Category Archives: Seeking God

Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Seeking God, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Bring Praise, Music and Singing as You Seek the LORD

After much work was done to build and prepare the temple as a place to honor the LORD, and everything was prepared, the final important touches were made to bring in the ark other implements set apart for the LORD. Do not miss that there was praising, singing, and music to glorify the LORD. It was not an afterthought. It was planned and coordinated. The LORD was pleased and His glory filled the temple.

2 Chronicles 5

The Ark Is Brought into the Temple

      1Thus all the work that Solomon performed for the house of the LORD was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even the silver and the gold and all the utensils, and put them in the treasuries of the house of God.

      2Then Solomon assembled to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. 3All the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king at the feast, that is in the seventh month. 4Then all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. 5They brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the holy utensils which were in the tent; the Levitical priests brought them up. 6And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him before the ark, were sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 7Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the holy of holies, under the wings of the cherubim. 8For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its poles. 9The poles were so long that the ends of the poles of the ark could be seen in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen outside; and they are there to this day. 10There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

The Glory of God Fills the Temple

      11When the priests came forth from the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to divisions), 12and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and kinsmen, clothed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps and lyres, standing east of the altar, and with them one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets 13in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the LORD saying, “He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting,” then the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, 14so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

When we want to be among the presence of the LORD, do not overlook the value of praise, music, and singing.

I invite you to pray with me:

 Father, You are worthy of praise and honor and glory. I do want to be in Your presence. I want to experience a close relationship with You. I want to bring honor and glory to You! 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.

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.

Courage / Fear, Faithful, Guide, His Timing Not Ours, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Purposeful / Intentional, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant

Know, Love, and Serve the LORD for His Glory

David’s address about the temple in 1 Chronicles 28 is full of meaning. Though David was told he would not be the one to build the temple, which he wanted to build, he worked diligently to prepare the plans, his son and the people so that all was ready to go for Solomon. We should all seek to have such a productive response when God does not grant us the things we ask for or desire.

1 Chronicles 28

David’s Address about the Temple

      1Now David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the commanders of the divisions that served the king, and the commanders of thousands, and the commanders of hundreds, and the overseers of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, with the officials and the mighty men, even all the valiant men. 2Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brethren and my people; I had intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it. 3“But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ 4“Yet, the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. 5“Of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons), He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. 6“He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a father to him. 7‘I will establish his kingdom forever if he resolutely performs My commandments and My ordinances, as is done now.’ 8“So now, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek after all the commandments of the LORD your God so that you may possess the good land and bequeath it to your sons after you forever.

      9“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. 10“Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be courageous and act.”

      11Then David gave to his son Solomon the plan of the porch of the temple, its buildings, its storehouses, its upper rooms, its inner rooms and the room for the mercy seat; 12and the plan of all that he had in mind, for the courts of the house of the LORD, and for all the surrounding rooms, for the storehouses of the house of God and for the storehouses of the dedicated things; 13also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD and for all the utensils of service in the house of the LORD; 14for the golden utensils, the weight of gold for all utensils for every kind of service; for the silver utensils, the weight of silver for all utensils for every kind of service; 15and the weight of gold for the golden lampstands and their golden lamps, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for the silver lampstands, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps according to the use of each lampstand; 16and the gold by weight for the tables of showbread, for each table; and silver for the silver tables; 17and the forks, the basins, and the pitchers of pure gold; and for the golden bowls with the weight for each bowl; and for the silver bowls with the weight for each bowl; 18and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the model of the chariot, even the cherubim that spread out their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

      19“All this,” said David, “the LORD made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, all the details of this pattern.”

      20Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished. 21“Now behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God, and every willing man of any skill will be with you in all the work for all kinds of service. The officials also and all the people will be entirely at your command.”

For David, it was all about God and God’s glory, not about himself. I ask God to help me to be more like this in my attitude.  I want to come back over a few verses for emphasis.

      9“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. 10“Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be courageous and act.”

