The Ministry Of Giving

1 Chronicles 29:1---Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.

David gave, and then he gave some more. The tonnage of precious metals is incredible! And when David asked, "Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the LORD?" 1 Chronicles 29:5, the leaders also gave in abundance. The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly. 1 Chronicles 29:9 Everyone seemed to be totally devoted to making the house of the LORD the most amazing and costly structure ever built. This passage is a favorite of those raising funds to build new church buildings. Let us never forget that we are speaking of people, living stones, that make up the temple today. The Temple Solomon built was a wonderful, a God-inspired illustration of what God desires. David referred to it as God's footstool. The prophet said that heaven is God's throne and earth His footstool so what kind of house can you build Him? (Acts 7:48) The task is indeed great. In fact, all this gold and silver and precious stones, all the labor of gifted and anointed men could only erect a shadow of the real temple. The task is great, but now we have the Son of David (Jesus) to do the building. Unlike Solomon, the Son of David is experienced. Will we give of ourselves and our resources to see that the real temple of living stones is built like they gave to see a passing shadow built? How much more should we be willing to give our treasures and talents to the real thing!

God Inspired Thoughts

1 Chronicles 28:12, 19---And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things: All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.

There is a tendency to think God was more visible and directly involved in Old Testament times in more dramatic ways than in this age. As David was sharing the plans for the Temple with Solomon, he told how he received the inspiration for the plan. He did not have a vision or experience some kind of autonomic writing. He did not have a vivid dream or spirit travel to heaven. The Spirit of God put it in his mind. The hand of the LORD was upon him and gave him an understanding of the details of the plan. The LORD often works with us in the same way. If (and that is a great big "IF") we are seeking Him and His will with all our heart and have been walking with Him for some time to learn discernment, the Spirit inspires our thoughts. As we walk with the hand of the LORD upon us, we will discern Spirit inspired thoughts. Thoughts come from one of three sources: suggestions from the demonic, our own soul, or the Spirit of God. As we mature we learn to discern the difference and become more and more attentive and obedient to the Spirit inspired thoughts and quick to reject the enemy's temptations. When we pray we will notice the thoughts for whom to pray for enter our mind. As we approach daily difficulties, we will notice solutions that we had not thought of. Be careful to give God all the credit and the glory for those. That is what David was doing when he said, "He gave me understanding in all the details of the plan." "I can't take credit for one little detail. God inspired my thoughts." We find the same experience today as we go about working on the temple with living stones.

Seek The Lord

1 Chronicles 22:19---Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD."

David had prepared the way for Solomon to reign in several ways. He had subdued the enemies of Israel. He asked the leaders to assist Solomon, and as we saw yesterday, he prepared everything for the building of the Temple. There was one last thing Solomon needed. David gave him the single most important thing he needed to reign, the instruction to devote his heart and soul to seeking the LORD. Unless that was done, all the other preparation would not help him. If our heart's great desire is to know the LORD and His will, it is devoted to seeking the LORD. That only comes about when we value the things of God more highly than the things of the world. It is always an exercise in faith, for it is the desire for the unseen over the visible. David asked Solomon to set his compass toward the LORD. The second great burden on David's heart was to see the Temple built, so he charged Solomon to get started. Once the Temple was built, the Ark of the Covenant could be placed along with the sacred articles. The presence of God would fill the place, and the people's hearts would turn toward the LORD. Every group of worshippers needs the same thing. They need leaders who have devoted their hearts to seek the LORD. Since they are the temple, they need the presence of God in them. They need the tools (gifts and abilities), with which to carry out that which God would direct.

Living Stones

1 Chronicles 22:5,14---David said, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it." So David made extensive preparations before his death. "I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.

Before David's death, he had one great vision. He wanted to prepare everything for a house of God, the Temple. The tabernacle (tent of meeting) had served the purpose of a place to meet and worship up until this time. Now that they had settled and defeated their enemies, a fixed place could be constructed. David was not allowed to build it because of all the blood he had shed in battle. The house of the LORD was to be a place of peace. But David didn't just leave it all up to his son, Solomon. He did all that he could to amass the materials and laborers and create the plans. The record of the number of materials collected is staggering! David gave it his all. In life, we will have God-given desires on which we cannot work directly. That does not mean we cannot give and help in many ways. David appointed singers, made instruments, wrote psalms, appointed construction workers, imported materials and many other things that became a part of the Temple, even though he would never see it. Most of the fruit from a surrendered life will not be seen in our lifetime. Only the view from eternity will tell the real tale of our life's investment in the things of God. David invited his son to add even more. He was not making a monument to self. He wanted the very best for the worship of God, and the more, the better. He encouraged others to give to the great cause. Though that building was temporal, it was a picture of an eternal one.

