In 1 King chapter 7 we are given greater detail about the home that Solomon built for himself and the furnishings that were created to fill the temple. When reading about detailed descriptions about a home made of cedar from Lebanon, bronze pillars ‘Boaz’ and ‘Jakin’, bronze basins, utensils, massive cherubim surrounding the ark, and many other assorted items made of bronze and gold you can start to wonder why should I care? Why are such things made?

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hand, saying, ‘Since the day that I brought My people Israel from Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, but I choose David to be over My people Israel.’ Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will be born to you, he will build the house for My name.’ Now the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for I have risen in place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. There I have set a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord, which He made with our fathers when He brought them from the land of Egypt.

1 Kings 8:15-21

The words spoken by Solomon continue in 1 Kings chapter 8 to praise God for His goodness and faithfulness to the people of Israel. The prayer of Solomon pleads for God to remember the people of Israel when they turn back to God after straying from following Him. In life when we are wavering in our faith in God we need to be to be assured that God’s faithfulness endures in the midst of our unfaithfulness. Solomon knew that God is far greater than he could comprehend but he earnestly prays that God is true to His nature as he remembers His people. Solomon reminds the people of Israel to walk before God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength because then they will be blessed. I have been amazed at how throughout the Bible the need for us to love God and love people is continually proclaimed.

So what is true worship? We are repeatedly exhorted to love God with all of our heart, with all of our mind, with all of our soul, and with all of our strength. As we cling to God our love for Him will pour out to those around us. This is true worship in it’s most simplistic form. This worship can be manifested in many different ways and I believe that Solomon’s building of the Temple is an extension of his love and worship of God. I pray that as you worship God you will remember that you are to love God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength because as you seek Him more you light will shine brighter to those around you.

I found it very interesting that the Israelites were faithful to follow God as long as a strong deliver still lived among them. After every judge was raised up there was a varying amount of peace for the people of Israel. As soon as the judge died and time passed the people of Israel quickly turned back to their evil ways. I am amazed how quickly we run back into our sinful habits when we are left to our own ways. Throughout Judges God delivered the Israelites in ways that they were not looking for. Jephthah, the son of a harlot, was used by God to deliver the Gileadites and in doing so God transformed what was worthless into a treasure. The deliverance we expect most likely will not come in the way we expect because God’s ways are not our ways. The judge that God raised was only as faithful as their faithfulness to God such as Samson who was blessed with strength but ended up becoming proud of his strength and forgetting God.

The implicit need for a perfect deliverer is woven among the verses of Judges filling my heart with joy as God raises someone up to deliver the people of Israel only to feel the painful loss when the Israelites consistently turn away again. My own faith can be described by this sporadic cycle of joy and painful loss. I see a great foreshadowing within all of Judges that points to the greatest Deliverer of all, Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins He delivered me out from under the bondage to sin and death giving me eternal life. Hebrews talks of how Jesus is greater than everything that the Israelites held dear to them: He was more faithful in God’s house than the servant Moses, He is the great High Priest greater than Aaron, He is greater than the angels, He is the Son of God, He died on the cross to rise again, and He is our Hope for the future. It has been important that I see my own depravity so that I can feel the weight of the salvation that Jesus Christ gave to me. I am so thankful that my deliverance is based on the faithfulness of God and not the faithlessness of man.

When there was a judge over Israel while they lived there was peace and the people followed God. When that deliverer died it was only a matter of time before the people strayed from God. What does this mean for us today knowing that Jesus Christ, our Deliverer, still lives? Do you sense the hope that is found in Jesus Christ? He lives so we do not need to follow the cycle of disobedience that is seen throughout the book of Judges. We can remain faithful because He lives. There is nothing that we need to do to live a faithful life because The Deliverer still lives. Can you sense the power of this truth? All the worry that we take upon ourselves to live a life following God is not necessary because our Deliverer takes the burden to free us from our bondage. It will be easier to love God and love people because Jesus Christ still lives.

In his final words Moses gives a blessing to the Israelites. He acknowledges that God chose Israel for His own. Moses gave individual blessings for each tribes of Israel. Does this blessing foreshadow the future deeds of each tribe? I remember the blessings Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob made to their sons. which recognized them for what they did and told of what their future would be. What would I say as my final words at the time of my death? Would I encourage others to place their faith, trust, and hope in Jesus Christ? Is a life summed up by your final thoughts and words? When life is over what does a person cling to? I have often wondered how people can go through life without Jesus Christ as their hope for a future and it amazes me even more to think about people dying with out that hope in their lives. I think that this is a wake up call to every christian to remember that people need to know that God loved them enough to send Jesus Christ to die on the cross for their sins. Will you go out an proclaim that?

