|
HEART PREPARATION:
This week, the downfall and depravity of the nation of Israel continues to spiral. It is easy to read these passages and place judgement on Israel, without looking at our own lives and seeing that we are not far from making the same mistakes. Though our idols aren’t silver and gold, they are those things that we run after, placing our hope in, and letting go of God for. Pray that God would reveal any idol in your life that you might be running after. WEEK’S READING PLAN:
WHAT TO EXPECT: We pick up our reading with Ahab preparing to take Judah to battle with him against Syria. After consulting about 400 “prophets”, Jehoshaphat called for a prophet of God to find out what they should do. Micaiah starts out by flippantly telling Ahab to go ahead into battle and he would prosper. Ahab knew that there was some sarcasm in this response, and pressed Micaiah for God’s answer (knowing full well that he was going to do whatever he wanted). Micaiah disagreed with all of the the other prophets and told Ahab that he would not survive this battle. Ahab decided that the king of Israel should wear his robes into battle but Ahab would dress as a normal soldier (Not a guy I’d want to fight beside). His plan seemed to work at first until a random arrow struck a fatal spot between his armor. After the death of Ahab, we continue the messy succession of kings in Judah and Israel. During part of this time, we get to witness God’s power working through Elijah and Elisha. These men were totally committed to following God. Elijah was so committed that God took Elijah home with him in a whirlwind with a horse and chariot of fire as an escort. With Elijah gone, we see God working amazing miracles through Elisha including parting the Jordan, keeping the widow’s oil flowing, raising a boy back to life, purifying a poisonous pot of stew, healing a leprous commander, transferring leprosy to a lying greedy servant, making an axe head float, and leading the army that was searching for him blindly into the center of Samaria. We also see the temple repaired with money provided by the people. We see Obadiah speaking about putting our trust in the Lord rather than trusting in our own power and might. ThePsalms of this week remind us that God doesn’t take to kindly to people bullying his chosen ones (even though He uses these situations for His glory). Don’t forget to finish reading the saga of good and evil kings that followed God, followed Baal, killed family members, married for power and even piled up the heads of Ahab’s 70 sons by the gate. WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The thing that keeps jumping out to me through all of this week’s reading is the depravity of man and our constant cycle of calling out to God, Him rescuing us, and us turning our back on Him again. The flip side to this cycle is how God continues to love His people through their pride and stupidity. PERSONAL INSIGHT: The personal insight that I would pick out for this week would have to land on Elijah. This guy was so in touch with God that he was taken into the presence of God while his successor stood watching it happen. God used him to tell others what they needed to hear and He also showed him who to train for his replacement as well as what to teach him. Life was not butterflies and roses for Elisha, but he continually trusted God to meet his needs and guide his steps and devoted his entire life and existence to following God wherever He led him. The mission and goal that I receive from this section is to live a life truly devoted to Jesus, in constant communication with Him. PRAYER: God, as I look at the history of Israel, it can look gloomy, for it is. Your people turned their back on You and rejected You. Yet, I am capable of the exact same sin. I can run to the idols of comfort, money, status, or any other thing. Yet, throughout Your Word, You show that You are a merciful God, who continually gives us the opportunity to repent. And so, I repent of the idols that I have placed over You. I repent that I am chasing the things of this world, and not You. Give me the strength to destroy the idols in my life, no matter the grip they might have on me, and run after you continually! Thank You for Your many opportunities You give me, and for Your unconditional love. Thank You also for sending Jesus as the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world! This week’s devotional was prepared by Todd Lace
0 Comments
HEART PREPARATION:
This week, we are going to be entering into the dark history of Israel. God’s faithfulness has been revealed through their entire journey so far, and Israel has consistently been unfaithful to God. Now, as Israel experiences civil war and turns their back on God, you will continue to see God’s grace, mercy, and faithfulness to Israel through these readings. Take a moment to thank God for His grace, mercy, and faithfulness to you throughout your entire life, even when you have been unfaithful to Him. WEEK’S READING PLAN:
WHAT TO EXPECT: The golden age of Israel has come, and now it is about to pass. They’ve seen their greatest king, a man after God’s own heart, David. David defeated all of their foes. They’ve seen Solomon, a king who brought them great riches and built the temple of God. Yet, at the end of Solomon’s life, he turned away from God. He allowed himself to be drawn away because of his many wives. That is going to start being a trickle effect for Israel, as a civil war begins to break out in Israel, and it is divided into two kingdoms, Israel to the North (with a capital of Samaria), and Judah to the South (with a capital of Jerusalem). WHAT TO LOOK FOR: As you get ready to read the accounts of Israel in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, refresh yourself with Deuteronomy 28. God promises blessings for those who are obedient to Him, but then He gives strong warnings if they are disobedient. What you are about to witness in these upcoming passages is the fulfillment of those warnings, a nation turning against God. Pay attention to how each kingdom is behaving. We are about to enter into the times where the prophets are warning the people to repent, that they are headed for disaster. When you understand the context of these passages, you understand the context of the prophets, and they make much more sense. Here is a quick overview of the divided kingdoms ISRAEL
JUDAH
PERSONAL INSIGHT: There is so much in these chapters moving forward, it’s hard to pick out one thing that stood out to me. I think one of the big things that stands out initially is the bad decision of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. He takes over the kingdom, and he has the ability to lead wisely, or lead foolishly. He seeks counsel from the older generation, his father’s advisors, and they tell him to rule gently and in love. Then, he turns to his own peers, and they tell him to rule with power. He chooses to listen to his peers, and that leads to the dividing of the kingdom. Throughout the Proverbs, you have read passages about receiving guidance and counsel. Passages like: whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm (Proverbs 13:20) Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed (Proverbs 15:22) For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory (Proverbs 24:6) What this passage in 1 Kings 11 demonstrates though is the importance of who is speaking into your life. Rehoboam had counselors, he had people speaking into his life, but they were not wise counsel. He went to his peers, instead of listening to the wise advice of his father’s counselors. So this leads me to think, who am I allowing to speak into my life, and what kind of counsel am I receiving? Who are the voices that I go to for wisdom, and is what they are giving me wisdom? And if you want to know if it is wisdom or not, line it up with what God’s Word says. The wise thing may not be the easy thing. The wise thing may not be the popular thing. But the wise thing is the right thing. PRAYER: God, I thank You for giving us Your Word, Your Truth, preserved through all these years for us. Thank You for Your people, who have the gift of the Holy Spirit to speak wisdom into our lives. Help me to live according to Your Word, regardless of whether it is easy or popular. Help us live lives that, when we are done, it is said of us that we did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. This week’s devotional was prepared by Andrew Peterman Heart Preparation
Our scripture this week continues to be primarily focused on King Solomon. This week as read, remember that the majority of what you’re reading was written by a man that God blessed with being the wisest man who ever lived. A man that had, or tried every earthly thing the human heart and eyes could desire. And yet near the end of his life, as he reflects on all that he had done and seen, he found it all to be completely meaningless apart from God. Reading Plan
What to Expect Sunday: Psalms 134, 146-150 These Psalms are about the praising and worshiping of God, and experiencing the joy of his blessings. 146 is also warning against putting our faith in leaders/men who can not save. Vs. 5 “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord” Monday: 1Kings 9 God appears to Solomon for a second time and tells him that if he continues to follow His commands, his throne will reign in Isreal forever. But if not, Isreal will be cut off from the land and the temple will be destroyed. 2Chronicles 8 This chapter gives us a glimpse of what will be Solomons downfall. A few weeks ago, we read about Solomon marrying Pharoh’s daughter to secure a military alliance with Egypt. Today in chapter 8, we read that he did not let her live in his father’s palace where the ark of God was once kept. Solomon says in verse 8 “My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Isreal, because the places the ark of the Lord has entered are holy” Solomon knew that his marriages to Pagen wives was displeasing to God. But it didn’t stop him. Tuesday: Proverbs 25-26 These Proverbs were written by Solomon, but collected by the men of Hezekiah (King of Judah). Most of these were directed toward the King, or people who dealt with the King. Wednesday: Proverbs 27-29 27:20 Feels like a preface to the book of Ecclesiastes saying “ Death and destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the human eyes” Thursday/Friday: Ecclesiastes We have to be careful when reading Ecclesiastes because its tone can feel very negative and pessimistic. But Solomon (near the end of his life) displays a level of honesty in this written sermon that should have a tremendous impact on the way we view our earthly lives, as well as our earthly endeavors. This book is not intended to destroy our hope in this life. It is meant to direct our hope to the one who gives us life. Saturday: 1Kings 10-11 Today we read about Queen Sheeba visiting Solomon and is overwhelmed by his wisdom and splendor. As well as how Solomon marries many foreign wives and angers God. Personal Insight Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Imagine the man who had it all. The wealthiest, wisest King there ever was saying