1 Chron 9-10; Ps 7; Matt 9

Observation

I Chron 10:13 So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. 14 He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

Wow. What a summary of Saul’s life.

Psalm 7:11 God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.

I feel indignation all the time because I’m inconvenienced. I can’t imagine what it would be like to BE righteousness and justice. You must feel indignation towards me constantly and somehow still give me grace.

Psalm 7:14 Behold, the wicked man conceives evil
and is pregnant with mischief
and gives birth to lies.
15 He makes a pit, digging it out,
and falls into the hole that he has made.
16 His mischief returns upon his own head,
and on his own skull his violence descends.

I can’t believe how true this is. And how often I see it play out over and over. And how often I see the evil my own heart conceives. You have laid out the whole process as a warning to me. And I am warned.

Matt 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Your compassion is amazing. And Your response to that compassion is even more amazing.

Application/Prayer

Father, help me to see Your indignation that I deserve… that You’ve replaced with grace. Especially when I feel indignant. Remind me that I don’t get to feel that way. Help me to deal with others in the same way You’ve dealt with me.

Lord, help me avoid the cycle of my own wicked heart. I know that my nature conceives evil, is pregnant with mischief, and gives birth to lies. I know that, so often, I toil digging a pit to fall into. Lord, pull me out of the cycle! I put to death my flesh. I want to give birth to truth. to righteousness.

Lord, give me Your compassion. Help me to see “crowds” like You did. And I pray that you send laborers into Your harvest. Lord, send me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1 Chron 2; Ps 1; Matt 1-2

Observation

Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.

The notion of seasons seems to be recurring lately. It’s interesting that you made trees and plants bear fruit in season. Generally, desirable fruit has a season and is not present all the time. The only plants I can think of that have fruit/seeds all the time are weeds.

Matthew 2:

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

I’ve never understood this part of the story, but now it hits home a little more with Little T upstairs sleeping in her crib. Obviously, You knew this was going to happen. And all the male children under the age of two in Bethlehem were innocent. I just can’t imagine being one of those parents.

Application/Prayer

Father, I love You. I cannot understand You because You are beyond my comprehension. The more I learn who You are, the more I know that You are right and good. And I love You.

Lord, there’s a natural progression of seasons that you created on purpose. Help me to recognize seasons so I don’t fight against them. In my mind, it should always be spring or summer or fall. I don’t particularly care for winter. I certainly don’t perceive the benefits of winter when I’m in the midst of it. But I know that winter is no accident. And I know that I’m not alone in the cold. I know the truth: You created winter and are walk me through the wind chill every time. Even when I don’t feel You or understand. You are sovereign.

And Lord, even when I don’t understand why You allow bad stuff – what I consider injustice – I know You’re sovereign. Your justice is far-reaching enough to cover every injustice I perceive and experience. Lord, I pray that this would set up and solidify in my heart now, while it’s spring. So that when the winter comes I can search out Your purpose instead of whining about the cold.

You are sovereign. You are sovereign. You are sovereign.

And You are good.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

1 Chron 1; Ps 150; Rev 20-22

Observation

Psalm 150:3 Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

Yes! Lord, I’m blown away at this biblical description of praise because I can hear it. And it’s loud and crazy and all-out and beautiful.

Rev 20:10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

There it is… The ultimate defeat of the enemy of my soul. Forever.

Rev 22:

6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” 7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” … 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

Even so, Lord, come quickly! I say come.

Application/Prayer

Father, I used to be afraid of You coming. I was uncertain of how I stand with You. I doubted that it would be okay, and I didn’t know what would happen. Now, I say come. Come and bring the fullness of Your Kingdom!

Lord, I love You and want to see You face to face. I want to experience what it will be like to be in the fullness of Your glory in my new body, in the consummation of Your Kingdom, when everything will be as it should be.

Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

2 Kings 19-20; Ps 146; Rev 10-12

Observation

2 Kings 19:14 Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said: “O Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. 16 Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. 17 Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands 18 and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. 19 So now, O Lord our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone.”

Hezekiah understood that at the end of the day, the reason You would save them was so that everyone would know that You are God alone. I can see him spreading the letter before You…

2 Kings 19:31 For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord will do this.

The remnant… the survivors. For what? The zeal for the Lord. You always saved a remnant.

2 Kings 20:6 and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.”

Once again, it was for Your sake, and for David’s sake. Wow. And then some pretty significant signage went down… shadows moving backwards? You know how to give confirmation!

Psalm 146:7 who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; 8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless…

What is often Your means for doing these incredible things? The church. It’s incredible to be a part of it: social justice, sharing food, deliverance, healing, encouragement, housing and caring for travelers, meeting the needs of widows, and caring for and/or adopting orphans. Incredible. And once again, it has more to do with Your name, with Your glory, than it has to do with the church or those being ministered to.