The death of Moses comes in Deuteronomy chapter 34 where he dies on Mount Nebo. Before Moses dies God shows him the promised land which was promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is noteworthy that in verse 6 that Moses’ burial location is unknown. If people knew where Moses was buried would that become an idol where God’s servant is worshiped as greater than God? After Moses’ death “Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.” (Deuteronomy 34:9)

I love how Deuteronomy closes with three verses that describe Moses’ leadership and relationship with God. Moses was the only person whom God spoke face to face with. That is amazing to think about speaking to God face to face. My life feels very insignificant after reading about Moses but I remember that Hebrews talks about someone greater than Moses who was more faithful in all of God’s house. Moses’ was a servant but Jesus is the Son of God. He died for me on the cross. When I think about Jesus Christ my awe of Moses’ fades away because Jesus Christ is so much more than Moses. Jesus Christ is the one whom we can place our faith, trust, and hope for our futures. Where do you place your faith, trust, and hope? I pray that you will place it all upon Jesus Christ because when your time to die arrives you want your legacy to be fixed upon a true hope that will not falter.

I was amazed how the truth that unequally yoked marriages draw you away from God is glimpsed in chapter 7 verses 1-11. God knew that when the people entered into the promised land that if they didn’t hold to His commands the people would begin to stray from Him. If the Israelites choose to marry into the people they conquered they would slowly be corrupted from within because the men or women who are not of Israel would not fear God or follow Him and in doing thus they would also pull their spouse away from God. I see this today in my life. I see a lot of great women who I find attractive but if they are not motivated by God any relationship would be destined to draw me away from God. It is not easy to wait on God but if I let my pride lead me in my desires for a future wife instead of God I will be pulled away from God.

God promises to bless the Israelites if they follow His commandments that were given to them through Moses. This promise of blessing comes with a warning to the people that they do not forget God. When the blessings are given and life becomes it is easy to become filled with pride and to think that you were solely able to bring yourself to the place you are without God. Chapter 8:11-14 tells the story, “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart will become proud and  you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” I think this danger is alive and deadly today in America. We have an abundance and it is all too easy for us to go about our daily lives and never once thing that God is blessing us. The cultures of Israel and America seem all to similar when you think about how easily it is to forget God when life is easy. I know that if I do not abide in God’s Word on a consistent basis I will stray all too easily.

What does this truth about humanities inherent desire to stray from God mean for us today? I think it is a warning to keep among the body of Christ. God places believers around us to help us when we are going through difficult moments. The author of Hebrews sums it up perfectly, “Let us hold fast the confession of out hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing dear.” Do not attempt to live life as a solitary christian because it will not work because we are designed and destined to be within a body of believers. Seek God and guard against your pride taking preeminence over God. I’ll honestly say that through my own power I am destined to fail but through Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit I find the hope for tomorrow.

I love how God’s faithfulness is shown in chapter 2 as Moses recounts the travels in the wilderness. The Israelites traveled through Seir where the sons of Esau dwelt and Ar where the sons of Lot dwelt. In each of these places that the Israelites traveled through God did not give any of the land because it was promised to the sons of Esau and Lot. This is another example of God being faithful to provide for people. God finally the land of Heshbon to the Israelites. The people of Israel were faithful to obey God by leaving no survivors from the battle. When the people remained obedient to God they had His blessing and the direction was clear for them. As I progress through reading the Old Testament it will be apparent when the Israelites stray from obedience to God.

How did Moses speak to all the people? It is all too easy to think of our modern day amenities like public address systems and loud speakers. Were there scribes that wrote all he said and heralds that spoke the words? It seems such a small thing to speak to millions of people today but how did it happen back then? It adds to my wonder and amazement of God and the story in the Old Testament.

As I sit and think about all that Jesus Christ has done and is doing in my life I feel wholly inadequate. I am so prone to wandering from my Lord. It is easy to be buffeted and bashed by the worries of the world: marriage, employment, money, fear, war, and lust. This world is vying against god for my attention. Sadly I become mesmerized by the the allure and glitter of the world around me. What hope is their for a christian today? We need to turn to our source of power and strength, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, to overcome the snares of the world. I think this call is the only important call a leader of today need to heed. Proverbs 22:5 tells me that “thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards himself will be far from them.” How do we guard ourselves? Lord grant me the ability to guard my heart, mind, soul, and strength in Jesus Christ. I honestly do not know how this is done but I know you are faithful and I am asking you for help.

