Psalm 81 & 82 - Sing and Shout to the Lord!

LINKS: Psalm 81 & 82  (Read over the next two days)

BACKGROUND

Psalm 81

This song of Asaph is a festive celebration because of the Lord's deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Egypt and is traditionally identified with the Feast of Tabernacles (see Leviticus 23 post for details about this feast) that reminded the Israelites of the wanderings in the wilderness. It refers to the "waters of Meribah" where God tested the Israelites (Exodus 17). God also promised that if they would obey, He would subdue their enemies and give them prosperity. Sadly, we know that did not happen because they eventually turned to foreign gods in the land of Canaan.

Psalm 82

Asaph declared that God judges His human judges, and they are all accountable to Him. He called on God to act in justice. All of them who are without understanding and ignore God's appointment will perish.

In John 10:34, Jesus quoted this Psalm when He was accused of blasphemy, "I said, 'You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High.'" (Psalm 82:6).

REFLECTION (written in 2009)

I had tea with a friend on Friday who was leading worship at her church for the first time! I loved hearing her enthusiasm about how the Lord had made all the songs come together so beautifully. It made me remember the times I was on the worship team at church. I so miss always having a song of praise in my heart because I was practicing them all week. While worship takes many forms, worship in music and song is what Psalm 81 is talking about:

Sing for joy to God our strength;

Shout joyfully to the God of Jacob.

Raise a song, strike the timbrel,

The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.

Blow the trumpet.  

(Psalm 81:1-3a)

May we not forget to "sing for joy" too!

APPLICATION

Shout joyfully and sing for joy! Sing throughout the next couple of days and focus on God's goodness!

PRAYER

Lord, put a song in our hearts today. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Psalm 80 - "Restore Us O God"

LINK: Psalm 80

If you are reading this according to the Bible Book Club schedule: Happy Valentine's Day! It is so appropriate that this post is about renewal and restoration since celebrating this day can often bring renewal to love, and He is your first love! 

BACKGROUND

In this Psalm, Asaph (or one his sons) prays to the Lord, the Shepherd of His people, for revival and restoration of His "vine" (Israel). Many believe it was written by a descendant of Asaph and written around the time of the Assyrian Captivity of Israel, but I went ahead and kept it here during the time of the original Asaph since we are not certain when it was.

It repeats this phrase three times, and it is the gist of the psalmist's prayer:

Restore us, O God; 

make your face shine upon us, 

that we may be saved. 

(80:3,7, 19)

In this psalm, Joseph represents the northern tribes and Benjamin represents the southern tribes. Also, the "walls" referred to in the NIV version are better translated as "hedges" (NASB) and do not refer to the city walls but the walls around the vineyard. 

The figure of Israel may have been prompted by Genesis 49:22 where Joseph is referred to as a "fruitful vine." It is also used in Isaiah 5:1-7; 27:2-6; Jeremiah 2:21; 12:10; and Hosea 10:1.

Scarlet Thread of Redemption:

Jesus spoke of Himself as a Vine (John 15:1, 5) for He, being the promised Seed, represented and fulfilled God’s purposes for Israel. Where she failed, He succeeded.  (The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Volume One, p. 853)

Jesus restores our relationship with God through His death on the cross. May we always have a posture of restoration with our God through repentance and resting in Him.

REFLECTION (written in 2009)

I am writing this post on Friday, January 30, 2008, even though it won't post until February 8th because, after visiting with a friend from Indiana over the weekend, I will be going to the Oregon Coast for a time of restoration!

I read the refrain "Restore us, O LORD God Almighty" and knew that this was the word for my time there! I looked up the meaning of "restore" in Webster's Dictionary. It means "to bring back to or put back into a former or original state: renew." 

I love synonyms! Here are some for the word "restore":

Renew, restore, refresh, renovate, rejuvenate mean to make like new. 

• Renew implies a restoration of what had become faded or disintegrated so that it seems like new. 
• Restore implies a return to an original state after depletion or loss. 
• Refresh implies the supplying of something necessary to restore lost strength, animation, or power. 
• Renovate suggests a renewing by cleansing, repairing, or rebuilding. 
• Rejuvenate suggests the restoration of youthful vigor, powers, or appearance.

I want to do all of the above in my time at the coast!

The Hebrew word in Psalm 80 talks more about repentance. It is the Hiphil form of the verb šûb:

The Bible is rich in idioms describing man’s responsibility in the process of repentance. Such phrases would include the following: “incline your heart unto the Lord your God” (Josh 24:23): “circumcise yourselves to the Lord” (Jer 4:4); “wash your heart from wickedness” (Jer 4:14); “break up your fallow ground” (Hos 10:12) and so forth. All these expressions of man’s penitential activity, however, are subsumed and summarized by this one verb šûb. For better
than any other verb it combines in itself the two requisites of repentance: to turn from evil and to turn to the good.

