I Chronicles 29
David states that Solomon is chosen by God verse 1- 2
Furthermore David the king said to all the congregation
Solomon my son – whom alone God has chosen
is yet young and tender – and the work is great
for the palace is not for man
but for the LORD God
Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God
the gold for things to be made of gold
and the silver for things of silver
and the brass for things of brass
the iron for things of iron
and wood for things of wood
onyz stones – and stones to be set – glistering stones
and of divers colors
and all manner of precious stones
and marble stones in abundance
David asks people for an offering verse 3- 5
Moreover – because I have set my affection to the house of my God
I have of mine own proper good – of gold and silver
which I have given to the house of my God
over and above all that
I have prepared for the holy house
Even three thousand talents of gold of the gold of Ophir
and seven thousand talents of refined silver
to overlay the walls of the houses withal
the gold for things of gold
the silver for things of silver
and for all manner of work to be made
by the hands of artificers
And who then is willing to consecrate his service
this day unto the LORD?
Large offering taken up from leaders verse 6- 9
Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel
and the captains of thousands and of hundreds
with the rulers of the king’s work
offered willingly
And gave – for the service of the house of God
of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams
and of silver then thousand talents
and of brass eighteen thousand talents
and of iron one hundred thousand talents
And they with whom precious stones were found
gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD
by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite
Then the people rejoiced for that they offered willingly
because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD
and David the king also rejoiced with great joy
Prayer of David verse 10- 19
Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation
and David said
Blessed be YOU LORD God of Israel our father – for ever and ever
YOURS O LORD is the greatness – power – glory
victory – majesty for all that is in the heaven
and in the earth is YOURS
YOURS is the kingdom O LORD
and YOU are exalted as head above all
Both riches and honor come of YOU – and YOU reign over all
and in YOUR hand is power – might
and in YOUR hand it is to make great
and to give strength to all
Now therefore – our God – we thank YOU
and praise YOUR glorious name
BUT who am I – and what is my people
that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort?
for all things come of YOU and of YOUR
OWN have we given YOU
For we are strangers before YOU – and sojourners
as were all our fathers
our days on the earth are as a shadow
and there is none abiding
O LORD our God – all this store that we have prepared to build
YOU an house for YOUR holy name come of YOUR hand
and is all YOUR OWN
I know also – my God – that YOU try the heart
and have pleasure in uprightness
As for me – in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered
all these things – and now have I seen with joy YOUR people
which are present here to offer willingly unto YOU
O LORD God of Abraham – Isaac – Israel – our fathers
keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the
heart of YOUR people
and prepare their heart nto YOU
and give to Solomon my son a perfect heart
to keep YOUR commandments – testimonies
statutes – and to do all these things
and to build the palace for which I have made provision
All the people praised the LORD verse 20
And David said to all the congregation
Now bless the LORD your God
And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers
and bowed down their heads – and worshiped the LORD
and the king
Great celebration at anointing of Solomon king verse 21- 22
And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD
and offered burnt offerings unto the LORD
on the morrow after that day
even a thousand bullocks – a thousand rams
a thousand lambs
with their drink offerings
and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel
and did eat and drink before the LORD on that day
with great gladness
And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time
and anointed him to the LORD to be the chief governor
and Zadok to the priest
All gave pledged to Solomon verse 23- 25
THEN Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD
as king instead of David his father
and prospered – and all Israel obeyed him
And all the princes – and the mighty men
and all the sons likewise of king David
submitted themselves unto Solomon the king
And the LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly
in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him
such royal majesty as had not been on any king
before him in Israel
Death of David verse 26- 28
Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel
and the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years
seven years reigned he in Hebron
thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem
And he died in a good old age – full of days – riches – honor
and Solomon his son reigned in his stead
Records of David’s reign verse 29- 30
Now the acts of David the king – first and last – BEHOLD
they are written in the book of Samuel the seer
Nathan the prophet – Gad the seer
with all his reign and his might
and the times that went over him – Israel
all the kingdoms of the countries
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Furthermore David the king said to all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God. (977 “chosen” [bachar] means to examine, preferred, tested, to select for one’s own reasons or purposes for a number of alternatives, appoint or elect)
DEVOTION: David gives an honest evaluation of Solomon to the people. He knows that he is a young and inexperienced man. He also knows that the LORD has chosen him to be the next king of Israel. It is clear in his mind that Solomon is the only one of his sons who can complete the task of building the Temple with the right actions and attitude. He also knows that the task of building the Temple is enormous.