This is guidance we should all follow, no matter what He calls us to do:

  • Know God and serve Him with whole heart and willing mind. The LORD knows and cares about our intentions and attitude. He cares about “why” we do something, and not just “what” we do.
  • If you seek Him, He will let you find Him. Do not expect full revelation of God from one brief encounter. To seek Him is an active and ongoing action in our lives. It takes time to build relationship with anyone, and God is no exception.
  • If you forsake Him, He will reject you.
  • Whatever God calls each of us to do, be courageous and act. We must take action and in many cases it will require some courage. Do not expect what He asks you to do to be easy.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help myself and all Your people to know and serve You with our whole heart and willing mind. Help us be hungry to seek You and to find You. Thank You for revealing Yourself to us. Let us not forsake You, either when times are good or bad. Give us courage to act and fulfill whatever You call us to do. 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.

Blessed, Children, Discerning / Judging, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Obeying God, Parenting, Purposeful / Intentional, Seeking God, Teachable, Wise

Receive David’s Advice to His Son Like it Was Directed at You

We have previously studied 1 Chronicles 22 from the perspective of one who is great, like David, playing a supportive role to honor God, even though he wanted to play a lead role in building the temple. He did not go halfway. His focus was on bringing glory to God, not himself. David made ample preparations to set up Solomon for success in the mission that he wanted for himself.

This time we will focus in on the advice that David gave to his son Solomon. David was a great king and despite many mistakes, he was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). When he sinned, he repented. He gave much glory to the LORD and had a very open and close relationship with Yahweh.

1 Chronicles 22

David Prepares for Temple Building

      1Then David said, “This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”

      2So David gave orders to gather the foreigners who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to hew out stones to build the house of God. 3David prepared large quantities of iron to make the nails for the doors of the gates and for the clamps, and more bronze than could be weighed; 4and timbers of cedar logs beyond number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought large quantities of cedar timber to David. 5David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD shall be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all lands. Therefore now I will make preparation for it.” So David made ample preparations before his death.

Solomon Charged with the Task

      6Then he called for his son Solomon, and charged him to build a house for the LORD God of Israel. 7David said to Solomon, “My son, I had intended to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. 8“But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars; you shall not build a house to My name, because you have shed so much blood on the earth before Me. 9‘Behold, a son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10‘He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ 11“Now, my son, the LORD be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of the LORD your God just as He has spoken concerning you. 12“Only the LORD give you discretion and understanding, and give you charge over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God. 13“Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the LORD commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed. 14“Now behold, with great pains I have prepared for the house of the LORD 100,000 talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weight, for they are in great quantity; also timber and stone I have prepared, and you may add to them. 15“Moreover, there are many workmen with you, stonecutters and masons of stone and carpenters, and all men who are skillful in every kind of work. 16“Of the gold, the silver and the bronze and the iron there is no limit. Arise and work, and may the LORD be with you.”

      17David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, 18“Is not the LORD your God with you? And has He not given you rest on every side? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and before His people. 19“Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the LORD.”

What advice did David give to his own son? We should probably receive it as if it was given to us directly.

  •  11“Now, my son, the LORD be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of the LORD your God just as He has spoken concerning you.

David knew it was important for Solomon to live in such a way that the LORD would be with him. This is key in accomplishing what the LORD calls us to do. We are not to try to go do it on our own. Ask and wholeheartedly seek the LORD. It should not be an afterthought, but rather a priority.

  •  12“Only the LORD give you discretion and understanding, and give you charge over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God. 13“Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the LORD commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed.

Seek wisdom and discernment from the LORD. Seek His help in whatever your responsibility may be. For Solomon, it was ruling Israel. For many of us it may include spouse, children, ministry, community, and work.

Observe the statutes and ordinances the LORD commanded. This is not just the 10 commandments, but all the statutes and ordinances of the Law. Christianity has not replaced the Law of God. In Messiah, we are grafted in to Israel. We should follow the same law that Jesus did when he was judged to have lived a sinless life. We do need to understand more detail on this matter, as it can seem complicated. There are some parts of the Law which we can no longer follow. To learn more, read Understanding the Law. What Does it Mean for Us Today?