The Hiphil šûb is used only eleven times when discussing the divine-human relationship. “turn back (Qal imperative) and ‘let yourself be turned (Hiphil) from your idols” (Ezk 14:6).  (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, p. 909)

It will be a time to repent and revitalize my relationship with God, and I am very much looking forward to it. I will be reading Union and Communion or Thoughts on the Song of Solomon by J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905, Founder of the China Inland Mission), just in time for Valentine's Day! We go through the whole book while reading the Song of Solomon in Year One of the Bible Book Club if you missed it! 

By the time you read this, Lord willing, I will be back and already restored, renewed, and refreshed.

2014 Update: Just reread Union and Communion on my day of prayer two weeks ago! LOL!

APPLICATION

Are you in need of restorative time with God? I heartily recommend that you set aside half a day or a whole day to restore, renew, refresh, renovate, and rejuvenate with the Lord! Get it on your calendar and do not let anything get in the way of it. I guarantee that you will be SO glad that you did! It is 100% worth the time and effort to do it.

Here is a guide to help you get started: How to Spend a Day in Prayer.

PRAYER

Lord, restore us to You. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Psalm 77 - A Way to Battle the Blues

LINK: Psalm 77

BACKGROUND

Remember when Job recalled the "good old days" in Job 29? The Psalmist, Asaph, is doing the same thing (77:5). At first, it makes him sad when he remembers how he used to sing in the night, and he wonders why God has rejected him.

Then, Asaph combats his troubled feelings and doubts about God's care by recalling the Exodus when God delivered His people from Egyptian bondage, parted the Red Sea, and provided for them in their sojourn through the wilderness. 

By remembering God's care for His people in the past, Asaph was able to turn his troubled reflections into earnest praise!

APPLICATION

Do you sometimes feel blue like Asaph? Do you feel like God has abandoned you? Why not take a play out of Asaph's playbook and reflect upon God's good dealings with you in the past!? Make a list. Put it out so that you can see it. Next time you doubt His care, take a look at the list and add to it.

PRAYER

Most powerful God, we worship You for Your infinite goodness. Help us to remember Your good dealings with us in the past. Amen.

Psalm 75 & 76 - "Here Come the Judge"

LINKS: Psalm 75 & 76  (Soak in these over the next two days)

BACKGROUND

Psalm 75

God will destroy the wicked and exalt the righteous in the final judgment at His appointed time. I should point out that the "horns" used to describe the wicked in 75:5 are a metaphor from the animal world. They signify a "defying, strutting, self-confidence" (The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Volume 1, p. 849). The psalmist warns us not to have this attitude because God is the Judge. The psalmist's response is to praise God as Judge.

Psalm 76

This song of Asaph is praise for the power of the God of Jacob. God accomplishes His sovereign purposes over everything that stands in His way. He delivers the righteous and displays wrath against the wicked. It is part of a group of "Zion" psalms that include 46, 48, 87, 126, 132, and 137. Asaph concludes by exhorting leaders to pledge themselves to God.

Some versions correctly interpret 76:2 as "Salem" which means "peace" in Hebrew. This is an early reference to Jerusalem, and the only other time it is referred to in this way is in Genesis 14:18 when Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, brought out bread and wine and blessed Abram and God. Salem was the site of God's sanctuary (Ezra 7:19).

APPLICATION

Praise Him as the righteous Judge and God of power today!

Psalm 75 is referenced in this excerpt from Many Aspire, Few Attain:

9. Be faithful in the little things

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much, and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10).

Many aspire, but few attain because they are unfaithful in the little things. Lorne Sanny, former president of the Navigators, has said that. Charlie Riggs was one of the few men he has ever worked with who could be counted on to carry through a request. Lorne could check it off as accomplished without ever going back to see if it was done. That challenges me tremendously, and I hope you also. 

Can people say that about you? When you are given an assignment, when somebody’s asked you to do something, can they mark it off as being completed? No matter how small it is - whether it’s picking up a couple of postage stamps or mailing a letter - when people have asked you to do something, can they count on you to get it done? Are you faithful in that which is least? Jesus said there is no way He is going to give you greater responsibilities until you have proven yourself faithful in the little things.

Promotion, when it comes, doesn't come from others, it comes from God. “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:6,7). 

Make sure you commit yourself to faithfulness in even the smallest areas of responsibility.

PRAYER

We praise You as the Righteous Judge! Help us to commit ourselves wholeheartedly to You in our smallest areas of responsibility. Amen.

Psalm 73 - "Whom Have I In Heaven but You?"

LINK: Psalm 73

BACKGROUND

Psalm 73 is one of the wisdom psalms.

This is the beginning of eleven Psalms written by Asaph (Psalms 73-83). Asaph was a Levite musician and worship leader during David's reign (1 Chronicles 15:17).

In this Psalm, Asaph deals with one of the questions that we encountered while studying Job, specifically Job 21: Why do the righteous suffer while the ungodly prosper? He admits that he was envious of the prosperity of the wicked until he came into the sanctuary of the Lord and saw things from God's perspective and in light of eternity rather than the temporary life that he was living.

