What is inspirational and life changing about 1 King chapters 5 and 6 where Solomon’s building of the Temple is detailed? I have historically just read the passages where all the details about the Ark of the Lord, the Tabernacle, or the building of the Temple with little interest or reflection on all the details. When we skip over passages of scripture that do not initially have a moral or an exciting story we are missing opportunities to get a glimpse of God. What can you glean from 1 Kings chapters 5 and 6? Continue Reading…
Tag Archive - Idols
Unthankfulness to God for blessings leads to idolatry: 1 Kings 5 and 6
Lack of regard for God leads to the demise of many: 1 Samuel 5 and 6
When the Israelites brought the Ark into battle with the Philistines they were expecting to have victory just as in the stories of Joshua but instead they were met with defeat at the hands of the Philistines resulting in the Ark of the Lord being captured. The Israelites replaced their devotion to God with idolatry where they valued the things around them, such as the Ark, in greater standing than God. In 1 Samuel chapters 5 and 6 we are given the details of what happened to the Ark during the 7 months that it was in the possessions of the Philistines and how it was brought back to the Israelites. Continue Reading…
Provision for a fast food sex saturated world: Leviticus 17 and 18
Lord,
Open these eyes to see your glory. I sit in the torrent of life and I feel beaten and bruised by all the concerns of life. Oh how easy it is to get consumed with the swirling waters around me and not focus on you. Open my heart, mind, and soul as I read Leviticus 17 and 18 today Lord. I need your help to heal my heart. I submit to you now and forever, Amen.
Throughout Leviticus I am constantly reminded about how inadequate humanity is inherently. In chapter 17 God commands the people of Israel to stop sacrificing animals to other gods like the people of Egypt. People needed to bring their offering to the tabernacle to sacrifice to God as a peace offering. In chapter 18 God restates some of the 10 commandments in greater detail regarding how people can relate to each other. After reading these two chapters I feel saddened and a little depressed. Continue Reading…
God’s skillful artisans used in Exodus 31 and 32
I love how the question I had about the skill of the artisans (here) was answered in Exodus 31. You have Bezalel and Ahisamach by name but all craftsman with skill were given even more skill. When you hear God speak of Bezalel it is truly wonderful, “I have filled him with the spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship.” I long to see what everything looked like. Even though the items seem amazing it needs to be remembered that this is just a glimpse and a poor blurry glimpse at that of who God is and what heaven will be like. Continue Reading…
A glimpse of God is all we need: Exodus 23 and 24
I am captivated by the slight glimpse given to us the reader about what Moses, Nadab, Abihu, and the elders saw when they worshiped at a distance with God. It is amazing to think that they mention the pavement! How often would we note the pavement or floor someone is standing on as something noteworthy? We would never say that we would note clothing, hair and eye color, or whether they spoke eloquently. In this case of describing God could any words that Moses could have written done justice to the true image of God? Continue Reading…
