(Eccl. 11, 12)
Solomon completes his review of man's life and gives us a closing statement. He sums up the human condition and gives us a directive that brings meaning to our lives.
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil." (Eccl. 12: 13, 14)
We get busy in this life of ours. We work all day and sleep all night, only to rise and repeat the process again. God has ordained work as good for us, but we can distort his purposes in work as well as other areas of our lives. His intent is that through our work, we would experience joy in this life.
"What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God." (Eccl. 3:9- 13)
Be happy and do good while we live. Great advice from our Maker! Eat and drink and find satisfaction in all our toil. A great gift from The Gift Giver! We (most of us) spend our time trying to get ahead, all the while God has already provided the things that will make our lives worthwhile. We work for our wants and He has already provided for our needs. Solomon wants us to understand what is really important, what really counts in this life. He had spent his life amassing fortunes, pursuing pleasure and reigning as king and found that real happiness, real meaning is found in "fearing God and keeping His commandments."
I have heard it said that when a man is on his deathbed, he will not wish for more time at the office or a bigger bank account, rather he will regret the time he didn't spend with friends and family. God "has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men." Our problem is in our pursuit of what this world calls important. God has placed beauty in our lives here and now and placed a recognition of eternity within our hearts. We know what really counts right now and we understand that eternity awaits us. Every human has this within them, God placed it there. What we do with that understanding is up to us.
Solomon makes it simple for us; he tells us that the whole of man, what we are all about, what this life is really meant for is "fearing God and keeping His commands." You want meaning, you want purpose, you want satisfaction....."fear God, keep his commands". You want true happiness, you want real joy, you want contentment in this life......"fear God, keep His commands". You want a guilt free conscience, a peace that passes understanding...."fear God and keep His commands".
The flip side to living life this way is a life filled with stress and strife. We will work without receiving the satisfaction that is from God. We will work to obtain things and never have enough. Our house will never be big enough and our bank account will always be too small. Our spouse will become insufficient and a "younger, more attractive" person will meet our needs better. Our car will not be the right brand or the right model, our clothes will not be the latest fashion and our shoes and pocketbooks will not have the right labels. God knows this and He has given us a way off of the merry-go-round... fear Him and keep His commands.
The end of the matter is that we will stand before Him and all of our deeds will be brought into judgement, including every hidden thing. He has given us the freedom to chose, but those choices will be judged by Him. He has given us everything we need for this life, but also given us the ability to reject Him and His word. We get to live our lives as we chose, reaping what we sow both here and hereafter. Living within His commands brings happiness and contentment. Living as this world commands brings sorrow and striving. It is our choice, but Solomon, the wisest man to ever live gives us some great advice. As with every piece of advice we ever receive, we can listen and benefit from it or we can ignore it and suffer the consequences. Been there, done that..... how about you?
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Love and Faithfulness
(Proverbs 3: 3, 4)
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
Love and faithfulness. Two beautiful words that make me think of a beautiful marriage, one where love is strong and both partners are faithful. For me, the knowledge that my spouse loves me and is faithful to me is the wellspring from which happiness flows. Whether we are the giver or the receiver, love and faithfulness is a blessing that produces good things in our lives. (of course the lack of either produces the opposite)
Our model for true love and faithfulness is found in God, our Father. Throughout history, God has demonstrated His love toward man and His faithfulness in that relationship. An example is His dealing with the children of Israel in the Egypt and in the wilderness. Even in their unfaithfulness, He remained faithful. His love for them would not allow them to remain slaves and so He sent someone to rescue them. His dealings with us are exactly the same. While we were bound as slaves to sin, He sent a Savior to rescue us. (Romans 5:8)
Many translations render "love" as "mercy or kindness". The original Hebrew word is "Checed" and carries the idea of loving-kindness or goodness. Both mercy and kindness are the outward expression of love. As God's child, my conduct towards others should be framed with mercy and kindness. While others might approach a situation with a condemning attitude, we are to use goodness and kindness in our dealings. This is a reflection of the mercy which we have received. "Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:10) When we display acts of mercy toward others, God loving-kindness is demonstrated in our lives. Our willingness to show mercy to others will have eternal benefits, check out James 2:12-14.
Many translators give us "truth" instead of "faithfulness". The Hebrew word is 'emeth which carries the idea of firmness, faithfulness, truth, sureness and reliability. To be sure, faithfulness is based upon truth and nothing else. How can I be faithful and at the same time not be truthful? And how can I have faith if it is not based on truth? "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ". (Romans 10:17) Any faith that is not based upon truth is not true faith at all.
