I Chronicles 13
David wants to bring ark to Jerusalemverses 1-3
And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds
and with every leader
And David said unto all the congregation of Israel
IF it seem good unto you – and that it be of the LORD our God
let us send abroad unto our brethren every where
that are left in all the land of Israel
and with them also to the priests and Levites
which are in their cities and suburbs
that they may gather themselves
unto us
let us bring again the ark of our God to us
for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul
All agree to bring ark to Jerusalemverses 4-6
And all the congregation said that they would do so
for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people
So David gathered all Israel together
from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath
to bring the ark of God from Kirjaath-jearim
And David went up – and all Israel – to Baalah – that is – to Kirjath-jearim
which belonged to Judah – to bring up thence the
ark of God the LORD – that dwells between the cherubim
whose name is called on it
Ark of God placed on a new cartverses 7-8
And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab
and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart
And David and all Israel played before God – with all their might – with
singing – harps – psalteries – timbrels – cymbals – trumpets
Uzza struck dead for touching the Ark of Godverses 9-10
And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon
Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark – for the oxen stumbled
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza – and HE smote him
because he put his hand to the ark – and there he died before God
David displeased at the LORDverse 11
And David was displeased
because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza
wherefore that place is called Perez-uzza to this day
Ark of God place in house of Obed-edomverses 12-14
And David was AFRAID of God that day – saying
How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?
So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David
but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite
and the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom
in his house three months
And the LORD BLESSED the house of Obed-edom – and all that he had
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul. (1875 “enquired” [darash] means to tread, frequent, to seek or ask, to worship, search or question.)
DEVOTION: When Samuel was alive they went to him for word from the LORD. The tabernacle was in Israel but they seemed to only go to it on feast days.
It is hard to imagine that the people of God could neglect the ark of the LORD. This happened during the whole reign of King Saul. In fact, Saul went to the witch of En-dor to rise up Samuel for instructions.
Now David is king and he wants to bring the ark of God into Jerusalem. He states that there was no praying to the LORD from the tabernacle for a long time. They had counted on their own strength.
Israel was religious but not following the LORD. David wanted to change what was happening if he was going to be king. He set out to reestablish true worship of the LORD.
He asked the people if they wanted to bring the ark of God into Jerusalem. They wanted to do it. He set it up with the priests to bring the ark into Jerusalem.
However, he never consulted the word of God. He forgot to write his own copy of the law of the LORD which was to be an obligation of all the kings of Israel. He also did it his own way. The LORD had given instructions that only the priests were to carry the Ark of the LORD.
David put the Ark on a new cart and thought that was good. However, in the process of moving it with great fan fare the Ark started to fall off the cart and Uzza put his hand out to stabilize the Ark and the LORD became angry and he died.
This displeased David because he thought he was doing God service. He was singing. They were playing musical instruments. It was a celebration in honor of the LORD. Why would the LORD do such a thing?
Too often we like to do things our way. We sometimes think that we know better than God how to do things. Here is an example of this happening in the Old Testament. The instructions were plain.
Well, this was a new generation and therefore the old instructions were not good for this time period. Right! Well the LORD didn’t change the instructions and therefore they should be followed.
Our nation seems to only want to include the LORD when there are hard times. The LORD would like HIS people to come to him for instruction at all times. We should come to HIM and ask HIS advice regarding our daily activities. We should start our days with prayer. We should end our days with prayer.
Too often we think we can handle anything on our own unless it is a major decision. Some people blame God for their inaction. If God has given instructions regarding our lives, we can move on that Biblical revelation. God gave instructions regarding the moving of the Ark. David just had to look it up or the priest should have told him the Biblical way to move the ark.
So the spiritual leaders were not instructing the national leader. We need to realize that today we live in Biblical ignorance in our society. There is Biblical ignorance in many of the churches in this country. Remember we are to be Biblically correct rather than politically correct. Most children don’t know about Christ. Many have never been in a church. Some people would come to church if there was an invitation given. However, the only ones invited them are cults coming to their doors. Why are Biblical Christians not knocking on the doors of their neighbors and inviting them to church? Could it just be laziness? Could it be fear? Does God condone laziness or fear in the lives of HIS servants?
The time of the LORD’S return seems to be soon. All the signs of the times indicate HE could come. Nothing has to be fulfilled. What are we waiting for?