Finally, he knows that Solomon can’t complete the task in his own power but needs the help of the LORD. He has come to the conclusion that the task of building the Temple would never be completed if it was not for the help of the LORD. He is going to offer a prayer to the LORD concerning this matter.
We need to realize that sometimes God gives tasks to people that can only be completed with the help of the LORD. The LORD should receive the credit when the task is completed. If man whether leader or people take the credit the LORD will not be pleased and David understands this concept.
Do you understand this concept when you use the gifts the LORD has given you to complete a great task for HIM? We should always give the credit to the LORD and not become prideful when a great work is done.
Even the little tasks that we do for the LORD are successful because HE has blessed us with a spiritual gift of the Holy Spirit to be able to complete any task.
CHALLENGE: Mere mortals fail more often than not because of their lack of dependence on the LORD. Don’t be fooled into thinking it is all you!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. (5068 “willingly” [nadab] means to impel, to volunteer, to present spontaneously, or offer freely)
DEVOTION: What do we think when the offering plate is passed in church? What do we think when a pastor encourages us to give money to the LORD? Do we ever think that it is just because the pastor wants to get rich? Do we think that others can give better than we can and they should? There are givers and takers in our world. The problem is that there are givers and takers in the church today. The LORD wants all HIS followers to be givers.
David gave a large amount of his wealth toward the building of the temple. He asked the people to give an offering for the building of the temple. Many people came forward and gave of their wealth.
David wrote a psalm for the occasion.
In the psalm he mentioned the fact that all their wealth came from the LORD. The LORD owned all. HE created the world. HE was great. HE had power. HE had glory. HE gave victory. HE had majesty. David believed that the LORD deserved all we possessed. He also believed that if individuals gave their all to the LORD, the LORD blessed them. God’s people are to thank HIM and praise HIM for all of HIS gifts to them.
Once David set the example of giving, he asked the people to give toward the project of building the Temple. The people responded with their gifts. The people gave this offering freely.
We need to learn the fact that all our wealth belongs to the LORD. The LORD gives us the responsibility of wealth to see what we will do with it. Our nation is a rich nation. We have more possessions than most of the world. We look at signs on cars that say that “he that dies with the most toys wins.”
When we give to the LORD, it has to be offered freely and with great joy. Sometimes we give with a heart that is not perfect toward the LORD. In true worship there is a perfect heart that gives to the LORD freely and with great joy. This can only happen if we prepare our hearts before we go to church to give to the LORD. Are we preparing our hearts today for our giving on Sunday?
Our income is limited. Our God is not limited. We have to ask the LORD want HE wants us to give to HIS work.
CHALLENGE: It can be ten percent of our check or it can be ninety percent or anyplace in between. Give whatever HE wants with a joyful heart.
____________________________________________________
: 15 For we are strangers before YOU, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. (6738 “shadow” means shade, pa protection from sun, defence , protection, transitoriness of life)
DEVOTION: There is something we need to understand before we can really understand our salvation that it provided through Jesus Christ alone. It is the fact that is stated in this prayer of David.
We are without hope in this world if we don’t have the LORD in our heart and life. All people born into this world are dead in trespasses and sin. There is none righteous. All are going to the lake of fire when they die based on their relationship with Jesus Christ. Good works will never save us. Going to church every Sunday will not save us. Giving a tithe every payday will not save us. All those without a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ will not go to heaven when they die.
How do we judge a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ? It is not just saying a prayer asking for forgiveness of sin but that is a good start if it is genuine. There has to be a change that takes place in a life after the prayer that makes the prayer genuine. There should be a genuine desire to get to know the LORD better. There should be a genuine desire to read and understand the Bible. There should be a genuine desire to worship the LORD every Sunday in a local body of believers. There should be a genuine desire to use find out your spiritual gift and use it for the LORD in the local church. There should be a genuine desire to witness for the LORD to our neighbors, friends and relatives in a Biblical manner. If these desires are not in your heart – you need to ask yourself if you are genuinely born from above.
The final test is that when you sin and don’t confess it – does the LORD chasten you with weakness, sickness and pre-mature death? If there is no genuine chastening because of sin in our life there is no genuine salvation.