that life’s pursuits and pleasures are meaningless. This isn’t a judgement that Solomon rushed to. He dedicated himself to uncovering the purpose behind every endeavor. He built magnificent structures, amassed tremendous wealth, explored every kind of pleasure, and received unparalleled wisdom. And yet came to the sobering reality that life under the sun; life lived solely from a human perspective leads to nothing lasting. Solomon uses the phrase “under the sun” 29 times in Ecclesiastes. To me this phrase is used to describe a life limited to earthly experiences, a life that excludes God. Solomon says that when we live without reference to our creator, we end up chasing empty promises. Wealth, power, pleasure, popularity, all of these things slip through our hands like trying to hold onto the wind and will almost certainly leave us hollow. In our modern world we’re told meaning and value is found in the next big accomplishment, the newest experience, or the newest “thing”. But Ecclesiastes tells us that these things, while captivating, cannot fill the void. Solomon warns us that if we try to find meaning in things “under the sun” we will come up empty. Each accomplishment or thing will leave us starving for more. The high felt from each moment of pleasure will be followed by an inevitable low. We SHOULD pursue wisdom, knowledge, happiness, etc. But we should pursue these things to the glory of God. Recognizing that just like Solomon, apart from God, this pursuit will lead us to despair because we can never know or have enough. Prayer Father, thank you for your word and preserving it for us. Solomons guidance, wisdom, and warnings are just as relevant now as they were 3000 years ago when he recorded them. Help us to have a depth of understanding with these Proverbs and lessons that will change the way we view earthly possessions and so-called pleasures. Thank you for forgiving us when we lose our way in this area of our lives. And thank you for that thing that is far greater than anything we could possess; salvation through Jesus Christ. Amen This week’s devotion was prepared by Jonathan King. HEART PREPARATION:
This week we will be covering passages from Proverbs, 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Psalms. Four books written by different authors. One a collection of sayings, another full of songs, while two document the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience. Although, all four lead us to the cross and the need of a savior. WEEK’S READING PLAN:
WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Proverbs is a gift from God. It teaches us to live with integrity (Proverbs 19:1), to be humble (proverbs 16:18), forgive others (Proverbs 17:9), and seek wisdom (Proverbs 19:20). We are reminded of the importance of having good counsel (Proverbs 18:1), the value of a friend (Proverbs 18:24), and the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 19:23). Chapters 16-24 is full of knowledge. See where it takes you… 2 Chronicles 2-7 is an account of the planning and preparation Solomon put into the building of the Temple. It details his plan, the recruitment of skilled craftsmen, and material selected. It is important to note how everything was done in excellence. This chapter describes the construction of the temple. It includes its location (Mount Moriah), detail, and design. We learn about the placement of items within the temple including David’s treasures and the Ark of the Covenant. Near completion, the cloud of God’s glory fills the temple. There was a parade, songs of praise, and prayers of thanksgiving. Solomon gives a prayer of dedication. God appears to Solomon in a dream. He tells Solomon that he heard his prayer and that he accepts the temple as a place for sacrifice. He also told Solomon that if his people remain humble, pray, seek him, turn from their wicked ways, he will forgive their sin and heal the land. God tells Solomon if he remains faithful, his successors will continue to lead Israel. In 1 Kings 5-8, Solomon begins his reign as king. He prepares for the construction of the temple that King David dreamt about. The temple is a tribute to the one and only God. Solomon builds the temple. Our reading describes its design and architecture. It also mentions some of Solomon’s other building projects one of which includes the palace. Israel prospers under the reign of King Solomon. Upon completion, Solomon dedicates the temple. Solomon’s prays to the Lord, asking God to accept the temple, reside in it, be just, and to be attentive to the prayers offered. Psalms 136 gives us a call to worship. It reminds us of the blessings God provided Israel. Each followed by the chorus, “Give thanks to the Lord his love endures forever”. PERSONAL INSIGHT: Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings, instructions, and reflections of how to live a good and successful life in both worldly matters and before God. One of the study-helps I used when working on this outline suggested a prayer before reading a chapter of proverbs. It read… Dear God, give me wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Let any knowledge I gain help me love You and others more, and not puff me up. Help me see something new about You that I’ve never seen before. Correct any lies I believe about You or anything I misunderstand. Direct my steps according to Your Word. Amen. (The Bible Recap by Tera-Leigh Cobble) I like the idea of starting a reading time with God in prayer. God speaks to us through his word and it’s important to ask God to show us what we need to hear. What might speak to