CHALLENGE: Train your children in the Word of God. Reach out to your neighbors with an invitation. Present the Gospel every chance you get. Listen to the LORD’S instruction BOOK!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. (3474 “right” [yashar] means pleasing, straight, direct, well, fitting, agreeable, smooth, straightforward, or upright.)
DEVOTION: The general population of Israel thought what David wanted to do was fitting in the eyes of the LORD. The LORD wanted them to have a central location for their worship. The LORD wanted the priests to organize the worship of the LORD. The LORD wanted all the people to bring their sacrifices to him on a daily basis to support the work of the priests and Levites. The LORD wanted the nation to honor HIM.
So the people were correct in their thinking, about the need, to have the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem. This was to be their capital. The priests needed to be gathered to make Jerusalem the center of their worship of the LORD.
It was not wrong to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. It arrived later but after there was proper understanding regarding how to move it properly.
The LORD wants us to do things decently and in order even today. HE has his instruction BOOK called the BIBLE to help us understand what HE expects when we worship HIM. HE desires and commands that it be done in spirit and in truth. HE commands that we speak the truth in love to each other because our relationship with our fellow believer is to be one of love and seeking their growth in the LORD.
We need leaders who know what the Bible teaches and then present it with power from above to encourage the congregation to growth and service to HIM. We need the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of each individual believer and in the local church. If each believer is in tune with the LORD which means proper fellowship then the congregation can work together to reach the nation they are living in for the LORD.
Israel had to get back on track with the LORD and David wanted to do it but was not properly educated in the standards of the LORD in this area. If there are areas we are not properly instructed in than the people can’t make an intelligent decision as to the proper methods to use to bring glory to the LORD. They may know what is correct in the eyes of the LORD without knowing the proper way to do it. This only comes through proper understanding of the Bible and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of each believer.
CHALLENGE: The command is to study to show ourselves approved of God for our service to HIM. HE doesn’t want us to be ignorant.
: 8 And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets. (7832 “played” [sachaq] means rejoice, to engage in joyous diversions or events, to be merry, be happy, to laugh, or singing.)
DEVOTION: The LORD wants us to sing praises to HIM on a regular basis. It isn’t supposed to be only on Sunday that we sing praises. It should happen every day of the week. If parents are having a daily devotional time with their children there should be a time of singing during each devotional.
Praise should be on our lips every moment of every day as we honor the LORD with our attitudes and actions throughout the week. We can sing along with the radio on our way to work. We can sing in our houses as we do work around the house. We can sing to honor the LORD any time.
Here we find the congregation having a worship service as they move the Ark of the Covenant. However, they were having a worship service while they were improperly moving the Ark.
So sometimes we can sing praises in the wrong type of worship service. Our songs should always honor the LORD and done with the proper instructions while we are doing it.
One of the complaints of older Christians is that sometimes there is too much repetition in songs. Choruses can be sung too much to the point of vain repetition in some services. This can take away from the attitude of worship that people what to have while they are worshiping the LORD.
Sometimes we can take the glory away from the LORD and put it on our favorite musician. We need to make sure that when we open our mouth in praise it is toward the LORD and not toward anyone or anything else.
David was truly worshiping the LORD on this occasion. He thought his heart was right and he was doing the right thing but he was wrong. This can happen to any of us when we are worshiping the LORD. Worship has to be based on TRUTH. We need to know the truth about proper worship.
CHALLENGE: Once we know the truth all types of musical instruments can be used for HIS glory in any congregation and home.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 12 And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me? (3372 “afraid” [yare’] means to fear God, to be afraid or scared of, be frightened of, reverenced, held in honor, respect, be awesome, or to stand in awe.)
DEVOTION: There is proper fear of the LORD and improper fear of the LORD. The LORD expects us to reverence HIM. We are to respect HIS commands regarding our relationship with HIM. HE spells out in HIS WORD the Bible what is proper worship and improper worship of HIM.
When we worship HIM in spirit and in truth, we are doing it in a proper Biblical manner. When we go into a time of worship with a wrong attitude, we are not worshiping HIM but mainly just putting in our time in a way that is not really pleasing to HIM.
If we reverence HIM, we will not have a desire to just put in our time but want to do it right. David discovered that he was not doing something right in the eyes of the LORD and he was afraid. He had questions that should have been answered before he moved the ark but now, he was ready to ask the right questions and correct the way he was worshiping the LORD.