David understands that we are aliens and pilgrims in this world it is the next world that we need to be prepared to face. The only hope we have is through a personal relationship with the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Do you and I have such a relationship? Can we pray with David about what we base your hope on for eternity?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 17 I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, which are present here, to off willingly unto you. (7521 “pleasure” [ratsah] means accept, delight, enjoy, be favorable to someone, be well disposed, acceptable, or to be pleased with)
DEVOTION: Too often people look at outward appearance of a person rather than to get to know them in a deep personal relationship. We know people usually on a surface basis unless we have known them for a very long time and spend quality time with finding out just what they think about certain issues.
God looks deeper into a person’s life and knows what they are thinking at ALL TIMES. There is not a thought that comes to our mind that the LORD does not know and use to judge our motives and attitudes.
David is praying to the LORD with this type of understanding in mind when he states that the LORD delights in uprightness or right living from the inside out.
The basis of his prayer is his giving to the LORD in preparation for the building of the Temple. HE knows the motives and attitudes of David concerning his collecting of the material for the building of the Temple.
He compliments the giving of the people toward their giving to the material of the Temple and the offering that was taken for that purpose. It is great when there is an offering taken that pleases the LORD in the local church because the people have an attitude of giving that pleases the LORD.
Our attitude is known to the LORD each day when we come into HIS presence. We are to be givers because we are saying thank you to the LORD for all the blessings HE has given us. There should never be a negative attitude when we are giving. There should never be an attitude that we are giving to get more. There should always be an attitude of giving of praise and thanksgiving.
Should you be complimented for your giving to the LORD this last month? Should I be complimented for my giving to the LORD this last month?
CHALLENGE: Always remember that God looks at our attitude when we give to HIM to support HIS ministries. HE looks at our heart!!!
_______________________________________________________
: 19 And give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep YOUR commandments, YOUR testimonies, and YOUR statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision. (7999 “perfect” [shalam] means untouched, complete, whole undivided, constituting the full quantity or extent, sound, completed, finished, uninjured, accurate, or fully devoted)
DEVOTION: This is a request or prayer of any father who would like their son to honor the LORD for the rest of his life. Solomon was given the responsibility of becoming the king of a nation that was to honor the LORD in everything they did. It was a task that would be hard because human beings have a hard time keeping their hearts right with God.
It has to start with good leadership and David was praying that his son would be a good leader that honored and obeyed the LORD. It would not be easy as those who were to follow him were also sinners who wanted to do what they pleased. It is a battle first for the leader to be the person the LORD wants them to be and then to lead the rest of those who were to be his followers to follow the LORD as well.
Today we have the same task given to the pastor of a local church. First the pastor has to be a genuine follower of the LORD. He has to be looking to the LORD for guidance. He has to be willing to listen to others who are genuinely trying to follow the LORD.
If a church is to honor the LORD it has to have leaders who want to follow the LORD first and foremost every day. This means they need to constantly in prayer about what the LORD want them to do personally and then what they are to do as leaders of the congregation.
Today the challenges are great and the closeness with the LORD is something that takes genuine work to keep themselves in close relationship with HIM and then to lead the people of the church into a close walk with HIM.
CHALLENGE: Many fail in this task because of the absence of prayer and fasting on a regular basis. The world is moving in on the church because of this. Prayer and fasting is necessary to win the battle.
__________________________________________________________________
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Provisions made for Temple verse 2- 8, 19
Offered willingly verse 6
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
David’s prayer of thanksgiving verse 11- 19
Greatness of the LORD
Power of the LORD
Glory of the LORD
Victory of the LORD
Majesty of the LORD
Ownership of world
Head of all
Wealth comes from the LORD
Strength comes from the LORD
LORD tries the heart
Pleasure in uprightness
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
House of MY God verse 2, 3
Holy house verse 3
House of God verse 7
House of the LORD verse 8
David blessed the LORD verse 10
Congregation of Israel
worshiped the LORD verse 20- 22
Bowed down head
Sacrificed sacrifices
Burnt offerings
Eat and drink before the LORD
Zadok – priest verse 22
______________________________________________________________
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Abraham verse 18
Isaac verse 18
Israel (Jacob) verse 18
Commandments verse 19
Testimonies verse 19
Statutes verse 19
Book of Samuel verse 29
Book of Nathan verse 29
Book of Gad verse 29
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator) verse 1- 3, 7, 13,
16- 18
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 5, 8- 11, 16, 18
LORD God verse 1
House of God verse 7
House of the LORD verse 8
LORD our God verse 16
LORD God of Abraham, Isaac,
and of Israel verse 18
LORD your God verse 20
LORD magnified Solomon verse 25
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Chosen verse 1
Affection verse 3
Willing to serve verse 5
Willing to give verse 6, 9, 14, 17
Perfect heart verse 9
Great joy verse 9
Prayer of blessing verse 10
Strength verse 12
Thankful verse 13
Praise verse 13
Uprightness verse 17
Joy verse 17
Imagination of the thoughts verse 18
Prepared heart verse 18
Perfect heart verse 19
Keep commandments verse 19
Bless the LORD verse 20
Bowed down head to the LORD verse 20
Worship the LORD verse 20
Great gladness verse 22
Anointed verse 22
Prospered verse 23
Obeyed verse 23
Submitting verse 24
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
David verse 1, 9- 30
Reigned 40 years
Solomon verse 1, 19, 23- 25, 28
Magnified by LORD
Tribes of Israel verse 6
Strangers before the LORD verse 15
Sojourners before the LORD verse 15
Days of our life are a shadow verse 15
Princes verse 24
Mighty men verse 24
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
David died verse 28
__________________________________________________________
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church, please use that method. Thank you.
