Sunday, July 21, 2019
Sun.’s Devo - Completing the Temple
Read: 2 Chronicles 4:1-6:11; Romans 7:1-13; Psalm 17:1-15; Provers 19:22-23
Everything in the temple was to represent heavenly perfection. The furniture in the tent of meeting represented God’s glory on earth, but the temple represented God’s glory in heaven. So everything was magnificent and larger than life. The bronze altar which had been 7 1/2’ x 7 1/2’was now 35’ x 35’. The first one was 4’ tall where the new one was 17’ tall. The sea,now big enough for the priests to bathe in, had been the basin in the tabernacle which had only been large enough to wash their hands and feet. It had to be small enough to carry through the wilderness, but in the temple it was 17 1/2 feet wide and supported on the backs of 12 bronze oxen. Ten smaller basins were made to go on either side of the temple.
The Temple was lit by 10 menorahs instead of the one. The altar of incense, table of shewbread and all the utensils were made by Hunam. All the doors were overplayed with gold. The Temple shone the glory of God. The ark was brought out of the tent and placed in the Holy of Holies and the angels were placed on top of the ark of the covenant. On that day it was a huge celebration. Every priest presided and praised and worshipped the Lord. All Israel came to Jerusalem for it was the Feast of Tabernacles. Solomon stood and told the people once again their history and God’s purpose for them being on the earth. They were to be an earthly picture of God’s kingdom in heaven so all the world could understand who God was and his ways.
In Romans, Paul explains that when we were born we were born under the law and it was like a marriage contract. We were bound to it till death. But if the law dies, then we are released from it just like a wife would be released from a marriage contract if her husband was to die. Once we put the law to death in our hearts and we are free to receive the grace of Jesus. The law was not bad, it was good in that it showed man that he needed grace. It was God’s perfect plan.
Lord, help us to embrace the freedom to walk in righteousness without guilt or bondage.
Saturday, July 20, 2019
Sat.’s Devo -Building the Temple
Read: 2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17; Romans 6:1-23; Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 19:20-21
Solomon met with all his officials and leaders and with anyone else who wanted to come in Gibeon. That was where the tent of meeting from the days of Moses was. David had only brought up the ark to Jerusalem, but the rest of the tabernacle was still in Gibeon. Solomon offered one thousand burnt offerings on the bronze altar. That night, God responded. He came to Solomon and asked Solomon what he wanted because it would be granted. Solomon thanked the Lord for being so kind to his father, David, and asked for discernment and wisdom to govern this great multitude of people.
God was so pleased with his selfless desire that he told him he would do that and add to it riches, honor, and wealth.
Solomon went back to Jerusalem and began building the temple and his kingdom. Everything in the temple was covered with gold to show the glory of God. It was to be a picture of the garden of Eden where God and man dwelt together as friends. There were palm trees, cherubim’s and chain designs. Even the nails were made of gold. Solomon had commissioned cedars from Hiram, the king of Tyre and a craftsman to do all his design work. In exchange, Solomon gave them grain, wine, and oil.
The manual labor was done by all the foreign captives from the battles they had won. Some carried the water and others cut the stones.
Two gold cherubim were carved to sit on the mercy seat. Their wings spread from one wall to the other in the Holy of Holies which gives us a visual picture of being under God’s wings.
In Romans, Paul gives us a better picture of grace. It is not the license to sin and be forgiven, it is the power not to sin. We were once enslaved to sin, but now through the blood of Jesus we have been given the power not to sin. So why would we go back to that lifestyle whose only reward is death and pain. God’s grace is the power to live an abundant life in Christ whose reward is life and freedom.
Lord, help us to live in your abundant freedom to walk in righteousness, not under the power of sin.
Solomon met with all his officials and leaders and with anyone else who wanted to come in Gibeon. That was where the tent of meeting from the days of Moses was. David had only brought up the ark to Jerusalem, but the rest of the tabernacle was still in Gibeon. Solomon offered one thousand burnt offerings on the bronze altar. That night, God responded. He came to Solomon and asked Solomon what he wanted because it would be granted. Solomon thanked the Lord for being so kind to his father, David, and asked for discernment and wisdom to govern this great multitude of people.