REFLECTION

Asaph admitted that he felt like he had cleansed himself in vain because life had gotten harder since he trusted in the Lord. It sounds like Job! He had done nothing wrong, but God allowed Satan to test him. It just does not seem fair that God would allow this while the wicked get away with no punishment.

How did Asaph overcome his doubts? He looked at things from God's eternal perspective! No matter how prosperous one is on this earth, he or she will still need to stand before God in heaven at the end of his or her life. For us today, we know from the New Testament that God will punish the wicked, and they will be away from His presence for eternity. In contrast, He will bless the righteous (we are righteous because Jesus was righteous, and God sees us through Jesus), and they will be in His presence forever.

Asaph knew that regardless of the circumstances of this temporary life and the "seeming" prosperity of the wicked God would... 

• Be with him (73:23) 
• Guide him wisely (73:24) 
• Lead him to glory (73:24) 
• Be his only possession in heaven or on the earth (73:25) 
• Be the strength of his heart and portion forever (73:26)

He concluded that being near to his God was the greatest good of all!

APPLICATION

I love this psalm. My friend Sally wrote a song to it, and I sing it often when all around me fails, and God reminds me that HE is all that I need.

Why don't you pray it back to God and personalize it? Praying Scripture is a wonderful way to get God's perspective on your circumstances.

I read a verse or two, respond to it, and then move on to one or two more verses. This is really powerful to do with others too. 

PRAYER

Lord, teach us to look to You and see things from Your perspective today and not from our circumstances. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

1 Chronicles 15 - Arrival of the Ark with JOY!

LINK: 1 Chronicles 15 (Parallel chapter: 2 Samuel 6)

BACKGROUND

David had the Ark transported properly from Obed-Edom (see 13:14) to a tent in Jerusalem. This includes the musicians, one of whom you will hear quite a bit from as we read Psalms 73-83 in the next eight days. That chief musician is Asaph who sounds the bronze cymbals. David dances as the Ark is brought into Jerusalem!

REFLECTION

The key word I see in this chapter is JOY! The musicians raised sounds of JOY, and they brought the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom with JOY!

APPLICATION

Do everything with JOY today! (Maybe even do a little dance before the Lord?)

2023 Update: 

Is JOY part of your life? Jesus came that we might have it in abundance. You might really benefit from the book Joyful Journey: Listening to Immanuel which gives more of the background of why I think Immanuel Journaling is such a wonderful practice!

PRAYER

Lord, thank You that every day can be a day of JOY when we focus on You. I love how I am seeing the worship throughout Chronicles this time and not the drudgery of chronologies! Thank You for opening my eyes. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

1 Chronicles 13 & 14 - Uzzah and Me

LINKS:
1 Chronicles 13 (Parallel Chapter: 2 Samuel 6)
1 Chronicles 14 (Parallel Chapter: 2 Samuel 5)

BACKGROUND

Always keep in mind that the two books of Chronicles are priestly reflections and interpretations, not those of the palace dwellers. Consequently, the temple and temple worship are the central themes. Since the Ark of the Covenant was central to the temple, it should not be surprising that returning the Ark is listed as David's first order of business as the new king!

1 Chronicles 13

The Ark of the Covenant needed to be brought back from Kiriath Jearim to Jerusalem. The Ark had been separated from the Tabernacle and other places of worship for 100 long years (1104-1003 B.C.)! More recently, it had been captured by the Philistines at Aphek (1 Samuel 4:11). Remember that the Ark of the Covenant bore the name of God and represented the presence of God who dwelt among His people (Exodus 25:22). It was to be handled with great care and reverence (Exodus 25:14; Numbers 4:15, 20). Putting the Ark in an ox cart was not the way God commanded for it to be transported, and Uzza(h) knew that he could not touch the Ark because no one could touch the Ark and live. It seems like a harsh punishment for someone who was just trying to help, but it has to be seen in the light of God's absolute holiness.

David named this spot Perez which means "outbreak against" because of God's wrath. The Ark remained and blessed the house of Obed-Edom for three months until the Lord gave David instruction.

1 Chronicles 14

The Chronicler writes about David's regal reign by explaining details about his palace, family, and victories over the Philistines resulting in all other nations hearing of it and fearing him.

REFLECTION

Poor Uzzah! One little touch and he was out. David had a very good goal of bringing the Ark back to its rightful place; but in his zeal, things were not handled properly. Uzzah was the victim of David's enthusiasm.

After trying "too" hard in a discipling relationship that was going south, I cried out to my good friend and counselor, Tom, about my frustration with things. He looked at me, and in his gentle but firm way, he said, "Carol, sometimes you let your zeal get in the way of the Spirit's leading." It has taken me many years and hard knocks to realize that he was right. Sometimes, my "enthusiasm" gets in God's way.

My "getting ahead of the Spirit" and Uzzah touching that Ark is really not that different: We are both trying to do things OUR way rather than GOD'S way. Yes, we both only want to help out, but God has a way and a plan, and sometimes we get in the way of that.

