Sonshine's Journal

Samuel 5:11-6:23; 1 Chronicles 13-16. Time to Celebrate!

David led the procession to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem, but the first time they carelessly put it on a cart rather than the way Moses had instructed them. Imagine being in that procession and then seeing the hand of the Lord strike one of the procession as he reached up to stabilize the cart. Wrong directions caused his death so why was David angry at the Lord? When do we surmise this is the way by what we think is the right way only to face His discipline?  There is a lesson there for us, do it the way God directed.

The second time David instructed the men to carry it on poles as Moses had instructed and this time it was successful. When we do God’s work, we must do it as He instructed. When that happens, we can, like David, celebrate and celebrate they did!  

What has God instructed you to do and will you seek His direction so you do it correctly?  

Howdy

Psalm 107 A Diary of Life 

Whoever is wise, let him take note of these things.Let them consider the Lord’s acts of loyal love.

Over and over those God called, He blessed. But, the chosen ones did not honor Him as they should. So he used suffering to humble them; they stumbled and no one helped them up.Further, They acted like fools in their rebellious ways and suffered because of their sins. Is this not the history of mankind? Yet, God in His loving kindness heard their cries: They cried out to the Lord in their distress; he delivered them from their troubles. 

How many times is this our story? We act like fools in our rebellion and we suffer. Peter wrote; don’t think this is strange. It truly is a gift from the Lord to feel His discipline so we can return to Him and give Him praise. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love and for the amazing things he has done for people. 

Today stop and give the Lord praise for all He has done for you. 

Here in Texas the climate is often dry, yet even with the dryness each morning we find the dew has fallen in the night to water the plants and the lawns. The temperature is cool and so the dew is refreshing. As the day unfolds and the sun rises the dew begins to dissipate and about mid morning the grass is dry once again. In Israel the climate is dry as well and in the time of the psalmist it was the dew that awakened the day and refreshed it and the people’s hearts. Furthermore, it recalled the time when God sent the dew and the manna to feed His people in the wilderness. Num 11:9 And when the dew came down on the camp in the night, the manna fell with it.

Each morning as the dew comes to water the physical land, the dew of the Holy Spirit refreshes our spirits as we meditate upon His Word. Have you been refreshed today in the Word? Don’t wait until your day is filled with duties and busyness, spend time letting the Holy Spirit’s dew refresh your spirit. 

2 Samuel 5:1-10; 1 Chronicles 11-12 Records of the Faithful

David is right to be wary of those who came to him proclaiming victory and praising him for his exploits. So many had said they would follow him but then they deserted him. But, David records the faithful. This reminds me of the Book of Life that records my name and the many who have chosen to follow Messiah. Is your name there? 

The NT records the many who were faithful but then Paul records those who were not just like David. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews records the faithful. Again and again God has provided these lists that we might be encouraged to stand strong against the wiles of the devil for one day that book will be open and the names read. Is your name there? 

What causes you to be anxious? Is it because of outside influences or something within you? The psalmist echoes his anxiety by telling us about his lifestyle. What is it that has caused this in his life? In vs 8 he writes in his diary: “All day long my enemies taunt me; those who mock me use my name in their curses.” So from this we gather that it is outside influences that are affecting him and he seems powerless to change his circumstances and he rehearses those to his detriment. He has insomnia and he has forgotten to eat (I don’t seem to have that problem). Because of these, he is losing weight. 

If you are facing these and you are anxious, remember the words of Paul to the Philippian church: Phi 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

That is good advice. It would be good to not just take that advice but to meditate on it and memorize it for times when you feel anxious. 

The consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin was death…death of people, death of animals, death of all that grew. So in today’s reading that is the thought that the writer of Chronicles wants us to see. Death is the end of all living matter all because of sin. Depressing. Absolam dies, Saul and his three sons die and soldiers in battle die. Depressing. Oh Lord, come quickly that this depressing tale will end and life will be forever more. 

In the midst of all this reading we see that the sin of Judah has taken the lives of many but some lived on to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. The Chronicler records for us the many who returned from Babylon to rebuild. He specifically records not just the people but their jobs in the “new” Jerusalem. Their names are recorded so that we can see the truth of God that He said they will return. 

What should we glean from all of this but to know the truth of Isaiah 55: God’s ways are not our ways, His ways are superior to ours and that He lives forever more. One day we too shall live with Him in heaven. 

How often do you stand apart and observe and then consider what is before you and your nation? It is then you can see what God sees and it is this, the people are disobedient and You have laid a burden upon them. The author, if it be  David, observed that ‘if only’ the people had obeyed, just as Deuteronomy reminds us, the blessings of God would be upon them. But, as the author notes, the people are not of one mind toward God, but their minds reflect where their heart lies and it is not with God. The consequences of sin are ever before them and they bring a nation down. Psalm 81:12 summarizes God’s thoughts: “I gave them over to their stubborn desires; they did what seemed right to them.” 

These words remind us of the book of Judges and the first chapter of Romans. It is an ever recurring theme of those who disregard the words of God suffer the consequences of their sin. 

Today would be a good day to stop and read these Psalms, Deuteronomy 8-9 and Romans 1 as a reminder of what God requires to be blessed by Him. 

Hannah is one of the most gracious of women in biblical history. She may have been barren, but her spirit revealed that God had impacted her life in ways that are beyond description. Her husband said he loved her, but his actions spoke louder than words. Instead of being an example of a man of God, he chose to model selfishness and breaking the Mosaic Law by marrying a second wife from whom he could get children. How unlike Zechariah and Elizabeth who the scriptures note were blameless. When we usurp God’s ways, the end result is never peace and contentment. And so, year after year, the second wife continued to belittle Hannah for her barrenness. But Hannah was filled with the spirit of grace and had a relationship with God by which she could pray to Him. God heard her humble prayer, and in time, He opened her womb. In turn, she brought forth a son named Samuel. When weaned, she left him there to grow into manhood, but each year, she brought him new clothes.

What can we learn from Hannah? Faithfulness to God is rewarded as Hannah had five more children. If only Elkanah had been patient, he would have seen the power of faithfulness to Jehovah and the power of prayer. We never heard of him or the other children from the second wife after Samuel’s birth, teaching us that God is displeased with our earthly ways but is pleased with our faithfulness to Him.

When God blesses you with His gifts, be it strength, wisdom, wealth or “fill in the blank,” we are to humbly accept and utilize them for His glory. It seems that Samson forgot those wise principles and in the end he sought revenge for his eyes, but not for his people. How tragic is that? 

What is the lesson we are to glean from Samson? It is this: when God blesses you or your family with His divine gifts, offer them for service to honor Him, not for selfish reasons, which Samson did.  He was chosen before birth to bring honor and glory to God but sin took over his heart and the blessings were never his first calling. 

I think there is another lesson we can glean and it is this: parents of gifted children are called to a higher standard. Often as a teacher of these children I have found the traits of selfishness and misplaced pride but not humility. 

Parents, if God has blessed you with one of these exceptional children, walk closely with the Lord. Memorize and teach 2 Tim 3:16 to and for them. A second verse to teach these precious children is Prov 16:18 “18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.” God honors humility, not pride.