December 6 -- "A House For God's Name"

 Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 7

"A House For God's Name"

David loved the Lord so much that he wanted to build Him a house. It seemed inequitable to David that he should be living in a large and lovely palace while the worship of God still took place in a tattered old tent. A noble desire for sure. But the Lord had other plans. David would not build God’s house, but the Lord says He will raise up one of David’s descendants to build a house for His name.

This prophetic statement from the Lord has a dual-fulfillment. It speaks first of the physical construction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem – a prophecy that would be later fulfilled literally by “David’s descendant” - his son Solomon. But the building of the physical temple was not of immediate importance to the Lord. God was more concerned that David’s house be firmly established - referring not to his palace but to his dynasty. David would have a line of royal descendants who would rule for generation after generation in Israel. One of these (Solomon) would build God’s earthly house. And One, who would come later, would build God’s eternal house.

This prophecy goes much deeper than just the physical Temple. It has a future spiritual fulfillment. It speaks of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, whose kingdom would be established forever. The Lord had chosen the dynasty of David as the means of bringing the Messiah, the Savior into the world.

The word “forever,” shows very distinctly that this prophecy looks beyond the succession of the kings of the house of David, and embraces the throne of Christ. Years later, when an angel spoke to Mary (Luke 1:31-33), he told her that she would give birth to a Son who she was to name "Jesus."  “He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” By these words, the angel declared that Jesus is the ultimate spiritual fulfillment of the Lord’s prophetic statement to David.

Jesus would not use wood and stone to build His Father’s house. The “building blocks” of the permanent temple are the souls and spirits of people. People who would come to a saving faith in Jesus and who would be placed within God’s eternal family by the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 3:16, Paul asked, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” He goes on in verse 17 to say “For God’s temple is holy, and YOU are that temple.” The Apostle Peter said the same thing, “You yourselves are being built like living stones into a spiritual temple.” (1 Peter 2:5)

What an amazing thought – that we are the building blocks of God’s Holy Temple. Think about that! Each of us has been ingeniously placed within the Body of Christ where we make up the holy “house” of Yahweh. We are the “dwelling place” where God’s presence resides for all of eternity. 

December 5 -- "Waiting All Day Long"

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 25 & 132

"Waiting All Day Long"

When we think of “waiting” we often think of passivity or inaction. We wrongly imagine waiting as boredom, sitting idly. Or, we think of it as something unpleasant like waiting in line at the DMV or waiting in traffic on the freeway. But that is not the Bible’s meaning of waiting. Biblical waiting is not passive or boring. Biblical waiting is active and exhilarating.

Knowing God’s truth and understanding His paths were so vital to the Psalmist’s survival and spiritual vitality that he was willing to wait all the day long to receive from the Lord.  How long do you persevere in prayer? Are your prayers so fervent and vital that you’re willing to commit your time to them? Too often we miss out on the benefit of our earnest prayers, because we do not persevere in them. 

One thing we must understand is that “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” (Lamentations 3:25) The Lord longs to be gracious to you and to lead you into His truth and guide you in His ways. This is His will for your life. But, in order to receive the full blessing of His graciousness, you must be willing to spend time waiting upon Him.

Biblical waiting involves acknowledging the Lord’s sovereign control of all things and that nothing we are experiencing is outside of His love and care. It involves recognizing our complete dependence upon Him and that only through Him will we experience an infusion of power and strength.  Waiting also involves a degree of silence. We need to pause and simply relax in His presence. “It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:26) Let Him speak. Let Him move. Let Him guide.

Biblical waiting also involves surrender of our needless worry and fear. It is a time of turning our eyes off of the issues that trouble us and turning our eyes completely upon the God who loves us. Lay your burdens down. Waiting is actively bringing your burdens to the foot of the cross and laying them down, allowing your loving Father to take them from you.

Take time today to express your dependence by waiting patiently, avoiding worry, living obediently. Seek Him in prayer, expecting Him to save as you long for Christ’s final return.  Even if it takes all day long.

December 4 -- "Beat a Path to His Presence"

  Today’s Reading: Psalm 105

"Beat a Path to His Presence"

The Hebrew root word for "seek" in this verse means “to beat a path to; to tread or trample with the feet.” The expression "beating a path" originates from the literal act of walking through a field of vegetation or undergrowth to create a visible trail. In a physical sense, people would repeatedly "beat" or trample down grass, shrubs, or other obstacles, gradually forming a well-worn path.

Here, the Psalmist urges us to beat such a path to the LORD and His presence. As followers of Christ, we should form a well-worn path to the Lord. This is an oft-repeated exhortation in Scripture:

• “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6).
• “The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing” (Psalm 34:10).
• “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land” (Zephanaiah 2:3).
• “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him” (Lamentations 3:25).
• “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).
• “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
• “Seek, and you will find” (Matthew 7:7).
• “Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Beating a path to the Lord is not easy and is not something that happens by itself. We must make a focused and determined effort if we are going to enter His holy presence. We must beat a path to His door by repeated approaches. In reality, this is not something that comes "naturally" to us. In fact, the Bible tells us (referring to unregenerate man) that there is “no one who seeks after God” (Romans 3:11). Our natural person doesn’t genuinely seek after God, nor do we have the power to do so. But for the follower of Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us the strength and ability to continually pursue the presence of God.