Notice this is not always easy. David implores Solomon to be strong and courageous right after telling him to obey the Law. People will come against you and try to convince you to live another way. This reminds me of the guidance Joshua received from the LORD in Joshua 1:6-9.

6“Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7“Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

  •  19“Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God

This last piece of advice is aimed at the leaders of Israel rather than Solomon, but was to good to leave out.

Reflect prayerfully on this advice as if it was directed at you. Ask the Spirit to reveal to you any areas of your life which you should make changes.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for Your written word to lead and guide us. Help us to have wisdom and discernment to understand how You want us to live generally and specifically for each of us. Help us to be strong and courageous. Draw us to seek You wholeheartedly. Please walk with Your people and help us to walk in righteousness. 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.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Seeking God, Study the Word, Teachable, Thankfulness

Key Teachings to Get You Started Following the LORD

The LORD has opened my eyes to many things in his word. The longer and more deeply I pursue him, the more intimate my understanding  of him and relationship with him grows. I hope the website as a whole is helpful and provides a lot of information you find helpful. I have laid out here some key teachings that he has put on my heart that I developed in a bit more detail and wanted to have easy to find and reference for visitors to the site.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, open the eyes of my heart to Your ways and help me be transformed to be more and more like Christ. Open up the sriptures to me that I would increase in understanding and help me see people and the world as You do. Grant me the courage I need to change my life as You call me to do. Help me to be teachable and thankful for Your guidance in my life. 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.

His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Love, Loving / Kind, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant, Through Prophets

Seek to Love and Honor God

I really appreciate the example David demonstrates in his relationship with the Father. He is not just looking for his own power and comfort. David also wants to honor the LORD.  Yahweh, knowing David’s heart to please and honor Him, wants to honor David as well. David accepts the blessing and honor from Yahweh and thanks Him with humility.

What a great roadmap for us to follow. Of course, sometimes the LORD may accept our offer to do something to honor Him, and then we should do it.  Worth mentioning is the fact that David sought the LORD through Nathan the prophet in order to see if he should proceed with what he thought would honor God. When the LORD said “no”, David accepted that answer.  I see this as another example where the LORD is pleased based on David’s heart, not his accomplishments.

1 Chronicles 17

God’s Covenant with David

      1And it came about, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I am dwelling in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under

curtains.” 2Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

      3It came about the same night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4“Go and tell David My servant, ‘Thus says the LORD, “You shall not build a house for Me to dwell in; 5for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from one dwelling place to another. 6“In all places where I have walked with all Israel, have I spoken a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, ‘Why have you not built for Me a house of cedar?’”’ 7“Now, therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over My people Israel. 8“I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a name like the name of the great ones who are in the earth. 9“I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and not be moved again; and the wicked will not waste them anymore as formerly, 10even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies.
Moreover, I tell you that the LORD will build a house for you. 11“When your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up one of your descendants after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12“He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13“I will be his father and he shall be My son; and I will not take My lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you. 14“But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.”’” 15According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer in Response

      16Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far? 17“This was a small thing in Your eyes, O God; but You have spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the standard of a man of high degree, O LORD God. 18“What more can David still say to You concerning the honor bestowed on Your servant? For You know Your servant. 19“O LORD, for Your servant’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have wrought all this greatness, to make known all these great things. 20“O LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21“And what one nation in the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make You a name by great and terrible things, in driving out nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed out of Egypt? 22“For Your people Israel You made Your own people forever, and You, O LORD, became their God.

      23“Now, O LORD, let the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as You have spoken. 24“Let Your name be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel; and the house of David Your servant is established before You.’ 25“For You, O my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build for him a house; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray before You. 26“Now, O LORD, You are God, and have promised this good thing to Your servant. 27“And now it has pleased You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, O LORD, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”

It is good to seek the LORD in how we can honor Him. We should listen to His reply, whether “yes” or “no”. If our heart is truly toward pleasing the LORD, then He will know it and be pleased with us.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please give me a heart that wants to honor and glorify You above any of my personal desires or plans. Guide me in how I should please You. Help me to hear Your voice. Thank You for getting involved in our lives and allowing me into personal relationship with 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.