Giving God Your All

1 Chronicles 21:22-24---Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshing-floor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people. And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all. And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.

Because of David's sin in numbering the people, he had chosen between three possible curses. He chose three days of the plague. When the angel stood over Jerusalem with his sword drawn, David knew he must act. 70,000 had already died. He interceded for the people and asked that the curse falls on him and his family since he had committed the sin. The LORD told David, through the prophet Gad, to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. This was the same place that Abraham had offered Isaac. It is the same ridge upon which the Lamb of God would be offered for the sins of the world. It is where the chaff is blown away, and what is of value remains. For Abraham, the hope in his son was "blown away" and trust in God remained. For Jesus, the sins of the world were blown away by his blood and redeemed children of God remained. For David, the guilt was about to be blown away, and a forgiven man would remain. David wanted to purchase the ground upon which to build the altar and later the Temple. Araunah offered to give it to him. You might say he was generous, but remember that he is standing in the shadow of an angel with a sword. David insisted on paying full price. Though Jesus paid our sin debt, it was not as if it was inexpensive. He paid the full price in our place. Offerings cost. It cost God the greatest price that could be paid. When we give to God our own hearts, we too should be willing to pay with lives of service.

The Heart of An Intercessor

1 Chronicles 21:16-17---And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

After David numbered the people of Israel, a sign of his heart turning away from God and depended on strength in numbers, the LORD sent his prophet to tell David the nation would suffer for this sin. He had three choices. He had to choose between 3 years of famine, 3 months of fleeing before their enemies, or 3 days of a plague from God. David knew God is more merciful than man. He chose the last option. The plague swept through Israel killing 70,000 people. When the angel that brought the plague stood over Jerusalem, David could see him. David interceded for the city by pleading that the sword of the angel falls on his own home since he was the guilty party. God's judgments are always just Surely the people's hearts had gone the same direction as David's, trusting in their numbers instead of the LORD. In this plea from David, we see his genuine shepherd's heart. He would rather take the blow than have it fall on his people. This is the heart of an intercessor that cares enough to place his own life on the line for others. We saw it in Moses, and now in David, and ultimately in Jesus, the Great Shepherd. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Sometimes We Just Need To Listen

1 Chronicles 21:1-3---And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

David's kingdom was established and blessed. His enemies were subdued and paying tribute. When the spiritual enemy could not attack from without, he attacked from within. Satan can inspire men to attack the people of God. When that fails, he will try to corrupt the people of God through their thought life. What was so evil about numbering the people? David had already learned again and again that the victory was not about superior forces but the blessing and leading of God. Numbering the nation was a way to count on his physical resources. What does it matter how many men you have prepared for battle if God is not with you? This is contrary to lesson upon lesson that God had shown David. Even Joab, the commander of the army, knew this was a mistake. Joab got to the point when he said, "May the LORD multiply his troops a hundred times over." It was not just a census on David's heart, but able bodied men. He pleaded with the king not to go through with this sin, but the king did not listen.

God Will Always Do His Part For The Faithful

1 Chronicles 19:13---Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.

After David was established as king, he heard about the death of the king of the Ammonites. He sent a group of Israelites to express sympathy. The new king's advisors suggested that this display of sympathy was really to spy out the land. They cut off the beard and robes of the ambassadors, a sign of great humiliation in that day, and sent them back. When the Ammonites realized this might cause retaliation they hired the Arameans as mercenaries. David's general, Joab, led the troops against them but the two enemy armies were able to set up armies in front and behind Joab. Joab divided his army and put one group to fight in front and the other behind. Whichever group was successful was to turn and help the others. That is when the verse we have today was uttered. The odds did not look good. Joab reminded them they were fighting for the people and the cities of their God. That made it personal for each soldier. It wasn't just about their own life; it was for their family, too. We realize our battle affects many more than just us personally. How many fallen had forgotten how their entire family and those of their city are affected by their battle? We do the best we can in the situation God has placed us. We rely on His strength. Then we trust that God will do what is good in His sight. God did help them, and both enemy armies retreated. The LORD did what was good in His sight. Remember: Your spiritual battle is for your family and your city. Encourage yourself with the fact that if you do your part, the LORD will certainly do His.

