I am reminded today that God will take up my cause! In Psalm 7, David freely invites the Lord to judge him if he has done wrong. This group of Psalms are written from the perspective of someone who is being troubled but has done nothing wrong. It is refreshing to me to see that God will take up my cause and defend me. The trouble isn’t from God, the trouble is from my enemy and God will rescue me from my enemy. God is on my side.
The verse that really spoke to me today is; “He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment. He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made. The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head.” This not only reminds me that those who perpetrate evil will be rewarded with evil, but it reminds me that this principle will work in MY LIFE too! As I think about it, I can’t remember the last time I plotted evil or conceived trouble for someone. However, I have caused trouble for people with a sharp word, or a lack of care and love, and even reacted poorly become unrighteously angry. The life in these verses is the spiritual principle that I DON’T want working in my life – my words, my anger, my _________ (fill in the blank) will recoil on me!
Oh God, deliver me from myself. May my mouth be your mouth and my ways your ways. May I dispense love, compassion and forgiveness to all those around me.
Monday, April 19, 2010
April 17
So here is freedom – God chooses for you! Did you see that today? I did! All of these priest and Levites were chosen by God to do certain things. In fact, if you were born into a family who took care of the east gate, guess what you would probably do for the rest of your life – take care of the east gate.
It was for freedom that Christ set us free – but the freedom wasn’t for OUR rulership of our life. It is, plain and simple, so that we could choose to do what God has already chosen for us to do. I am sure that God allows us to make some free will decisions in our own life. He sometimes presents us with a crossroads of sorts that have 2 good decisions. Most of the time in my life God is very specific about what He wants of me. Today I am reminded how I am free FROM choosing what I want TO choose what He wants. That is freedom since what he wants is far superior to what I would choose without Him.
It was for freedom that Christ set us free – but the freedom wasn’t for OUR rulership of our life. It is, plain and simple, so that we could choose to do what God has already chosen for us to do. I am sure that God allows us to make some free will decisions in our own life. He sometimes presents us with a crossroads of sorts that have 2 good decisions. Most of the time in my life God is very specific about what He wants of me. Today I am reminded how I am free FROM choosing what I want TO choose what He wants. That is freedom since what he wants is far superior to what I would choose without Him.
Friday, April 16, 2010
April 16
One little thing like taking a census cost 70,000 lives. Who am I to say that is harsh! I will say that I don’t understand things like this very well. It was probably the reasons that David did it that was utterly contemptible to the Lord. After all, Joab was repulsed so much that he didn’t count 2 tribes. Hmmm… One thing for sure, our sin doesn’t just affect us. David ended up throwing himself on the mercy of God which is always a great place to be.
What struck me this morning was Psalm 30, especially the end of it. When judgment, chastisement or anything else that is personally costly is happening in your life – throw yourselves at the feet of your Father. When calamity or destruction is falling on your house, sing to the Lord! It will only last a little while! That is the promise. God loves to turn my mourning into dancing and he takes off my depression and gives me joy! That is where He wants to take me – to joy. In this life, I must traverse many difficulties, but my end is JOY! His goodness can be counted on in the midst of struggles to get me through to the other side. He is faithful, merciful and his favor lasts for a lifetime. That is something I can count on – something I NEED to count on!
What struck me this morning was Psalm 30, especially the end of it. When judgment, chastisement or anything else that is personally costly is happening in your life – throw yourselves at the feet of your Father. When calamity or destruction is falling on your house, sing to the Lord! It will only last a little while! That is the promise. God loves to turn my mourning into dancing and he takes off my depression and gives me joy! That is where He wants to take me – to joy. In this life, I must traverse many difficulties, but my end is JOY! His goodness can be counted on in the midst of struggles to get me through to the other side. He is faithful, merciful and his favor lasts for a lifetime. That is something I can count on – something I NEED to count on!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
April 15
David can’t seem to go too long without some sort of fight. Today’s reading was another fight internally devised. Because there was already some sort of division within Israel, Sheba pounced on the opportunity to exalt himself. How long will it take for people to learn that if God doesn’t exalt you, you are in trouble?