Rev 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” … Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers [6] has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

I see Your kingdom everywhere now! :

Application/Prayer

Lord, I’m overwhelmed that You’re still up to the same stuff You were doing thousands of years ago. I see all the stuff the psalmist lists happening through Your church. And it’s beautiful because it glorifies You! Thank You for making me part of it. Thanks for letting me see it all and participate in it! Thanks for using me in Your purposes.

Father, it is all about Your name! Help me wear it well. Help me honor You. Save me when I need saving… for Your sake! Give me words when I need to speak… for Your sake! I glorify You! I love You! In Jesus’ name, amen.

2 Kings 14-15; Ps 143; Rev 2-3

Observation

Psalm 143:7 Answer me quickly, O Lord!
My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

I think I’ve prayed this more often than not… Answer me quickly, O Lord! But rarely, if ever, has it been in the circumstances in which David prayed it. But no matter what the circumstances, Your love is steadfast and You are trustworthy.

Make me know the way I should go! Not just in the big stuff, but in the day-to-day. I want to follow You.

Rev 2:9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander [10] of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

Hey Smyna, buckle up! I can’t imagine getting this message from You! I do love this image of poverty (but they were rich!). And the contrast in, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Wow

Application/Prayer

Father, You are so good. Your love is steadfast. You are trustworthy. You show me the way to go. And I follow You!

Lord, help me to endure suffering when it comes. Help me to glorify You no matter what circumstances come. I pray this now, in good times, knowing that I need the practice for the troubled times.

Thank You for everything You’ve given. Thank You for protection and provision. Thanks for direction and discipline. Everything I have I owe to You.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

2 Kings 11-13; Psalm 142; Revelation 1

Observation

2 Kings 13:20 So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. 21 And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

Just a little bonus piece of info for added emphasis… You used Elisha post-mortem to raise the dead!

2 Kings 13:23 But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now.

Your faithfulness was not a response to good behavior, merit, or faithfulness. In fact, a businessman would have declared the contract breached. But You remained faithful because of Your word.

Psalm 142:1 With my voice I cry out to the Lord;
with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
2 I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.

You are a big enough God to handle things when they don’t wrap up nicely by the end of the 30-minute episode. You’re secure enough to listen to my opinions and limited perspective. You’re near enough to hear my complaint, and powerful enough to fix it.

Revelation 1:5b To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail [12] on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Reading Revelation with a Kingdom framework is completely different. I see the majesty of declaring “to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  I see the finality of “Omega” and know that You are the consummation. I see the already and not yet in “Even so. Amen.” and statements like, “Who is and who was and who is to come.” Incredible

Application/Prayer

Lord, thank You for your faithfulness. I know that it is not based on my faithfulness or behavior. And I’m thankful. But I want to respond to You with faithfulness. I want to be holy because You’re holy. I want to stay true, because You are true. I love You because You first loved me. Lord, I respond to You.

Father, You know my heart. Why do I try to spin my words with You. You’re aware when things are crappy. You see when things are great. And You’re with me in it all. Help me to speak honestly with You, understanding all the while Who I’m speaking to!

Lord, everywhere I look I see Your kingdom. Help me to tune into it and build it. Help me to be a faithful subject. To You be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen!

1 Kings 21-22; Ps 136; 1 Pet 1-2

Observation

I Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Why abstain? First of all, I’m a sojourner and an exile. An alien and stranger. In it, not of it. But also, I need to keep my conduct among non-believers honorable so that they see my good deeds.

I Peter 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

This is certainly an unconventional view of suffering and submission to authority… especially in a culture where the innocent fight for vindication and the guilty fight even harder to deny responsibility. When I’m right, I want the world to know. And by default, everyone should know that the other person is wrong. When I’ve done wrong and am confronted, my first instinct is to cover it up and deny it. And accuse and threaten my accuser. I’m pretty sure I didn’t have to learn that, it is just in me. At the ugly core. But You did not revile in return. You, the Almighty, submitted. And not to Pilot or Herod or the thronging mob. By to Him who judges justly.

Application/Prayer

Father, teach me that it doesn’t matter if it looks like I’m wrong in peoples’ eyes. Help me and guide me to keep my conduct honorable. But even in the face of accusation, help me entrust myself to You. I know that Yours is the only opinion that matters. And You have declared me to be Your child and given me the righteousness of Your Son. And You’ll deal with me when I’m out of line. And You’ll uphold me and vindicate me if I need it.

Jesus, You were the ultimate example of this. And I want to follow You in it, even when it means suffering. I love You with everything I’ve got. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1 Kings 19-20; Ps 135; James 3-5

Observation

Psalm 135:8 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; 9 who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants;… 13 Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, [5] O Lord, throughout all ages.