There Is No God Like Our God

1 Chronicles 17:20---O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

David is told that God is the One who will build a house for David, not David for God. God promised to have David's descendent reign forever. That descendant is Jesus, the son of David. I doubt David understood all the implications of what God spoke to him. We rarely do. Still, even in our limited and sometimes faulty understanding, we are in awe that the Creator of the universe would bother with us and even honor us so. Perhaps David thought of an earthly dynasty. That would have been wonderful enough. But I don't think he could have conceived that the Son of God would be born through his line to bring salvation to all mankind. There is no one like God. He is the only God. He is the only One who could make such an amazing promise and fulfill it in ways beyond David's comprehension. He is more wonderful than we can perceive. Our understanding of Him is always limited, for He is infinite. Our appreciation will always fall short. Whatever your situation or need, know that God is more than sufficient. He can work in ways you cannot understand. When Judah went into captivity, they must have wondered what happened to these promises. God was still keeping them. Consider: In our darkest nights, we can know God is still on the throne of heaven working all things together for our good and His eternal glory.

A Need For Feed

The Comfort Of The Holy Spirit

Rely On God’s Strength

1 Chronicles 16:8-11---Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

Chronicles record the story of the ark coming to Jerusalem. The first time they tried to bring it their own way, and Uzzah died. The second time they did it according to the word of the LORD. There was great rejoicing. David danced so all-out that his wife despised him. Musicians were appointed to play before the ark on a regular basis. David gave gifts of food to everyone. It was truly a festive occasion. At that time, David committed a psalm to his worship leader, Asaph. He didn't just give it to him but committed it to him. Asaph had this Spirit inspired song and was now responsible to see it sung. Is that how we feel about Spirit inspired music? It is committed to our worship leaders so that they see it is sung to the LORD. In this psalm, David commands us to give thanks to the LORD, to call on His name and to tell the nations what God has done. He is commanding us to send out missionaries. We are to sing to Him! We often sing about Him, telling of His wonderful acts, but we need to sing to Him also. We are to glory in His holy name. His name is the sum of His attributes. Glory in all that God is! If you seek the LORD, your heart should rejoice. Then David shared a lesson that was just reinforced. He sought God when the Philistine army came against Israel. The first time God directed them one way to victory. The second time God directed them in a different way, and they defeated the enemy again. Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. That is something Saul did not do, but David was determined to do.

Being Devoted To God

1 Chronicles 11:17-19---And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate! And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD, And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives, they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.

David's mighty men were so committed to him because of the Spirit they saw upon him that an expressed desire caused them to risk their lives. Not every desire of an anointed leader is from the Lord. Leaders who have such loyal men must be very careful in what they say to those who support them in ministry. David longed for a drink from the well in Jerusalem. These three mighty warriors decided they would battle their way to the well and back to honor his request. When David received the water, he did something that must have broken their hearts. He poured it out to before the LORD. Then he explained why. The men had risked their lives for his personal desire. David knew that life was sacred and should only be put on the line for the One who gave life. How could he partake of something those men had risked their lives for? That would cheapen life and put him in the position of God. Later in David's life, he did cross this boundary for a different desire. This passage shows us that he clearly knew where the line was. Devotion to an anointed leader is a good thing as long as that leader is expressing God's desires and not his own. We have the Spirit and must discern which is which.

A Contagious Faith

1 Chronicles 11:10-11----These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.

David had a very large following of mighty men. These men began gathering around David when he fled from Saul. Why did they come to him? He had nothing to offer them. They were a bit like the old gangs whom people paid protection money, only they actually did protect people. In the account of their protection of Nabal, David could say that they took nothing from him. They may have been men of ill repute but they were willing to follow David's example. Surely David shared with them his love for God. If nothing else, they learned of it in his psalms, many of which David wrote while on the run from Saul. I think there was another thing that drew them; David was anointed. The presence of God was with him. In his words and actions, there was something different, something of God. When a man or woman commits himself or herself completely to God, there is a fire of dedication that draws people. People come to watch them burn while wondering if they can have such a zeal for God. The mighty men of David followed David's example of standing by faith in the power of God against impossible enemies. Their faith was strengthened by his example, and they had a testimony all their own. Your faith can be contagious and inspire others to trust in God. Nothing short of complete dedication is going to catch the attention of others. Extraordinary faith comes from an extraordinary relationship. We see David's extraordinary relationship with God in the psalms.