The thing that stood out for me was the intercessor of Abel Beth Maacah. It was her intercession that brought about the deliverance of a city. Did you get that? There are 2 things here for me. #1 is that intercessors can deliver a city – plain and simple. #2 is that the deliverance only came through someone losing there “head”, which in this case Sheba, who was hiding in the city, running from God, exalting himself as leader in his own pride, had to lose his head for the city to be delivered. My lesson is that the “head” that is self exalted must roll. It must be cut off and delivered up for my own deliverance. There are plenty of applications for this, in churches and organizations and in governments, but the application for me is in my own life. If there is anything self-exalted in me, it must be cut off and thrown down. There is no way around the violent action of death. Jesus said to carry our cross daily – the symbol of death. Whatever in me that exalts itself above the will of my Father, must die!
The thing that stood out for me was the intercessor of Abel Beth Maacah. It was her intercession that brought about the deliverance of a city. Did you get that? There are 2 things here for me. #1 is that intercessors can deliver a city – plain and simple. #2 is that the deliverance only came through someone losing there “head”, which in this case Sheba, who was hiding in the city, running from God, exalting himself as leader in his own pride, had to lose his head for the city to be delivered. My lesson is that the “head” that is self exalted must roll. It must be cut off and delivered up for my own deliverance. There are plenty of applications for this, in churches and organizations and in governments, but the application for me is in my own life. If there is anything self-exalted in me, it must be cut off and thrown down. There is no way around the violent action of death. Jesus said to carry our cross daily – the symbol of death. Whatever in me that exalts itself above the will of my Father, must die!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
April 14
I find myself at the end of this day sad for David. It is not because that he didn’t want to punish his enemy – his son Absalom – it is because his son is dead and this whole thing must have been dreadful. Absalom was obviously handed over to Joab by the Lord. I have never even heard of someone stuck in a tree like that, but that doesn’t console a father’s heart. A father’s heart grieves for his son who is in rebellion and wants restoration rather than harsh judgment. David must have wanted just that – restoration.
So how about my heart? Should I wish all my enemies should be crushed and brought to my feet so I could cut off their heads? What if some of my enemies are they of my own household? What then? How about my church family or people at my place of employment? Something has happened to the “warrior” that becoming “king” has softened. There is more mercy, more compassion and more of a desire to see things restored and reconciled. There is a proverb that says not to rejoice when your enemy is struck down. (I was rebuked with this proverb many years ago) Mercy triumphs over judgment. It is much easier since I am in the “king” stage of life and have passed through warrior stage to administer mercy, but it still takes the power of the Spirit and my will to be a man of mercy seeking reconciliation rather than judgment.
So how about my heart? Should I wish all my enemies should be crushed and brought to my feet so I could cut off their heads? What if some of my enemies are they of my own household? What then? How about my church family or people at my place of employment? Something has happened to the “warrior” that becoming “king” has softened. There is more mercy, more compassion and more of a desire to see things restored and reconciled. There is a proverb that says not to rejoice when your enemy is struck down. (I was rebuked with this proverb many years ago) Mercy triumphs over judgment. It is much easier since I am in the “king” stage of life and have passed through warrior stage to administer mercy, but it still takes the power of the Spirit and my will to be a man of mercy seeking reconciliation rather than judgment.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
April 13
David’s Kingdom is in jeopardy because of his son Absalom. The Lord will deliver David, but not until David is exiled from His own city to the desert. His response to this whole thing is interesting isn’t it? Even with the man who was cursing him. What happened to the warrior? I think I know.
First of all David didn’t know what was going on in his own household. Second, he did nothing to his son who raped his daughter after he himself set it up (unknowingly). Third, he did nothing to the son who killed his son. Somehow David went limp. Maybe it was too long without a war, I don’t know.
