Devotional Thoughts

2 Chronicles 9:4-7    "And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.  (5)  And she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom:  (6)  Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.  (7)  Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom." The temple was completed. Worship and service unto the Lord were being conducted on a daily basis. Solomon's wisdom, strength, riches, and fame were growing throughout the known world at that time.  The Queen of Sheba heard of his success and came to see for herself conce

2 Chronicles 7:19-22    "But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;  (20)  Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.  (21)  And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?  (22)  And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them." This is not the type devotional that I relish to write. But, the charge laid upon me at my ordination was to preach the whole Word of God. Las

2 Chronicles 7:15-18    "Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.  (16)  For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.  (17)  And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;  (18)  Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel." In answering Solomon's prayer, the Lord promised blessings upon the kingdom of Solomon IF he would walk with the Lord. Think about that... all that was required of Solomon from the Lord was this: Walk with me.  I sit here and look at those three words and think, "Wow! So very little was required of Solomon." All he had to do was to walk with the Lo

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. – Isaiah 9:2 When we were deep in the cave, the guide spoke into his radio, “Turn out the lights.” This was my introduction into absolute darkness. At a tender age, I trembled in the pitch blackness waiting impatiently for the lights to come back on. Nothing can truly prepare you for the experience, but without Christ, everyone is just the same. Wondering about groping for answers until even this futile hope is abandoned, and without hope, the lost either relent or embrace the darkness. Fearful and maybe angry at the one we blame for the disorientation and confusion that comes from a complete loss of light, our instincts scream, “Run!” But where do we run? Without vision, we can only scramble about. We need light. We need salvation. Only a savior can provide salvation, and knowing His people could not save themselves, God sent His Son

2 Chronicles 7:12-15    "And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. (13) If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;  (14)  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  (15)  Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place." Solomon's prayer was prayed. The people had brought their sacrifices. The musicians had played their music. The priests had offered the sacrifices unto the Lord.  Solomon had sent the people back to their homes. The Lord appears to Solomon with the answer to the beautiful prayer.  "I have heard thy prayer and (I) have chosen this place to m

2 Chronicles 7:1-3    "Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.  (2)  And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.  (3)  And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." My first response to verse one was to think, "What a powerful prayer!"  I began, as Paul said, to "covet earnestly the best gifts." I admit that my prayer life is like the picture of the jumbled up letters of the alphabet.  I begin to pray and then suddenly my mind is swept in a different direction. Then I find myself praying, "Lord, you know my heart an

2 Chronicles 6:40-42    "Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.  (41)  Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.  (42)  O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant." In His prayer, Solomon has mentioned the possible situations that could occur wherein the people would need forgiveness and restoration. Aren't you thankful that our God is a restoring God? In the prayer, Solomon had confessed the fact that there is no one without sin and all need forgiveness. God indeed is filled with forgiveness when His people repent and return to Him. Solomon was basing his request for forgiveness upon the placement of the ark of the covenant in the Holies of Holies and the blood of animals being sacrfic

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory – 1 Peter 1:8 One of the greatest blessings we have in the faith of Christ is the knowledge that we are loved as we love. In fact, the Scriptures are clear that we love God  because  He first loved us (1 John 4:19). We see this in our marriages and our relationships with children and friends. Love requires one party to make the first move, and God made that move before the world was formed. Now we love Him even though we do see Him face to face because His love moves within us. Wow. Just wow. Jesus loves all the disciples. He lived and died for them, and He lives forever to bring them into the fold of God. Love Him. Rejoice in Him. True, we cannot lay eyes on Him directly, but we should be mindful to see His hand in all the world around us. We are never alone when we love Jesus.

2 Chronicles 6:17-18    "Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.  (18)  But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!" Solomon began his prayer of dedication with lofty words concerning the Lord God. He acknowledges before God and before all his people that the very universe cannot contain God, much less the house that has been built. Yet, Solomon seeks the verification that God will continue to dwell with the people in worship and in daily actions. Again, we see the wisdom which the Lord gave to Solomon being manifested in this prayer. This prayer is one that seems to be complete in all ways. Let's look at some of the things for which Solomon prayed. We read in the following verses the thoughts of Solomon concerning conditions in which the Lord would become angry at His people:  "If