So we have mercy and truth and the idea that we are to hold onto them and never allow them to leave us. We are to "bind" them around our necks. A "necklace" that others can see. God's mercy and truth active in our lives that others will see and glorify Him. While the world is busy with hatred and jealousy, lies and deceit, God's man or woman is to wear a necklace of love and faithfulness. God wants the evidence of His involvement in our lives to seen by others like a beautiful jewel in a golden setting around our necks.
Next we are instructed to "write them on the tablet of our hearts". The outside is a reflection of the inside. We might be able to "fool some of the people some of the time", but God sees the heart and knows the motives of man. (Proverbs 16: 2) God wants mercy and truth to be etched on our hearts in such a way that they can never be erased. It is easy to be kind when we feel like it. It is easy to tell the truth when those that we are speaking to agree with us. A consistent life of mercy and faithfulness will only come when our hearts are changed. We will ultimately live how our hearts direct us to live. Who we are at our core is who we are.
Romans 12: 2 tells us to "no longer conform to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds". Transformation is possible when we allow God's word to renew our minds. Our hearts must be transformed. Bitterness, jealousy, condemnation and hatred can only be erased and replaced by the Master's hand as His word works to change us from the inside out.
When we live out God's mercy and truth, people will see it and we are promised "favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." People will see the beauty of the necklace and we get the benefit of a good name. God will see our hearts and we get His favor. That, my friends is a great deal. We get the benefit of a life lived as God would have us live and the promise of blessings from man and God.
My prayer is that "love and faithfulness" will never depart from you. That your life and mine will reflect the love and kindness, the faithfulness and truth which only comes through a true relationship with the Father through the free gift of the Son.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Fear of the LORD
(Proverbs 9:10)
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
Fear is a word that brings up all kinds of feelings. For many, it might be the hard hand of an angry father. "You wait until your father gets home!" It might be the difficult boss who constantly keeps his employees on edge with the threat of firing. "I can find someone to do your job at half the price!" It might be an abusive spouse. "You are the dumbest woman to ever walk this earth!" (or worse) It might be the devil. "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) Or maybe it’s God. "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28)
Teaching "fear" is not popular today. God is presented as this gentle, loving old man and Jesus is His benevolent son. And while that is certainly a part of the personalities of the Father and the Son, it is not a complete picture of them. Throughout the Bible, God is presented as a just being who deals with people fairly and rightly. When people reject Him, He rejects them. When they come to Him with fear and trembling, He comforts them. (Mark 5:33, Philippians 2:12)
Proverbs 9, verse 10 teaches that wisdom is found through the fear of the LORD. In fact, fearing God is where wisdom starts. A proper view of everything has its foundation in our view of God. If our view is that He is the source of everything we have, we view our stuff as His stuff. If we believe that He is the rewarder of a properly lived life, we will live properly before Him. If we understand that He made provision for our sin through the offering of His Son, we live a life of thankfulness. Everything, when viewed properly, begins with God.
The group Acappella sings a song called "Begins". This idea, the idea that God should be the beginning, the source from which we approach everything is conveyed through the lyrics.
"Your life begins with God
Your love begins with God
Your hopes and your dreams
And your plans begin with God"
Beginning anywhere else will surely lead to a different destination. Understanding who God is and how we relate to Him, puts us in a proper perspective as we approach life. Our "world view" will be shaped by our "God view".
I have heard people say, me included that they have some questions for God. Maybe life didn't turn out the way they wanted it to: job lost, loved one died, betrayed by a spouse, on and on, you get the idea. My guess is when we get to see Him, if we get to see Him, our attitude will be somewhat different. Isaiah 6 gives us a glimpse inside the throne room of God. Isaiah reacts much like we will, "Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts." (v 5) Here we see a prophet of God reacting to seeing Him. How much more will we tremble at His sight. In fact, every time a human encounters the God of the universe in scripture, the outcome is pretty much the same.... fear, trembling and the person on their face. At that moment, it is clear who is God and who is not.
