Bible In 90 Days – Day 32

Reading: 2 Chronicles 7:11 – 2 Chronicles 23:15

Take Away(s):

• Conditional. 7:14. This is the well-known and oft quoted passage about countries humbling themselves before the Lord (in the US, it is a call to the values that our founders had). When taken in the context of the whole passage, it deals specifically with God choosing to dwell in the tabernacle that Solomon had built for Him and providing the conditions by which He (God) would remove the punishments deserved by His people for turning their back on Him.  [EDITORIAL: Like many passages, we must be careful about saying “this directly applies to me/us/them” when read in the specific and contextual sense of the passage.  That said, this passage (like so many of them in the Old and New Testaments) shows us God’s character and life lessons that can be gleaned by the actions or inaction of people in the Bible.] Specifically here, I pray that our nation, our culture, our churches,…me(!) will “get” the complete equation of this verse.  For those of you who are Excel geeks, just had to do this: =IF(Israel=”Humility+prayer+seek_God+repentance”, Hear_forgive_heal, 0). HA!
• Proper Reliance. 16:7-9. In my bible, I have a note scribbled at these verses: “relying on self vs. God.” Here, Asa relies on himself rather than God (who he had previously).  How easy it is to strike out on our own – even when we know that past successes were only possible through God’s providence.  Verse 9 is pretty convicting too: notice that it doesn’t say “…to strengthen those whose outward actions or lofty intentions are fully committed to him.”  God looks at my heart!
• Family Worship. 20:13. I love the specificity of this verse in describing who was before the Lord: “All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.” It wasn’t just about the king petitioning and worshiping God. It wasn’t just about the men. It was their entire family.

Bible In 90 Days – Day 31

Reading: 1 Chronicles 24:1 – 2 Chronicles 7:10

Take Away(s):

• Friendship & Counsel. 27:32-33. In reading these two verses, it’s cool to see the distinct roles and types of people that David had close to him: counselors and friend.  I did a quick check on the Hebrew lexicon and the word for friend in verse 33 is one that means close, intimate, companion, or fellow (different from the word that means “friend of the king (technical sense), which is also used to describe Hushai in 2 Samuel).  I take this to mean that David had a relationship with Hushai that allowed Hushai to respectfully, yet openly speak to David.  We see in 2 Samuel 15-17 that he was a good friend – as opposed to David’s counselor Ahithophel (who dropped a dime on David!)  I wonder if the change in words for friend came after Hushai stood by David when Ahithophel sold David out to Absolom.  Words and their nuances are powerful!
• How to Please God. 29:17 “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.” Not much to say on this one…pretty clear on how to please God.
• Excellence maters. 2 Chronicles 4. When you read about the elaborate and ornate design of the Temple furnishings, it seems excessive.  But think about it – this is the house where the Creator of the universe, the almighty God, the One who had done so many amazing things was to live.  How could it not be excellent and ornate.  A friend from Twitter is attending the Hillsong conference this week and, in his recap of the first night, made a statement about the worship portion – the lights, lasers, etc.  He said that many may see it as excessive – even “spectacle”; but, “God deserves spectacle.” How true.  Certainly we must balance that with appropriateness and wisdom, but GOD deserves “spectacle!” Our worship (read: everything we do) of God should MUST be excellent!

Another catch up post.  I find myself putting aside the blogging in lieu of staying on top of the Bible in 90 Days reading schedule – which is definitely more important than blogging!  Anyway…here are BIND day 25 through 30 takeaways!

Bible In 90 Days – Day 25

Reading: 1 Kings 7:38 – 1 Kings 16:20

Take Away(s):

• God came close. 8:27.  The cool part about this verse is the knowledge that God later came to earth in a completely approachable state when Jesus  lives on earth.  I guess we should still ask the question that Solomon asked – even with the full knowledge of the answer!  At times when I am reading these passages, it profoundly gets me to think that the God who dwelt in the tabernacle and temple…lived inside my heart!  HIM: Amazing! me: unworthy and grateful.
• He knows us, intimately. 8:39.  How convicting to realize that the awesome God who created the universe and who came close (see above)…knows me.  Lives in my heart…even though He knows my heart condition.  He forgives me and loves me – again, AMAZING!
• Nooooo!. 12:28. I know this is Monday Morning Quarterbacking (for that mater, reading the bible and learning from people’s examples is a constant exercise in that action), A GOLDEN CALF?  Hello, Jeroboam?  Remember Moses?

Continue Reading…