What I do know is that I must be aware of the state of my house, which for me extends to the church I serve. Keeping it in the realm of the Miller Tribe, I must give retribution for the wrongs or suffer the consequences. I must deal with things and not pretend they don’t exist. Even in my own life I have to take care of the sin that creeps into my life and kill it! If I don’t, one day, it may very well rule me. One day I may find myself in the desert and wonder why. One of the answers may be my lesson today – I let something that I should have killed live, and now I am in the desert crying out to the Lord.
First of all David didn’t know what was going on in his own household. Second, he did nothing to his son who raped his daughter after he himself set it up (unknowingly). Third, he did nothing to the son who killed his son. Somehow David went limp. Maybe it was too long without a war, I don’t know.
What I do know is that I must be aware of the state of my house, which for me extends to the church I serve. Keeping it in the realm of the Miller Tribe, I must give retribution for the wrongs or suffer the consequences. I must deal with things and not pretend they don’t exist. Even in my own life I have to take care of the sin that creeps into my life and kill it! If I don’t, one day, it may very well rule me. One day I may find myself in the desert and wonder why. One of the answers may be my lesson today – I let something that I should have killed live, and now I am in the desert crying out to the Lord.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
April 10
The Kingdom was in conflict. There were wars and battles seemingly all the time. So why do we expect peace? It was inner peace that Jesus promised, not smooth sailing.
David shouldn’t have committed adultery with Bathsheba. Do you know why? Because he should have been at war and not lounging around on his roof! It was the time to be at war and somehow David got convinced that he didn’t have to fight for Israel anymore. I once heard a preacher say that he was too busy to sin. Our lives should be so full of God and our service to Him that we just don’t have the time, opportunity or readiness to sin.
Finally my lesson is that sin is always exposed. It is exposed by God through His Word or His prophets or the consequences in our lives. We are surely forgiven and our slate is wiped clean forever because of the work of Christ on the cross, however that doesn’t mean that I sin in a vacuum. People have said that Christians feel like they can sin and then be forgiven so what is the big deal about sin. Sin IS still death. It brings death! We stand forgiven before the Lord – there is no doubt about that – but there is a big difference between consequence and forgiveness. The question is, do I want to fight another battle that I convened myself? Don’t I have enough battles to be fought without bringing more on myself?
David shouldn’t have committed adultery with Bathsheba. Do you know why? Because he should have been at war and not lounging around on his roof! It was the time to be at war and somehow David got convinced that he didn’t have to fight for Israel anymore. I once heard a preacher say that he was too busy to sin. Our lives should be so full of God and our service to Him that we just don’t have the time, opportunity or readiness to sin.
Finally my lesson is that sin is always exposed. It is exposed by God through His Word or His prophets or the consequences in our lives. We are surely forgiven and our slate is wiped clean forever because of the work of Christ on the cross, however that doesn’t mean that I sin in a vacuum. People have said that Christians feel like they can sin and then be forgiven so what is the big deal about sin. Sin IS still death. It brings death! We stand forgiven before the Lord – there is no doubt about that – but there is a big difference between consequence and forgiveness. The question is, do I want to fight another battle that I convened myself? Don’t I have enough battles to be fought without bringing more on myself?
Friday, April 9, 2010
April 9
Regular worship was established by David. He appointed singers and musicians to regularly worship before the Lord. The Lord wants the same things of me. Regular worship – daily time – a consecrated life. It is amazing that a love of mine like worship can so easily get moved to the side and the attitude of “I’ll do it when I have time, or, I’ll worship when I feel like it” can take over. I have to APPOINT worship in my life. With the busyness of western living, I must make priority of REGULAR and daily worship.
The other striking thing was the worship of David. He said, “I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.” I think I am still up for that kind of worship. It’s a type of abandoned, more than you are comfortable with worship. Will you be humiliated in your own eyes and become undignified in your worship of the King?
The other striking thing was the worship of David. He said, “I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.” I think I am still up for that kind of worship. It’s a type of abandoned, more than you are comfortable with worship. Will you be humiliated in your own eyes and become undignified in your worship of the King?