The Right Kind Of Increase

1 Chronicles 11:9---So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him.

In this summary of the reign of David, we are reminded why he continually increased in power. The LORD Almighty was with him. God is all-powerful, and all power comes from Him and returns to Him. Several other passages in Scripture remind us of this spiritual truth. When God is with you, there is an increase. Psalms 84:7---They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. 2 Corinthians 3:18---And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. The increase in your life will not be in the ways the world counts increase. David's increase in strength was for the eternal Kingdom of God. We find much of our musical heritage goes back to David and his instruments and positions he appointed at the Tent of worship. The Psalms of David have inspired and comforted millions. The world can't see an increase in glory, but your brothers and sisters in the LORD can. This increase is an increase in eternal substance, not in temporal passing things. It is the most valuable type of increase, for it is eternal. We run after all kinds of other increase in the world, but the heart that is after God will seek the increase that comes from the presence of the LORD Almighty.

Obedience To The Spirit Of God

1 Chronicles 5:1---Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

In Israel, the firstborn had a double the inheritance of the other heirs. They also had the responsibilities to lead the clan and provide for the women without husbands. They represented the clan and made decisions as the head. Reuben was born into this position, but yielding to temptation caused him to lose it. It was a passing momentary pleasure, one large spot on the life of an otherwise faithful son. He was the one that wanted to spare Joseph. There are times when we face difficult temptations and wonder if there is some way we can indulge without having to pay a price. Sin always takes you further than you want to go and costs you more than you want to pay. God's grace may free you from some of the consequences or He may not. Sin always exaggerates the potential pleasure as it blinds you to the potential price you will end up paying. On the other hand, Joseph stood strong in the face of temptation. He refused to yield to the enticements of Potiphar's wife. It was one step on his way to a position he only dreamed of. Obedience to God reaped rewards he could not have seen except by the revelation of God. If that were not enough, he was given the position and rights of firstborn. Obedience takes the faithful where they can be most effective and rewards them beyond their dreams. Seems like a simple choice to make, but we need God's help to make it on a daily basis.

The Need For God

1 Chronicles 4:9-10---And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

A book on this passage has recently become a best seller. The author aptly describes all the implications of this passage, of which I will try to make a brief summary. Jabez means pain. Imagine having a name like that! A name was often an indication of destiny. Jabez refused to accept the destiny handed to him in his name. Instead of yielding to what was handed him, he stood as a man more honorable than his brothers. He held himself to a higher standard. Reaction to difficulty will make or break a person. If you see it as an excuse to justify self and compromise, it will cripple you. If you see it as a reason to strive to an even greater extent, it can be your prodding to a life above the norm. Jabez chose the later. He asked God to change his destiny. He asked for the blessing of God to be on his life and for his territory to be enlarged. Territory implied the space of his influence. We need to ask God to increase our ministry for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Do you desire to be even more effective? He recognized the need for God's hand to be with him. Then he asked for God to break that destiny that his name held him to. He asked for God to keep him from harm so that he would be free of pain. God granted his request.

What Kind Of Record Will You Leave?

2 Kings 25:19-21---And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king's presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city: And Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah: And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land.

After Josiah, there was never again a godly king. The Pharaoh of Egypt put Josiah's son in chains after his three-month reign. Each successive king paid tribute to Egypt, and the last king paid tribute to Babylon. The final king was Zedekiah. He rebelled against Babylon but was captured. His sons were murdered before his eyes. Then his eyes were put out. The buildings of Jerusalem were burned and pulled down. The temple was completely looted before it, too, was torn down. That was the sad end of Israel. 2 Kings 24:3,4 tells us that God was unwilling to forgive the land because of the idolatry and murders committed by King Manasseh. His legacy had so infected the nation that even the reforms of Josiah could not purge it. Our passage today tells of the final destruction of what was left in Jerusalem. We are all like the nation of Israel. There is a call on our lives to live as an example of our God. Our life is to be a witness to the world. We are enticed along the way to do evil, to turn to other things besides the LORD for our pleasure. At times, we are like David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, the good kings. At other times we are enticed to go the way of Manasseh. Like Israel, we have choices that affect our destiny. Will we be as stubborn as they were and go our own way, so that, in the end, the justice of God must remove us? Or will we be what God has called us to be, examples of His truth so that His blessings can overflow from our lives to the world? We are each a little king. Many lives are affected by our commitment or lack thereof. Serve the LORD with your whole heart!