2 Chronicles 6:12-13    "And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:  (13)  For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven" The temple is now finished. Everything is in place to conduct proper worship unto the Lord. The priests have made themselves ready. Solomon has gathered the people together. He is prepared to offer the prayer of dedication unto the Lord. I think back to the prayer Solomon made when he was first inaugurated as king. The Lord had told him to ask for anything he wanted and it would be granted to him. Solomon asked for wisdom that he might conduct himself as a proper king before the people. We see that wisdom being manifested in the manner in whic

2 Chronicles 5:13-14    "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;  (14)  So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God." We jump ahead to chapter five. Chapters 3 and 4 give the specifics of the temple. No doubt, God gave wisdom to Solomon in directing the building of the temple. In today's verses, we find the ark of the covenant has been placed in the temple by the priests. Untold numbers of sacrifices are made upon the altar as the temple is dedicated unto the Lord.  Now Solomon instructs the singers and musicians to sound the praises of God. As they begin to

God’s Love is Holy and Righteous God’s love is not a weakness of God’s nature.  God’s love is not a soft spot we exploit for a sinful benefit.  The fact that “God is love”, does not mean God winks at sin. God never sweeps sin under the rug.  God cannot stand sin; this is true because God is completely righteous.  This righteous nature requires that ALL sin must be justly punished.  His Holiness demands no less.  But it is essential to know and understand that God’s love and His holiness, or righteousness, are two sides of the same coin.  They do not contradict one another; they are not in conflict with each other.  In fact, God’s love and God’s righteousness work together in our salvation.  This truth is revealed in two passages that come to us in the Letter to the Romans.  Read the following two passages from the Book of Romans with the thought that God’s love and God’s righteousness are both at work in your salvation. Romans 3:21-26, “ But now the righteousness of God a

2 Chronicles 2:1    "And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom." 2 Chronicles 2:5-6    "And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods. (6)  But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?" When the Scripture says that Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord, we know that God chose Solomon to build the house instead of his father David. David had a great desire to build the Lord's temple, but God would not allow David to build it. So Solomon's determination was originated in the Lord God Almighty. When we have desires within us to do something for the name of the Lord, we can know for certain that the desire originated with God and was placed within us. I did not include verses 2-4, but we are told the number of

He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. – Psalm 62:6 Have you looked through the self help section of your local bookstore or library lately? Between the books on leadership, cleaning, investing, dieting, construction, education, psychology and parenting, surely we have reached the limit on ways to improve ourselves. Sadly no. Human flaws are countless and the solutions seemingly endless. When one method goes out of fashion another quickly takes its place. For disciples of Christ, it ought not to be so. Charles Spurgeon has been quoted as saying, “Visit many books, but live in the Bible.” Only the Lord’s Word is definitive. Only the Lord’s Spirit grants faith. Only the Lord redeems us from sin. If we look to Christ and His servants as ambassadors of His will, then we shall find help in our time of need. He only is our rock and salvation.

Today, I want to begin a study on the kings of Judah. We begin with Israel as still being one nation. We will see how it comes to the place where division takes place in the nation.  The books of 1 and 2 Kings tell the history of the kings of Israel while 2 Chronicles tells the history of the kings of Judah. This morning, we begin with Solomon. We hear much about Kings Saul and David, so I want to spend this series of devotions on the kings that follow them. 2 Chronicles begins with Solomon becoming king and then making preparation to build the beautiful Solomon's Temple. The story is told of the young preacher who went into the pulpit with the idea that he was going to really teach the people something new. He soon realized what a mistake he was making and became very distraught and dejected. He hung his head as he came out of the pulpit. An older preacher with much wisdom lovingly told him that if he had gone into the pulpit the way that he came out, he would have been able

Joshua 24:14-15    "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.  (15)  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Once again, Joshua has brought the elders of the people together. This time they are gathered at Shechem, which literally means the place of strength where burdens are carried. Beginning with the father of Abraham, Joshua gives a quick history lesson to the people. But this history lesson is not about national history, as such; rather, Joshua is reminding the people of the manner in which the Lord has brought them to the place where they were on that day. This history lesson is "His

Joshua 23:14-16    "And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.  (15)  Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.  (16)  When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you." The words of Joshua previous to these are "take good heed unto thyself" followed by a warning against intermarry

