1 Kings 9; 2 Chr. 8; Matt. 4; Ps. 135-136

“I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever.” 1 Kings 9:3-5 ESV

Solomon had started out with good intentions. He wanted to lay a foundation for the Lord. He became known as one of the great builders in Israel’s history. He also rebuilt cities. And his wisdom and power brought honor to the Israelites and to God. But, he got carried away by the world. His heart turned away from the Lord towards false gods. How many times do I begin with good intentions as well?

“Thus was accomplishment all the work of Solomon from the day the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was completed.” 2 Chronicles 8:16 ESV

What am I building that will last for eternity?

“Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his steadfast love endures forever…to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalms 136:1&4 ESV

Steadfast = Fixed on a direction, Firm on purpose.

Dear Father, help me to hold steadfast to your word so that I won’t be persuaded by things of this world. Thank you for your unwavering presence in my life. That you are always with me no matter what the future holds. Amen.

“It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 ESV

Amy(amyctanner)

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1 Kings 7-8; 2 Chronicles 4-5; Matthew 2

At first glance, I see the offerings brought to the Lord. In the Old Testament, the furnishings for the temple. The silver, the gold. And in the New Testament, the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

At a second and slower look, I see Huram. (I remember getting sculpting clay in my hands for the first time in elementary school, and I tried to fashion a dog from it. My mom kept it displayed in a curio cabinet. These items fashioned by Huram, however, were on display for the Lord and all who came to see it.)

King Solomon then asked for a man named Huram to come from Tyre. ¹⁴ He was half Israelite, since his mother was a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father had been a craftsman in bronze from Tyre. Huram was extremely skillful and talented in any work in bronze, and he came to do all the metal work for King Solomon.

1 Kings 7:13-14, NLT

Huram’s father had been a craftsman. Huram was extremely skillful and talented in any work in bronze. Before King Solomon requested him to do the work, Huram had been doing the work–honing his craft and developing his skill. The reading goes into detail of some of the items Huram made:

Huram cast two bronze pillars, each 27 feet tall and 18 feet in circumference. ¹⁶ For the tops of the pillars he cast bronze capitals, each 7 1⁄2 feet tall. ¹⁷ Each capital was decorated with seven sets of latticework and interwoven chains. ¹⁸ He also encircled the latticework with two rows of pomegranates to decorate the capitals over the pillars. ¹⁹ The capitals on the columns inside the entry room were shaped like water lilies, and they were six feet tall. ²⁰ The capitals on the two pillars had 200 pomegranates in two rows around them, beside the rounded surface next to the latticework. ²¹ Huram set the pillars at the entrance of the Temple, one toward the south and one toward the north. He named the one on the south Jakin, and the one on the north Boaz. ²² The capitals on the pillars were shaped like water lilies. And so the work on the pillars was finished.

²³ Then Huram cast a great round basin, 15 feet across from rim to rim, called the Sea. It was 7 1⁄2 feet deep and about 45 feet in circumference. ²⁴ It was encircled just below its rim by two rows of decorative gourds. There were about six gourds per foot all the way around, and they were cast as part of the basin.

²⁵ The Sea was placed on a base of twelve bronze oxen, all facing outward. Three faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east, and the Sea rested on them. ²⁶ The walls of the Sea were about three inches thick, and its rim flared out like a cup and resembled a water lily blossom. It could hold about 11,000 gallons of water. 1 Kings 7:15-26, NLT

1 Kings 7:15-26, NLT

The design, the skill, the materials, the scope, the time–all his life’s experience led him to this very special occasion of honoring God. Likewise, when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant is brought to the temple, a great celebration takes place.

¹¹ Then the priests left the Holy Place. All the priests who were present had purified themselves, whether or not they were on duty that day. ¹² And the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and all their sons and brothers—were dressed in fine linen robes and stood at the east side of the altar playing cymbals, lyres, and harps. They were joined by 120 priests who were playing trumpets. ¹³ The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words:

“He is good!
    His faithful love endures forever!”

At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. ¹⁴ The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.

2 Chronicles 5:11-14, NLT

I notice the musicians, the Levites accompanied by 120 priests playing trumpets.

And in the New Testament, some wise men from eastern lands take a long trek by faith to find Jesus.

⁷ Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. ⁸ Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

⁹ After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! ¹¹ They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:7-11, NLT

(The star may have appeared as long as two years earlier because Herod orders boys aged two and under to be killed.) Likely, the wise men’s trek was a commitment of significant time and provisions–and faith.

I get to read of the culmination–Huram’s artistry, the Levites’ and priests’ song, the wise men’s journey and gifts. But today, I consider the time and preparation–discipline, endurance, perseverance, sacrifice. I see just the iceberg’s tip, but I consider the unseen base of time and dedication that brought them all to that moment.

Father God, may I see the training and time part of the work to honor you. Then it is all for you–not just one defining moment–it’s all of it. A lifetime.

Courtney (66books365)

1 Kings 2; 1 Chronicles 29; 2 Corinthians 11; Psalm 95

Last Monday I completed my last day of teaching Life Skills to a high school class. For a spring semester, for an hour and a half on Mondays, we focused on honoring God through stewardship of time, talent, treasure, heart (faith), and health. In that time constraint, it was a crash course, and like a lot of parents feel in the high school years, I also felt a pressure to tell these students as much as I could to prepare them for a next chapter in life. But this mostly: have a Bible, read it, put God’s Word in their hearts.