We need to ask the right questions regarding the proper way we should worship the LORD. Our relationship to the LORD is very important to us and HIM. If we are out of tune because of sin in our life we need to enter into HIS presence with repentance and confession of sin and then start worshiping HIM with our lives restored to a proper fellowship with HIM.
IF we don’t think we have to have a time of confession then we are deceiving ourselves into thinking that we are not really sinners anymore but perfect followers of HIM. There are no perfect followers of HIM except in the life of Jesus Christ.
Sometimes we come to worship services thinking we are better than other believers. Sometimes we think our way is the only way to worship the LORD. David used a new cart and thought it was good but in the eyes of the LORD it was not. He had to learn.
Our actions and attitudes in worship are important to proper worship. It is important to the LORD that we do it right. It should be important to the leadership of all Biblical churches and pastors.
Are we properly worshiping the LORD in spirit and in truth each Sunday we attend church for a time of worship? Have we confessed our sins? Have we asked the LORD to use us for HIS glory when we attend church? Are we encouragers of others each Sunday or do we look down on some who we think are greater sinners than ourselves?
CHALLENGE: God doesn’t want any Pharisees in HIS church but there are some there each Sunday.
: 14 And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had. (1288 “blessed” [barak] means to praise, filled with strength, to invoke divine favor, often implying a positive disposition or kind actions toward the recipient)
DEVOTION: There is a right way to worship the LORD and a wrong way to worship the LORD. Too often we find that there are people who come to church and their whole attitude is wrong in the area of worship. They are not excited about the LORD and what HE has done for them throughout the week. They don’t sing with all their heart. They don’t seem to care for the other people who are around them at the worship service. They seem to be thinking of other things rather than looking to the LORD with an attitude of thanksgiving.
Here we find that the LORD is blessing a home because they are in the presence of the LORD and they are enjoying HIS presence in their house. We need to come into the house of the LORD with rejoicing and watch how HE blesses us with HIS presence not only during the service but after the service is over.
When we go home from a worship service do we carry the joy of the LORD with us throughout the week? In our time of worship do we genuinely want to have the LORD with us and bless us or do we think of other things.
God wants us to enjoy HIS presence in our home once we leave the church building. HE wants to have us worship HIM in our home throughout the week. This can only happen when we genuinely worship HIM on Sunday with fellow believers.
We should ask ourselves during the week if we are enjoying the blessings of the LORD each day. It is not just a feeling but actually a joy that is more than just a feeling. It is a smile that can’t go away when things don’t seem to be going our way.
CHALLENGE: The LORD wants to bless HIS people who enjoy HIS presence not only on Sunday but throughout the week.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Inquired NOT of the LORDverse 3
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Priestsverse 2
Levitesverse 2
Ark of our Godverse 3, 5-10, 14
David played with all his might:
with singing harps – psalteries timbrels – cymbals trumpetsverse 8
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 2, 6, 10, 11, 14
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign)verses 2, 3, 5-8, 10, 12, 14
LORD our Godverse 2
Ark of our Godverse 3
Ark of Godverses 5-7, 12, 14
Ark of God the LORDverse 6
Anger of the LORDverse 10
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Cherubimverse 6
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Egyptverse 5
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Not inquiring of the LORDverse 3
Moving Ark of God on cartverse 7
Hand on Ark of Godverse 10
Displeased with the LORDverse 11
Afraid of Godverse 12
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Enquiring of the LORDverse 3
