Category Archives: Prayer

His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Learning To Pray Effectively, Seeking God

Let Me Know Your Ways

Our prayers and conversations with YHWH do not have to be complicated. We do not get “bonus points” for large words. We do best when we simply set our hearts to trust in Him and talk with Him as we would a Father whom we love and respect.

For the full context of Exodus 33:13, click the link and read the full chapter. I am focusing on a particular verse for today’s consideration.

Exodus 33:13

13“Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight.

What a wonderful and simple prayer from Moses. Let us not be afraid to ask the Lord for His help so that we may know His ways and know Him. Why? So we can be rich or happy? No. So we might find more favor in His sight. In our relationship with Him then we find peace and joy and hope.

When is the last time your prayer was focused on asking the Lord to help you know His ways and know Him more so as to find favor in His sight? If you consider the full context of the scripture you will also see that Moses was not just talking the whole time. He allowed time for the Lord to speak and for him to listen. A good way to invest our time for which most of us need more practice.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Grace / Forgiveness, Humility, Justice / Judgment, Learning To Pray Effectively, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God

Humility, Prayer, Seeking God, and Turning from Sin

As we read in 2 Chronicles 7, we see God giving a promise and a warning to Solomon about the relationship between God and His people. We should pay attention. God does not change. This gives us insight into our relationship with our Father still today.

2 Chronicles 7:11-22

God’s Promise and Warning

      11Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king’s palace, a

nd successfully completed all that he had planned on doing in the house of the LORD and in his palace.

      12Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13“If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15“Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. 16“For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 17“As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, even to do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, 18then I will establish your royal throne as I covenanted with your father David, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to be ruler in Israel.’

      19“But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 20then I will uproot you from My land which I have given you, and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 21“As for this house, which was exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’ 22“And they will say, ‘Because they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers who brought them from the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this adversity on them.’”

Keep in mind that this is all about God’s people. It is not about “those non believers” who live among us. It is those who follow Yahweh, remembering that Yeshua is the way to the Father.

“My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Yes, those who identify as followers of Yeshua need to turn from their wicked ways, often where they have blended and mixed with culture around them instead of being holy, being set apart. We need to humble ourselves, pray, seek God, and repent. This is a recipe we should embrace today. Our nation is very wicked and continuing to trend away from God and toward more wickedness. We need God’s help.

We should also heed the warning. Our obedience to His statutes and commandments is important to Him. And do not dismiss this as “Old Testament” or “Before Christ”. Yeshua Himself spoke of this and is recorded in multiple scriptures such as  John 14:15 (“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.)

  19“But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 20then I will uproot you from My land which I have given you, and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 21“As for this house, which was exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’ 22“And they will say, ‘Because they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers who brought them from the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this adversity on them.’”

Ask God to open your eyes for how this applies to our nation and to ourselves today. Do not dismiss it. We are very much in need of repentance among God’s people and our nation is in need of healing.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please open the eyes of Your people to their sin and the sin of their nation. Please lead us to a place of humility and seeking You in prayer. Help us to understand and turn from our wicked ways and pursue You wholeheartedly. Help raise up leaders among Your people to lead them in repentance and prayer and in taking action to recapture godly values in our society. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Grace / Forgiveness, Learning To Pray Effectively, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Thankfulness

The Treatment for Sin: Repentance and Turning to God

Too often Christians lean heavily on God forgiving them no matter what they do or don’t do. They act as if they do not really understand that a covenant often has conditions for both parties. We can be reminded of some important considerations that are still relevant today in our relationship with the LORD when we read about Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the temple.

Look for a few key elements while you read through:

  • Praise the LORD, and do that first. Reflect on His glory. What an honor to be invited into covenant with the creator of the universe!
  • Acknowledge the promises of God, either personal ones He has made to you or the more broad ones laid out in the Biblical text, like salvation through Christ if we make Him LORD of our lives.
  • Sin separates us from God and He can become displeased or angry with us. This is not because He is bad, but rather because we have sinned. He may choose to bring defeat or challenges into our lives as a result to get our attention or simply remove His protection.
  • Sin can affect an individual or a nation at large.
  • Do not assume sin that angers God is what is being done by the non Christians. Solomon was clearly speaking about sin among those who are God’s people. The same still applies to us. Look first at the repentance needed within ourselves and the body of Christ.
  • When we find ourselves separated from God and experiencing the trials associated with losing His blessing or gaining His punishment, we are the ones who need to change rather than Him. We are to repent and turn from our wicked ways and turn toward Him. It is more than saying “I’m sorry” and continuing to sin. Repenting reflects a change in heart and results in change in actions and behaviors.