You’re reminding me to remember. David was constantly singing and telling about what You had done. You constantly gave reminders that You are the LORD who delivered Your people from Egypt. And I follow suit.

I remember all You did in the Old Testament: You won battles, split seas, fell fortified cities, multiplied oil, spewed water from a rock, made supper from nothing, led by fire and cloud, rained fire from heaven, burned a bush, put a ram in a bush, consumed cities, wrote on walls, flooded the earth, raised the dead, chose people, made covenants, and kept them in spite of the other end of the deal being forgotten.

I remember what You did in the New Testament: You broke silence, impregnated a virgin, conducted angelic choirs, healed the sick, deaf, blind and mute, raised the dead, cast out demons, conquered death, hell and the grave, blinded enemies to open his eyes, tore a veil, provided atonement, and extended Your covenant to everyone.

I’m overcome to think that it is You, the same God whose done all of that and so much more, that has done so much for me. The same hand that stopped the waters of the Jordan River and washed the feet of the disciples also touched me 30 years ago and healed my Leukemia. You provided food in our van when the cupboards were empty and dad didn’t have a job. You healed my sprained or broken ankle at camp. You restored hearing in spite of terrible ear infections, drug allergies, and scar tissue. You spoke to me and called me to ministry. You used a move and loneliness to turn my heart towards music. You brought Teri into my life. You provided jobs and money out of nowhere. You brought us to Tennessee to be in just the right place to add Tatum to our family. You’ve fulfilled the dreams You put in our hearts a long time ago for family and ministry.

Your name endures. Your fame and renown is still going strong. And the stuff You’re up to… it’s not new. It’s the same supernatural stuff that You started the universe with. I’m in awe as I remember it all.

Application/Prayer

Thank You, Father, for Your unbelievable faithfulness. You are unchanging. You are the same God who hung the stars. And You redeemed me. And You’ve been active in my life since I was born. I deserve wrath, but You give mercy. I deserve prosecution under law, but You give grace. I remember.

I love You and thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1 Kings 16-17; Ps 133; Heb 12-13

Observation

I Kings 17:21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s life [3] come into him again.” 22 And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.” 24 And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”

Crazy faith. That’s what Elijah had. Where did he learn that he could pray for this dead boy and God would raise him? And what did that demonstration of God’s power do in the widow’s mind? It confirmed that Elijah was speaking the word of the Lord.

Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity! [4]
2 It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!

Now that is a picture of anointing oil. Not like the quaint American practice of using a drop on the index finger to draw a small cross on someone’s forehead. Nope, it was more of a dump than a dab. It covered the whole head and dripped onto clothes. And that’s unity.

Hebrews 12:26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

I’ve read this chapter tons of times before, but now in the midst of the Kingdom conversation at church, You’re showing me more about Your Kingdom. And You’re teaching me about shaking. Because when things shake violently apart, the only thing that remains is Your Kingdom. It is shake-proof. That makes shaking a lot less scary.

Application/Prayer

Lord, You’re speaking to me about the crazy kind of faith that lays down on a dead boy and prays. Give me that kind of faith. Not from what I’ve seen before, but from who I know You are. Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.

You’re speaking to me about unity and the radical coverage of the oil of Your Spirit. Cover me. Until I’m soaked in it… in You. Make it the lubricant that smooths relationships and facilitates unity.

And Father, thank you for Your unshakable Kingdom. You are redefining shaking in me. I thought it was because of disobedience or doubt or rebellion. And sometimes it is. But even in those situations it is about bringing down other kingdoms so that only Yours remains. I know that even when my world is shaking beyond control, Your throne room sits unaffected. Even when I fear for my life and sanity, Your peace reigns. Lord, let Your unshakable Kingdom come.

I love You with everything I am. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1 Kings 11; Ps 130; Heb 9

Observation

I Kings 11:6 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done

So not even one page after the If/Then promises giving the benefits of staying true to You and the consequences of doing evil… Solomon does evil. And just when I start judging him for it, You show me how I do the same thing.

Heb 9:11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, [6] then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify [7] for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our [8] conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Wow. Jesus, thank You for entering the holy places by means of Your own blood to secure an eternal redemption for me! For so long, I chose to live in a system that resembled the old covenant. It is so freeing to know that You have purified my conscience from dead works in order to serve You – the living God!

Application/Prayer

Father, You are good and You are true. You have spoken If/Then statements and You remain faithful to them throughout the ages. Help me to learn from history. Help me to stay true to You every day. In every moment of decision.

At the same time, I know that You’ve paid my bill by shedding Your blood. I do not take it lightly. Help me to understand the cost and honor it with obedience. You are my high priest. You have brought me into a covenant of life… to serve You, the living God.

I love You with everything I am. In Jesus’ name, amen.