Doing what is right in the eyes of the LORDverse 4
Singingverse 8
Blessedverse 14
Prosperityverse 14
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Davidverses 1-13
Consulted not the LORD
Displeased
Afraid of God
Asked God a question after the fact
Congregation of Israelverses 2, 4
Right in eyes of the people
Saulverse 3
LORD not inquired of during his days
Moving the ark of the LORD improperlyverses 7-12
Threshing floor of Chidon
Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark
Killed by the LORD
Perez-uzzaverse 11
City of David = Jerusalemverse 13
House of Obed-edom the Gittiteverses 13, 14
Ark in his home three months
LORD blessed his house
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Uzza died before the LORDverse 10
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QUOTES regarding passage
Two contrasting attitudes to the ark are revealed. On the one hand, it represents Yahweh’s majestic presence, as in the rare formula ‘enthroned above the cherubim’ (v. 6 rsv; cf. 1 Sam. 4:4; 2 Sam. 6:2; = 1 Chr. 13:6; 2 Kgs 19:15 = Isa. 37:16; Pss. 80:1; 99:1), and the abbreviated expression called by the Name (cf. 2 Sam. 6:2). The former phrase indicates that the ark may have been regarded as Yahweh’s empty throne, and the latter that the ark, like the temple, belonged to God as his earthly residence (cf. Deut. 12:11; 1 Kgs 8:29; 2 Chr. 7:16). Such majesty was acknowledged and celebrated with all Israel’s might and music (v. 8). On the other hand, the awareness of divine majesty was diminished by the ark’s being separated from the Tent (still at nearby Gibeon—1 Chr. 16:39ff.; 21:29–30; 2 Chr. 1:3, 13), and by its transportation on a new cart (v. 7). The use of such inadequate transport showed David unthinkingly continuing a Philistine superstition (1 Sam. 6:7), and failing to ‘seek’ God (1 Chr. 15:12–15, especially v. 13). In other words, Israel got into difficulties because they failed to recognize that worship of the true God meant they could no longer simply follow contemporary pagan practices. (Selman, M. J. (1994). 1 Chronicles: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 10, p. 159). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
13:7–14. With great pageantry the procession with the ark made its way (vv. 7–8) till it hit a rough place in the road and the cart on which the ark was riding began to jostle and tip. Instinctively Uzzah reached out to keep the ark from falling, and for his sacrilege he was struck dead (vv. 9–10). The reason, of course, was not only the intrinsic holiness of the ark but the fact that it was being transported improperly. The Law of Moses stipulated that the ark was to be carried by the Levites using poles inserted through its corner rings (Ex. 25:13–14; cf. 1 Chron. 15:2, 13, 15).
The impropriety of David’s action and its subsequent punishment by the Lord resulted in a delay of three months in the movement of the ark, a time when it was sheltered in the house of a certain Obed-Edom (13:13). Because of its presence God blessed Obed-Edom and his family (v. 14). A proper attitude toward the things of God brings blessing while a cavalier spirit brings divine displeasure. (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Chronicles. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 605). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
13:7–14 See notes on 2Sa 6:1–11. The violation of divine directives (Nu 4:1–49) for moving the ark proved fatal to Uzza(h) (vv. 7–10). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Ch 13:7–14). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Vers. 6–8.—The Undertaking (cf. 2 Sam. 6:2–11). All Israel, 30,000 in Sam. Ver. 6. Baalah (Jos. 15:9–60). Whose name, rather “who is worshipped there.” Ver. 7. Uzza and Ahio, sons or grandsons of Abinadab, who from age or death was unable to accompany procession. Ver. 8. “Harps and lutes, stringed instruments; timbrels and cymbals, percussive instruments for keeping time in march or solemn dance.” Trumpets used by priests, generally on joyous occasions (Num. 10; Ps. 98:6). Some suppose that Ps. 34 was sung in parts on this occasion. (Wolfendale, J. (1892). I & II Chronicles (p. 50). New York; London; Toronto: Funk & Wagnalls Company.)