Does your path to the Lord and His presence look like a beaten path that has been trampled down by repeated visits? Or, are there weeds, and bushes, and thorns growing up because the path doesn’t get used very often? Take a moment right now to “seek the Lord and His strength” then make it your daily pursuit to “seek His presence continually” by the power of the Holy Spirit. Make your path to His presence well-worn!

December 3 -- "Praise From All The Earth"

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 96, 100, & 101

"Praise From All The Earth"

The key idea in Psalm 100 is that praising the Lord does not pertain to one nation only. Praising God should not be confined to only the Hebrew people. There are proper grounds of praise for “all the earth.” David exhorts everyone, everywhere, in all lands, in all nations, of all languages and ethnicities to unite together in making a joyful noise unto the Lord. The basis of this unified praise is that all of humanity has one Creator – He is God and it is He who made us all. Because there is one God and Father of all, the human race can unite as one great family on earth and make a joyful noise together.

Know that the LORD is God. The word “know” in this verse comes from a Hebrew root word which means, “to acknowledge the truth.” It is vital that our hearts are firmly established in the truth that Yahweh is our Creator. There is no other god. There is no other creator. There is no other means by which our world came into existence than by the creative work of God. "The earth is the Lord's, the fullness thereof; and all they that dwell therein" (Psalms 24:1).  It is He who made us, therefore we must look to Him as the Benefactor and Giver of all life. Make a joyful noise to Him!

We are His. Oh, what joy it brings to know that our Maker claims us as His own. In spite of humanity’s rebellion against Him and our persistent denial of His laws and His ways, He has never – and will never – deny those who come to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. We belong to Him. He made us and gave us a fabulous living environment because He loves us. Then, because He loved us so much, He sent His Only Begotten Son to die for us and redeem us from the hands of Satan who tried to take us out of His hands. But we are Yahweh’s people. He made us, He bought us, He held on to us, we are His. Make a joyful noise to Him!

We are the sheep of His pasture. We have been blessed to be under the care of the Good Shepherd. As His sheep, we’re breathing God's air. We’re drinking God's water. We’re eating God's food. We’re burning God's oil. We’re heating our homes with God's gas. We’re eating God's cattle, God's fish, God’s grain and God’s produce. "The earth is the Lord's." We are actually just grazing in His field. Everything that we have, everything that we see, everything that we're surrounded with belongs to our good God. As His sheep, our lives have purpose, provision, protection, and direction. Make a joyful noise to Him!

The only reasonable conclusions we can draw from God’s amazing Lordship over our world and over our lives is that all the people of the earth should: “Serve Him with gladness” (V2); “Come into His presence with singing!” (V2); “Enter His gates with thanksgiving” (V4); “Give thanks to Him” (V4); and “Bless His name!” (V4).

December 2 -- "Yahweh My Shepherd"

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 23 & 24

"Yahweh My Shepherd"

For thousands of years, authors have tried to outdo one another in describing the popularity, beauty, and delight of this little Psalm. It is described as perhaps the most popular chapter of all the Psalms. There is little I can do to add to their eloquent words in describing the depth of the riches of this Psalm.

Psalm 23 describes our relationship with God from a sheep’s point of view. David, of course had grown up as a shepherd on the hills of Bethlehem. He knew what it meant to be a shepherd. And as he has grown into a deeper and deeper relationship with Yahweh, he has also come to know what it means to be a sheep in God’s flock. David declares here with great confidence that, since the Lord is his Shepherd, his life has purpose, provision, protection, and direction.

Since the LORD is my shepherd, my life has purpose. Human beings are not just the products of “the fortunate occurrence of accidental circumstances” with no purpose or meaning to our existence. Our lives have the deep and meaningful purpose found in our relationship with our Creator – the Good Shepherd. We were created to find our purpose in Christ, and by following Him, our deep craving for meaning is satisfied.  No matter what you do in life, what career you pursue, or what you are working towards, your purpose is to grow and mature in Him.

Since the LORD is my shepherd, my life has provision. He promises that we will “not want.” The word “want” means to lack or have scarcity. The priority of any true shepherd is to make sure that the flock is well fed and watered. Our Shepherd assures us that “those who seek the LORD lack no good thing” in this world (Psalm 34:10). This doesn’t mean that our every want and desire will be satisfied, but that God knows our needs and promises that He shall “supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Since the LORD is my shepherd, my life has protection. Sheep under the care of a good shepherd have no fear of predators. They can “lie down in green pastures” and drink from the “still waters” because they have come to know that their shepherd is watching over them.  Sheep without a shepherd have no defense against predators. Their only hope of survival is to huddle with other sheep and hope for the best. Not so those with a shepherd. He diligently watches over them and wards off enemies with his rod and staff.