Thursday, April 8, 2010
April 8
I found myself reading the Psalms and wanting to get back to the history, to the nuance and the detail of things. I enjoyed the appointment of singers and musicians and how Kenaniah (the head Levite) was in charge of singing because he was skillful at it. Then I found myself while reading the Psalms asking God to speak to me, and He did.
God told me that the Psalms were about Him. They were cries to Him for things based on His character to bring them. Today’s reading said “ascribe glory to the Lord – ascribe strength to the Lord”, and He spoke to me. Be careful not to make Christianity about you, because it is about me.
It is easy to make my whole existence, my whole day, all about me. It is easy to make my woes, my adventures, my fears, my victories forefront in my mind, when He should be my beginning and my end. Oh God, let me not fear man nor my own failure. Let me not dwell on my troubles nor my to do list – but let me keep my mind stayed on you. You are my hope, my rock, my deliverer, in you will I trust.
God told me that the Psalms were about Him. They were cries to Him for things based on His character to bring them. Today’s reading said “ascribe glory to the Lord – ascribe strength to the Lord”, and He spoke to me. Be careful not to make Christianity about you, because it is about me.
It is easy to make my whole existence, my whole day, all about me. It is easy to make my woes, my adventures, my fears, my victories forefront in my mind, when He should be my beginning and my end. Oh God, let me not fear man nor my own failure. Let me not dwell on my troubles nor my to do list – but let me keep my mind stayed on you. You are my hope, my rock, my deliverer, in you will I trust.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
April 7
The story of Uzzah dying has always perplexed me. It seems as though he did a good thing in stabilizing the Ark. It makes sense to make sure that the Ark doesn’t fall off its cart. Then I started to think about it. Wasn’t the Ark supposed to be carried? Let’s say I am remembering incorrectly, the Ark was not supposed to be touched. God dwelt between the Cherubim – that thing was as Holy as Holy could be! What was Uzzah doing near it? The fact remains that he tried to do something good and was punished for it, because he did it wrong. What do I do with that?
God spoke to me and said that I can try to accomplish a good result in the wrong way. Helping the church through a financial crunch would be possible if I robbed a bank. We know that robbing is wrong though so we would never… Didn’t Uzzah know…? He did! There is a separation between the secular and the sacred and God demands that we observe it. It is the difference between worldly wisdom and God’s wisdom. It’s the difference between taking the glory because you did something and giving the glory to God because He accomplished it!
It isn’t the result He is after (the Ark arriving safely), it is the process in our lives (carrying the Ark properly), because that is what takes us to the proper result – Christ likeness.
God spoke to me and said that I can try to accomplish a good result in the wrong way. Helping the church through a financial crunch would be possible if I robbed a bank. We know that robbing is wrong though so we would never… Didn’t Uzzah know…? He did! There is a separation between the secular and the sacred and God demands that we observe it. It is the difference between worldly wisdom and God’s wisdom. It’s the difference between taking the glory because you did something and giving the glory to God because He accomplished it!
It isn’t the result He is after (the Ark arriving safely), it is the process in our lives (carrying the Ark properly), because that is what takes us to the proper result – Christ likeness.
April 6
David was a boy when he was anointed King, but he was 30 when he finally reigned over all of Israel. I am reading a book that talks about the journey of a man and it begins with boyhood and ends in sage. Before sage is king. You have to get through cowboy and warrior before you get to the king stage. That is David’s life and I think that is mine as well. The things you dream of as a boy take so long to come to fruition, or so it seems. They require struggle, sometimes great struggle, and definitely adventure – on your own and with a band of friends. “How long oh Lord” was one of David’s questions and it is often one of mine. Things sure do take time.
I guess I have had to come through things in order to reign. Although I, just as you possibly, want to have things fast or even immediate, God makes sure we learn to reign, it comes through training. Am I ever done? No, I am never done! There is always another level for me to conquer, another facet of life to master. How can I be king and reign in life unless I am taught to reign by one who reigns?
Oh God, teach me to reign. I am afraid to say this, but train me to reign. I know I just invited hardship and struggle – I am cautiously willing – I want to reign.