Joshua 23:11    "Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God." Joshua's life is coming to an end. He has been a faithful warrior unto the Lord and a blessed leader of Israel. His last days are spent with the elders of the tribes of Israel. In all that he says to them, today's text may be the most important words imparted to the people. "Love the LORD your God." Doesn't that come as an automatic thing? Wouldn't it be understood that the people would love God. He has done so much for them. He released them from the bondage of Egypt. He miraculously parted the waters of the Red Sea. He gave them water from a rock. Bread was sent from heaven. The flooded Jordan River was congealed in order for them to cross into the Promised Land. God brought down the walls of Jericho without the people touching them.  Many many wonderful things had been accomplished by the Lord on behalf of the people. Why would they have to be reminded

God’s Love is Immutable God is Himself immutable.  Immutable means that God does not change.  Malachi 3:6a, “ For I  am  the Lord, I do not change. ”  This great truth means many wonderful things to believers, but one overwhelming truth that continually moves our hearts is that we can depend upon God.  Therefore, we can absolutely depend on God’s love.  God’s love does not disappoint. One person that worked for me many years ago had a set of coffee mugs with a variety of moods displayed --- happy, sad, mad, goofy, don’t tread on me, reflective, etc.  She put the mug of the day on her desk each morning.  We all came to learn that the mug of the day communicated her true mood of the day as effectively as the mugs held coffee.  “Check the mug” before entering her office was a prudent move. Coffee mug mood of the day is not the way of God’s love.  James 1:17 speaks of God the Father when it correctly affirms, “ with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning .”  The same

Joshua 23:6-9    "Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;  (7)  That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:  (8)  But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.  (9)  For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day." Joshua is now of an old age and realizes his time on earth is short. He gathered the elders of each tribe together to give them instructions and encouragement in the Lord. No doubt, he was looking back on his life and remembering times when the Lord had intervened on his behalf, as well as all of Israel's behalf. He takes this opportunity to relay to the people that whi

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth – Job 19:25 Something that escapes our notice is that the promise of the coming of the Lord was ancient even when Jesus was born. Many people had lost hope in a Savior from God. Like today, the people of Jesus’s day were skeptical and cynical. However, the Lord preserved as remnant who believed and looked for that day when the Redeemer would stand upon the earth. As you encounter skeptics and unbelief today, answer those doubters with the simple testimony of Job. “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:25). We may die and our bodies may decompose, but one day we shall all see Him with our own eyes and wonder. Praise be to God!

Joshua 22:26-27    "Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:  (27)  But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD." In this 22nd Chapter, we find the 2 and 1/2 tribes going back across the Jordan River to inhabit the land that Moses had promised them. Their land was outside the border of what is known as the Promised Land, but it is the land in which they chose to dwell. As they return across the Jordan River, the people realize the need for a reminder of the Lord's blessings so they build an altar. When the other tribes heard of the altar, they rose up against Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Mannasseh. They saw the altar and assumed the people had a

Joshua 21:43-45    "And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.  (44)  And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.  (45)  There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass." The larger portion of chapter 21 speaks of the children of Israel giving cities to the Levites. Each tribe of Israel gave cities to them as the Lord had promised that the Levites would have provision in the land. There was a mutual benefit from this process. The Levites were provided for, but also the influence of the Levites would be felt within each tribe. Remember the Levites were the ones who had charge of the tabernacle. They were the ones who maintained all the vessels of worship for the taberna

“God is Love!”  The glorious fact that God is love is the reason that we have the joy of loving Him.  “ We love Him because He first loved us.”  Every aspect of love in our lives flows from the foundational fact that God first loved us.  We have established the truth that God’s love is unmerited .  Today, we build on that wonder as we see that God’s love is both eternal and infinite. God’s Love is Eternal Is God eternal? Yes.  Psalm 90:1-2, “ Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You  are  God. .”  Is God Love? Yes.  1 John 4:8b, “God is love.”  God’s eternity and God’s love go hand in hand.  God had no beginning; God’s love had no beginning.  God has no ending; God’s love has no ending.  God loved and chose the elect before the world was, in eternity.  Unmerited love was the foundation of that choice. Ephesians 1:4, “ Just as 

Joshua 20:1-4   "The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,  (2)  Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:  (3)  That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.  (4)  And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them." As the people had come through the wilderness, the Lord commanded them (through Moses) that there would be six cities that were set aside to be cities of refuge. Now they are in the land and Joshua is reminded by the Lord of this arrangement.  Six cities were set aside. These cities were to be used by anyone who had accidentally killed another person. They were allowed t