Thankfully, God does not zap me like Uzzah. He just kindly speaks to me through people like Tom, and I learn to listen to His voice and obey.

It is really that simple, and I think I finally understand that.

APPLICATION

What are you doing that isn't of Him? Take your hand away, and let Him steady the cargo. Don't worry about the fallout. Just listen and obey.

The book, God Guides, is very helpful when learning the simple practice of listening and obeying.

PRAYER

Lord, teach us to listen to You and not try to do things out of our own enthusiastic zeal or even godly ambition but do them because You are directing us. We love You and thank You for being our guide in all things. We can trust You to lead, and we will obey. Amen.

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, 
What a glory He sheds on our way! 
While we do His good will, 
He abides with us still, 
And with all who will trust and obey. 

Refrain 
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way 
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

1 Chronicles 12 - Celebration from All Over Israel

From: http://www.buenanueva.net/

LINK: 1 Chronicles 12

BACKGROUND

The background about Ziklag can be found in the 1 Samuel 27 post. The 23 listed in 12:3-7 are people from Saul's tribe of Benjamin who had defected and joined David. This list is in contrast to the one in 11:26-47 who are tribesmen of Judah. 

The men in 12:8-18 are from the tribe of Gad, Benjamin, and Judah (see map).  They associated themselves because they knew that God was with David (remember there is a priestly emphasis in Chronicles). 

The men in 12:19-22 were from Manasseh and mentions the story in 1 Samuel 29.  

The many soldiers who are mentioned in 12:23-40 were from many different tribes indicating that David had support throughout Israel. This fact was not recorded in the 2 Samuel account. 

The chapter ends with a joyous celebration over the crowning of David as king!

REFLECTION 

"There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, oil, cattle, and sheep, for there was joy in Israel" (12:40).  Sometimes I think followers of God skimp on celebrations! God wants us to celebrate with joy. Even though you may be reading this in February, I am writing this right after the season of great joy: Christmas!  I love all the celebrations associated with this season. I know some of you reading this do not celebrate because it is theorized that it was celebrated to replace the Roman winter solstice or ancient page winter festivals so you do not think we should celebrate, but in my opinion, any time you can celebrate Jesus, it is a GOOD thing. So why not continue to celebrate Him throughout the year?

I had been going down this little thought trail when I read this comment for 12:40 in the Life Application Bible:

The people . . . were so overjoyed with David's coronation that they contributed lavishly to the celebration. It is right and proper to give generously for celebration and joyous worship. God is the author of joy, and he will join us in our celebrations. (p. 686)

AMEN!

In addition to God-loving celebrations, we can "let our light shine" (Matthew 5:16) during these celebration times. We have such fun and natural conversations with our non-believing friends as we draw them into our lighting of the Advent wreath candles and Jesse Tree readings. 

There are opportunities for JOYOUS celebrations throughout the year!  

APPLICATION 

Have a Praise Feast. Invite people to bring on their donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen (not!) and come together to praise our God and King!

Recently, a mom with a newborn came early to one of our movie nights at our house, and we were still reading Scripture and lighting our Advent candles. We invited her in, and she wanted to know all about it. As a result, I showed her this book:



There are many used copies on Amazon for this great book!  

PRAYER

We rejoice and celebrate You as our King! Amen. 

1 Chronicles 11 - David Becomes King at Hebron and His Mighty Men

LINK: 1 Chronicles 11 

You can read previous posts that parallel this chapter and provide more historical background here: 2 Samuel 5 and 2 Samuel 23

BACKGROUND

Continuing with our history review from last year, the chronicler (possibly Ezra) briefly recounts David coming to reign in Hebron as King. The account is more detailed in 2 Samuel because the details of this story would have been well-known during the time Chronicles was written (430 B.C. but recounting events from 100-960 B.C.). Since Chronicles was a priestly recollection and interpretation of the historical events, the account does not bring into play the role of humans in David's coming to power. For instance, it does not narrate Abner's role (2 Samuel 2:8-32) because it would have given too much credit to Saul's family for having a role in David's victory. The focus in the chronicles is solely on God's role in David's kingship. 

REFLECTION/APPLICATION (written in 2008)

This is repeated in the post for 2 Samuel 23:

Follow the Leader

The mighty men of David were really just ordinary men who were motivated to greatness by their leader, David. David was an effective leader when he was connected to his Leader, God!

In high school, most people liked me (except the jealous ones) even though I did not necessarily like myself all that much. By the end of my senior year, my room was filled with flowers from all the awards that I had racked up in the academic, social, and athletic realms. During the "award season" of senior year, the mom of my friend, Julie, said to her, "If there is anyone you should look up to and model your life after, it should be Carol." I was flattered, and this was a temporary fix (like a drug) to the deep craving that I had for love and acceptance.