God was so pleased with his selfless desire that he told him he would do that and add to it riches, honor, and wealth.
Solomon went back to Jerusalem and began building the temple and his kingdom. Everything in the temple was covered with gold to show the glory of God. It was to be a picture of the garden of Eden where God and man dwelt together as friends. There were palm trees, cherubim’s and chain designs. Even the nails were made of gold. Solomon had commissioned cedars from Hiram, the king of Tyre and a craftsman to do all his design work. In exchange, Solomon gave them grain, wine, and oil.
The manual labor was done by all the foreign captives from the battles they had won. Some carried the water and others cut the stones.
Two gold cherubim were carved to sit on the mercy seat. Their wings spread from one wall to the other in the Holy of Holies which gives us a visual picture of being under God’s wings.
In Romans, Paul gives us a better picture of grace. It is not the license to sin and be forgiven, it is the power not to sin. We were once enslaved to sin, but now through the blood of Jesus we have been given the power not to sin. So why would we go back to that lifestyle whose only reward is death and pain. God’s grace is the power to live an abundant life in Christ whose reward is life and freedom.
Lord, help us to live in your abundant freedom to walk in righteousness, not under the power of sin.
Friday, July 19, 2019
Fri.’s Devo - Completing the Work
Read: 1 Chronicles 28:1-29:30; Romans 5:6-21; Psalm 15:1-5; Proverbs 19:18-19
David had six sons born in Hebron and then moved to Jerusalem and continued to have more. Amnon was his first born in Hebron, and Solomon was his fourth born in Jerusalem. David passed through 9 sons to name Solomon the king of Israel. By naming Solomon his successor, he was atoning for the murder of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah.
David spent the last years of his life preparing Solomon to rule Israel and providing everything he would need to successfully build the temple for the Lord and rule Israel in peace.
Solomon was probably from 17-19 years old when he became the king of Israel. David had taught Solomon to serve the Lord with all his heart and mind because God doesn’t just search his thoughts but the motive behind his thoughts - his integrity. God can not be manipulated or tricked. He reminded Solomon to be strong and courageous and not get discouraged because God was going to be with him and not fail him or forsake him until the work was totally finished.
This reminds me of what God is doing in us. He is building a temple in us and he will complete it. We don’t need to be discouraged or worried because God will not leave us or forsake us till he has completed the work that we have been created to do. God will use all his resources, which are endless, to make sure we come to the end of our destiny.
In Romans, Paul explained that God sent his son to die for us in our sin. No one else would have done that for us because we didn’t deserve it. Sin produced a great chasm between us and God and it reigned until Moses. Moses brought the children of Israel out of bondage and introduced circumcism which was a blood sacrifice. He also was given the law that would point out what was sin to God and give man the choice to obey. Sacrifices were started with Moses that covered the sins of the people and started giving them hope to be righteous. But all of this was a picture of a future day when death and sin would be atoned for once and for all in Jesus. We are blessed to live in that day!
Lord, the Good News is truly good news for us. Thank you for salvation and grace.
David had six sons born in Hebron and then moved to Jerusalem and continued to have more. Amnon was his first born in Hebron, and Solomon was his fourth born in Jerusalem. David passed through 9 sons to name Solomon the king of Israel. By naming Solomon his successor, he was atoning for the murder of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah.
David spent the last years of his life preparing Solomon to rule Israel and providing everything he would need to successfully build the temple for the Lord and rule Israel in peace.
Solomon was probably from 17-19 years old when he became the king of Israel. David had taught Solomon to serve the Lord with all his heart and mind because God doesn’t just search his thoughts but the motive behind his thoughts - his integrity. God can not be manipulated or tricked. He reminded Solomon to be strong and courageous and not get discouraged because God was going to be with him and not fail him or forsake him until the work was totally finished.