me “today” might not speak to you. What speaks to you “today” might be exactly what I need to hear. Praise the Lord for his guidance and wisdom. The temple was one of the greatest architectural masterpieces of its time. Inspired by King David and completed by Solomon. It took Solomon 7 years to complete the temple. He only used the finest craftmanship and material. It was a gift to God, completed in excellence, and never intended for self-glorification. This is a great reminder of how we, as believers, should present our gifts and talents. Everything we do should be presented as a gift of to God, done in excellence, and never intended for self-glorification. Upon completion of the temple, Solomon prays to God asking him to accept the temple, reside in it, be just, and be attentive to the prayers of the Israelites. God hears Solomon’s prayer and responds to him in a dream. He tells Solomon, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people pray, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:12-14) God later goes on to tell Solomon that if he remains faithful, he and Israel will continue to be blessed. I see this passage having two points. The first is that our sin has consequences. Like the Israelites, if we turn from God, we will find ourselves in a mess. The second point is that no matter how far we stray from God, we are always just a prayer away from his forgiveness. Isn’t it awesome to know we serve a God that will “Forgive our sin and heal our land”. In closing, we often tend to think about the now and not about God’s enduring love. Psalms 136 is a call to worship. It is a wonderful reminder of God’s goodness, power, and mercy. This week take some time and think. Think about where you were before your salvation, at your salvation, and where you are now. “His steadfast love endures forever”. PRAYER: God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for sending your son as a sacrifice for my sins. Help me to see through the noise of the world and give me the ability to recognize wisdom and to receive it. Forgive me where I fall short. Help me to do everything in humility. Lastly, help me to love others as you love me. This week’s devotional was prepared by David Eddington Heart Preparation:
Some people listen in order to react and others listen to understand. Prepare to read the Psalms, Song of Songs, and the Proverbs in the same manner. In Andy’s sermon last Sunday, he stated that when Christ died the veil to the Holy of Holys was rent from top to bottom which symbolizes our ability to communicate with God directly. Some times we read scripture over and over and finally it sinks in and takes hold. Read these scriptures with that in mind. Weeks Reading Plan:
What to expect and what to look for: In the Psalms reading you’re going to see the extolling of wisdom and the love of the law. It sometimes turns into a lament or it may be expressing praise for God and/or the law. It strikes me as being very much wisdom liturgy. As for the Song of Songs there is a lot of poetry and I would suggest studying it with a study bible. There is an expression that is repeated several times that you should look for that indicates when intimacy should occur. It is very sensuous poetry that describes the relation of two individuals that love each very much. Even the scholars’ debate whether it is Solomon and a wife, or is it God and the nation Israel, or is God and the church. The description of love in 8:6-7 compares with the wisdom expressed in Proverbs 1-9 and Job 28. It too belongs in the category of Wisdom literature. The first three chapters of Proverbs tells us of the why we should embrace wisdom and the benefits of accepting that wisdom. The next 3 are warning against folly and adultery. Chapters 7 thru 15 are two-line contrasts of wisdom (positive/negative). It’s not prophecy or visions, it’s the “dos” and “don’ts” of how to live a Godly life. Personal Insight: Reading the bible chronologically has given me a different perspective on the Psalms. In the past when I’ve read them, I’ve sometimes been at a loss as to how they apply to me personally. But most of them were written as a result of Davids experiences with life and God. Sometimes he is complaining or praising about the situations he is experiencing. As for the Song of Songs, it is a very sensuous exchange between two lovers. You must remember this is wisdom literature/poetry. Again, I read several different bible versions (ESV,NIV,etc). You need to remember it is Wisdom’s description of an amorous relationship. An exchange of notes between 2 individuals who love each other very much. I enjoy reading the Proverbs, especially the two-line verses showing the contrasts of behavior and the results you would expect from those contrasting behaviors. There is debate among the scholars as to the author of all the book of Proverbs. I think Solomon probably didn’t write all of them. But when he became king all he asks God to give him was wisdom. And God granted that to him, and since he didn’t ask for anything else, God gave him all the rest: power, wealth, and a happy life. And so, if he was granted the Wisdom, he probably surrounded himself with very wise people who might have written a lot of the Proverbs in this book. Prayer: Heavenly Father, grant us at least some of the Wisdom that you granted Solomon. And help us to take to heart the wisdom he expressed in this week’s Scriptures. Help us as we continue to read the bible chronologically to read it to understand the wisdom in all the bible. This weeks devotion was prepared by Tom and Ann Thiele |
RSS Feed