I guess I have had to come through things in order to reign. Although I, just as you possibly, want to have things fast or even immediate, God makes sure we learn to reign, it comes through training. Am I ever done? No, I am never done! There is always another level for me to conquer, another facet of life to master. How can I be king and reign in life unless I am taught to reign by one who reigns?
Oh God, teach me to reign. I am afraid to say this, but train me to reign. I know I just invited hardship and struggle – I am cautiously willing – I want to reign.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
April 1
God gives us a clue to fear in today’s reading. I have never seen this before! “Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with David but had left Saul. Do you see it? Fear comes (at least one of the reasons for it) because you ascribe more ability and power -or even favor) to someone or something else rather than you. When you doubt God is with you and ABLE to carry out His will for you, you will fear! Why wouldn’t you? When I believe that God isn’t ABLE or when I forget God altogether and I am trusting in my ability, I am welcoming fear into the situation.
Oh God, my strength is in you, with you and for you. When you are for me I know that no enemy can triumph over me. Convince me that you are for me! Convince me that the vision you have given me still has your blessing. Forgive me for doubt that has led to fear. I want none of either – I want all of you. You are my rock. I believe you are with me and for me. I trust in you.
Oh God, my strength is in you, with you and for you. When you are for me I know that no enemy can triumph over me. Convince me that you are for me! Convince me that the vision you have given me still has your blessing. Forgive me for doubt that has led to fear. I want none of either – I want all of you. You are my rock. I believe you are with me and for me. I trust in you.
March 31
Samuel was rebuked by God, like others, who mourned too long – or possibly he was depressed. Humm… Samuel was hanging out when God spoke and told him to get up and move on! Why are you still in the same place? Let’s get on with things!
Samuel was not only depressed, he was afraid of Saul. Could it have been his depression that weakened his faith? After all, we are talking about the same Samuel who rebuked Saul publicly – several times! Humm…
God in His mercy gives Samuel a plan to help him with his fears and Samuel moves to the next stage of life – one of the last things he will do – anoint the next king. I see myself in this account so much and God is encouraging me to be fearless and do what He says. Don’t look at the circumstances and get depressed! Get going!
Samuel was not only depressed, he was afraid of Saul. Could it have been his depression that weakened his faith? After all, we are talking about the same Samuel who rebuked Saul publicly – several times! Humm…
God in His mercy gives Samuel a plan to help him with his fears and Samuel moves to the next stage of life – one of the last things he will do – anoint the next king. I see myself in this account so much and God is encouraging me to be fearless and do what He says. Don’t look at the circumstances and get depressed! Get going!
March 30
It seems like forever since I have written. Today I will catch up. (I suffered a hand injury that has hindered me from writing).
A lot has happened in the past decades of Samuel and Saul’s life. Significant is the fact that God wanted to be the King of His people and Israel rejected them. They wanted a human king like the other nations. Humm…
Saul, a seemingly humble man was exalted, until he became proud and then he was humbled. What was the point of pride? He did as he pleased and did not carry out the command of the Lord – which was for everyone’s good! God’s word to us is the same, don’t offer me some religious sacrifice and not do what I say. And by the way, if you rebel, it is just like being a witch and the pride that says “I’ll do it my way” is idolatry. Why so harsh? Because God wants us to have His blessing and those are the exact things that stop the blessings of God from flowing to us.
A lot has happened in the past decades of Samuel and Saul’s life. Significant is the fact that God wanted to be the King of His people and Israel rejected them. They wanted a human king like the other nations. Humm…
Saul, a seemingly humble man was exalted, until he became proud and then he was humbled. What was the point of pride? He did as he pleased and did not carry out the command of the Lord – which was for everyone’s good! God’s word to us is the same, don’t offer me some religious sacrifice and not do what I say. And by the way, if you rebel, it is just like being a witch and the pride that says “I’ll do it my way” is idolatry. Why so harsh? Because God wants us to have His blessing and those are the exact things that stop the blessings of God from flowing to us.
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