The morning after this lovely compliment, I got a distressed call from Julie telling me that her mom had fallen asleep at the wheel of her Volkswagen Bug crashed into a pole, and died instantly. Her flower-filled memorial service was set in stark contrast to the flowers in my bedroom, many of which had begun to turn brown with pedals making a mess all over my floor.

Julie's mother's death caused me to ask myself many questions: "So, I win all these awards, but the glory of those awards fade away, just like these flowers. What is life all about anyway if we all eventually die? Why am I here on earth; and if I am someone Julie should look up to and model her life after, who am I looking up to and modeling my life after?"

These verses in James express my position:

But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. (James 1:9-11)

I was like that "rich man" in the pursuit of my own glory because I had achieved everything I had set out to do in high school; but even with all of this, I was really bankrupt in my soul!

Julie's mom's death hit me hard, and my life began to unravel. Sure, I was achieving both academically and athletically in college, but I was very depressed. Yes, I had been a believer in Jesus since I was ten years old, but I did not really know how to follow Him. I needed someone to lead the way.

Then came Cheryl Potter.

Cheryl was a mild-tempered, humble coworker who was not very "rich" in the world's eyes but had EVERYTHING I wanted. We worked alone in the business office of the Fallbrook Hospital on the 3-10 p.m. shift. Things would get crazy and stressful when emergencies would come in, and Cheryl always worked diligently and calmly and with love for everyone. Cheryl followed Jesus, and I wanted to follow Cheryl so I could follow Jesus too. The rest is history.

The last time I talked to Cheryl was in the winter of 2005. She was fighting breast cancer, and all my emails had bounced. I was afraid to pick up the phone because of what I might not hear on the other end. I thought that if she had died, she lived her life for something that really mattered: the glory of God. I do not doubt that she left a legacy of "mighty women" behind her, all because she led by following Jesus. Cheryl was really someone to look up to and model her life after.

So, this post has taken all day because I got brave and located an old number for Cheryl and made the dreaded call wondering if she would be on the other end of the line.

And she was! Still Cheryl and cancer-free for three years! Alive and vacuuming! She had just said goodbye to a woman (and her two dogs) who had lived with her for three weeks while the woman was between homes. She was a brand new believer in Jesus. Cheryl was still leading other "mighty women" toward what is really important in life by pointing them toward Jesus.

May I someday live to fill her shoes.

PRAYER

Lord, we crown You as our King forever. Help us to follow You with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

1 Chronicles 10 - The Death of Saul

LINK: 1 Chronicles 10 

You can read a previous post that parallels this passage here: 1 Samuel 31

BACKGROUND

1 and 2 Chronicles were written to elaborate on the reign of David and show that his dynasty was ordered and directed by God. In 1 Chronicles 10 and 11, the chronicler contrasts the illustrious beginning of David's reign with the tragic ending of Saul's reign (Saul's reign and dynasty was 40 years from 1051-1011 B.C. while David's dynasty lasted 425 years from 1011-586 B.C.).

This narrative is practically identical to 1 Samuel 31 with the exception that the author adds that the Philistines hung Saul's head in the temple of Dagon (1 Chronicles 10:10) but omits that they hung his body on the wall of Beth Shan (1 Samuel 31:10). In addition, the 1 Chronicles account has a theological observation about Saul's death:

So Saul died for his trespass, which he committed against the LORD, because of the word of the LORD which he did not keep (1 Samuel 13:13-14;15:23); and also because he asked counsel of a medium (1 Samuel 28:7), making inquiry of it, and did not inquire of the LORD. Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse. (1 Chronicles 10:13-14)

REFLECTION and APPLICATION

Saul did not obey God's commands and did not finish well. Jesus has some words for those who do obey:

He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. (John 14:21)

I want to have God's commandments and keep them. How about you?

PRAYER

Lord, help us to finish WELL by treasuring Your Word and obeying You. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

1 Chronicles 9 - Genealogies and Gatekeepers

LINK: 1 Chronicles 9

BACKGROUND

Chronicles is to the historical books what John is to the synoptic gospels. Both John and Chronicles are supplemental and yet bring a unique insight and understanding. (The New Inductive Study Bible, p. 656)

This chapter may seem like it does not fit here chronologically. I put it here because the end talks about the descendants of Saul which is part of our "review of history," and I did not want to break up this chapter into smaller pieces like most chronological Bibles do. 

It also gives continuity to what we have been reading the last few days: "all Israel (including Judah) enrolled by genealogies" before the Babylonian deportation (9:1). We will get to the Babylonian deportation later this year, but this chapter gives you an idea of where we are going in Judah's history (2 Chronicles 36).  

This chapter identifies people who settled after their return from the Exile with the very first being the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants. The list is essentially the same as the one in Nehemiah 11:4-9 with a few exceptions which may be accounted for by a difference in spelling of names in the lineage of Judah or by a different selection of ancestors from these men. Also, Nehemiah does not include the line of Zerah which would account for the census figure difference of 690 in 1 Chronicles 9:6 and 468 in Nehemiah 11:6. Also, they both name different number lines of descent in the tribe of Benjamin.

