Creative Space for Wanderers
Read: I woke up too early this morning to admit, but once again, I find the presence of God richly blesses the time when I simply stop to read his word and listen to the Holy Spirit. This morning took an unexpected turn from ancient kings to nearly forgotten hymns. I hope you spend time …
Continue reading “Abijah, Asa and Jehoshaphat; Come Thou Fount”
Read: and Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. Three times in Psalm 80 we see this petition: Restore Us, God Almighty. So many times I’ve prayed for God to heal our land, to show his strength and reverse the tide. I want an immediate response in biblical …
Read: Today we quickly wrap up Solomon’s story in Chronicles 8 & 9; a mere 30 verses are used to cover his legacy. Chapter 8 summarizes “Solomon’s Other Activities,” NIV, or as the New Life Version puts it: “Some of the Things Solomon Has Done.” We’re not going to gain a lot of insight into …
Read: and O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble. They have left the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild. They have poured out …
Typical lessons on Sunday use references from the New Testament. One of the benefits I find with studying the Old Testament is simply this: those who lived with Jesus knew these stories well. In many ways, their society was defined by the narratives of the people and places we tend to overlook as we focus …
and The first 9 chapters of 2nd Chronicles are all about Solomon and mostly about building the temple, its furnishings, etc. It’s most interesting that the place where the temple is built shares common heritage with Abraham, Moses and now David and the line of kings to follow, all on Mount Moriah. In this place, …
Read: Today we read the unique account of preparations for building the temple, unique in that these details are only included here in 1 Chronicles, not in 2 Samuel. This is a quick read that includes details and lists of many who were called by name for this great work. Chapter 22 – Preparations for …
Continue reading “Temple Preparations, Peaceful Organization; David’s Death”
Read: Much of this narrative was covered in earlier posts David and Bathsheba and David’s Kingdom Reestablished; The Census from 2 Samuel. However, it’s interesting that the writer of Chronicles, presumably Ezra, chooses not to elaborate on Bathsheba or Absalom (in particular), but David’s Census–not that we need to discuss twice! (see ). Instead, we focus on …
Continue reading “David’s Census; Property Bought From a Jebusite”
and Chapter 16 – Ministering Before the Ark Now that the ark of the covenant has been properly relocated, chapter 16 provides details and duties for the Levitical priests to minister before the Lord. The chapter includes a psalm that is not in 2 Samuel or specifically in the book of Psalms, though it is consistent …
I have to write this to remember the words from a mom writing to her prodigal son. Read this. I’m pretty much a wreck now, thanks KD Sullivan, and thanks Brett Andrews for an incredible sermon that used this letter as part of his illustration for God’s unstoppable, unrelenting reconciliation. Watch this. If God would …