This reminds me of what God is doing in us. He is building a temple in us and he will complete it. We don’t need to be discouraged or worried because God will not leave us or forsake us till he has completed the work that we have been created to do. God will use all his resources, which are endless, to make sure we come to the end of our destiny.
In Romans, Paul explained that God sent his son to die for us in our sin. No one else would have done that for us because we didn’t deserve it. Sin produced a great chasm between us and God and it reigned until Moses. Moses brought the children of Israel out of bondage and introduced circumcism which was a blood sacrifice. He also was given the law that would point out what was sin to God and give man the choice to obey. Sacrifices were started with Moses that covered the sins of the people and started giving them hope to be righteous. But all of this was a picture of a future day when death and sin would be atoned for once and for all in Jesus. We are blessed to live in that day!
Lord, the Good News is truly good news for us. Thank you for salvation and grace.
Thursday, July 18, 2019
Thurs.’s Devo - Children of Faith
Read: 1 Chronicles 26:12-27:34; Romans 4:13-5:5;Psalm 14:1-7; Proverbs 19:17
David chose by lot the gate keepers from the Levites for the temple. There were six men to stand at the eastern gate, four at the northern and southern gates and on the western gate: two were to stand at the court and four at the road.
Other Levites were to guard the treasury rooms which housed the spoils of war dedicated to the Lord and all the freewill offerings of the people. Samuel and Saul had both dedicated gifts stored in these rooms and Joab and Abner had dedicated spoils from the battles they had fought.
Next, the scribe listed the men who served in David’s army as officers. They served for a month at a time. They each had 24,,000 men in their division.
There were other officers who were in charge of the royal storehouses in the different cities and towns. They presided over the watchtowers, the farmers, the vine dressers, the kings flocks, cattle, camels, etc. David’s kingdom ran like a well-oiled machine. David surrounded himself with good godly counsel and his faithful friend, Hushai.
In Romans, Paul continued to explain the law and grace. Abraham was the father of faith because he believed that God could give him and Sarah a son, even though their bodies were as good as dead. God came through.
Abraham knew that God had promised that through Isaac, he would make him the father of many nations. When God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on the altar, he did not think God had changed his mind, but that God was going to bring Isaac back to life. Against all hope, Abraham believed over and over again. He is our father of faith and we are the children of faith.
When we lean on our faith, we have peace. Our suffering produces perseverance; our perseverance produces character and our character produces hope and hope will not disappoint us.
Lord, help us to call things that are not as though they were. May we live by faith.
David chose by lot the gate keepers from the Levites for the temple. There were six men to stand at the eastern gate, four at the northern and southern gates and on the western gate: two were to stand at the court and four at the road.
Other Levites were to guard the treasury rooms which housed the spoils of war dedicated to the Lord and all the freewill offerings of the people. Samuel and Saul had both dedicated gifts stored in these rooms and Joab and Abner had dedicated spoils from the battles they had fought.
Next, the scribe listed the men who served in David’s army as officers. They served for a month at a time. They each had 24,,000 men in their division.
There were other officers who were in charge of the royal storehouses in the different cities and towns. They presided over the watchtowers, the farmers, the vine dressers, the kings flocks, cattle, camels, etc. David’s kingdom ran like a well-oiled machine. David surrounded himself with good godly counsel and his faithful friend, Hushai.
In Romans, Paul continued to explain the law and grace. Abraham was the father of faith because he believed that God could give him and Sarah a son, even though their bodies were as good as dead. God came through.
Abraham knew that God had promised that through Isaac, he would make him the father of many nations. When God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on the altar, he did not think God had changed his mind, but that God was going to bring Isaac back to life. Against all hope, Abraham believed over and over again. He is our father of faith and we are the children of faith.
When we lean on our faith, we have peace. Our suffering produces perseverance; our perseverance produces character and our character produces hope and hope will not disappoint us.
Lord, help us to call things that are not as though they were. May we live by faith.