2 Chronicles 6:12-42

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

      12Then he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13Now Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14He said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart; 15who has kept with Your servant David, my father, that which You have promised him; indeed You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. 16“Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David, my father, that which You have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way, to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’ 17“Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, let Your word be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant David.

      18“But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built. 19“Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You; 20that Your eye may be open toward this house day and night, toward the place of which You have said that You would put Your name there, to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place. 21“Listen to the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place; hear from Your dwelling place, from heaven; hear and forgive.

      22“If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath, and he comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this house, 23then hear from heaven and act and judge Your servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

      24“If Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this house, 25then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You have given to them and to their fathers.

      26“When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin when You afflict them; 27then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel, indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people for an inheritance.

      28“If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, if there is locust or grasshopper, if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities, whatever plague or whatever sickness there is, 29whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own pain, and spreading his hands toward this house, 30then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men, 31that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land which You have given to our fathers.

      32“Also concerning the foreigner who is not from Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your great name’s sake and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray toward this house, 33then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, and fear You as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name.

      34“When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way You shall send them, and they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name, 35then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

      36“When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to a land far off or near, 37if they take thought in the land where they are taken captive, and repent and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have committed iniquity and have acted wickedly’; 38if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which You have given to their fathers and the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name, 39then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, their prayer and supplications, and maintain their cause and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.

      40“Now, O my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.

      41“Now therefore arise, O LORD God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might; let Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation and let Your godly ones rejoice in what is good.

      42“O LORD God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed; remember Your lovingkindness to Your servant David.”

Many may read this and say, “I’m glad God has not turned against us”, but I would observe that I believe our nation and much of the world is far from God and we are suffering the results of those choices. Where individuals remain faithful, the majority of people across our nation have turned cold or directly against God or simply acknowledge Him without really walking in His commands, still doing whatever they feel is right.

Now is a good time for us as a people to repent and ask God for forgiveness and help to restore the righteousness of our nation. Remember, repent is an action verb, not simply “I’m sorry”.  It may start with “I’m sorry”, but then should be reflected by changes in our life.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please reveal to me my sins and the sins of my nation and Your people. Help me to repent fully and lead others to do likewise. Please open the eyes of Your people and lead them to repent and return to You. Help us know what actions to take individually and collectively to bring back Your favor and righteousness across our land and across the world. Uphold the righteous and defeat the plans of the wicked, letting them be caught in their own traps. Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Humility, Learning To Pray Effectively, Seeking God, Speaking, Submitted / Servant, Teachable, Wise

Speak, For Your Servant Is Listening

Samuel was a great prophet of the Lord. What can we learn from how he connected with the Lord when he was still a child?

  • He listened to the advice of one elder than himself, even though that person was far from perfect.
  • He responded to YHWH’s call with utmost simplicity… no complicated prayer needed. “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
  • Then… he did something amazing that most of us don’t do… he stopped talking to YHWH and started listening.
  • He shared the word that the Lord gave him even though he was scared to do so.

We should do likewise.

1 Samuel 3:1-14

The Prophetic Call to Samuel

     1Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.

      2It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well), 3and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was, 4that the LORD called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.” 5Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6The LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he answered, “I did not call, my son, lie down again.” 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him. 8So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. 9And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

      10Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” 11The LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12“In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13“For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them. 14“Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”

      15So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. But Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” 17He said, “What is the word that He spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the words that He spoke to you.” 18So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him.”

      19Thus Samuel grew and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fail. 20All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. 21And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, because the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

Blessed, Learning To Pray Effectively, Money / Finances / Wealth, Peace / Rest, Protector / Deliverer, Provider

Jabez Was More Honorable Than His Brothers

Almost buried in a section of historical family lineage in 1 Chronicles is a brief excerpt, limited to two verses, about a man named Jabez for whom God answered his prayer. Like so many parts of scripture, it is waiting for us to find it and explore the depths of God’s word, like buried treasure.

It is worthwhile to pause and reflect on these verses.

1 Chronicles4:9-10

9Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.” 10Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.