Ver. 5. So David gathered all Israel together, &c.] The principal of them, even 30,000 select men, 2 Sam. 6:1. from Shihor of Egypt; or the Nile of Egypt, as the Targum and other Jewish writers, called Shihor from the blackness of its water, see Jer. 2:18. though some think the river Rhinocurura is meant, which both lay to the south of the land of Israel: even unto the entering of Hamath; which the Targum interprets of Antiochia, which lay to the north of the land; so that this collection of the people was made from south to north, the extreme borders of the land: to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim; where it then was, and had been a long time, see 1 Sam. 7:1. from hence to the end of the chapter the account is the same with 2 Sam. 6:1–11. see the notes there; what little variations there are, are there observed. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 26). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
The first thing after the coronation, which concerned David, was the Ark. This reveals the fact that the king had the things of the Lord upon his heart. He at once consulted with the captains about bringing the ark from Kirjath-jearim. The ark is mentioned forty-six times in the two Books of Chronicles In Chronicles David’s gracious words are recorded, which he addressed to the assembly of Israel, “If it seem good unto you and that it be of the Lord our God … let us bring again the ark of our Lord to us; for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul.” The whole scene manifests a true religious enthusiasm and deep concern to follow the ways of Jehovah. David and all Israel went up to Kirjath-jearim and carried the ark upon a new cart. David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs and with harps and with psalteries, with cymbals and trumpets. But in all this great and human rejoicing, David did not conform to Jehovah’s ways. According to God’s laws covering the handling of the ark, only the Levites were to touch it. They were to carry it on their shoulders and not to place it in a cart (Num. 4:5, 15). All this had been violated. The divine displeasure was fully manifested when Uzza put forth his hands to hold the ark, because the oxen had stumbled. Uzza was stricken with sudden death. He forgot that the ark was the emblem of Jehovah’s presence in the midst of His people. See annotations on 2 Sam. 6. (Gaebelein, A. C. (2009). The annotated Bible: Joshua to Second Chronicles (Vol. 2, pp. 390–391). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
7–8. Is it not astonishing in the very first view of things, that David, and all his wise men, should have so far forgotten the Lord’s commands concerning the ark, as to attempt the removing it this way. Was it because the Philistines had made use of a cart to put the ark upon, that Israel should do the same, when the Lord had specially commanded the sons of Kohath to bear upon their shoulders the holy things? Numb. 7:9. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: 1 Kings–Esther (Vol. 3, p. 357). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his loyal commanders.
INSIGHT
There is greater pain in sin than in righteousness. David clearly loves Bathsheba. Certainly, it would have pained him had he turned his heart away from her before having relations with her. But that pain is nothing compared to the pain he brings on himself and others by taking her as his own. Adultery, murder, the death of their child, the loss of respect, and the memory of the guilt were some of the results of his sin.
It is sometimes painful to do the right thing, but it is always more painful to do the wrong thing. (Quiet Walk)
FACING GOD
How should man be just with God? Job 9:2
The most urgent, vital question confronting man is still the question asked of old by Job: “How should man be just with God?” Certainly, there is a new setting to problems—whether they are economic, political, or educational; whether they deal with the shortage of houses or the proper treatment of strikes. But all these problems are temporary. Behind and beyond them all remains that unavoidable situation in which we shall be face to face with the eternal God, “the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
The ultimate problem for man is not himself, his happiness, or the conditions that surround him while he is here on earth. His ultimate problem is his relationship with God both in time and in eternity; and God is eternal, changeless, absolute. How foolish it is, therefore, to argue that modern man needs a new remedy or a new type of salvation rather than “the glorious gospel of the blessed God” (1 Timothy 1:11), which is to be found alone in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Let us agree wholeheartedly with the modern man when he says that he believes always in having the best. The man who does not desire the best is a fool. Let us by all means have the best, whatever it may cost and whatever its source may be. Further, it is true to say that in many realms and departments of life the latest is undoubtedly the best. For example, the decline in the mortality rate in diseases like meningitis and pneumonia is truly astonishing. There can be no question at all but that in the treatment of the ills and diseases of the body, the latest is the best.
But can the same be said about the cure of the ills of the soul? Is there some magical potion that can be given to a man who is on his deathbed, who realizes his sinfulness?
A Thought to Ponder: The ultimate problem for man is his relationship with God.
(From Truth Unchanged, Unchanging, pp. 120-123, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Man Must Repent
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” (Romans 3:10-11)
From the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed their Creator in the Garden, humanity has attempted to deflect conscious acceptance of guilt. Adam blamed God because “the woman” was given to him by the Creator. Eve blamed the serpent—and you and I have continued that reaction ever since.
That is precisely why repentance is a requirement for salvation. When Adam rebelled, the relationship between man and God was destroyed: “By the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation” and “by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners” (Romans 5:18-19). All men have “no hope, and [are] without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12).
The death that entered the world because of Adam (Romans 5:12) not only introduced physical death into the entire creation (Romans 8:22) but a spiritual separation from the life of God, as well, that eliminated the possibility of our comprehending God’s nature. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). For millennia God bore man’s ignorance of what God was going to do through Christ Jesus at Calvary by faith in the promise of the coming “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30).
Each of us must change our mind and admit we are sinful and desperately need God’s gracious forgiveness, praying, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
Helen Roseveare, an English missionary physician in the African Congo, was taken prisoner by rebels during the Simba Rebellion in 1964. Beaten and abused by her captors, she suffered terribly. In the days that followed, she found herself asking, “Is it worth it?”