A friend had shared a quote with me by St. Jerome, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”

Reading David’s words to Solomon today, I hear his heart’s desire for his son:

As the time of King David’s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon:

² “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. ³ Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. ⁴ If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’

1 Kings 2:1-4, NLT, emphasis mine

What better advice can a parent offer a child? To follow the Lord. To honor him.

“O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever! ¹¹ Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. ¹² Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.

1 Chronicles 29:10-12, NLT

Lord, I don’t want to be ignorant of you. I need your Word and your holy Spirit every day.

² For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. ³ But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. ⁴ You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.

2 Corinthians 11:2-4, NLT

I am so grateful for your words in my hands and in my heart.

¹ Come, let us sing to the Lord!
    Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
² Let us come to him with thanksgiving.
    Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
³ For the Lord is a great God,
    a great King above all gods.
⁴ He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
    and the mightiest mountains.
⁵ The sea belongs to him, for he made it.
    His hands formed the dry land, too.

⁶ Come, let us worship and bow down.
    Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
⁷     for he is our God.
We are the people he watches over,
    the flock under his care.

If only you would listen to his voice today!

Psalm 95:1-7, NLT

One year, I signed up for a bird watching hike with my youngest daughter, and our group made our way to a pavilion in the woods, binoculars in hand. We sat there, and I impatiently wondered what the hold up was. Were we waiting for someone? Then the guide instructed us to use our senses, to hear the birds’ song and follow the sound to sight the birds. Song? I only heard the running stream of stressful thoughts and concerns in my head. When I turned down my own voice, I was washed over with birdsong. If I couldn’t hear the birds singing, how would I hear the Lord? I learned to quiet myself and sit at his feet, to listen to his voice. He is near.

Courtney (66books365)

2 Samuel 24; 1 Chr. 21; 2 Cor. 8; Ps. 30

“That day God came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” So David went up to do what the Lord had commanded him. David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the Lord answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.” 2 Sam 24:18-25 NLT

God knew David’s heart. He rewarded his obedience and answered his prayer.

“Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the people of Israel and bring me a report so I know how many there are.” God was very displeased with the census, and he punished Israel for it. Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt for doing this foolish thing.” 1 Chron. 21:1-8 NLT

David forgot that his strength came from God. He became prideful. He put his faith in the numbers of his army rather than in God’s ability to protect them. God even sent Joab to warn him and David didn’t listen. But, David repented and asked God for forgiveness. What are my motives? What am I putting my security in? A number or God’s protection and provision?

“Since you excel in so many ways-I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.” 2 Cor. 8:7-9 NLT

Am I holding on tightly or living with open hands? Sometimes I can be like David & forget that it all comes from God.

“I will extol you, Lord, for you rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave, O Lord, You kept me from falling into the pit of death.” Psalms 30:1-3 NLT

Dear Father, Thank you for rescuing me. And for the many prayers that you have answered. Thank you for your mercy & grace. I praise you for who you are. Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

2 Samuel 18-20; 2 Corinthians 6; Psalm 56

Fractured–the first word that came to mind as I considered the reading in 2 Samuel today.

⁹ During the battle, Absalom happened to come upon some of David’s men. He tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree. His mule kept going and left him dangling in the air. ¹⁰ One of David’s men saw what had happened and told Joab, “I saw Absalom dangling from a great tree.”

¹¹ “What?” Joab demanded. “You saw him there and didn’t kill him? I would have rewarded you with ten pieces of silver and a hero’s belt!”

¹² “I would not kill the king’s son for even a thousand pieces of silver,” the man replied to Joab. “We all heard the king say to you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake, please spare young Absalom.’ ¹³ And if I had betrayed the king by killing his son—and the king would certainly find out who did it—you yourself would be the first to abandon me.”

¹⁴ “Enough of this nonsense,” Joab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalom’s heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree. ¹⁵ Ten of Joab’s young armor bearers then surrounded Absalom and killed him.

¹⁶ Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and his men returned from chasing the army of Israel. ¹⁷ They threw Absalom’s body into a deep pit in the forest and piled a great heap of stones over it. And all Israel fled to their homes.

2 Samuel 18:9-17, NLT, emphasis added

David’s son, who had turned against him, is now dead. A soldier honors David’s request, while knowing his own commander would sell him out otherwise. Joab takes matters into his own hands, literally, disobeying David’s request. David wrestles with grief, torn between being a father and a king. People still struggle with where their loyalty lies. Everything, fractured.

Paul tells of hardship and sacrifice and urges believers: stop the fracturing.

We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. ⁴ In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. ⁵ We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. ⁶ We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. ⁷ We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. ⁸ We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. ⁹ We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. ¹⁰ Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

¹¹ Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. ¹² There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. ¹³ I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!

¹⁴ Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? ¹⁵ What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:

“I will live in them
    and walk among them.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.
¹⁷ Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
    and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
    and I will welcome you.
¹⁸ And I will be your Father,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,
    says the Lord Almighty.”

2 Corinthians 6:3-18, NLT, emphasis added

I am most moved by the Lord’s love, faithfulness, promises, and compassion. He calls me daughter. He holds together what the world would tear apart.

You keep track of all my sorrows.
    You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
    You have recorded each one in your book.

⁹ My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.
    This I know: God is on my side!
¹⁰ I praise God for what he has promised;
    yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised.
¹¹ I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
    What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 56:8-11, NLT, emphasis added

Father God, you have collected all my tears too. You have kept track of all my sorrows and recorded them in your book. You want me to live set apart, to call me daughter. You are on my side. You are so very faithful and loving. I willingly draw near to you.

Courtney (66books365)