To be sure, I am not talking about living our lives in constant fear of a God that is waiting to destroy us, in fact just the opposite. Let's take a short trip back to our childhood, when we were small fear played an important role in our relationship with our parents, in fact it was the beginning of wisdom for us. "Don't touch that stove, it will burn you", "don't go in the street, you will get run over" and so on. Fear kept us alive and still does. A healthy fear of my father kept me from doing many things that I should not have done. As I grew older, my relationship with my father changed, the fear was replaced with respect and love and these things motivated me to conduct my life in a particular way. I know that is a simplistic approach, but the same factors come into play. Fear is the beginning of wisdom; it is not the completion of wisdom. As we mature in our relationship with God, we continue to understand His power and authority, but we also come to know His eternal love and unending compassion and kindness. This becomes the basis for our continued relationship. Fear Him, sure! Respect Him, sure! Love Him, absolutely! What father wants his children to fear him their entire lives. He uses fear for a time to protect them and then shows them love that lasts a lifetime. At least that is what a good father does, and we have the best in God.
May we begin with fear and end with love, all the while growing in wisdom and helping others to meet a loving God that will judge everyone.
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
Fear is a word that brings up all kinds of feelings. For many, it might be the hard hand of an angry father. "You wait until your father gets home!" It might be the difficult boss who constantly keeps his employees on edge with the threat of firing. "I can find someone to do your job at half the price!" It might be an abusive spouse. "You are the dumbest woman to ever walk this earth!" (or worse) It might be the devil. "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) Or maybe it’s God. "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28)
Teaching "fear" is not popular today. God is presented as this gentle, loving old man and Jesus is His benevolent son. And while that is certainly a part of the personalities of the Father and the Son, it is not a complete picture of them. Throughout the Bible, God is presented as a just being who deals with people fairly and rightly. When people reject Him, He rejects them. When they come to Him with fear and trembling, He comforts them. (Mark 5:33, Philippians 2:12)
Proverbs 9, verse 10 teaches that wisdom is found through the fear of the LORD. In fact, fearing God is where wisdom starts. A proper view of everything has its foundation in our view of God. If our view is that He is the source of everything we have, we view our stuff as His stuff. If we believe that He is the rewarder of a properly lived life, we will live properly before Him. If we understand that He made provision for our sin through the offering of His Son, we live a life of thankfulness. Everything, when viewed properly, begins with God.
The group Acappella sings a song called "Begins". This idea, the idea that God should be the beginning, the source from which we approach everything is conveyed through the lyrics.
"Your life begins with God
Your love begins with God
Your hopes and your dreams
And your plans begin with God"
Beginning anywhere else will surely lead to a different destination. Understanding who God is and how we relate to Him, puts us in a proper perspective as we approach life. Our "world view" will be shaped by our "God view".
I have heard people say, me included that they have some questions for God. Maybe life didn't turn out the way they wanted it to: job lost, loved one died, betrayed by a spouse, on and on, you get the idea. My guess is when we get to see Him, if we get to see Him, our attitude will be somewhat different. Isaiah 6 gives us a glimpse inside the throne room of God. Isaiah reacts much like we will, "Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts." (v 5) Here we see a prophet of God reacting to seeing Him. How much more will we tremble at His sight. In fact, every time a human encounters the God of the universe in scripture, the outcome is pretty much the same.... fear, trembling and the person on their face. At that moment, it is clear who is God and who is not.
To be sure, I am not talking about living our lives in constant fear of a God that is waiting to destroy us, in fact just the opposite. Let's take a short trip back to our childhood, when we were small fear played an important role in our relationship with our parents, in fact it was the beginning of wisdom for us. "Don't touch that stove, it will burn you", "don't go in the street, you will get run over" and so on. Fear kept us alive and still does. A healthy fear of my father kept me from doing many things that I should not have done. As I grew older, my relationship with my father changed, the fear was replaced with respect and love and these things motivated me to conduct my life in a particular way. I know that is a simplistic approach, but the same factors come into play. Fear is the beginning of wisdom; it is not the completion of wisdom. As we mature in our relationship with God, we continue to understand His power and authority, but we also come to know His eternal love and unending compassion and kindness. This becomes the basis for our continued relationship. Fear Him, sure! Respect Him, sure! Love Him, absolutely! What father wants his children to fear him their entire lives. He uses fear for a time to protect them and then shows them love that lasts a lifetime. At least that is what a good father does, and we have the best in God.
May we begin with fear and end with love, all the while growing in wisdom and helping others to meet a loving God that will judge everyone.
Monday, May 16, 2011
God's Wisdom
(1 Kings 4: 29-34)
"God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom."
"God gave Solomon wisdom". His great insight and understanding were a gift from God. His wisdom was greater than all the wisdom found in the world. His wisdom was known throughout the world and men came to listen to his words. Kings sent their wise men to listen and learn at Solomon's feet. All of this was a gift from God and was given for His glory.
