Sun.’s Devo - The Shift

Read: 1 Chronicles 9:1-10:14; Acts 27:21-44; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 18:23-24 Every Israelite was recorded in “The Book of the Kings of Israel”. The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon because they had abandoned the Lord. The first exiles returned when Cyrus became king of Persia and God put it upon his heart to build a temple to the Lord. He asked for volunteers among the exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple and live there (Ezra 1). People from the tribe of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi volunteered to return. From the Levites, people from the clan of Merari and Kohath returned but I didn’t see any from the clan of Gershom. There were many gatekeepers and musicians. Then we are given a detailed list of Saul’s genealogy and the last day of Saul’s life. His dynasty was ended. Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. The kingdom was given to David. This switch to David’s dynasty was repeated over and over throughout history. We are at that “switch” right now. Saul’s kingdom is coming down and David’s is rising but it always comes through much hardship and struggle. The transition is a slow turning of the Titanic. It all began to be apparent when Roe vs. Wade came down. Now, I think we will see things accellerate. The doors of change have been opened. Revival is coming! In Acts, things had shifted also. The commander hadn’t listened to Paul in the past but now that everything happened just as he said it would, he was listening. Paul told the men to take courage because none of the people would lose their lives. An angel had appeared to Paul and told him that he would stand trial before Caesar and everyone sailing with him would be safe. They would be shipwrecked on an island. The storm continued and they were quickly coming to shore - too quickly. The commander was afraid they would be thrown on the rocks and die so he put men in a life boat. Paul told him that if they left in the life boat, they would all die. They needed to stay in the boat to live. They cut the life boat free and stayed in the boat. They hadn’t eaten for two weeks so Paul suggested they all eat and they had a time of prayer and eating of bread. Then they threw the remaining wheat overboard. The next morning they saw the shore of the island. They ran the boat aground off the shore. The officers wanted to kill the prisoners so they wouldn’t swim ashore and escape, but the captain of the ship forbade them in order to save Paul’s life. They all swam safely to shore. God used Paul to physically save all the men on his boat and I wonder how many of them went on to live eternally because of their encounter with Paul. I wonder how many people we meet during our lives will obtain eternal salvation because of their encounter with us. Lord, may we be an example of You and Your great glory. Thank you for the great shift we are sensing in our nation. May we not lose heart and be afraid, but may we boldly proclaim your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.