Setting An Example

2 Kings 23:3---And the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

When Josiah heard the words read to him from the Book of the Law, he was responsive and humbled himself. He gathered the elders of Israel and the people of Jerusalem and read to them the words of the covenant. When something from God's word has gripped our hearts, we should share it with others and not keep it to ourselves. Then Josiah took the first step. He renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD. He didn't miss the words "with all your heart and soul". He was pledging himself to be the servant of God and to live in complete obedience to every requirement the LORD had given Israel. Once he did, the people followed, pledging themselves too. When someone stands up and does what is right in a world engulfed by compromise, it can have a great effect on all who see them. It touched the heart of the nation and gave them one last great revival. It was too late to save the nation though. The sins of the kings before Josiah had to be accounted for. There was too much evil sown in the land and in the hearts and minds of the nation. Judgment had to come as God had promised. Was the revival in vain? Sin causes havoc in the present life and judgment in the life to come. All that turned from idolatry were spared from the consequences of the sins they would have committed. Revival is never in vain, even though judgment must still come. It gave people one more chance to turn to God before it arrived.

Are You Open To God's Conviction?

2 Kings 22:19-20---Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD. Behold, therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.

Hezekiah's son, Manasseh, reigned for 55 years. The worst King of Judah followed the best. His reign was the longest reign and the most wicked. He put idols in the temple and offered his sons as burnt sacrifices. He restored all the idolatry his father had destroyed. Manasseh's son, Amon, was just like him. His officials assassinated him. Finally, the kingdom returned to a man with a heart like David's. Josiah was only eight when he began to reign. He ordered the restoration of the temple. People with a heart after God are concerned about the worship of God in their nation. During the restoration of the temple, the Book of the Law was found. When it was read to Josiah, he tore his robes and repented before God. He feared the wrath of God that would come upon them because of what his father and grandfather had done. He sent to inquire of a prophetess, and she gave him the answer that is the text for today. Is your heart responsive to the word like Josiah's was? Do you humble yourself before the LORD realizing that it is only His grace that saves us from wrath? If so, you can expect the LORD to be as gracious to you. If not, God will do whatever it takes to turn your heart toward Him. His wrath is His mercy to turn us back to the place that is best for our eternal good and His eternal glory.

Walking Faithfully

2 Kings 20:1-3---In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

Hezekiah had been faithful to God throughout his reign. Perhaps it was because of this that the LORD warned him of the time of his death through the prophet Isaiah. When he heard the news he immediately went to prayer, weeping and pleading with God. He based his plea on his life of walking faithfully before God, his wholehearted devotion, and doing what was good in God's eyes. How many of us could pray that prayer? In a way, all of us who are in Christ can indeed pray that. In Him, we have the righteousness of God. I do believe that a submitted life carries weight before the Throne. James reminded us that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. A righteous man prays for God's will. The Lord heard Hezekiah and sent Isaiah back to give him a cure and a promise of 15 more years. Hezekiah needed assurance that the word was from God. Isaiah prayed and asked God to make the shadow of the sun go backward ten steps. It did! In my ministry as a hospice chaplain, I have sat with people who have been given notice that they will soon die. some accepted it with peace. Others believe they are to pray like Hezekiah and expect a miracle. Is our faith bolstered in either case by our obedient walk as in the case of Hezekiah? Just walk faithfully before the LORD in wholehearted devotion doing what is right in His eyes.

Placing Our Hope In God

2 Kings 19:1-2---And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

The Assyrian captain came to Jerusalem and shouted to all the people his line of propaganda. Basically, he said that the gods of other nations had not been able to deliver them and neither would Jehovah deliver Jerusalem. When the officials brought the news to Hezekiah, he tore his clothes (a sign of anguish). He put on sackcloth (the rough garment was a sign of self- humiliation). Then he went to the temple of the LORD. In our last devotional, we read that Hezekiah was a man who trusted in the LORD. When trouble comes you will turn to the place you really trust, regardless of what you profess. Though Hezekiah was a righteous king, the LORD had allowed the defeat of many of the fortified cities of Judah. Just because you follow God with all your heart does not mean there will not be defeats and hardship. But we know where to turn. He went to the temple to seek God. He also sent his whole staff in sackcloth to the prophet Isaiah. The prophet of the Old Testament was the spokesman for God. Hezekiah knew he needed to hear from God. The outcome of his godly response was an angel of God slaying 185,000 of the enemy and sending the remainder back to Assyria where their general was murdered. Archeologists have found evidence that verifies that Jerusalem was the one city that Assyria did not conquer at that time. God is faithful to those who place their trust in Him. Trouble may come our way. We may suffer defeats. But if we humble ourselves and place our hope in God, we will ultimately prevail in spite of the odds.