I am afraid that today many of us view God's wisdom as inferior to the "learned" wisdom of man. We will not come out and admit it, but our actions demonstrate it clearly. Many of us (Christians) fear a discussion about creation vs evolution. God's wisdom says that He created everything that we see. His wisdom says that he did in seven days. His wisdom says that he created humans in the form we see them today. Earthly wisdom tells us that over billions of years, everything we see evolved to become what we see today. Just the right chemicals came together at just the right temperature, and poof.....life. Those that subscribe to this wisdom ignore the need for materials and a source of power. They believe that it is possible to get something from nothing. This is not possible. God's wisdom provides the source and power for life to be created. Earthly wisdom leaves us with thousands of unanswered questions. God gives us every answer we need.
Earthly wisdom says that life begins at the third trimester or other times that give people license to kill an unborn child. Man's wisdom says that until that point, the life within the womb is not a human being. God's wisdom tells us that He knit us together in the womb; that He recognizes our life at conception. Man's wisdom leaves us confused and questioning. If I kill a pregnant woman and both her and the unborn die, I am charged with two counts of murder. If a woman decides that she does not want to be pregnant, she may "terminate" the pregnancy and all is fine. God gives us every answer we need.
Man's wisdom says that our use of carbon based energy will lead to the destruction of the planet. We are able to change the climate and destroy our home. God's wisdom says that this world will be here with humans on it until Jesus returns. God's wisdom says that He is in control of the climate. I believe we should take care of the Earth; God has given us a wonderful place to live! This planet has been through many climate changes in the past and will go through many in the future, until God decides it is time to end its existence. God gives us every answer we need.
Man's wisdom is that marriage is old fashioned and divorce is just fine. Man's wisdom is telling us that homosexuality is just as legitimate a lifestyle as heterosexual. God's wisdom tells us that He hates divorce and that homosexuality is an abomination. God wants fathers and mothers to raise sons and daughters. Procreation is impossible within a homosexual relationship. Homosexual relationships are a perversion of His plan. Man's wisdom leads to disease and dysfunction, God's wisdom leads to healthy families and a proper understanding of male and female sexuality. God gives us every answer we need.
I love that people from all over the world traveled to hear what God had to say through Solomon. It makes me wonder if we were busy today conveying His truth, would people see the difference between what God has to say and what man has to say. May we determine to not be ashamed of His truth, even when the "smart" belittle it and the educated deny it. Take a few minutes and read Proverbs 8 and may the "simple gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding". God's "mouth speaks what is true". He gives us everything we need.
"God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom."
"God gave Solomon wisdom". His great insight and understanding were a gift from God. His wisdom was greater than all the wisdom found in the world. His wisdom was known throughout the world and men came to listen to his words. Kings sent their wise men to listen and learn at Solomon's feet. All of this was a gift from God and was given for His glory.
I am afraid that today many of us view God's wisdom as inferior to the "learned" wisdom of man. We will not come out and admit it, but our actions demonstrate it clearly. Many of us (Christians) fear a discussion about creation vs evolution. God's wisdom says that He created everything that we see. His wisdom says that he did in seven days. His wisdom says that he created humans in the form we see them today. Earthly wisdom tells us that over billions of years, everything we see evolved to become what we see today. Just the right chemicals came together at just the right temperature, and poof.....life. Those that subscribe to this wisdom ignore the need for materials and a source of power. They believe that it is possible to get something from nothing. This is not possible. God's wisdom provides the source and power for life to be created. Earthly wisdom leaves us with thousands of unanswered questions. God gives us every answer we need.
Earthly wisdom says that life begins at the third trimester or other times that give people license to kill an unborn child. Man's wisdom says that until that point, the life within the womb is not a human being. God's wisdom tells us that He knit us together in the womb; that He recognizes our life at conception. Man's wisdom leaves us confused and questioning. If I kill a pregnant woman and both her and the unborn die, I am charged with two counts of murder. If a woman decides that she does not want to be pregnant, she may "terminate" the pregnancy and all is fine. God gives us every answer we need.
Man's wisdom says that our use of carbon based energy will lead to the destruction of the planet. We are able to change the climate and destroy our home. God's wisdom says that this world will be here with humans on it until Jesus returns. God's wisdom says that He is in control of the climate. I believe we should take care of the Earth; God has given us a wonderful place to live! This planet has been through many climate changes in the past and will go through many in the future, until God decides it is time to end its existence. God gives us every answer we need.
