BibleTrekToday.com

Year: 2010

  • Sunday Rest and Reflection:Rest for God’s People

    Dear Friends,

    Jesus calls all of us His friends!  We are not slaves or servants, but friends. Our Father’s plans have been revealed to us, and we have inside information that gives us great encouragement and hope!  In the end, we win, and even now we can rest in the victory of the cross paid for by Jesus Christ!  Today is a day of rest for God’s people!  Find a family of God (church) and join God’s people in worship, prayer, and hearing His word!

    In our reading of the Chronicles this past week, God delighted in showing his grace to King David and Solomon.  He brought rest to the kingdom and nation He dwelt with.  They enjoyed a reign of peace while Solomon built the temple.  All their enemies were at peace with them during the building process.  Nations sent workers to help build the temple.  There was favor and good will among the people and leaders as they focused on the job at hand.  People gave willingly and generously and had to be stopped from giving because so much came in!

    We have such blessing in our King Jesus!  He gives all His people rest each day.  We live in the Sabbath rest that is ours through His atonement.  We have no enemy that can snatch us from His hand.  He causes everything to work for good for us who love Him.  We are all co-workers in His kingdom with many of the nations who are becoming friends of God.  There is unity and favor in the true body of Christ and real generosity toward the work of God.  We are such a blessed people to live in the church age when Jesus is building His temple!  The gates of hell will not stop it or prevail against His mighty church!

    In His Love, Pastor John

  • King Solomon

    Scripture reading for April 24th: 2nd Chronicles 6-9

    Today I want to discuss three things about King Solomon: his wealth, his wisdom, and his worldliness!  Two of these things seem to go together, but the third is out of place if you have the other two!  When we study the life of this son of David who was the wisest human ever to live (except for Jesus Christ), we are faced with something that is difficult to understand.  We must receive wisdom from the Lord and His word!

    When God appeared to Solomon, giving him a blank check, Solomon asked for wisdom.   This pleased God and He made him the wisest man ever.  People from all over the world came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.  He could expound on many topics concerning plants and animals and the creation.  The Queen of  Sheba came to test Solomon with hard questions and Solomon answered all of them.  She was overwhelmed by what she heard and saw. (2nd Chronicles 9:1-6)

    God added wealth to Solomon,  as well as honor.  He had gold from Ophir and precious stones.  The weight of gold Solomon received yearly in tribute was 666 talents.  That is equal to about 25 tons of gold!  (2nd Chronicles 9:13-14)  He made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone!  (2nd Chronicles 9:27a)  His wealth, as well as his wisdom, brought him fame and world attention! He had greater riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth!

    But Solomon was also worldly!  As he got older, he strayed from following God wholeheartedly.  His many wives brought idolatry into his life and he pursued happiness under the sun!  (Ecclesiastes)  He set up idol temples for his wives, which angered the Lord. (1st Kings 11:1-9)  He disobeyed the Lord’s commands and did not heed God’s warnings.  He strayed from God and became entangled in idolatry and sin.

    It is hard to understand how someone so wise and to whom had God appeared several times could not apply what he surely knew to his own life.  Sin has a way of blinding us and stealing our wisdom.  As we read these stories, we must realize that none of us is far from idolatry and sin.  We must lean daily on the Lord in a personal relationship.  We must listen carefully to His word and apply it first to our own lives.

  • The Temple of the Lord

    Scripture reading for April 23rd: 2nd Chronicles 1-5

    “The temple that I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods.  But who is able to build a temple for Him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain Him?  Who then am I to build a temple for Him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before Him?” (2nd Chronicles 2:5-6)

    King Solomon realized that God was so great that no one was really able to build a temple that could contain Him.  He realized that he was really a nobody and needed sacrifices to come before Him who was so great and mighty.  Solomon was humbled and knew he needed grace and God’s help to do this job.  So he set out to build with thousands of helpers and invited other nations to send their skilled workers as well.  He had lots of money and materials, and the best help would be none too good for God.

    Solomon began building the temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah–on the threshing floor of Araunah that his father David had purchased to make an altar and stop the plague.  (2nd Chronicles 3:1)  This was also the very site where Abraham had come to sacrifice Isaac nearly a thousand years earlier.  There, God had provided a lamb in place of Isaac, and Abraham named God Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides.  David was a descendant of Abraham as was Solomon and now they were using this very site to construct a dwelling place for God in the midst of His people!  What an amazing God we serve!