The chapter ends with the genealogy of Saul which is almost exactly like the one in 8:29-40. It is repeated because our next two chapters will narrate the death of Saul and the succession of David (11:1-3). So, we can assume the chronicler wanted to keep Saul's line fresh in our minds.

REFLECTION 

What is a gatekeeper?

I was intrigued by the Levite duty of "gatekeeper." This chapter has more mention of this duty than any other chapter in the whole Bible. Warren Wiersbe comments on the gatekeepers and guards in Nehemiah 7:

Gatekeepers (Neh. 7:1, 3). What good are strong new gates if nobody is guarding them and controlling who enters and leaves the city? What good are walls if the gates are open to every foe who wants to enter the city? I understand that the Great Wall of China was penetrated by the enemy at least four times, and each time the guards were bribed. Gates and walls are only as good as the people who guard them.

The gatekeepers (“porters” in v. 1) were given specific instructions as to when to open and close the gates (v. 3). To open the gates early in the morning would only invite the enemy to come in while the city was asleep and unprepared. To close and lock the gates without the guards on duty might give enemy agents opportunity to slip in unnoticed.

Guards. Nehemiah also had appointed two kinds of guards (“watches” v. 3): Those to patrol the walls at specific stations and those to keep watch near their own houses. Since many of the people had worked on areas of the wall near their homes (3:10, 23, 28–30), Nehemiah now challenged them to guard the areas they had built. With guards at the gates, watchmen on the walls, and a solid “neighborhood watch,” the city was safe from outside attack.

All of this has a message for us today. If God’s people don’t protect what they have accomplished for the Lord, the enemy will come in and take it over. Paul’s admonition must be heeded: “And having done all, to stand” (Eph. 6:13). What a tragedy that schools that once were true to the faith are today denying the faith, and churches that once preached the Gospel now have in their pulpits ministers who preach “another gospel.” Every Christian ministry is one short generation away from destruction, and God’s people must be on guard.

We need guards at the gates, faithful men and women who will not allow false Christians to get in and take over the ministry (2 Cor. 11:13–15). We need watchers on the walls to warn us when the enemy is approaching. Christian parents need to guard their homes lest the enemy gets in and captures their children. It is while God’s servants are asleep and overconfident that the enemy comes in and plants his counterfeits (Matt. 13:25), so we must be awake and alert.

In this day when “pluralism” is interpreted by most people to mean “agree with everybody about everything and don’t make waves,” Christians need to remember that they are different and must test everything by the Word of God. There are many religions, but there is still “no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Anything that changes that message or weakens our motivation to get that message out is of the devil and must be opposed. We need guards at the gates and watchers on the wall, or the enemy will take over. (Be Determined. (Ne 7:1))

APPLICATION

Are you on guard as a gatekeeper of your home? It is so important now with influence coming through the internet! Praying we can all be diligent guards and gatekeepers for ourselves and those we love. 

PRAYER

Lord, help us to be gatekeepers in prayer. Gatekeepers in what we allow into our homes that might not bring You glory and honor. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

1 Chronicles 2-8: A Look Back

LINKS:  1 Chronicles 2-8
(Read over the next three days. Listen to the NIV UK version for a cool English accent!) 

BACKGROUND

More genealogies! Genealogies are tough to read through because of all the difficult names, but they are important. Good thing you have three days to read all of them! I suggest you listen to the names by pressing the little sound icon right above the text on the Bible link. 

(2023 Update: I purchased an Amplified translation audio bible this year and have enjoyed it while I walk.) 

The fun thing about this is that, if you have read with us through the first year of the Bible Book Club, many of these names will sound familiar to you!  How many names do you remember?

Here is a summary to help you in the genealogy:

1 Chronicles 2: Judah - David's Dynasty 
1 Chronicles 3: David to Captivity 
1 Chronicles 4-8: Genealogies of the Tribes 

1. Judah (4:1-23)
2. Simeon (4:24-43)
3. Reuben (5:1-10)
4. Gad (5:11-22)
5. Manasseh (5:23-26)
6. Levi (6:1-81)
7. Issachar (7:1-5)
8. Benjamin (7:6-12)
9. Naphtali (7:13)
10. Manasseh (7:14-19)
11. Ephraim (7:20-29)
12. Asher (7:30-40)
13. Benjamin (8:1-40)

There is no REFLECTION OR APPLICATION for these days because genealogies are tough!

PRAYER

Thank You for our King from the tribe of Judah, Jesus! Amen. 

The Book of Job Can Go Back on the Shelf!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You have completed the Book of Job! 

Job 42 - Job's Repentance and Restoration

LINK: Job 42
  
BACKGROUND

Having shut his mouth long enough to listen, Job "gets it"!  His eyes finally "see" God (42:5) and His sovereign purposes in all of His suffering. He knew God more deeply and understood that He was in control. One of my favorite verses in this whole book is:

   I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; 

But now my eye sees You. 