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Wed.’s Devo -By Faith
Read: 1 Chronicles 24:1-26:11; Romans 4:1-12; Psalm 13:1-6; Proverbs 19:15-16
Aaron had had four sons to be priests after him. Two of his sons, Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lord and were struck down (Leviticus 10). They died sonless. Aaron’s sons Eleazar and Ithamar continued Aaron’s line and carried on the priesthood. Eleazar’s sons multiplied more than Ithamar’s so David divided the two families into divisions to serve in the temple when it would be built. He used the system of lots so no favoritism could be used - it would be the Lord’s choosing.
Shemaiah, the scribe wrote all the names down. One would be taken from Eleazar’s family and the next from Ithamar’s and this would determine the order they would minister. Twenty-four leaders were chosen so one of each family would minister for a month at a time. This was God’s system of checks and balances.
David also took the sons of Asaph, Human and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying. They would do this with harps, lyres and cymbals. Their descendants numbered 288 who sang, played instruments and prophesied with their mouths and their instruments. Several times it mentions that age or birth order was not used to determine their worth. God chose with his standard.
In Romans, we see how God chooses. He chose Abraham because he had faith and believed what he was told by God. We are chosen by the potential of our faith. We grow based on how much faith we have. Abraham was the father of the Jew and the Gentile. Our blood line to Abraham is faith.
Lord, thank your for circumstances in our lives that cause us to have faith so we can grow and increase in faith.
Aaron had had four sons to be priests after him. Two of his sons, Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lord and were struck down (Leviticus 10). They died sonless. Aaron’s sons Eleazar and Ithamar continued Aaron’s line and carried on the priesthood. Eleazar’s sons multiplied more than Ithamar’s so David divided the two families into divisions to serve in the temple when it would be built. He used the system of lots so no favoritism could be used - it would be the Lord’s choosing.
Shemaiah, the scribe wrote all the names down. One would be taken from Eleazar’s family and the next from Ithamar’s and this would determine the order they would minister. Twenty-four leaders were chosen so one of each family would minister for a month at a time. This was God’s system of checks and balances.
David also took the sons of Asaph, Human and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying. They would do this with harps, lyres and cymbals. Their descendants numbered 288 who sang, played instruments and prophesied with their mouths and their instruments. Several times it mentions that age or birth order was not used to determine their worth. God chose with his standard.
In Romans, we see how God chooses. He chose Abraham because he had faith and believed what he was told by God. We are chosen by the potential of our faith. We grow based on how much faith we have. Abraham was the father of the Jew and the Gentile. Our blood line to Abraham is faith.
Lord, thank your for circumstances in our lives that cause us to have faith so we can grow and increase in faith.
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Tues.’s Devo - Preparing for the Temple
Read: 1 Chronicles 22:1-23:32; Romans 3:9-31; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 19:13-14
Yesterday we read that the plague stopped at the threshing floor of Araunah. This was on Mt. Moriah which was also the mountain that Abraham took Isaac to sacrifice him. David saw the destroying angel with his sword ready to strike Jerusalem but stopped right on this spot. David declared that this was the very place he was to build the temple. Araunah offered to give David the land and the animals he would need for sacrifices but David had learned one thing…do it God’s way. The law says that you can’t offer a sacrifice to God that doesn’t cost you something and David repeated this statement. David had had to refer back to the Law many times during his reign because God was not going to honor man’s way.
David assembled all the people they had taken from other lands and made them the workers for the temple. They made the stones and the nails and got everything ready for Solomon when it was time for him to build. David had saved up and donated 100,000 talents of gold which is about 3,750 tons of gold. He also gave a million talents of silver and so much bronze it couldn’t be weighed and wood and stone. Then he told Solomon that he could add to it if he wanted!
David ordered his leaders to help his son in building the temple. He counted the Levites and there were 38,000. Of them, 24,000 were to supervise the work of the temple; 6,000 where to be officials and judges; 4,000 were to be gatekeepers; and 4,000 were to be on the worship team.
The Levites were divided into their three families which would do the same jobs they had done in the tent tabernacle only now, in the temple.
So much work went into preparing a place for God’s presence. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so I wonder what we should be doing to prepare our hearts to carry the presence of the Lord? We could get rid of things that clog up our thoughts like worry, resentment, frustration, fear, comparison, insecurity, etc. God deserves a peaceful beautiful place to dwell.