As she began to ponder the cost of following Jesus, she sensed God speaking to her about it. Years later she explained to an interviewer, “When the awful moments came during the rebellion and the price seemed too high to pay, the Lord seemed to say to me, ‘Change the question. It’s not, ‘Is it worth it?’ It’s ‘Am I worthy?’ ” She concluded that in spite of the pain she had endured, “Always the answer is ‘Yes, He is worthy.’ ”
Through God’s grace at work within her during her harrowing ordeal, Helen Roseveare decided that the Savior who had suffered even death for her was worthy to be followed no matter what she faced. Her words “He is worthy” echo the cries of those surrounding Jesus’ throne in the book of Revelation: “In a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’ ” (5:12).
Our Savior suffered and bled and died for us, giving Himself entirely, so that we may freely receive eternal life and hope. His all deserves our all. He is worthy!
By James Banks, Our Daily Bread)
TAKE TIME
poem by Anne R. C. NEALE
You live on earth only once,
Then you move on to another plain,
It’s either Heaven or else Hell
that will be your future domain,
Make time, take Time to see what God created for you,
His beautiful earthly creations are also in Heaven, He created them just for you,
The fiery pit is for those who do not repent,
They will be hot there and burning in Hell there too.
Take your choice, Heaven or the fiery pit,
It’s your choice, and in Hell you will Yell.
You choose either Heaven or else Hell
and that will be your future domain, well?
The Goodness of God
What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me? PSALM 116:12
We closed our first year-long devotional book with a letter written by a man named Obadiah Holmes to his nine children in the late 1600s. As we near the close of this book, we’d like to share another letter Obadiah wrote to his wife, tenderly exhorting her to remember a full lifetime of God’s faithfulness. As you read it, notice what was important after nearly a half-century of marriage:
My heart has cleaved to you ever since we came together, and is knit to you in death, which is the cause of these lines as a reminder of God’s goodness to us in keeping us together almost fifty years. God has made all our conditions comfortable to us, whether in fullness or emptiness, lifted up or thrown down, in honor or disgrace, sickness or health, by giving us contentment and love for one another. We have every reason while we live to praise His holy name while we are together. And when death does separate us, may the one still breathing praise Him while breath remains.
Therefore, having some thought that I may go away before you, having signs that my day is but short and it may be that I cannot speak to you at the last, I shall give you some considerations for your meditation—that they may speak when I cannot.
Consider how the Lord carried you along ever since you came into this world. He has provided for you and preserved you in many dangers, and has given you food and raiment with contentment. He has increased our store, sometimes to our wonder, also continuing our health in very great measure. He has given us a great posterity, and has provided for them in a comfortable manner.
Like Obadiah did in this letter, make a point of frequently encouraging each other by reciting the great deeds of God, reflecting back on those spiritual milestones that prove His long-term faithfulness. (Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
TRANSGRESSION AND INIQUITY
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Psalm 51:2-3
The second step when we become convicted of sin is a recognition of the exact character or nature of what we have done. This is put here [in Psalm 51] perfectly in three words. The first is the word transgressions, the second is iniquity, and sin is the third.
What does “transgression” mean? It means rebellion; it means the uprising of the will against authority, and especially against a person of authority. “Blot out my transgressions” (verse 1). In other words, David admits he has transgressed. He has rebelled against an authority. His own will has risen up within him, and he has asserted himself. He has been governed by desire and has allowed himself to be swayed by lust. Transgression means a desire to have our own way, a desire to do what we want to do.
“Iniquity” what does that mean? Well, iniquity means that an act is twisted or that it is bent. It means perversion, and this is obvious in the case of David. “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity” the foul thing, that dastardly thing. What was it in me that made me do it? How perverted I must have been to do that! I ask you as you examine yourself, do you not see that so many things you do are twisted and perverted? Jealousy and envy and malice “how horrible the twist! The desire that evil may come to someone, the dislike of praise of another evil thoughts, bent, twisted, ugly, foul iniquity! And we are all guilty of iniquity.
Sin means missing the mark. We are not living as we ought to be living. A man aims at a target; he shoots, but he misses it. That is what sin always means. A man is not treading the path God has marked out for him.
A Thought to Ponder: We are all guilty of iniquity. (From Out of the Depths, pp. 25-26. By Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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