Man's wisdom is that marriage is old fashioned and divorce is just fine. Man's wisdom is telling us that homosexuality is just as legitimate a lifestyle as heterosexual. God's wisdom tells us that He hates divorce and that homosexuality is an abomination. God wants fathers and mothers to raise sons and daughters. Procreation is impossible within a homosexual relationship. Homosexual relationships are a perversion of His plan. Man's wisdom leads to disease and dysfunction, God's wisdom leads to healthy families and a proper understanding of male and female sexuality. God gives us every answer we need.
I love that people from all over the world traveled to hear what God had to say through Solomon. It makes me wonder if we were busy today conveying His truth, would people see the difference between what God has to say and what man has to say. May we determine to not be ashamed of His truth, even when the "smart" belittle it and the educated deny it. Take a few minutes and read Proverbs 8 and may the "simple gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding". God's "mouth speaks what is true". He gives us everything we need.
Friday, May 13, 2011
God's Temple
(1 Kings 5-7)
King David "rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David". Before he passed, David handed the kingdom to his son, Solomon. "So Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in the place of his father David". Solomon quickly consolidated power, removing anyone that would present a threat to his rule. God offers him anything he would ask for and he chose wisdom. Solomon's rule begins.
He immediately determines to begin the construction of the Temple that his father had instructed him to build. The plans were complete, the funds were in place and a contractor had been selected. The crew numbered 153,600 and the construction schedule was seven years. This would be the most glorious structure ever built and would symbolize the relationship between God and Israel.
The details that are given allow us to understand both the value of the materials and the care that was utilized in the construction. Only the finest would do for the residence of the God of the universe. No seconds were allowed. The stones were meticulously cut at the quarry and no "hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built". Perfection was Solomon's goal in the building of God's house.
Today, I see magnificent buildings that people call churches. I am afraid that we carry some Old Testament ideas in these New Testament times. For many, God still dwells in buildings made with human hands. We construct magnificent, costly buildings that we think God will live in. Not so!
Under Christ's law, the temple is no longer a building. "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?" (1 Cor 3:16) We, Christians are now the temple. The perfection that Solomon sought in the building for God to dwell in is now transferred to us. Through Christ, we as perfect stones are built into a temple suitable for God to live in. "In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord." (Eph 2:21)
You and I are now the temple. God lives in us. If a building built by human hands was suitable for God, how much more the creation of God. We are made in His image, we are "His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works". (Eph 2:10) Our perfection is not our own, rather we stand perfect through our Savior. "For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." (Hebrews 10: 14, but read the entire chapter) We are being made holy through Christ and our perfection is found in Him. Without Christ's perfection being given to us, God could not, would not live within us as sinners. But because of the His perfect gift, we become acceptable. I love that!
The church, you and me, not the building is God's dwelling place, His Holy Temple. Solomon spent seven years building the very best building he could construct for God's earthly dwelling among men. Jesus spent six hours on a cross, three days in the tomb and was resurrected so that we could, through obedience be the perfect place for God to dwell among man.
Upon completion, the temple became a place of daily worship of God. We are called to no less. Sunday worship, sure. Wednesday night prayer meetings, absolutely! But God is after a daily worship, a life that is devoted to Him, everyday. Take a moment to read Romans 12, verse 1. Living sacrifices, holy and acceptable, our true and proper worship! If you are a ditch digger, be God's ditch digger. If you are a waitress, be a waitress that is serving people for God. If you are a teacher, a plumber, an electrician, a lawyer, a doctor, a hotel manager or an engineer, do it for His glory. (Col 3:17)
You are the perfectly designed, beautifully constructed, gloriously furnished residence of the God of all creation. If that doesn't make you sit up straight, nothing will. :-)
King David "rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David". Before he passed, David handed the kingdom to his son, Solomon. "So Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in the place of his father David". Solomon quickly consolidated power, removing anyone that would present a threat to his rule. God offers him anything he would ask for and he chose wisdom. Solomon's rule begins.
He immediately determines to begin the construction of the Temple that his father had instructed him to build. The plans were complete, the funds were in place and a contractor had been selected. The crew numbered 153,600 and the construction schedule was seven years. This would be the most glorious structure ever built and would symbolize the relationship between God and Israel.
The details that are given allow us to understand both the value of the materials and the care that was utilized in the construction. Only the finest would do for the residence of the God of the universe. No seconds were allowed. The stones were meticulously cut at the quarry and no "hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built". Perfection was Solomon's goal in the building of God's house.
