly hidden in a room of the Temple.

Athaliah was a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Little is said about Athaliah’s reign other than that she caused the worship of Baal to spread through the land as she reigned for six years.

But in Athaliah, we see several things at work. First, we see Satan’s attempt again to destroy the line of David from whom the Messiah would come. Second, we see the ugly legacy of Ahab and Jezebel played out not only in Israel, but also in Judah. Third, we see the joy of God’s people after this wicked woman was deposed.

APPLY

While Israel never had a godly king, much of the spiritual and moral decay in this nation happened due to Ahab and Jezebel’s reign. But their influence extended to Judah with the godly Jehoshaphat being reprimanded by God for his alliance with Ahab and then Athaliah’s evil reign.

Their example should cause us to carefully consider what our legacy will be, and what the legacy of those with whom we partner with will be.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me to leave a legacy of godliness. May I live for your glory and may my life encourage others to follow Christ. Amen.

Clear the distractions

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HIGHLIGHT

John 2:16 (ESV): 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”

EXPLAIN

In John’s gospel, Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple appears to happen very early in his ministry. In the Synoptic Gospels, on the other hand, we find Jesus cleansing the Temple in the final week before his crucifixion.

John is known for taking events out of chronological order; his purpose was to convince people to believe in Jesus as the Christ, not to record a timeline of Jesus’ life. Yet it is also possible that Jesus may have cleansed the Temple two times, and it does seem like this is the more likely case.

In any respect, despite Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple, the daily selling of animals for sacrifices and money-changing did not cease, except temporarily. These were vital functions so that the proper sacrifices and offerings could be given.

APPLY

Sometimes, this scripture has been applied that no purchases should be made within the church, such as the sale of books from a visiting preacher or music from a singing group. To get around this, some have resorted to “donations” of the amount equivalent to what one would pay to purchase such items.

In other cases, some churches may forbid garage sales, etc. being held on their premises.

The real point of Jesus’ actions and teaching, however, was not to forbid the exchange of money for goods or services on church property. Rather, Jesus sought to restore the proper purpose of the Temple: to be a place where people commune with God.

The question we must ask ourselves, then, is: in our practice of worship, do we put any obstacles in the way, intentionally or unintentionally, of people who are seeking God?

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me in my worship to connect with you deeply. May I not put up distractions that would draw my attention, or the attention of others, away from you. Amen.

Come and see

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HIGHLIGHT

John 1:46 (ESV): 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

EXPLAIN

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, John the Baptist saw him and told his disciples that this was the Lamb of God. Two of his disciples began to follow Jesus. Jesus invited them to come after him saying, “Come and you will see.”

The next day, Jesus invited Philip to follow him. Philip then found Nathanael and told him they had found the Messiah. Nathanael questioned this, but Philip simply said, “Come and see.”

APPLY

It is interesting to consider the dynamics of why Nathanael responded to Philip’s challenge. First and most importantly, we should recognize the Holy Spirit’s work in the background.

Second, we notice that Philip challenged Nathanael. “Prove that I’m wrong. See for yourself,” he said, in essence.

Thirdly, however, we assume that there was a relationship of trust built over many years of friendship that intrigued Nathanael and impelled him to trust that Philip was not joking, but serious.

Do we have such friendships with others that will cause them to seriously consider our faith story?

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me to develop friendships with lost people that I might influence them to follow you. Amen.

When the war drums sound

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HIGHLIGHT

2 Chronicles 14:1 (ESV): 1 Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land had rest for ten years.

2 Chronicles 15:19 (ESV): 19 And there was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa.

EXPLAIN

The beginning of my reading for today which begins the recounting of Asa’s reign notes that God gave him peace.

At one point during Asa’s reign, Zerah the Ethiopian attacked him with a million man army and 300 chariots, but Asa depended on God and God gave Judah a glorious victory.

My reading ends with the statement that there was no more war until Asa’s 35th year. The next chapter details a disastrous decision by the king.