(Job 42:5)  

Job had a fuller picture of God through his suffering. God wants us to see Him with all of our senses. 

This leads Job to repentance for questioning God's sovereignty and justice (42:6) and the replacement of what he had lost (42:10-17, although lost children can never be replaced just by having new ones). Between Job's repentance and replacement, God had some well-deserved rebuke for Job's friends!

REFLECTION 

The Scarlet Thread of Redemption

While never mentioning His name, Jesus is the answer to many of the issues raised by Job:

• Someone must help us approach God (9:32,33) - 1 Timothy 2:5 
• Is there life after death? (14:14) - John 11:25 
• There is one in heaven working on our behalf (16:19) - Hebrews 9:24 
• There is one who can save us from judgment (19:25) - Hebrews 7:24,25 
• Where do we find God? (23:3-5) - John 14:9 
• What is important in life? (21:7-15) - Matthew 16:26; John 3:16

APPLICATION/PRAYER

Spend time praising God that Jesus is the answer to life's biggest issues by meditating on the verses provided. 

Job 40 & 41 - Job Ready to Shut Up and Listen

LINK: Job 40 & 41 (Listen to the Dramatized NIV version!)

BACKGROUND

Job 40 is the ending of God's first speech begun in Job 38. He ends it just the way he started: with a questioning rebuke and challenge: 

“Now what do you have to say for yourself? 

Are you going to haul me, the Mighty One, 

into court and press charges?”" 

(Job 40:2, The Message) 

Woah!  Job answers:

 "I've talked way too much, way too much. 

I'm ready to shut up and listen." 

(Job 40:5, The Message)  

So, God continues with a second set of questions that, like the first speech, includes a challenge (40:6-7) and a rebuke (40:8-14), and questions about nature (50:15-41:43). This speech does not end with a closing rebuke. Through this, God shows Job that he is a limited human being with many frailties, and Job could not judge the God who created everything or the right to ask why. Again, God drives home the point: He is God and Job is not. 

REFLECTION 

God does allow us to ask, "Why is this happening to me?"  But He would prefer we eventually get to the "What are you trying to teach me through this?"  In our struggles, we often do not give God time to reveal His larger purposes.  We are so quick to complain, and He endures it patiently because He is a loving God, but He desires for us to grow and sometimes to just "Shut up and listen" like Job finally learned to do. 

Recently, my husband and I were privileged to Skype with a person who became a follower of Jesus two years ago in a closed country with many hardships. It is also dangerous to be a follower of Jesus there. He said:

Jesus said He would change my life, and He really did! I go through lots of ups and down. Now I see things so differently. Before when bad things happened, I would say, “Why, why, why did this happen? Why am I not lucky like others. Now, I know God does not throw our suffering away. He molds and remakes it. When painful things happen, I know that God is taking care of me. My life is fantastic. I am full of His joy.

And all this man wants to do is to be salt and light to his people. WOW! 

2023 Update: In 2021, he and many others like him became refugees because of a terrorist takeover. He is in the United States now, and we hope to meet him face-to-face soon.

APPLICATION 

Can you respond like this man? 

Set aside time in prayer right now to just listen to God. Remember this wonderful book that can facilitate that process:

God Guides 

It is a book I think every believer needs to read! 

PRAYER

Lord, allow this man to continue to respond in joy. Make him salt and light among his people. Help us to respond in joy to all of life’s circumstances. Speak Lord, we are listening. Amen. 

Job 38 & 39 - God Speaks Out of the Storm

LINKS: Job 38 & Job 39 (Read over the next two days)

BACKGROUND

God arrived in a storm to bring revelation to Job. Job switches from the plaintiff in this court case to the defendant, and God comes out with a bang! His questioning of the defendant reveals His greatness and man's smallness.

He rebuked Job for speaking words without knowledge (38:2). I love the way The Living Bible paraphrases this: "Why are you using your ignorance to deny My providence?" Job did not know everything about God; but, in pride, did not acknowledge that. Warren Wiersbe says, "Knowledge of our own ignorance is the first step toward true wisdom" (Be Patient). That is so true. The more I grow. The more I realize how much I do not know about God!

In these chapters, the heart of God's questions are: "Do you understand all about the physical (Job 38) and animal (Job 39) worlds? 

The Life Application Bible says:

God used Job's ignorance of the earth's natural order to reveal his ignorance of God's moral order. If Job did not understand the workings of God's physical creation, how could he possibly understand God's mind and character? There is no standard or criterion higher than God himself by which to judge. God himself is the standard. Our only option is to submit to his authority and rest in his care. (p. 888) 

I want to share the diagram of God's justice again because it bears repeating:


REFLECTION 

If I have said it once, I will say it again. This REALLY trips people up in their walks with God. That is why I love this diagram.  We have our own "Law of Fairness" that we think that God should operate under; but for obvious reasons, He does not operate under anyone because He is GOD. He is the standard of justice. All of His ways are just. We may not understand it, as Job did not, but it is what it is. Learning to rest in that is key to growth!