_____________________________________________________________
QUOTES regarding passage
29:10–20 The great thanksgiving. Those living in the Chronicler’s times may have had no hope of ever experiencing such a splendid occasion as this, but he wants to bring out the underlying principle: this God is real in all ages (10, 18) and to him belong all things (11, 14). Naturally therefore all this abundance (16), everything that any generation sees when it counts its blessings, comes from God too. This truth arouses once more wholehearted joy and generosity (17, 19).
There are parts of this memorable prayer which God’s people have made their own ever since. Even the solemn words of v 15 should, paradoxically, inspire confidence: the golden age of David has no more permanence than any other, and that age, like every age, finds its hope (its ‘abiding’, rsv) only in David’s never-failing Lord. (Wilcock, M. J. (1994). 1 and 2 Chronicles. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., pp. 401–402). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.)
____________________________________________________________
Worship through Giving (29:1–30). David exhorted the assembly to follow his example of stewardship. The people rejoiced when they saw their leaders give willingly and liberally. David led Israel in worship, praising God for His greatness and acknowledging that the gifts came from the Lord Himself. The congregation recognized Solomon as their king and Zadok as their priest and pledged their allegiance. The Lord exalted Solomon in the eyes of Israel.
David died after forty years of service to the Lord. The Chronicler concluded by referring the reader to the records of Samuel, Nathan, and Gad, which give a comprehensive account of David’s reign. (Mathews, K. A. (1998). The Historical Books. In D. S. Dockery (Ed.), Holman concise Bible commentary (p. 162). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
______________________________________________________________
David leads in corporate prayer by reciting a psalm (29:10–20). Its theme, the sovereignty of God, occurs frequently in Chronicles. Greatness, power, majesty, authority, and wealth; all these belong to God (vv. 11–12). This is the God whom David is praising and to whom David and the people give their offerings.
Having praised God with a psalm, David offers a prose commentary on the incongruity of feeble, insignificant men “giving” to an infinitely wealthy, powerful, sovereign God. The insignificance of man is stated in powerful, graphic language. David and the people are merely returning to God what is already his. David prays that deep sincerity in the people’s ritual life will continue. (Bowling, A. C. (1995). 1-2 Chronicles. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 278). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.)