 

Am I on the path?, How do I get started?, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Scripture (e.g. Bible), Seeking God, Study the Word, Teachable

Torah Portions

The Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible, written by Moses) and the writings of the prophets are the scripture that Yeshua studied and taught from and likewise his disciples and Paul. There are many references to them throughout the New Testament. They are the foundation. They are not obsolete and meaningless as some would imply, but they can be challenging to understand in parts and in how to apply today. In large part this is because churches and seminaries do not teach all of it as relevant content to help is draw near to the LORD today.

We have all heard about plans to help read the Bible in a year. There is a similar, long standing concept by which the Torah portions are scheduled to be read over a year. I have started doing this with my family. There are many sites  available as reference and some not only provide the  references for each week, but also some teaching to support it. Some have broken it down for children as an audience and some have even 15 minute or less summaries for folks who may feel they can only invest that much each week. Others go deep and have hours of teaching.

I encourage you to try it and stick with it. You may be surprised what you learn. These are not meant to take you away from also studying the New Testament, but help you dive into all of God’s word.

  • TorahPortions/ffoz.com by First Fruits of Zion
  • BillCloud.com/audio-page/ has Torah Portions and Torah Tidbits by Shoreshim Ministries. It also has an excellent series I recommend called Returning to Our Roots.
  • Ruach Life with Yitro has some teaching available on youtube, simply search ‘Torah Portion Yitro’
  • MTOI.org by Messianic Torah Observant Israel has a weekly Torah study video you can join live or watch later on YouTube or Facebook.
  • Psalm119 Ministries has a series of weekly short videos called Parashah Points at 119ministries.com/teachings/video-teachings.
  • MessianicTorahPortions.com also included suggested New Testament scriptures alongside Torah portions weekly.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please lead and guide me to grow my understanding of Your whole word. Help me understand how to apply all of Your instruction to my life. Amen. 

Shalom

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.

His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Humility, Parables, Seeking God, Thankfulness

Why Does Yeshua Teach in Parables?

Yeshua was asked by his disciples why He taught in parables. I used to assume it was because it made it easier for people to relate and understand, but His answer is different and it can really challenge us to think a bit differently  if we let it. Let us not take for granted that He has chosen us to understand. Let us be humble and thankful.

Mark 4:10-12

10As soon as He was alone, [b]His followers, along with the twelve disciples, began asking Him about the parables. 11And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but for those who are outside, everything comes in parables, 12so that WHILE SEEING THEY MAY SEE, AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR, AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND IT WOULD BE FORGIVEN THEM.”

More detail is recorded in Matthew.

Matthew 13:10-17

An Explanation

      10And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12“For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13“Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

14“In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
‘YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;
YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;

      15FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL,
WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,
AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES,
OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES,
HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,
AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN,
AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.’

16“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17“For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Some have been granted the opportunity to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, and some have not. Yahweh does not reveal Himself to everyone equally. Some He has chosen for honorable purposes and some for common.

Romans 9:21-24

21Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? 22What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 23And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, 24even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.

Thus Yeshua says He speaks in parables so that some will hear and understand and some will not. This may be very challenging for some of us to digest who have been taught that Yahweh wants everyone to be saved. Not all are chosen for special purpose of being in relationship with Him. Caution, however, do not let this lead you to stop praying for people who are lost. It is by prayer that some will be brought to relationship with our LORD.

Let us also recognize that this was always His intent, as it is captured in prophecy to which Yeshua refers.

Take time to reflect on the word. Let it challenge your comfort zone. Test what you have been taught against what the word says. Let us also change our attitudes a bit to be less confident in ourselves for our salvation and relationship with Yahweh and more grateful to the LORD for choosing us. Yes, we had to respond and choose Him, but He chose us first. Be humble and thankful in regards to your relationship with our Father.