Today, I see magnificent buildings that people call churches. I am afraid that we carry some Old Testament ideas in these New Testament times. For many, God still dwells in buildings made with human hands. We construct magnificent, costly buildings that we think God will live in. Not so!
Under Christ's law, the temple is no longer a building. "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?" (1 Cor 3:16) We, Christians are now the temple. The perfection that Solomon sought in the building for God to dwell in is now transferred to us. Through Christ, we as perfect stones are built into a temple suitable for God to live in. "In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord." (Eph 2:21)
You and I are now the temple. God lives in us. If a building built by human hands was suitable for God, how much more the creation of God. We are made in His image, we are "His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works". (Eph 2:10) Our perfection is not our own, rather we stand perfect through our Savior. "For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." (Hebrews 10: 14, but read the entire chapter) We are being made holy through Christ and our perfection is found in Him. Without Christ's perfection being given to us, God could not, would not live within us as sinners. But because of the His perfect gift, we become acceptable. I love that!
The church, you and me, not the building is God's dwelling place, His Holy Temple. Solomon spent seven years building the very best building he could construct for God's earthly dwelling among men. Jesus spent six hours on a cross, three days in the tomb and was resurrected so that we could, through obedience be the perfect place for God to dwell among man.
Upon completion, the temple became a place of daily worship of God. We are called to no less. Sunday worship, sure. Wednesday night prayer meetings, absolutely! But God is after a daily worship, a life that is devoted to Him, everyday. Take a moment to read Romans 12, verse 1. Living sacrifices, holy and acceptable, our true and proper worship! If you are a ditch digger, be God's ditch digger. If you are a waitress, be a waitress that is serving people for God. If you are a teacher, a plumber, an electrician, a lawyer, a doctor, a hotel manager or an engineer, do it for His glory. (Col 3:17)
You are the perfectly designed, beautifully constructed, gloriously furnished residence of the God of all creation. If that doesn't make you sit up straight, nothing will. :-)
Thursday, May 5, 2011
God Knows You
(Psalm 139)
O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
For some of us, maybe most of us, this Psalm is a little scary. We wear masks and pretend to be someone/ something that we are not. The world perceives us to be one thing; all the while we know the truth about ourselves. We are afraid of what others would think if they knew our secrets, if they saw us “warts and all”. The idea that someone can know us “completely” is somewhat frightening.
King David conveys the thought that God has searched us, explored the deepest recesses of being and upon this complete inspection, knows us! This isn’t a casual glace, this is x-ray stuff. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)
He knows our every move; our physical activity is in His sight. What we do matters! Our actions count! There is a time to sit and there is a time to rise. He knows our thoughts, every wondering of our minds are His to understand. It matters what we think. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he”. (Proverbs 23:7) Our thoughts count! He knows the words on our tongues before they exit our mouths. It matters what we say. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer”. (Psalm 19:14) Our words count!
While at first, the idea of God knowing us completely might be a little disconcerting, it is also freeing. Masks come off and the real me is allow to be free before my God. No pretense, no falsehoods, no deception; only total and complete truth. I stand before a loving God, a God that cared too much to allow His creation to suffer without a savior; I stand before Him totally exposed. He knows my weaknesses and my strengths. He sees the intents of my heart. He is fully aware of my motives. The freeing aspect of this is that I can talk to Him in a way that I cannot talk to anyone else. I am free to be me with Him. And because of that, I can ask for His help in the areas of my life that I struggle with, that area that I am ashamed of and He is ready to help. No other being is in that position, only God knows us completely.
So what am I to do with this? How does this affect your life? First, relax. This is not new; God has known you from the womb. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb”. (Psalm 139:13) He has watched our entire lives and understands our issues and struggles. He was there for our conception, He will be there when we draw our last breath and He will be there when we open our eyes to eternity. That is blessed assurance. Secondly, enjoy it. Having a God that knows us inside and out is good! “There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no not one”. Enjoy the full relationship with the God of creation. Thirdly, by knowing that our thoughts and actions are on full display before God, shape up. J Ask for His help to make the changes in your life that you need to make. He understands and is able to assist us in the most difficult areas of our lives. “He is able, more than able”. And lastly, praise Him for who He is. “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” He is the ever present God who is ever present for our benefit.