    Everything was made according to the pattern that God had given King David to write down for his son Solomon.  The inside was overlaid with fine gold.  A pair of beautiful cherubim were sculpted by the craftsmen of fine gold.  There were beautiful woven curtains of blue and purple yarn and more cherubim were embroidered on the curtains as well.  (2nd Chronicles 3:10-14)  The cherubim represented the  heavenly creatures near the throne of God that cried “holy” holy” holy” day and night!  The blue and purple speak of heaven and royalty.  Gold represents the highest value and preciousness of God Himself.

    The crowning glory of the temple of the Lord was God’s presence in glory that filled the building as the priests worshiped.  “He is good; His love endures forever.” (2nd Chronicles 5:13-14)

  • Ending Well

    Scripture reading for April 22nd: 1st Chronicles 28-29

    In long distance races, the start isn’t as important as the finish.  In the race of life, I want to finish well!  I don’t want to fall away or disgrace God as I leave this life.  History is full of stories of great men of God who have not finished very well.  Saul, David’s predecessor is a prime example of a man who at the end of his life was tormented by fear, sought a medium, and finally took his own life.

    David called together all the leaders of Israel and spoke to them at Jerusalem.  He recounted how God in His sovereignty had picked Judah and his family to be king.  He told them that God had chosen Solomon to be his successor and the one to build a house for the Lord.  (1st Chronicles 28:4-7)  He charged Solomon to follow all the Lord’s commands and possess the good land that God had given them, passing it on to his descendants.  He instructed Solomon to acknowledge God as his Father and serve Him willingly and wholeheartedly!

    David then gave the plans for the temple to Solomon and encouraged him in the execution and building of this house for the Lord.  The Lord had given David the plans and had given him understanding for each detail!  (1st Chronicles 28:19)  David personally gave large quantities of his own resources to build the temple.  He gave gold, silver, bronze, iron, stones and marble.  David knew that he could not take this great wealth with him when he died.  He truly wanted to set a good example for his son and the leaders of Israel.  His giving inspired others and they also began to give!

    King David then offered up prayer and praise to the Lord.  He praised God for His greatness and glory.  He acknowledged that all his wealth and honor had come from God.  He confessed that men were very short-lived on the earth.  He prayed for God’s grace in Solomon’s life.  This prayer is a wonderful finish to David’s life! (1st Chronicles 29:10-19)

    “David son of Jesse was king over all Israel.  He ruled Israel forty years–seven in Hebron and thirty three in Jerusalem.  he died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor.” (1st Chronicles 29:26-28)  What will your epitaph read?  Are you setting a course that will enable you to finish well?

  • Man of Peace–Prince of Peace!

    Scripture reading for April 21st: 1st Chronicles 22-27

    King David had it in his heart to build a house for the Lord.  As King David approached the end of his time on earth, he sent for his son Solomon and commissioned him to build the house for the Lord.  David had begun preparations for this house but a word from the Lord had stopped him from building it. Because David had been a man of war and had fought many battles costing many lives,  God told him not to build His house. (1st Chronicles 22:8)

    God told David that He would use his son Solomon to build the temple.  Solomon would be a man of peace.  God would grant him rest and peace with all his enemies.  Israel would enjoy a reign of peace and during this time, Solomon could build the temple. Solomon would become a “son of God” and God would be his Father and establish his throne over Israel forever.   (1st Chronicles 22:9-10)

    David blessed his son and encouraged him to be strong and full of courage.  He assured him of the great financial resources that he had provided for the temple.  He also encouraged the people to support Solomon in the work.  Best of all, David prayed that the Lord would be with Solomon in this undertaking.  That help would make all the difference in the world!

    As we reflect on this portion of Israel’s history, we can see definite parallels to the work of Jesus Christ in building God’s temple.  Jesus Christ was a man of peace–“the Prince of Peace”.  Jesus called people to come to Him and find rest for their souls.  Jesus Christ defeated all of our enemies, even death, to provide this rest!  God was Christ’s “Father” and Jesus was God’s “Son”!  God established Jesus’ throne and kingdom forever!  Jesus had success because he fully obeyed God’s commands and laws and was strong and courageous.  God provided Jesus with many “brothers and sisters” as helpers in building the true temple.  Jesus Christ would build the temple and the gates of hell would not prevail against Him!

    This ancient record contains prophesy that is already fulfilled and also prophesy that will be fulfilled in the millennial reign of peace when Jesus takes the throne in Jerusalem and rules over a thousand years of peace!  (Revelation 20:4-6)  Praise the Lord for the Prince of Peace!