Dedication To The Lord

2 Kings 18:3-5---And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.

Hezekiah was an exceptional king. As you read through the kings of Judah, you find a few of whom it was written, "He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD..." That is almost always followed by the word, "however". There was always some compromise. The standard was King David. He had a heart after God. In our passage today, we find a rare exception in Hezekiah. He destroyed everything that had an influence that suggested the worship of any other God than Jehovah. The bronze snake that Moses had made in the wilderness was even destroyed. We can take objects that were meant for our good and turn them into idols. Most of the blessings of God in our life can become a snare to us. There are times when their influence must put out of our lives. It is not that the object itself is bad, it is the way in which we are tempted to worship the object. It is the way in which it distracts us from the LORD. Hezekiah was so uncompromising that none of these distracting things were allowed to remain. What an epitaph! There was no one like him among the kings of Judah. God is looking for those who are willing to go all out, to be unique, to blaze a trail of total dedication. Jesus is our ultimate example in that.

Groundwork For God's Perfect Will

2 Kings 11:13-14---And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD. And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rents her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.

When Amaziah died from the wounds inflicted by Jehu, his mother, Athaliah, decided to take over as supreme ruler. This wicked lady killed all but one of her own grandchildren. A sister of Amaziah hid one of her nephews, a son of the king in the Temple. When the child, Joash, was barely old enough to reign, Athaliah reaped what she had sown. The priest Jehoida declared Joash king at the tender age of 7. Athaliah heard everyone shouting and clapping, and she yelled, "Treason, treason!" The people could have answered her, "Yes that was your crime." The wicked often accuse others of the things they are guilty of. They are familiar with the sin because they live it daily, but in their twisted minds, they have cleared themselves while accusing everyone else. They are so shocked when justice against them prevails. The people may have wondered what happened to the justice of God. As time passed and Joash was aging, the animosity of the people was growing. The selfish reign of Athaliah and her love for Baal was causing the animosity that would erupt in the justice of God. He has His perfect time for everything. When we see wickedness prevailing and are accused of the very things our adversary is guilty of, remember, Satan is the accuser of the brethren. God will deal with wickedness when the time is right. The people of the land also tore down the temple of Baal in Judah and killed the priest of Baal. Then they made a covenant with God and with their new king.

Good News, The Enemy Is Defeated

2 Kings 7:8-9---And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it. Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now, therefore, come, that we may go and tell the king's household.

The Arameans laid siege to the capital of Israel, Samaria. The people inside the city were slowly starving to death. Some of them even ate their own babies. The king of Israel became furious with the LORD and His prophet and determined to kill him. When he arrived at the room of the prophet Elisha, Elisha prophesied that the next day there would be an abundance of food. That was very hard to believe, but the king backed off. A group of lepers decided to go out to the Aramean camp. They decided that either way, they would die, and they might find mercy. When they arrived, the army was gone and all their goods were still there. They began to raid the tents, hiding the goods, until their conscience got to them. They knew they needed to tell the starving people of the city. The king of Israel thought it was a trap, so he sent a small group of chariots to see what had happened. They followed a trail of forsaken goods all the way to the Jordan River. The LORD had caused the sound of a great army to frighten the Arameans away. We are like those beggars when we come to Christ. We have lived in a land starving for truth. People are desperate. We found the answer in abundance and begin to stash away the truth in our hearts, hiding it there. Then our conscience gets to us. What about all the others, who are holed up in the city, slowly dying, waiting for someone to tell them the good news, "The enemy is defeated!"? We are not doing right by keeping this discovery to ourselves.

Lord, Open My Eyes

2 Kings 6:15-17---And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

When the king of Aram warred against Israel, Elisha sent word to the king of Israel informing him of the places Aram's army would camp. The king of Aram thought one of his generals was a spy. When he learned it was the prophet Elisha that knew by Divine power what his plans were, he surrounded the city to capture Elisha. The servant of Elisha got up that morning and saw the army surrounding the city in wait for them. He was scared, but Elisha wasn't. Elisha could see in the spirit. That is why he knew where the enemy camped. That is why he knew he did not need to fear. Then Elisha asked God to let his servant see what he could see. There in the hills around them was a much greater army, a spiritual army. The hills were full of horses with chariots of fire. If we look in the carnal realm, we see only what looks to be too great for us. Enemies seem to have the upper hand. Situations look impossible. Odds appear to be too great. But if we will let God open our eyes of faith so that we can see in the spirit, we will see resources that our enemy has no idea we have. Elisha single-handedly (through the power of God) captured this army. That is because one person and God are a majority. It doesn't matter how great the numbers are against you, as long as God is on your side and you are listening to and obeying Him.

Where Is Your Treasure Laid Up?