In Romans, Paul pointed out that all men are the same in their struggle with sin and their redemption is the same. The purpose of the law was to make man conscious of their sin, but righteousness could not be attained by faith in Christ. Sacrifices covered sin for a year, but the blood of Jesus took sin away eternally.
Lord, thank you for the blessing of living under grace and not the law. Thank you that you are building your temple in our hearts that we might stand to be a light to the nations.
Yesterday we read that the plague stopped at the threshing floor of Araunah. This was on Mt. Moriah which was also the mountain that Abraham took Isaac to sacrifice him. David saw the destroying angel with his sword ready to strike Jerusalem but stopped right on this spot. David declared that this was the very place he was to build the temple. Araunah offered to give David the land and the animals he would need for sacrifices but David had learned one thing…do it God’s way. The law says that you can’t offer a sacrifice to God that doesn’t cost you something and David repeated this statement. David had had to refer back to the Law many times during his reign because God was not going to honor man’s way.
David assembled all the people they had taken from other lands and made them the workers for the temple. They made the stones and the nails and got everything ready for Solomon when it was time for him to build. David had saved up and donated 100,000 talents of gold which is about 3,750 tons of gold. He also gave a million talents of silver and so much bronze it couldn’t be weighed and wood and stone. Then he told Solomon that he could add to it if he wanted!
David ordered his leaders to help his son in building the temple. He counted the Levites and there were 38,000. Of them, 24,000 were to supervise the work of the temple; 6,000 where to be officials and judges; 4,000 were to be gatekeepers; and 4,000 were to be on the worship team.
The Levites were divided into their three families which would do the same jobs they had done in the tent tabernacle only now, in the temple.
So much work went into preparing a place for God’s presence. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so I wonder what we should be doing to prepare our hearts to carry the presence of the Lord? We could get rid of things that clog up our thoughts like worry, resentment, frustration, fear, comparison, insecurity, etc. God deserves a peaceful beautiful place to dwell.
In Romans, Paul pointed out that all men are the same in their struggle with sin and their redemption is the same. The purpose of the law was to make man conscious of their sin, but righteousness could not be attained by faith in Christ. Sacrifices covered sin for a year, but the blood of Jesus took sin away eternally.
Lord, thank you for the blessing of living under grace and not the law. Thank you that you are building your temple in our hearts that we might stand to be a light to the nations.
Monday, July 15, 2019
Mon.’s Devo - Counted
Read: 1 Chronicles 19:1-21:30; Romans 2:25-3:8; Psalm 11:1-7; Proverbs 19:10-12
When God wants to deal with a nation he will stir up the conflict. God wanted to deal with the Ammonites so he caused a misunderstanding between Israel and the Ammonites. Their king, Nahash had died and David wanted to pay his respects so he sent some men to comfort his son, Hanun. Hanun was persuaded that David’s men were just spying out their land to come back and take it so, they shaved David’s men and cut off their uniforms. This was very shameful for them.
The Ammonites knew that David would retaliate so they hired the Armenians who had chariots and were trained for war to help them against Israel. They surrounded Israel’s army so Joab split his army and fought from both sides. They sent the Ammonites and the Armenians fleeing. The Armenians returned and fought Israel again losing 7,000 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers. When they lost their commander, they ended up making peace with David and becoming his subjects. They were never willing to help the Ammonites again.
Chapter 20 tells the story of when Joab fought the Ammonites but David stayed home. Chronicles doesn’t tell us that this was when David stayed home and was tempted by Bathsheba and fell into horrible sin against her and her household ( 2 Samuel 11:1).
Once David repented of his sin (2 Samuel 12), Joab was able to take Rabbah and took the crown from the king of Rabbah and brought it home and gave it to David who wore it. The Ammonites were captured and brought to Jerusalem to build the temple.
The Philistines fought with Israel and they had giants. Israel fought many of them and finally brought the Philistines under their control.