When Judah was threatened Israel, Asa made a covenant with Syria. Israel had to withdraw and Asa gained victory, but at the expense of God’s blessing.

God chastened Asa because he trusted in man’s help instead of seeking God’s help. The rest of Asa’s life and reign was lived without seeking God’s help.

APPLY

The two chapters I read today seem to anticipate the disastrous decision of Asa in tomorrow’s reading. Asa prospered and served God wholeheartedly… for a while… before the war drums sounded again. But then his fears overcame his faith.

The question for us is… do we have a faith that will remain true when the “war drums” sound in our lives? We may be serving God well now while everything seems to be going “okay”, but how will we respond when all that we have worked and struggled for is threatened?

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, strengthen my faith. Help me to live faithfully for you in times of ease and times of distress. May I honor your name by my response to trouble. Amen.

What will Christ find when he comes to you?

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HIGHLIGHT

Luke 18:8 (ESV): 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

EXPLAIN

Luke preceded the parable of the persistent widow with the explanation that Jesus told this parable so that the disciples might always pray and not lose heart.

This story is about an unjust judge and a widow who kept going before him with her case that he finally relented and gave her justice.

Jesus’ conclusion was that God would much more readily give his elect justice, and not delay. The key question is: will Jesus find his people with faith – faithfulness – when he comes to answer their request?

APPLY

God is faithful, honorable, just, and loving. Therefore, we should not fear nor doubt in praying for our needs and for his intervention in our lives. Rather, we must strive to keep faith – to continue to trust and to live faithfully – while we wait for his answer.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me to be faithful as I wait for you to answer my prayers. May I trust you implicitly and completely. And I will praise you when you come in response to my needs. Amen.

Faithful in little or much

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HIGHLIGHT

Luke 16:10 (ESV): 10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

EXPLAIN

Jesus was making conclusions here to a parable he told that might shock us. Jesus told of a dishonest manager who was found out by his master. The master demanded an accounting for the manager before he left his employment.

The dishonest manager then went to different debtors of his master and reduced their bills. One might think the master would be angry at being swindled out of his money.

But Jesus said the master commended the manager for his shrewdness. The master realized the manager was making friends who would take care of him after he left his employment.

Jesus then told his disciples to use earthly wealth to make friends in eternity. In other words, use your earthly possessions in such a way that God will be pleased. By doing so, our future will eternally be secure.

APPLY

The highlighted text does apply to the dishonest manager. If he could not be faithful in a little, you could not trust him with much.

But the real point of Jesus’ statement is that we should be faithful in our stewardship of the few possessions God has given us during this life if we want God to trust us with eternal treasures.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me to be faithful to use what you have entrusted to me for your glory and for good. May I honor you as a faithful servant. Amen.

He cannot be contained

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HIGHLIGHT

2 Chronicles 6:18–19 (ESV): 18 “But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built! 19 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,

EXPLAIN

Solomon was dedicating the Temple to God. He prayed to God, speaking of God’s majesty and love, and God’s wonderful promise to his father, David, about an unending kingdom if David and his descendants walked in God’s law.

But in this text, Solomon noted that while he had built a house for God’s name, as God had promised David would happen, God could not be contained in a building made by human hands.

Yet Solomon continued to pray that God would regard this place as special, and that whenever God’s people prayed in this place, God would hear and answer their prayers.

In the next chapter we find God’s wonderful response, especially the words of 2 Chronicles 7:14… “if my people, which are called by my name… .”

APPLY

Our perception of God should grapple with both his transcendence – his majesty that is so beyond us that we cannot truly understand who he is – as well as his immanence – his desire to be with us, ultimately resulting in the incarnation of Christ.

We must recognize his holiness – purity, love, faithfulness and more – and his grace – his willingness to extend mercy and forgiveness for all who trust in him.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me always to approach you with reverence and awe, but may I also always know your lovingkindness and willingness to be with humanity. Amen.