Since the LORD is my shepherd, my life has direction. We are moving through this world with a “destination” in mind.  Our Good Shepherd leads us beside the still waters – where we can drink the refreshment of the Holy Spirit. He also leads us in paths of righteousness so our lives are pleasing to Him. And ultimately, He will lead us to the “marriage supper of the Lamb” where He has prepared a table for us in the presence of our enemies.

Every heart craves security and purpose, protection and direction, and these desires are fulfilled for those who can truthfully say, “The Lord is my Shepherd.”

December 1 -- "Excruciating Suffering"

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 22

"Excruciating Suffering"

Psalm 22 is one of the Messianic Psalms, so called because they speak of the coming Messiah. The Messianic Psalms include Psalms 2, 22, 69, 72, 100, and 110. There is a sense in which all Psalms are Messianic as they were all inspired by the Holy Spirit and tell of God’s glory and kingdom. Psalm 22 is the most graphic of the Messianic Psalms, describing the future crucifixion of the coming Savior.

It is important to note that Psalm 22 was written nearly a thousand years before crucifixion was devised as a means of capital punishment by the Phoenicians and later adopted by the Romans. Yet it inexplicably gives an accurate account of the brutality of someone being crucified, describing such things as every joint in the body being pulled apart, severe dehydration like dry bones, and the tongue turning black and swollen.

Crucifixion is considered one of the cruelest and most painful means of capital punishment ever devised. As Jesus hung on the cross for the sins of humanity, His words and thoughts are depicted here in great detail. Under great affliction and distress, Jesus cried out “My God, why have you forsaken Me?” This tells us that in the moment of His great sacrifice, even His Father turned away from Him. Although He is suffering immensely and is puzzled that His Father seems to be absent, He continues to trust in God

The Savior’s physical sufferings are beyond description. His enemies seem to Him like wild animals that have surrounded their helpless victim. They are like a pack of vicious dogs that stare and gloat over Him with a fierceness that tells him they are getting ready for the kill. Already they are biting at His hands and feet and tearing His clothes from him. In desperation he cries to God, for only God can save him now, “But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!” (V19)

The horrifying scene depicted in Psalm 22 describes the darkest moment in the history of the world. It shows us the culmination of human sin and depravity as they crucify (as a criminal) the only Person who ever lived without sin and who committed no crime.

Although this is the darkest moment in human history, it turns out to be the brightest moment for humanity. Because in this moment, the Savior willing sacrificed Himself and went through this excruciating pain because of His love for us! His death on the cross secured salvation for mankind and made it possible for all of us to have our sins pardoned. Because of this moment in time, you and I can be declared righteous in God’s sight and ne given the gift of eternal life. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus! What a Savior!

November 30 -- "Finding Delight in God's Counsel"

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 1, 2, & 15

"Finding Delight in God's Counsel"

What sorts of things bring you DELIGHT? For some, they are delighted when they get to spend quality time with a crush or a mate. For others, it is a delicious meal at their favorite restaurant. Still others find delight in the victory of their favorite sports team or their candidate for political office. Some find delight in personal achievements such as graduations, weight loss, or a promotion at work. Sadly, many find their pleasure in the ways of sin, following the ways of the world and the counsel of the wicked.

David declares here that he finds his greatest enjoyment, pleasure, and gladness in the law of the Lord. He was a man who loved God’s word and delighted whenever he could simply enjoy basking in the truth of the Holy Scriptures. In Psalm 1, he draws a contrast between the person who finds his or her counsel in God’s word and finds great joy therein versus the person who walks in the counsel of the ungodly, stands with sinners, and sits with scoffers. And what a contrast it is!

For those who forego the pleasures of God’s truth and choose instead to find their gratification in worldly pursuits, the future is bleak.  They are like “the chaff which the wind drives away.” This analogy of the wheat chaff carries the idea of being here-today-and-gone-tomorrow. They have no staying power and will one day be blown away by the judgment of God. Those who choose sin over holiness and self-gratification over Divine blessing will not stand on the day of judgment.

BUT! Those of us who find delight and pleasure and enjoyment in the word of the Lord are destined for an eternity of blessing. Unlike the chaff which is blown away, the delighters in God’s truth are strong and fruitful. They are like trees planted by the rivers of water bearing fresh fruit every month, never dropping a leaf, always in blossom. Choosing to follow Jesus and to be doers of His word is by far the greatest choice any person can make.

Do the Scriptures delight you? Do you find your greatest enjoyment, pleasure, and gladness in those moments spent with God finding counsel in His word? If so, your life will be strong and fruitful for His eternal kingdom. “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12)