Quite some time ago, someone wrote a book about “the prayer of Jabez” and people got almost in a craze about it. The problem is that many focused on only his prayer. They wanted to turn it into some formula whereby if anyone repeats the words they force God to bless them also. However, this is not how a relationship with the Lord works. We don’t control Him. We don’t get His power by rehearsing specific words like some sort of spell.

Matthew 6:7-8

     7“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8“So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

The prayer of Jabez was an honorable prayer. He asked for God’s blessing and asked for God’s protection from harm. These are good things to pray for. Let us also take care not to overlook that he also asked for God’s hand to be with Him and he was honorable in his life.

Jabez was not simply asking for more land and less pain, but also for a relationship with God and living his life in accordance with what God directed.

The path to living with the peace and joy of the Lord is one of submitting to him and building relationship with him. You can not and should not try to skip the relationship with God in pursuit of controlling him to give you the outcomes you want. As you build relationship with him, you will also discover that the relationship is the real treasure… that his hand would be with us.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Blessed, Learning To Pray Effectively, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant

Seek Relationship with God and Blessings Will Follow

We all want blessings from our Father, however often we do not know how or do not choose to invest in our relationship with our Father. I observe in 2 Chronicles an interesting sequence in Solomon’s interaction with the LORD.

First, Solomon worships the LORD. He brings sacrifice. He did not just check a box. He offered a thousand burnt offerings.

Second, the LORD approaches Solomon to ask what blessing he would want. Although we can seek the LORD and ask Him, we can also see that Solomon did not even pursue this request. He simply pursued God.

Third, when asked by the LORD, Solomon choose unselfishly. He chose a gift that would help him lead others and glorify God through His people. God really liked his attitude.

Fourth, the LORD blessed Solomon abundantly.

It is a good reminder that we should pursue the LORD and not just pursue blessings from Him. He is not a vending machine for our personal desires. He is our Creator and Father.

2 Chronicles 1

Solomon Worships at Gibeon

      1Now Solomon the son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and exalted him greatly.

      2Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households. 3Then Solomon and all the assembly with him went to the high place which was at Gibeon, for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. 4However, David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5Now the bronze altar, which Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the LORD, and Solomon and the assembly sought it out. 6Solomon went up there before the LORD to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

      7In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.”

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

      8Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made me king in his place. 9“Now, O LORD God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10“Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?” 11God said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, 12wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you.” 13So Solomon went from the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.

Solomon’s Wealth

      14Solomon amassed chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem. 15The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamores in the lowland. 16Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue; the king’s traders procured them from Kue for a price. 17They imported chariots from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver apiece and horses for 150 apiece, and by the same means they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.

Take some time to prayerfully reflect on your primary focus in seeking the LORD. Are you pursuing Him? or something you want from Him? It makes a difference in our attitude and reflects what is in our hearts. It is fine to ask Him for help, but that should not be our only focus in seeking Him. Ask Him to help you with that, so that your heart would truly seek relationship with the LORD and not just avoiding hell or getting something to help in this life.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please give me a heart that desires to pursue You. Thank You for the blessings You do provide for me. Thank You for salvation and forgiveness through Christ when I don’t deserve it. Please help develop in me whatever talents and gifts You want me to have to bring glory and honor to You. Amen. 

Obviously, we can and should pray for others in this way as well.

Shalom.

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Arrogance, Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Grace / Forgiveness, Learning To Pray Effectively, Merciful, Pride

Pray Humbly and Wholeheartedly for Personal Repentance

For those of us who wish to truly submit to Yeshua and follow him, we must be willing to humbly admit our faults in order to change them. Yeshua provides a wonderful example of a sinful man who genuinely comes before YHWH for repentance and contrasts that with someone who is praying in a noticeably prideful manner. I encourage each of us to thoughtfully and humbly read the scripture from Luke and then come before our father in genuine humility, admitting our sins, and ask for genuine forgiveness with wholehearted commitment to repent and sin no more.