  • Doing Battle With Satan

    Scripture reading for April 20th: 1st Chronicles 17-20

    God’s people and their leaders are always in a spiritual battle.  Even when things seem to be going well and there is a time of peace, Satan never sleeps or slacks off.  In fact, it is often during the good times that we let down our guard and relax our watchfulness and Satan takes advantage!

    David went through a time like this.  Even though his fighting men were out fighting the Lord’s battles, David stayed home.  It appears that David was motivated by pride to conduct a census of all the fighting men in Israel and David told Joab and his army commanders to do the counting.  Joab wisely tried to stop David, but David did not listen.  Scripture says that Satan incited David to do this and bring judgment on Israel.  (1st Chronicles 21:1-6)

    Joab did not like this command, but he did it anyway.  God did not like it either and He punished Israel.  David then came to his senses, admitted guilt, and asked God to take away his guilt.  Sin has consequences and though God is merciful, He must also be just.  God gave David three choices: “Take your choice: three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord–days of plague in the land with the angel of the Lord ravaging every part of Israel.” (1st Chronicles 21:11-12)

    David chose to fall into the hands of God rather than the hands of men,  for he knew God’s mercy was great.  Seventy thousand men of Israel died during the plague. Then David saw an angel with his sword extended toward Jerusalem. David cried out for mercy and took responsibility.  The angel told him to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah.  David bought the land and offered a sacrifice to stop the plague.  This site was the place where the Temple would eventually be built.

    The battle against Satan is a real one for all of us.  There are unseen forces of evil and good arrayed in battle every day.  We must stand firm to be victorious.  We have a King who has taken our guilt and paid the price for us by sacrificing His own body on the cross.  He defeated Satan and ever prays for us, keeping God’s judgment away!

  • Sweet Psalmist of Israel

    Scripture reading for April 19th: 1st Chronicles 10-16

    King David is well known for his many psalms.  He loved to worship God and was always composing songs that helped express his inner life and feeling during times of joy or hardship.  His life stands as a testimony to us of a man after God’s heart who was know as the sweet “Psalmist of Israel”.

    Chronicles is a priestly view of events that were also covered by the writers in Samuel and Kings.  Chronicles records the return of the Ark of the Testimony in more detail than does the account in Kings.  David was zealous for the presence of God being brought to Jerusalem and knew he must find a way to bring it there.  He failed to inquire from God’s word how this might be done and Uzzah lost his life when he tried to steady the cart it was riding on.  (1st Chronicles 13:9-12) This event angered David and caused him to be afraid of God.

    On the second attempt to return the Ark to Jerusalem, David sought directions from the Lord, and found that only the Levites could carry the Ark on their shoulders.  He made the proper sacrifices and then worshiped and danced before the Lord with all his might as he lead the procession back to Jerusalem.  (1st Chronicles 15:11-15,25-28)  That same day he gave Asaph a psalm of thanks that he had composed for the occasion.  This psalm was probably sung as they moved the Ark.

    This psalm gives thanks to God for His wonderful acts, miracles and wonders He had done.  There was thanksgiving for God’s faithfulness to His covenant with Israel.  In several verses, the psalm extols the Lord among the nations of the earth.  (1st Chronicles 16:8,24,28,31)  God’s goodness and love are noted and thanks was given.  With God in their midst, the nation of Israel was to be a testimony to the nations of the blessing of loving God and having His covenant.

    David’s heart for God blessed the people of God and drew them closer to the Lord.  His worship was a great example to the people of how to approach God.  We are to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.  David modeled this as he led the procession bringing the Ark of the Presence to Jerusalem!

  • Sunday Rest and Reflection:Powerful Bones

    Dear Friends,

    Greetings in the Glorious Name of Jesus Christ!  What a beautiful season of the year!  Spring is in full swing here in Kentucky and gardens are growing, trees are full of leaves and flowers are blooming everywhere!  New life is springing forth as we have passed Resurrection Sunday and move toward Pentecost Sunday!  I pray that you are enjoying a day with God’s people and resting in His great love and care!

    Reflecting on this past week’s reading and all that transpired in the history of Israel and Judah, I remembered a small incident that relates to the resurrection that is worth noting.  Elisha the great prophet of the time of 2nd Kings had died and was buried.  Later a band of  Israelites were burying a man when a group of Moabite raiders interrupted their grave digging;  they threw the body of the man in the tomb of Elisha.  When the dead body touched the bones of Elisha, the man came back to life and stood on his feet!  (2nd Kings 13:20-21)

    We remember that Elisha had a double portion of Elijah’s spirit granted to him.  He was powerful in ministering the miraculous and had himself raised a woman’s son to life.  It is hard to understand, but the power of God must still have been present in Elisha’s bones.