Yeshua also refers to giving more to the one who has much and taking from him who has little.  I think this is in relationship to our faith and our corresponding relationship with Him. There is no middle ground. We are either with Him or against Him. Do not try to ride the fence between Yahweh and man.

Matthew 12:30

    30“He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

Revelation 3:15-16

    15‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

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.

Guide, Protector / Deliverer, Seeking God

Seek Yahweh for the Battles You Face

For most of us, our battles will not be literal warfare. However, whether it is warfare or other challenges we face, we do well to seek and obey Yahweh on how to approach them. Obviously it is important to develop a deep personal relationship with Him before that time. Do not wait until you are in the battle to spend time with Him and His word. That said, You can reach out to Him in the battle even if you have not developed the relationship You want to have with Him.

1 Chronicles 14:8-17

Philistines Defeated

      8When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard of it and went out against them. 9Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. 10David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You give them into my hand?” Then the LORD said to him, “Go up, for I will give them into your hand.” 11So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there; and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place Baal-perazim. 12They abandoned their gods there; so David gave the order and they were burned with fire.

      13The Philistines made yet another raid in the valley. 14David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. 15“It shall be when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 16David did just as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines from Gibeon even as far as Gezer. 17Then the fame of David went out into all the lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him on all the nations.

I recognize we do not all hear this clearly from the LORD. However, each of us should strive to build relationship with Him so that we will hear from Him more clearly.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please hear my cry when I am facing challenges and I seek You. Help me to clearly hear and understand Your voice as David did. Give me the courage to obey when I do hear from You clearly. 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.

Fear / Reverence for God, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Holy, Obeying God, Seeking God, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Focus on God’s Mission, Not Your Own, and Do It His Way

Sometimes we may have a tendency to get angry with Yahweh when something does not work out well, even if it was relating to the church or ministry or service to others. David experienced this when he tried to move the ark and Uzza was struck down by Yahweh for touching the ark. David became fearful, which is understandable, and paused the movement of the ark.

1 Chronicles 13

Peril in Transporting the Ark

      1Then David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader. 2David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from the LORD our God, let us send everywhere to our kinsmen who remain in all the land of Israel, also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they may meet with us; 3and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” 4Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

      5So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the LORD who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His name is called. 7They carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. 8David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, even with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals and with trumpets.

      9When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it. 10The anger of the LORD burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. 11Then David became angry because of the LORD’S outburst against Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza to this day. 12David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” 13So David did not take the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months; and the LORD blessed the family of Obed-edom with all that he had.

A common attitude in reading this scripture may be that Yahweh was harsh or that David was only trying to honor Yahweh. However, if we look deeper the history gets more interesting.  David clearly asked the people if moving the ark was a good idea, and said he wanted to do it if it was from Yahweh. However, there is no firm indication that David went to the LORD in prayer and sought an answer from Yahweh about moving the ark. It is not clear if he did so, but its absence of mention may imply he did not as elsewhere in scripture that action is explicitly mentioned.

Further, David moved the ark his own way, not the way Yahweh had instructed. David used a cart where Yahweh instructed it was to be carried by men in a certain way. Yahweh also said noone should touch it and that was violated when Uzza reached up to stabilize it. It would not have tipped and needed to be stabilized if it was carried properly as Yahweh instructed.

I suppose a summary may be that David was so excited with what he wanted to do, perhaps with good intention for honoring the LORD, that he may not have consulted with the LORD on the mission and definitely went about it his own way instead of Yah’s way. The ark was holy and set apart for Yahweh’s purpose. It was not to be treated as common cargo.

I believe there is a lesson in this for all of us. It is not enough to seek to honor God in what we think is right and do it however we want. We must honor God how He instructs and seek Him to make sure we are lined up with His mission and not our own.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to stop and ask You about those things I want to accomplish, even if my heart is towards You. Help me pause and seek You. Let me hear from You. May the Spirit guide me. Show me how to accomplish all You call me to do in a way that is pleasing to You. Help me not to just hurry to do it how I think is right without seeking 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.