David once again forgot to read what the law said about taking a census and let Satan entice him to take count the people. The law says that when you take a census, you are to have the people pay for the souls of the ones counted or a plague will come on the people. David did not do that so a plague came on the people.
To count the people is a picture of judgement. When judgment comes we will be judged or counted and our fate is then sealed. To count them without requiring the price to be paid is to cause them to die with no hope. Jesus paid the price for us and bought us out of judgment.
It was not the fact that David counted them but the fact that he didn’t know to let them atone for their lives first.
The redemption is that the angel of the Lord stopped the plague on the very hill that Jesus would die on and redeem us from the curse once and for all.
In Romans, Paul had just pointed out the hypocrisy of the Jew and their sins. He proved how their lifestyle caused the Gentile to blaspheme their God. Their obedience to be circumcised did not do them any good if their lifestyle was full of sinful acts. Paul challenged them with this question: If the ones who were not circumcised actually lived righteously, wasn’t that better than being circumcised and living like hell? Righteousness had to do with the heart much more than it had to do with some outward ritual.
What Paul was saying to them was like asking us the question: does going to church make us righteous if we live like the world all week. It is not going to church that makes us holy. Holiness is the outward manifestation of the condition of our heart. If we love God then we will want to live for him 7 days a week.
Lord, help us desire you above everything the world has to offer. Let us walk in a way that we are always prepared to be counted.
When God wants to deal with a nation he will stir up the conflict. God wanted to deal with the Ammonites so he caused a misunderstanding between Israel and the Ammonites. Their king, Nahash had died and David wanted to pay his respects so he sent some men to comfort his son, Hanun. Hanun was persuaded that David’s men were just spying out their land to come back and take it so, they shaved David’s men and cut off their uniforms. This was very shameful for them.
The Ammonites knew that David would retaliate so they hired the Armenians who had chariots and were trained for war to help them against Israel. They surrounded Israel’s army so Joab split his army and fought from both sides. They sent the Ammonites and the Armenians fleeing. The Armenians returned and fought Israel again losing 7,000 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers. When they lost their commander, they ended up making peace with David and becoming his subjects. They were never willing to help the Ammonites again.
Chapter 20 tells the story of when Joab fought the Ammonites but David stayed home. Chronicles doesn’t tell us that this was when David stayed home and was tempted by Bathsheba and fell into horrible sin against her and her household ( 2 Samuel 11:1).
Once David repented of his sin (2 Samuel 12), Joab was able to take Rabbah and took the crown from the king of Rabbah and brought it home and gave it to David who wore it. The Ammonites were captured and brought to Jerusalem to build the temple.
The Philistines fought with Israel and they had giants. Israel fought many of them and finally brought the Philistines under their control.
David once again forgot to read what the law said about taking a census and let Satan entice him to take count the people. The law says that when you take a census, you are to have the people pay for the souls of the ones counted or a plague will come on the people. David did not do that so a plague came on the people.
To count the people is a picture of judgement. When judgment comes we will be judged or counted and our fate is then sealed. To count them without requiring the price to be paid is to cause them to die with no hope. Jesus paid the price for us and bought us out of judgment.
It was not the fact that David counted them but the fact that he didn’t know to let them atone for their lives first.
The redemption is that the angel of the Lord stopped the plague on the very hill that Jesus would die on and redeem us from the curse once and for all.
In Romans, Paul had just pointed out the hypocrisy of the Jew and their sins. He proved how their lifestyle caused the Gentile to blaspheme their God. Their obedience to be circumcised did not do them any good if their lifestyle was full of sinful acts. Paul challenged them with this question: If the ones who were not circumcised actually lived righteously, wasn’t that better than being circumcised and living like hell? Righteousness had to do with the heart much more than it had to do with some outward ritual.
What Paul was saying to them was like asking us the question: does going to church make us righteous if we live like the world all week. It is not going to church that makes us holy. Holiness is the outward manifestation of the condition of our heart. If we love God then we will want to live for him 7 days a week.
Lord, help us desire you above everything the world has to offer. Let us walk in a way that we are always prepared to be counted.
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