Luke 18:9-14

9And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11“The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13“But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14“I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

All of us remain sinful, no matter where we are in our journey. Take time to identify an area in which you need change and come before YHWH with pure motive and pure heart, privately, and ask forgiveness and ask his help with repentance. Then work consciously to change your wrong behavior and he will help you. Avoid the trap of just asking forgiveness and then continuing in your sin, without repentance and change on your part. If you refuse to change, that is not true repentance and acknowledgment that you are wrong. There is a distinction between having difficulty changing and refusing to change or not trying. Often we will need his help to change our ways as it is difficult for us.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Consequences of Sin, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Interceding for Others, Justice / Judgment, Merciful, Pride, Repenting from Sin, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

A Case Study in Temptation, Sin, Punishment and Repentance

The Bible is anything but boring. There is much excitement, drama, and intrigue. We see the best, and the worst, of people. All seems to be laid bare for us to learn from as we study.

David was a great king and a man after God’s own heart, yet we see where Satan tempted him and led him into prideful sin, angering Yahweh. Following the example of Job, perhaps we must acknowledge also that God allowed Satan to tempt David in this way, perhaps to expose his pride to deal with it. Some of this is a bit of speculation.

As we read 1 Chronicles 21, we may even not fully understand why conducting a census was wrong, but clearly Joab recognized it and counseled David against it. Thus we see David knew better and ultimately made a mistake. It was not that he was acting without the knowledge that this could be displeasing to Yahweh.

1 Chronicles 21

Census Brings Pestilence

      1Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel. 2So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their number.” 3Joab said, “May the LORD add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?” 4Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. 5Joab gave the number of the census of all the people to David. And all Israel were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword; and Judah was 470,000 men who drew the sword. 6But he did not number Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s command was abhorrent to Joab.

      7God was displeased with this thing, so He struck Israel. 8David said to God, “I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”

      9The LORD spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying, 10“Go and speak to David, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “I offer you three things; choose for yourself one of them, which I will do to you.”’” 11So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Take for yourself 12either three years of famine, or three months to be swept away before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now, therefore, consider what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.” 13David said to Gad, “I am in great distress; please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

      14So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel; 70,000 men of Israel fell. 15And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but as he was about to destroy it, the LORD saw and was sorry over the calamity, and said to the destroying angel, “It is enough; now relax your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16Then David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, with his drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, covered with sackcloth, fell on their faces. 17David said to God, “Is it not I who commanded to count the people? Indeed, I am the one who has sinned and done very wickedly, but these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Your hand be against me and my father’s household, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.”

David’s Altar

      18Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19So David went up at the word of Gad, which he spoke in the name of the LORD. 20Now Ornan turned back and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. And Ornan was threshing wheat. 21As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out from the threshing floor and prostrated himself before David with his face to the ground. 22Then David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of this threshing floor, that I may build on it an altar to the LORD; for the full price you shall give it to me, that the plague may be restrained from the people.” 23Ornan said to David, “Take it for yourself; and let my lord the king do what is good in his sight. See, I will give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for wood and the wheat for the grain offering; I will give it all.” 24But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price; for I will not take what is yours for the LORD, or offer a burnt offering which costs me nothing.” 25So David gave Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the site. 26Then David built an altar to the LORD there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And he called to the LORD and He answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. 27The LORD commanded the angel, and he put his sword back in its sheath.

      28At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he offered sacrifice there. 29For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were in the high place at Gibeon at that time. 30But David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was terrified by the sword of the angel of the LORD.

We see a case study of Satan leading someone into sin, pride, ignoring the advice of counselor and friend, Yahweh angered and rebukes Israel, and we see David in full and genuine repentance followed by Yahweh’s forgiveness. It is an action packed chapter to be sure and a model for us to study on several accounts.

  • Beware of Satan and his temptations. Spiritual warfare is real. To ignore or underestimate the enemy is to set yourself up to lose battles.
  • Listen carefully to wise counsel from trusted advisors. Truly consider it and not just what you already decided that you want to do.
  • When you have sinned and recognize it, don’t deny it or try to hide it. Come clean and repent before Yahweh, asking forgiveness and mercy. Accept what judgment He decides as consequence.
  • Don’t let someone else pay for your sin. David paid for the property and sacrifices even when offered as a gift from someone else.
  • If your sin has affected others, intercede on their behalf and ask they not be punished due to your guilt.
  • Trust more in the mercy of Yahweh than the mercy of human enemies.
  • Remember that the LORD is righteous and just and He is worthy of fear and reverence. Do not fall into the trap of thinking He is ok with whatever you do and however you live just because He does not strike you down immediately. He let the census take place before bringing consequences.
  • The LORD is not harsh or bad because He punishes us. It is our own sin that is the issue. Don’t blame Him.