O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
For some of us, maybe most of us, this Psalm is a little scary. We wear masks and pretend to be someone/ something that we are not. The world perceives us to be one thing; all the while we know the truth about ourselves. We are afraid of what others would think if they knew our secrets, if they saw us “warts and all”. The idea that someone can know us “completely” is somewhat frightening.
King David conveys the thought that God has searched us, explored the deepest recesses of being and upon this complete inspection, knows us! This isn’t a casual glace, this is x-ray stuff. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)
He knows our every move; our physical activity is in His sight. What we do matters! Our actions count! There is a time to sit and there is a time to rise. He knows our thoughts, every wondering of our minds are His to understand. It matters what we think. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he”. (Proverbs 23:7) Our thoughts count! He knows the words on our tongues before they exit our mouths. It matters what we say. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer”. (Psalm 19:14) Our words count!
While at first, the idea of God knowing us completely might be a little disconcerting, it is also freeing. Masks come off and the real me is allow to be free before my God. No pretense, no falsehoods, no deception; only total and complete truth. I stand before a loving God, a God that cared too much to allow His creation to suffer without a savior; I stand before Him totally exposed. He knows my weaknesses and my strengths. He sees the intents of my heart. He is fully aware of my motives. The freeing aspect of this is that I can talk to Him in a way that I cannot talk to anyone else. I am free to be me with Him. And because of that, I can ask for His help in the areas of my life that I struggle with, that area that I am ashamed of and He is ready to help. No other being is in that position, only God knows us completely.
So what am I to do with this? How does this affect your life? First, relax. This is not new; God has known you from the womb. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb”. (Psalm 139:13) He has watched our entire lives and understands our issues and struggles. He was there for our conception, He will be there when we draw our last breath and He will be there when we open our eyes to eternity. That is blessed assurance. Secondly, enjoy it. Having a God that knows us inside and out is good! “There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no not one”. Enjoy the full relationship with the God of creation. Thirdly, by knowing that our thoughts and actions are on full display before God, shape up. J Ask for His help to make the changes in your life that you need to make. He understands and is able to assist us in the most difficult areas of our lives. “He is able, more than able”. And lastly, praise Him for who He is. “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” He is the ever present God who is ever present for our benefit.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Love for God's Words
Psalm 119 is a great read. It is clearly a Psalm of love for God's Words. Whether it is His law, His statutes, His precepts, His commands, His decrees, His word or His promises, the Psalmist's love for God's revelation to man is on display. It is heavy lifting, just it's length alone makes it difficult to read and internalize the thoughts conveyed. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses. But beyond the length, the Psalm is filled with tremendous depth of thought. This isn't a continental breakfast, this is sausage, eggs and biscuits for sure.
While the writer of the Psalm isn't identified in the Psalm itself, many scholars attribute it to King David because of it's style and use of particular phrases. I tend to agree with them. David was certainly a lover of God and His word.
It would be impossible to give even a general thought on the entire text in a short blog, so I will focus on a short section, a section that struck a cord with me.....
Your statutes are wonderful;
therefore I obey them.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant,
longing for your commands.
Turn to me and have mercy on me,
as you always do to those who love your name.
Direct my footsteps according to your word;
let no sin rule over me.
Redeem me from human oppression,
that I may obey your precepts.
Make your face shine on your servant
and teach me your decrees.
Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
for your law is not obeyed.
This short section is know as Pe, as the entire Psalm is an acrostic poem with each verse of each stanza beginning with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, so there are 22 sections to the Psalm.
Obedience to God's word is not a burden! When we understand that God's "statues" are really about us and what is best for us, they become wonderful and obedience is a natural response. Who doesn't want to follow directions that lead to happiness and a fulfilled life? If our view of His word is rules and regulations that limit what we can and can't do, we miss the point. Next time you are sitting at a signal light, waiting for it to turn green so you can turn right, think about this. By understanding the law, you know you can turn right on red and not sit there and wait. Knowing God's law actually frees us to move within His will instead of sitting and waiting for the light to change. "You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free". (John 8:32)
As we learn His word, His truth, our lives are illuminated. As I read "unfolding of your words", I imagine a light hidden under many layers of fabric and as each layer is removed, the light becomes brighter, until it's full radiance is revealed. That is God's word. As I study, more and more is revealed to me and my understanding is broadened. This process is ongoing and will never be completed.
David tells us that he opens his mouth and pants for God's commands. I like that! Would to God that each of us could have this attitude about His word. This conveys a hunger, a longing for His truth. A hunger that can only be satisfied by spending time with Him. When I was dating Michelle, I could not wait until I could be with her again. (I still feel that way) My calendar was open and I had her penned in for dates as often as her parents would allow. May we grow to need time with God each day and have a hunger in our souls for His word.