_____________________________________________________________
Ver. 12. Both riches and honour come of thee, &c.] Whatever of either the children of men have is not owing to their merits, nor to their diligence and industry, and wise conduct, but to the providence of God, Eccl. 9:11; Psal. 75:6, 7. so the gods with the Heathens are said to be givers of riches: and thou reignest over all; governest the world by wisdom, and disposest all things in it for the best: in thine hand is power and might; to do whatsoever he pleaseth: and in thine hand it is to make great; in worldly things, and so in spiritual: and to give strength unto all; against their enemies, and to do the will and work of God; of all which David had had an experience. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 46). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
___________________________________________________________
10–12. Now we come to the most interesting part of all this beautiful scene. David knew his end to be near. David convened his people, his princes, his son. David addressed them all affectionately: but the chief point of all is yet to be done. He now looks up to the Lord. Here, Reader! is the first, and best, and chief end of all. In Jesus the soul finds all its blessedness center. But let us hear what David saith. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: 1 Kings–Esther (Vol. 3, p. 420). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
___________________________________________________________
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
_________________________________________________________
The more normal Qal construction occurs initially in Gen 33:10 to describe Jacob’s wishes toward Esau. rāṣâ is frequently used in prayers (Deut 33:11, 24) and religious greetings (II Sam 24:23). The root frequently describes God’s pleasure with his servants, particularly referred to the Messiah (Isa 42:1). rāṣâ serves as the “B” word in the beautiful parallel phrases of Ps 147:10 [H 11]. The “A” word in the first hemistich is a synonym, ḥāpēs (q.v.). rāṣâ is also used in passages dealing with the favor of men (Mal 1:8) and a father’s son (Prov 3:12). It is used in contexts requiring the favor of a king (I Sam 29:4) or the favor of a people for their king (II Chr 10:7). It is used of the satisfaction of a debt both in the sense of atonement for sin (Mic 6:7) and fulfillment of ritual requirements (II Chr 36:21). In an obscure and difficult passage (Job 14:6) the root rāṣâ seems at first out of place until carefully translated. Job mourns the frailty of mankind, “Look away from him, so that he can rest, so that he may enjoy his (single) day like a hired man.” RSV confuses the use of the root. (White, W. (1999). 2207 רָצָה. (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke, Eds.)Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press.)
________________________________________________________
A SEED OF LIFE
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:3
The change in my disposition does not mean that I have a greater intellect now than I had before. No, I have exactly the same intellect, the same mind. But because the disposition governing it is changed, my mind is operating in a different realm and in a different way, and it seems to be a new mind. And it is exactly the same with the feelings. A man who used to hate the Gospel now loves it. A woman who hated the Lord Jesus Christ now loves Him. And likewise with the will: The will earlier resisted, it was obstinate and rebellious; but now it desires, it is anxious, it is concerned about the Gospel.
The next thing that we say is that it is a change that is instantaneous. Now do you see the importance of differentiating between generation and coming to birth? Generation, by definition, is always an instantaneous act. There is a moment, a flash, in which the germ of life enters, impregnates; that is one instantaneous action. In other words, there are no intermediate stages in regeneration. Life is either implanted or it is not; it cannot be partly implanted. It is not gradual. When I say that it is instantaneous, I am not referring to our consciousness of it, but to the thing itself, as it is done by God. The consciousness, of course, comes into the realm of time, whereas this act of germination is timeless, and that is why it is immediate.
So the next thing is that generation, the implanting of this seed of life and the change of the disposition, happens in the subconscious, or, if you prefer, in the unconscious. Our Lord explained that fully to Nicodemus (John 3). It is a secret, inscrutable operation that cannot be directly perceived by us; indeed, we cannot even fully understand it. The first thing we know about it is that it has happened, because we are conscious of something different, but that means that we do not understand it and that we really cannot arrive at its secret.
A Thought to Ponder: The will earlier resisted, it was obstinate and rebellious;
but now it is concerned about the Gospel. (From God the Holy Spirit, p. 81. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
_______________________________________________________
There are certain moments in history, such as the end of the Roman Empire or the Enlightenment, when it’s obvious how much the cultural ground has shifted. Cultural norms that worked before to foster social cohesion no longer suffice. Certain ideas and shared ways of thinking can no longer be taken for granted. At these “hinge points,” Christians are forced to remember who we are and to rethink our place in the overarching story of redemption.
This is one of those hinge points. The cultural ground has shifted quickly, and it’s disorienting. Many Christians struggle to know how to live in this strange cultural moment. Even committed Christians who study the Scriptures and attend church can struggle to make sense of it all. Even those with lots of answers to lots of questions, who’ve collected many pieces of truth from sermons, books, and wonderful teachers can struggle to know how those pieces fit together within the larger narrative of God’s story.
Our faith can feel fragmented and too far away, disconnected from day-to-day life in twenty-first century America. It’s as if we have logical answers, but people are now asking different questions. It’s as if too many Christians know the primary truth-claims of Christianity, but not how they fit into our lives. It’s as if we have this vast armory of truth, but we don’t know how to wield the weapons effectively.
Over the next year, the Colson Center will expand the ways in which we help Christians become more deeply grounded in the True Story of reality. This is so that they can better make sense of the world and connect more deeply with others who are committed to embodying what’s true and good in this cultural moment. Specifically, the Colson Center will serve parents, grandparents, pastors, teachers, and other faithful Christians who are called to prepare the next generation for the challenges of this cultural moment.