If you want to study more about why the census was a sin, consider the following as on perspective on it, Why was God so angry at David for taking the census_ _ GotQuestions.org.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to learn from this case study in temptation, spiritual warfare, sin and repentance. Help me to respect and honor who You are and what You call me to do (and not to do). Help me to draw near to You and live according to Your ways. Help me to stand firm against Satan and his temptations when they come. Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Learning To Pray Effectively, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Thankfulness, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Yahweh Is Worthy of Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship

We can all learn from David’s example to seek to honor Yahweh, and than also give thanks and praise to Him and be truly joyful doing it. In fact the psalm of thanksgiving embedded here is worth reading, praying or for some perhaps even singing in our own walk with the LORD.

1 Chronicles 16

A Tent for the Ark

      1And they brought in the ark of God and placed it inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. 2When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. 3He distributed to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread and a portion of meat and a raisin cake.

      4He appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the LORD, even to celebrate and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel: 5Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom and Jeiel, with musical instruments, harps, lyres; also Asaph played loud-sounding cymbals, 6and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests blew trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

      7Then on that day David first assigned Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the LORD.

Psalm of Thanksgiving

8Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.

      9Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.

      10Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.

      11Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His face continually.

      12Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done,
His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,

      13O seed of Israel His servant,
Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!

      14He is the LORD our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.

      15Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,

      16The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac.

      17He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,

      18Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,
As the portion of your inheritance.”

      19When they were only a few in number,
Very few, and strangers in it,

      20And they wandered about from nation to nation,
And from one kingdom to another people,

      21He permitted no man to oppress them,
And He reproved kings for their sakes, saying,

      22“Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.”

      23Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.

      24Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

      25For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
He also is to be feared above all gods.

      26For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.

      27Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.

      28Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

      29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him;
Worship the LORD in holy array.

      30Tremble before Him, all the earth;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

      31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.”

      32Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
Let the field exult, and all that is in it.

      33Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD;
For He is coming to judge the earth.

      34O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

      35Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation,
And gather us and deliver us from the nations,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
And glory in Your praise.”

      36Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
From everlasting even to everlasting.
Then all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD.

Worship before the Ark

      37So he left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required; 38and Obed-edom with his 68 relatives; Obed-edom, also the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah as gatekeepers. 39He left Zadok the priest and his relatives the priests before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place which was at Gibeon, 40to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which He commanded Israel. 41With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because His lovingkindness is everlasting. 42And with them were Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who should sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun for the gate.

      43Then all the people departed each to his house, and David returned to bless his household.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please grant me the passion to pray, worship, praise and spend time building relationship with You. Let me not get distracted by all the business of my everyday life. Help me truly find joy in You. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Faithful, Justice / Judgment, Learning To Pray Effectively, Loving / Kind, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Protector / Deliverer, Thankfulness, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Praise the LORD at All Times!

Even when we experience difficult situations, let us praise YHWH and reflect on His glory and who He is and His great works. I encourage you to read Psalms more like a guide and praise Yahweh as He is praised in Psalms and pray through the Psalms.

Psalm 147 is also a good reminder that it is ok to ask for and thank Yahweh for restoration and prosperity.

Psalm 147

Praise for Jerusalem’s Restoration and Prosperity.

     1Praise the LORD!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.

      2The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers the outcasts of Israel.

      3He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.

      4He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them.

      5Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite.

      6The LORD supports the afflicted;
He brings down the wicked to the ground.

      7Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
Sing praises to our God on the lyre,

      8Who covers the heavens with clouds,
Who provides rain for the earth,
Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.

      9He gives to the beast its food,
And to the young ravens which cry.

      10He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.

      11The LORD favors those who fear Him,
Those who wait for His lovingkindness.

      12Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!

      13For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your sons within you.

      14He makes peace in your borders;
He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat.

      15He sends forth His command to the earth;
His word runs very swiftly.

      16He gives snow like wool;
He scatters the frost like ashes.

      17He casts forth His ice as fragments;
Who can stand before His cold?

      18He sends forth His word and melts them;
He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.

      19He declares His words to Jacob,
His statutes and His ordinances to Israel.

      20He has not dealt thus with any nation;
And as for His ordinances, they have not known them.
Praise the LORD!

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.