2 Kings 5:25-26---And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed forever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

After Naaman was healed, he offered Elisha a small fortune. Elisha refused to take anything and sent Naaman home in peace. Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, thought they had missed an opportunity to make some financial gain. He ran after the caravan and made a very creative lie. He told Naaman that two prophets showed up just after he left and they wanted to give them some silver and sets of clothes. Naaman gladly gave these to Gehazi. Gehazi brought them back and hid them. Elisha gave Gehazi a chance to come clean by asking him where he had gone. Gehazi lied again and said, "Nowhere". After all the miracles he had seen, all the supernatural discernment in Elisha, you wonder how he thought he would get away with this. Not only that, but he had so much evidence that there is a God who is just and righteous. Elisha told Gehazi that his spirit was there when Naaman got down from his chariot. I imagine Gehazi's heart stopped about then. Elisha asked, "Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants?" Is this the time to get rich? Should our simple obedience to God warrant earthly treasure, or are we laying up treasure in heaven? Gehazi demonstrated that he was after an earthly reward. God does supply our physical need, but where is our heart set? Why do we serve? If we have to make up stories, we know something is amiss. Remember Jesus' words: Lay up your treasure in heaven where neither moth nor rust corrupt and where thieves cannot break in and steal it.

Changing Of The Heart

2 Kings 5:10-12---And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

Naaman was a great commander in the army of the king of Aram. He had contracted some type of skin disease. His wife's servant was a young girl from Israel. The young girl spoke of a prophet that could cure Naaman. With the king's permission, he journeyed to Israel to be cured. The king of Israel thought it was a ploy to have a reason for the king of Aram to go to war with Israel. Elisha sent word that the king of Israel need not worry. He asked that Naaman is sent to him so that Naaman would know there was a prophet in Israel. Actually, God was after Naaman. He was pursuing him by means of his affliction. If Naaman believed Jehovah's prophet could cure, then he would believe in Jehovah. Naaman had other issues to be dealt with, namely his pride. Instead of going out to meet this esteemed commander, Elisha just sent a messenger. God's direction for healing was a humbling thing. The Jordan is dirty and mucky. Pride sent Naaman into a rage at this simple request, but his servants calmed him down and helped him to humble himself. After the seventh dip, Naaman came up with skin like a young boy's. He had a conversion experience. His outward cleansing caused him to trust in God for an inward cleansing. He took soil back from Israel so that he could worship the God that he now knew to be the one true God. The biggest miracle was not that his skin was cleansed but that his heart was changed. God pursues everyone with the desire to see them know Him. Will we humble ourselves and let Him do a miracle in our lives, or demand that He meet our expectations?

Trusting God Completely

2 Kings 4:32-34---And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead and laid upon his bed. He went in, therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child, and the flesh of the child waxed warm.

A wealthy woman asked her husband to make a room for Elisha so that whenever he and his servant came to that town they would have a place they could stay. In return, Elisha asked God to grant her desire to have a son. She was very concerned when he made the promise because she did not want to have false hopes. Sure enough, a year later she had a son. Don't be afraid to believe that God can bring to pass the desire He has placed in your heart. One day the boy had a headache and died. The woman ran to Elisha and told him, "Didn't I tell you not to raise false hopes in me?" Then Elisha knew something was wrong with the boy. He immediately sent his servant to run and lay his staff on the boy while he followed. When the servant laid the staff on the boy, there was no change. There are times when we do what we believe the LORD is directing, but we do not see results. Then Elisha went into the room alone with the boy and prayed. If our first leading does not bring results, pray. Ask the LORD what to do next. Apparently, following the LORD's direction, he did what sounds like artificial resuscitation. He did this not once but twice. The first time brought some results, but then he repeated what the LORD had shown him a second time. Then the boy awoke from death. Remember: If the LORD takes away what He has promised you, trust Him. Even when you have acted at His direction and seen no results, trust Him. Do just what Elisha did. Pray! Ask God what to do next. Then keep doing that until He directs you otherwise or you see the answer.