Why is strong spiritual leadership so important? Numbers 28 can give a little clue as to the reason why a strong spiritual leader is necessary. God again speaks saying, “Command the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be careful to present My offering, My food for My offerings by fire, of a soothing aroma to me, at their appointed time.” Humanity is cursed by sin and we are not inclined to remember God. A strong spiritual leader is needed to keep turning the people back to God by remembering to follow His commands. For Moses and now Joshua this was to make sure that the offerings to God are continually kept and remembered. What does a leader today keep reminding us? We need to keep looking to Jesus Christ. All the sacrifice and laws in the Old Covenant point to Jesus Christ for fulfillment. Today we need men who will challenge, direct, rebuke, and encourage believers to seek out God by getting to know Jesus Christ through diligent study of the Word of God. We need men to take up the charge found in Isaiah chapter 1, “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” Think about what this world would be like if we had a generation of men who were willing to take up this battle cry and seek out justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphans, and plead for the widow.

My desire for my life can be summed up by a quote from Rich Mullins, “If my life is motivated by an ambition to leave a legacy, what I would probably leave is a legacy of ambition.  But, if my life is motivated by the power of God’s spirit in me and the awareness of the indwelling Christ, if I allow His presence to guide my motives, that’s the only time I think we really leave a great legacy.” I desire to leave behind a legacy pointing to God’s amazing power. Lord can I have that?

The story of Numbers 23 and 24 can be summed up by seeing Balaam’s faithfulness to speak what God has to say about blessing Israel and not cursing them. Three times Balak desired a curse to come upon the Israelites but each time God reaffirmed His desire to bless them. To Israel was this blessing by Balaam a reaffirmation of their favor in God’s eyes? Did this instill a desire to follow God? As I read through Numbers I am constantly reminded of how often Israel strayed from God’s commands by hardening their hearts. In Hebrews chapter 3 the author charges the reader to not harden their heart as the Israelites did in the wilderness. How did these consistent blessings make Balak feel? He had ideas of overpowering this mass of people that encroached from Egypt but in the end he realizes that through his desire to curse the Israelites he was cursing his own people. How did Balaam feel about the constant desire of Balak to curse and God to bless? I think Balaam was resolute in his obeying God after the experience he had before the angel of the Lord. Could Balaam do anything other than what God commanded and expect to survive?

This story is brought home to my life when I think about all the various times that I know there is a stand that I know God would have me make. Do I stand firm in my faith and belief in God or am I wavering in the face of what seems to be overwhelming odds. Does the wealth and beauty of the world hold you in bondage to following the worlds ways? I know that the way of following God can seem difficult and many times counter to the popular culture but I encourage you to stand firm in your faith. Take this hope with you knowing that Jesus Christ has died and risen from the dead and conquered death so that we have no fear of what man may do to us. We are free to live for Him. Peace be with you because of what Jesus Christ has done.

Update

In Numbers 31 I learned more about who Balaam actually was. I encourage you to read the post so that you can get a better understanding also.

The chapter 20 tells how the people of Israel grumble again because there is no water to drink. Moses and Aaron go before God where He instructs them to assemble the people and before them Moses was to talk to the rock and water would come forth from the stone. However Moses instead struck the rock with the rod that was in his hand. Moses and Aaron disobeyed God by showing their unbelief. With this unbelief Moses and Aaron were not allowed to bring the people into the promised land. Does my unbelief hinder me? I wonder what ways I have showed a lack of faith and belief before God and I miss out on blessing that God wanted to give me. I know that God’s love for me is not dependent upon anything i do because He loved me in my sinful state long before I was ever born. Lord, please grant me the faith to trust and believe you when it seems like the way seems impossible.

Chapter 20 ends with a changing of the high priest. God tells Moses and Aaron that Aaron would soon die. How would that make you feel if God tells you that you are going to die and be gathered with your people. Moses, Aaron, and Eleazar walked up Mount Hor where the garments of the high priest were taken off Aaron and placed upon Eleazar. Was this a tearful moment at the parting of a family member and friend? The end of the chapter tells about how the people of Israel upon realizing that Aaron was dead mourned and wept for 30 days. This story of the death of Aaron should bring hope to believers today. Hebrews 7:23 says, “The former priest, on the the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing.”  Aaron and every one of his descendants was going to die and that was a fact. When Jesus Christ came he was of a new order of priest not descended from the Levitical line of priests. He died once for all upon the cross. He was not hindered by death from continuing as the High Priest. Jesus Christ is the one true way that we can find hope for our future because He leads the way overcoming death for us.