    We now have the Holy Spirit residing in us and our bones are also charged with resurrection power.  The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead will also quicken our bodies and raise us up in a glorified body!  Our bones may be aging and we may have aches and pains, but we who have had contact with the body of Jesus Christ have already been raised and seated with Him in the heavenly realms! (Ephesians 2:6)  We are just waiting for the final fulfillment! God is so good to give us glimpses of our future and strengthen our faith in resurrection!

    In His Love,  Pastor John

  • A People, a King, and a Kingdom!

    Scripture reading for April 17: 1st Chronicles 1-9

    The Book of Chronicles was originally the last book in the Hebrew Scriptures.  It begins with a listing of names starting with Adam and going through Noah. (1st Chronicles 1:1-4) From there it takes the three sons of Noah and tells of their descendants.  From Shem, the genealogy follows Abraham’s line through Isaac and Ishmael.  Then the line is continued through Isaac to Jacob (Israel).  (1st Chronicles 2:1)  Jacob’s line is traced to Jesse, the father of David and then picks up David’s family as well.  (1st Chronicles 3:1-9) The last chapters of today’s reading cover the children of each of the twelve sons of Israel and their offspring.

    What can we gain from this somewhat boring portion of Hebrew history?  Is there any good to come from this repetition of people, offspring, and historical tidbits?

    We actually can gain confidence and insight into the heart of God from this passage of Scripture.  First, God keeps good books!  He cares about names and people as well as what they did!  This gives us confidence about the Book of Genesis as a source book for God’s people throughout their history.  God knows each person by name and knows and remembers their children as well as their faith. He also has a plan to bring forth a King, His Son, through a specific line of people.

    One example of a remembrance concerns Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel (Jacob).  He is noted for defiling his father’s marriage bed and losing his rights as firstborn because of this.  (1st Chronicles 5:1-3)  Another note concerns the sons of Levi and his descendant, Merari.  His sons were put into service by King David to minster with music before the tabernacle and Tent of  Meeting until Solomon built the temple.  (1st Chronicles 6:29-32)  The people of Judah were noted for being taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness and then being the first to resettle on their own property afterward.  (1st Chronicles 9:1-2)

    We would do well to realize today that God has a plan.  He gives each person a name and holds each one responsible for how they respond to what they know.  By grace He chooses people to fulfill His purposes.  He will have a people who will rule His Kingdom under the rule of His Son Jesus Christ who came through the lineage of David!  Praise the Lord for His faithfulness!

  • Marks of Revival

    Scripture reading for April 16th: 2nd Kings 22-25

    I long to see a real revival in my time and in my day!  I want my children and grandchildren to experience a genuine move of God that makes God real to them, not just something that their parents or grandparents tell them about.  In today’s reading, we get insight into a revival in Judah that was instituted by one of the youngest kings, Josiah.

    Josiah came into office at 8 years of age and when he was 26, he made a discovery that brought revival!  Hilkiah the high priest, in his work in the temple, had uncovered the lost Book of the Law.  He gave it to Shaphan, the king’s secretary who took it to Josiah, who asked that he read it to him.  As Josiah heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes and sent his officials to inquire of the Lord about what he heard.  He knew that the Lord must be angry because of their neglect of His word and disobedience.

    They went to Hilkiah the priest who directed them to Huldah the prophetess.  She told them of the Lord’s anger against idolatry.  She also told them to tell King Josiah, that because he humbled himself and sought the Lord, that the anger would be averted during his lifetime!  Prayer and humility have a definite appeal to the Lord.  He would rather show mercy than judge!  Even though this king was young, he was very humble and responsive to the Lord’s word.

    Josiah called together all the elders and leaders and people of Judah and Jerusalem and read the words of the Book of the Law to them.  He renewed the covenant to obey the Lord and ordered the high priest to remove any idols from the temple and it’s grounds.  He did away with pagan priests and desecrated all the pagan places of worship.  He stopped child sacrifice to Molech and did away with sun worship.  He then celebrated Passover according to the Book of the Law! (2nd Kings 23:4-21)

    Revival brings godly repentance and delivers many from judgment.  Revival starts with the word of God being read and believed.  Revival comes with a godly fear of the Lord and trembling at His decrees.  Revival tears down idols and removes pagan worship.   Revival restores biblical worship and faith in God’s sacrifice!  Pray for revival today!