I’m humbled and driven by what God is choosing to do through the Colson Center. Last year, during the tumult of 2020, every single program of the Colson Center grew, including these BreakPoint commentaries, our newer podcasts, the quarterly short courses, the What Would You Say? video series, and especially the Wilberforce Weekend.
In addition, the Colson Center partnered with the Association of Christian Schools International to train thousands of teachers through the innovative “Worldviews and Cultural Fluency” training program. This effort to “disciple the disciplers” continues to grow and expand, with homeschool parents and educators committed to passing on a Christian worldview to the young people in their care.
Over 450 Colson Fellows were commissioned in May, having completed a year of in-depth reading, study, and planning in Christian worldview. By all indicators, the number of Colson Fellows will increase this coming year, with regional cohorts in even more cities, filled with Christians seeking to serve God in the time and place where He has put them. Increasingly, schools and churches are homes for Colson Fellows training, providing opportunities for their staff to shape the work and outreach in their institutions. (Break Point)
______________________________________________________
1 Kings 19
Elijah flees from Jezebel, and the Lord ministers to him after saving him.
INSIGHT
On the heels of the stupendous victory over the prophets of Baal, Elijah falls into despair. He fears for his own life in the face of Jezebel’s threat and flees to a lonely mountain for safety–to lick his wounds and mourn his fate. How shameful that this great prophet would call down fire from heaven one day and flee for his life the next. We all have feet of clay. Notice though that God does not berate him. Rather, He ministers to him quietly, restoring his spirit and strength. Then God calls Elijah back into His service again. God cares when we are hurt and discouraged and gently calls us to Himself for new strength. (Quiet Walk)
_________________________________________________________________
FORSAKING SIN
And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments. For the LORD had said unto Moses, “Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiff-necked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee. And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb”. Exodus 33:4-6
We have not repented truly until we have done that. It means that having had this profound realization of our sinfulness, especially in His sight, our one desire now is to do everything we can that is well pleasing in His sight. And that means forsaking sin and doing His commandments: “Put off thy ornaments.” And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments. Yes, it was these ornaments that had led to their downfall. These were like the things out of which the golden calf had been made. And they hated the very thought of the whole thing. God says, “Strip yourselves of them.” And they stripped themselves.
You have only to read Christian biographies and the story of revivals to see exactly what I mean. There is always this stripping. Men and women are aware that they have been doing things they should not do. Not very harmful things perhaps in and of themselves, but they stand between them and God, so they must go. Ornaments vanish. The people strip themselves. And they give themselves to God in a new consecration and in a new dedication.
This, I say again, is the very essence of repentance. But we realize that we must act. We have to take some steps. Every one of us has to be stripped of something. When a man realizes his sinfulness and sees that the state of the church is due to the fact that he and others like him are so sinful, a true repentance will lead each one to such an examination.
A Thought to Ponder
The people give themselves to God in a new consecration and in a new dedication.
(From Revival, pp. 159-160, by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
__________________________________________________________
Jesus Christ Is Lord
“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:11)
Throughout the New Testament, we find there are three names in primary usage for the Son of God: Jesus, Christ, and Lord. The name Jesus, meaning “Jehovah is the Savior,” is His human name, linking Him with humanity whom He came to save. Christ, meaning “anointed,” is His Messianic name, linking Him with the prophecy that He came to fulfill. The New Testament equivalent to the Hebrew word Jehovah is the word “Lord,” linking Him with deity whom He came to represent and reveal, and to whom is due homage.
These three names have a chronological emphasis, for until His crucifixion He was known primarily as “Jesus,” but after His resurrection and ascension He was preeminent as “Christ.” When He returns, it will be as “Lord” to reign. To be sure, there is overlap, for He is simultaneously all three and has been throughout history. But the general pattern is clear.
The three names also indicate His threefold office and work. “Jesus” suggests His career as a prophet, teaching men the truth, while “Christ” suggests His priesthood, atoning for sin, and “Lord” His Kingship, ruling over men. Mankind’s relationship and responsibility to Him follow this same pattern: obedience to Him as prophet, faith in Him as priest, surrender to Him as King.
There is no effort on the part of the Scripture writers to separate these names into different individuals, for on many if not most occasions two or three of the names are combined, showing that these three names reference one and the same person. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
____________________________________________________________
We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.