Sin is always just a breath away. Our next words, our actions, our thoughts, whatever we struggle with, God's word is the answer to the question. The solution to the problem. "Direct my footsteps according to you word; let no sin rule over me". How many times have I felt that a sin ruled over me? On my own, I have tried to defeat a particular sin, only to be defeated by it. If we "walk in the Word", our footsteps will be guided by God. The trail will be illuminated and we can see clearly where to take the next step. Imagine for a moment climbing Stone Mountain in the dark. Not interested, how about you? I am sure it would be a difficult hike with many stumbles and potentially life ending falls. Thanks be to God that HE does not leave us with a dangerous, darkened pathway that leads to destruction. Rather, He sent His son to blaze the trail and make our way straight.
King David close this section of the Psalm with his emotional plea for everyone to follow God's laws. "Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed". He is heartbroken that people choose to disobey God. Does it bother you and me that people ignore God's commands. "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven". Do we really mean that when we pray it? Is it in our hearts that His will is the right, best hope for the world? May we be brought to tears as we think about a world of lost souls that need to know God. May we determine to make His will know to every person on earth and bring each life under His authority.
While the writer of the Psalm isn't identified in the Psalm itself, many scholars attribute it to King David because of it's style and use of particular phrases. I tend to agree with them. David was certainly a lover of God and His word.
It would be impossible to give even a general thought on the entire text in a short blog, so I will focus on a short section, a section that struck a cord with me.....
Your statutes are wonderful;
therefore I obey them.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant,
longing for your commands.
Turn to me and have mercy on me,
as you always do to those who love your name.
Direct my footsteps according to your word;
let no sin rule over me.
Redeem me from human oppression,
that I may obey your precepts.
Make your face shine on your servant
and teach me your decrees.
Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
for your law is not obeyed.
This short section is know as Pe, as the entire Psalm is an acrostic poem with each verse of each stanza beginning with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, so there are 22 sections to the Psalm.
Obedience to God's word is not a burden! When we understand that God's "statues" are really about us and what is best for us, they become wonderful and obedience is a natural response. Who doesn't want to follow directions that lead to happiness and a fulfilled life? If our view of His word is rules and regulations that limit what we can and can't do, we miss the point. Next time you are sitting at a signal light, waiting for it to turn green so you can turn right, think about this. By understanding the law, you know you can turn right on red and not sit there and wait. Knowing God's law actually frees us to move within His will instead of sitting and waiting for the light to change. "You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free". (John 8:32)
As we learn His word, His truth, our lives are illuminated. As I read "unfolding of your words", I imagine a light hidden under many layers of fabric and as each layer is removed, the light becomes brighter, until it's full radiance is revealed. That is God's word. As I study, more and more is revealed to me and my understanding is broadened. This process is ongoing and will never be completed.
David tells us that he opens his mouth and pants for God's commands. I like that! Would to God that each of us could have this attitude about His word. This conveys a hunger, a longing for His truth. A hunger that can only be satisfied by spending time with Him. When I was dating Michelle, I could not wait until I could be with her again. (I still feel that way) My calendar was open and I had her penned in for dates as often as her parents would allow. May we grow to need time with God each day and have a hunger in our souls for His word.
Sin is always just a breath away. Our next words, our actions, our thoughts, whatever we struggle with, God's word is the answer to the question. The solution to the problem. "Direct my footsteps according to you word; let no sin rule over me". How many times have I felt that a sin ruled over me? On my own, I have tried to defeat a particular sin, only to be defeated by it. If we "walk in the Word", our footsteps will be guided by God. The trail will be illuminated and we can see clearly where to take the next step. Imagine for a moment climbing Stone Mountain in the dark. Not interested, how about you? I am sure it would be a difficult hike with many stumbles and potentially life ending falls. Thanks be to God that HE does not leave us with a dangerous, darkened pathway that leads to destruction. Rather, He sent His son to blaze the trail and make our way straight.
King David close this section of the Psalm with his emotional plea for everyone to follow God's laws. "Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed". He is heartbroken that people choose to disobey God. Does it bother you and me that people ignore God's commands. "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven". Do we really mean that when we pray it? Is it in our hearts that His will is the right, best hope for the world? May we be brought to tears as we think about a world of lost souls that need to know God. May we determine to make His will know to every person on earth and bring each life under His authority.
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