Who to follow?

Today, in 1 Chronicles 10-16 we read again about David. This reading is different from 1 Samuel in that it was written by one of priestly lineage, thus notice the emphasis on priestly duties and even the lengthy lists of those serving in that role.
Again, a main point is made of the difference between Saul and David. David chose to follow and seek the Lord. Saul did not. Saul did not have a successful ending. Even when David erred (see ch 13 v 9-11), he learned from those errors and sought God's direction.
Do we learn from our errors? When we do err, do we seek God to help? Do we treat God as a 2nd string QB to bring in when our first one is not performing? Sounds a little like Saul. He tried to do it his way, and the results...well, not too hot.

Have I got a list for you!

We have begun the book of 1 Chronicles, and true to it's name, it is mostly geneaologies of the tribes of Israel. Amazing to me is how far back they can trace their heirtage. That is how important is was for them. I can go back about 3 generations in my family. In 1 Chron 4:9-10 is the Jabez passage. Bruce Wilkinson wrote his famous Prayer of Jabez book from that passage. It does stick out and is full of richness. Have you asked God for enlargement of territory and protection? Enlarging of territory is to give us more opportunity, not more stuff.
1 Chron ch 1-9 are a history of a special people. Leave your legacy with your kids, you might one day be the noted patriarch that changed the direction of your family!

Do we learn from the past?

Feelin lucky today?
Today, we end 2 Kings (22-25) with the last good king Josiah (a man who followed God) and a series of not so good, ending with the exile to Babylon. The Old Testament has come full circle, from creation to exile in Egypt, from deliverance to exile in Babylon. The plight of the wayward nation. Our objects of idolatry might have changed from Asherah poles, but our disobedience is the same. If the people only knew...
How is it that we see success in obedience (see Josiah) yet turn to do things our way. Pride and arrogance...desire to control and be like God...seems to be a fallen nature theme of man. How to break it? Repent, return to the Lord. John the Baptist might have been on to something....

Man's true Titantic failure...self priority and glorification

Thursday already, 100 years after Titantic!
In 2 Kings 18-21, we are reading about King Hezekiah. He sought the Lord. Not just to give him things, he seemed truly inspired and in love with God. See 18:6. Confronted with overwhelming odds against Assyria, he stood by the Lord and remained faithful. For Hezekiah, worshipping God was not a light-hearted effort. He did not treat God as a spiritual gift giver. Look at how we have turned God into a spiritual Santa Claus, wishing only for the gifts without concern to obedience. Worshipping God was a priority for Hezekiah, that is a small half hour ordeal for many of us today. Sure we sing songs during the first half hour of church, but not much more. What about you, is the Lord a priority or a 2nd string QB that you will call on when needed.....

What have we become...

In 2 Kings 13-17 we continue the carousel of kings and violence in both Israel and Judah. Many different kings in both, and each with much failure. Ch 17 v 35-41 sums up the situation rather well, esp v 40. People would not listen and continued to follow old ways. They also worshipped idols.
No, I'm not talking about the USA, although it seems to apply. We also have forgotten our founding and principles that were the force of that founding. Like the times of the judges, everyone did what was right in their own eyes. We worship idols too. Where is the urgency for the Lord? Comfort is what we strive for, and security. We have become a caged lion, declawed.

Warts and all...

Today in 2 Kings 9-12, we read about several kings and their gory demise. This reads like a daytime soap opera, with betrayal after betrayal and murders galore. Almost hard to keep track of it all. The main point is that the kings faithful to God were more successful than who were not, mostly. Even with Godly focus, the faithful still came up short serving God, and were ultimately met with untimely death.
So what does any of this have to do with us today? Glad you asked. I see this as Israel being truthful about her past, warts and all. We cannot escape from the truth, esp the truth of events and happenings of our past. We need learn from them so that we do not repeat! Accountability is key to help us avoid same mistakes of our past. Do not be afraid to acknowledge your truth!

Have your jars?

Today in 2 Kings 4-8, we read various accounts of Elisha, the prophet. These passages seem to jump around quite a bit. Ch 4 has a story about a widow and her 2 sons. Seems the widow is destitute, with only a flask of olive oil left. Rather than providing her with the necessary funds, Elisha directs her to go and borrow as many jars as possible. Jars? Yes that's right, jars. Next, she was to shut the door and pour the oil from the flask into the jars....miraculously, the oil flowed until all the jars were full. Did she go to the end of her faith? If she had more jars, she would have more oil. Her blessings flowed as far as she made her faith in God a priority.
How many jars do you have for God today? Life and it's busyness can cause us to collect few jars.