Even In Difficulty God Provides

2 Kings 4:1-3---Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
There are times when a faithful man of God will fall into financial difficulty. It does not mean he has been unfaithful or does not have faith. It is a test of faith. This man that served in the company of the prophets died in debt. His widow was afraid the collectors would take the sons as slaves in payment for the debt. She asked the prophet of God, Elisha, what to do. He had nothing to give her. When he was called by God, he left everything behind and used his yoke for wood and his plow oxen as a sacrifice. The man of God asked what she had left. Sometimes we only have a little for God to work with, but He can do a lot with a little. If we are willing to demonstrate our faith by putting that little bit into His hands, He multiplies it. Do you remember the fish and loaves and the widow who fed Elijah? Tell me, what do you have in your house? Come on, voice it! Most of us have plenty. Will we put it in God's hands? Elisha tells her to borrow as many jars as she can from her neighbors. Faith takes a big basket to market. Expect God to answer in a big way. She poured the little oil she had left and it kept coming out of that jar. It continued to flow until every last jar was full. If she had a million more, they would have all been full. The miracle stops at the end of our faith. When you expect God to move, prepare in a big way. If God has directed it, you will find you'll wish you had prepared more jars. The oil was sold to pay their debts and provide a pension.

God Always Has A Plan

2 Kings 3:20-22---And it came to pass in the morning when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armor, and upward, and stood in the border. And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:

The LORD told Elisha to have the army dig ditches, and that God was going to fill those ditches with water so the armies of Israel, Judah and Edom could drink. The next morning water flowed from the direction of Edom and filled the ditches. The able-bodied men of Moab had gathered to resist the attack. When they saw the reflection of the sunrise and thought the water was the blood of the armies that had come to fight them, they rushed headlong into an ambush of ready, thirst-quenched soldiers. The day before the armies in league with Israel had thought God was against them, bringing them to defeat through thirst. Instead, it was God's way of getting them to stop their plans so that He could work. We are often ready to jump into a spiritual battle, ready to take the enemy's territory, but God has His own way of doing things. He may introduce a difficulty to get us to seek His face and go His direction. The very solution to their difficulty was the means God used to trick the army of Moab. Two birds with one stone! The lesson was that the hand of God would work in their favor if they would seek His face and listen to Him.

The Importance Of Hope, Hebrews 6:11

Praise The Lord In Song

2 Kings 3:15---But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

Elisha became the prophet in the place of Elijah. The king of Moab rebelled against Israel and refused to pay tribute, so the king of Israel, Joram, asked for assistance from the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom. They tried to make a sneak attack through the desert but ran out of water, so Jehoshaphat suggested inquiring of a prophet of God, and Elisha was called. Elisha told Joram he should inquire of the gods of his parents. Out of respect for the presence of the king of Judah, he did inquire of God. It is interesting to note how he went about hearing from God. It is a theme often repeated in the Old Testament. He asks for a harpist. Remember it was David's harp playing that set Saul free from the oppressing spirit that troubled him. David had assigned instrumentalists to play in the Temple. It seems that Elisha needed music to quiet his spirit that he might hear from God. The gift of music is, indeed, a spiritual thing. It can draw us to God and still our spirits. We need to be cautious as to the type of music we listen to. When you need to hear the voice of the Spirit to direct you, you might consider listening to something that was written to the praise of God. He inhabits the praises of His people. Music that was written to the praise of man or worldliness can have the opposite effect on us. It can stir our flesh in the direction of the suggestions in the lyrics. It seems that everywhere we go we are bombarded with "popular" music. Most of it promotes illicit relationships. Choose your music wisely and have a good collection of music that is written to the praise and glory of God.

Let Us Not Forget God, and Keep A Can-do Attitude Text: Psalm 9:17

Receiving A Double Portion

2 Kings 2:9-11---And it came to pass when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee before I am taken away from thee. And Elisha said I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Elijah had done as the LORD commanded him and called Elisha to be the prophet in his place. The time had come for Elijah to depart this world, and Elisha knew it. He would not leave the side of Elijah even though Elijah asked him to stay behind. He must have known by the Spirit of God that if he stuck close to Elijah he would be blessed. When they arrived at the place to which the LORD had led them, Elijah asked if there was anything he could do for Elisha. Elisha asked for a double portion of his spirit. The spirit of a man is his relationship and zeal for God. Elijah left it in God's hands by saying that if Elisha saw him taken from him he would know his request was granted. Sure enough, he saw it happen. When Elijah called Elisha, he threw his cloak over him. Now he left his cloak behind for him. When we look through the life of Elisha, we find twice as many miracles recorded as were recorded in the life of Elijah. He did receive the double portion he asked for. What would you have asked for? This reminds us of Solomon's request for wisdom to rule. What we ask for depends on the calling the LORD has placed on our lives. The desire behind our request should be that our calling be effective and influential for the sake of the Kingdom of God. If our heart is to serve in the most God-honoring way possible, God is willing to grant our request. If our request is to be equipped to please our King, we should expect it to be granted.