APPLICATION

Please continue to simmer on this concept and talk to God about it. It is crucial to a vital relationship with God. Here is a picture I took once when things were out of control. It is titled, "The Virtue of Humility: Realizing That He is God, and I Am Not":



PRAYER

I am grateful that You are God. I am grateful that You have Your own standard of justice that You created, and I do not need to figure everything out. Lord, I pray that everyone in the Bible Book Club can submit to that truth and live their lives accordingly. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Job 36 & 37 - God is Great

LINK: Job 36 & 37

BACKGROUND

Elihu is concluding his long speech by saying, "Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you there is more to be said on God's behalf" (36:2) with a proclamation of God's justice and power in his purposes for man (36:3-25) and His mighty power in nature (36:26-37:13).

In 36:3-25, Elihu asserts that God is just and mighty, but He is not lacking in mercy. Elihu asserts that suffering leads people to repent of pride and wrong conduct (36:8-12). He agrees with the other three friends: that God always rewards people in this life according to how they live their life. Job has already disagreed with the others, but the others stressed punishment for sinful actions while Elihu stresses the sinful attitude of pride.  The truly godly will respond to suffering with an acceptance of God's dealings with them.  God wanted to take him to a spacious place (36:16) through the path of suffering but he was not to do it through the path of money, accomplishment, or suicide.  Elihu tried to turn Job's attention to the power of God instead of his pain. Job should praise God rather than reprove him.

The key verse in these two chapters is 36:26: "How great is God -- beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out" (NIV). Job is a poetic book. (The other poetic books are Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon) One theme in the poetical literature is that God is incomprehensible. We can never know enough about Him to answer all of life's questions (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Some things will always be a mystery to us. In 36:26-37:24, Elihu uses images from the physical and natural world to show God's creative power, majesty, and might that are incomprehensible (36:26,29;37:5). Even nature is under His control and does His bidding, both for cursing and blessing. God is sovereign over all of man's ways. 

Elihu made a path for God to finally speak to Job.

REFLECTION 

This chapter reminds me again of the Malaysian thunderstorms that I mentioned in Job 26. The whole incomprehensibility of God comes out in there too when Bildad exclaims, "Behold, these are the fringes of His ways; and how faint a word we hear of Him! But His mighty thunder, who can understand" (26:14)? We really cannot totally wrap our minds around how big God really is. We can have a little knowledge of Him, but there is no way we can plumb His depths and really figure Him out. I like that about God. For others, it can be really hard. They want to know all the answers to life's questions and want to know why God does or does not do certain things. I think Job might have been one of those types of people. We will see tomorrow how God responds to all of that. 

Stay Tuned!

PRAYER

God, You know all. Help us to rest in that and respect You for it. Amen. 

Job 34 & 35 - Elihu Speaks of God's Justice and Sovereignty

LINK: Job 34 & 35

BACKGROUND

Elihu talks longer than the other friends combined. Job 34 and 35 contain his second and third speeches.

33 - Job says that

God is silent and does not respond to him (13:33)

Elihu refutes that

God does speak through dreams and pain.

34 - Job says that

God is unjust because He does not relieve his suffering (19:6-7, 27:2)

Elihu refutes that 

God is just.

35 - Job says that.

God is unconcerned because He does not reward him for his innocence (10:7)

Elihu refutes that

God is sovereign. 

REFLECTION

When I was fairly young in the Lord, a very wise and well-respected preacher came to preach at my church and said something profound, "The Bible says that God is just, but it does not say that He is fair." As I have read the book of Job this January, I have often thought about this man's wise words. God is not fair, and there is a big difference between fairness and justice, and we better get this straight in our minds before we can really begin to have an accurate view of God. I think the Book of Job helps us to grapple with this.

Elihu emphasized that God is sovereign, and a sovereign God can be indicted by no law or judged by no court. The king can do no wrong. God was not appointed to His throne, so He can’t be taken from it (Job 34:13). To say that God is unjust is to say that He is not God and therefore has no right to be on the throne. But God controls our very breath and can take our lives away in an instant (vv. 14–15; Acts 17:25, 28). “It is because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not” (Lam. 3:22). (Be patient. An Old Testament study. by Warren Wiersbe (Job 34:1). 

This diagram from the Life Application Bible explains it so well:


(View a larger picture HERE.)

What, then, is the God I worship?... You are the most hidden from us and yet the most present among us, the most beautiful and yet the most strong, ever enduring; and yet we cannot comprehend you. -- St. Augustine

Do you see God as just or fair? Do you see Him as sovereign and good in all your circumstances? As the above says, the correct response is to appeal directly to Him. If you cannot wrap your mind around this, you are not alone. Many people struggle with this. I strongly encourage you to talk to God about this and really listen to what He says. Let Him reveal Himself to you today!

PRAYER

Lord, we praise You that You are a just God. Thank You that You are 100% sovereign and good in everything that comes our way and that we can trust You to be 100% good. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.