Day 365

1 Chronicles 25:

David did not stop with just appointing the Priests and Levites to minister before the Lord, he took the next step of appointing musicians, singers and a full ministry team.  They had the roles of worshipping the Lord, bringing forth the word of prophecy and ministering in such a way that there was a constant blessing of anointing within the house of the Lord.  This powerful presence and awesome spiritual touch has always been the desire of the Lord and our worship today should reflect that.  It is easy to fall into ritual and form but we need to constantly stir up our hearts so that we might fully and continually experience the Lord!

Proverbs 2:

Solomon addresses this chapter (and indeed the whole book) to his son.  He promises him that if he follows the path of wisdom his life will be filled with success and he will avoid many of the pitfalls which endanger each one of us.  Wisdom needs to be embraced, it will not naturally fall upon you, it will not assail you and force itself upon you, you must welcome it, treasure it and apply it, in order to gain its benefit.  It is a great treasure and one that is worth digging for, unfortunately it is one that few possess and the wisdom which the Lord freely offers is counted as worthless and simply remains as refuse on the side of the road.

Ezekiel 2:

We have here the calling of Ezekiel as a prophet for the Lord.  The reason for the call: the people of God are rebellious.  The challenge of the call: to speak whether they hear you or not.  The difficulty of the call: they will most likely oppose you, shun you and even hurt you.  The purpose of God: to offer His people a prophet so that they know His love for them continues.  It is a challenging call, it is a difficult road but the Lord promises His presence with Ezekiel and success if he keeps to the road. This calling is just like ours: we are called to speak, whether they hear or not, to continue even through difficulty and to display the Lord’s love to anyone who will open their eyes to observe.

Day 364

1 Chronicles 24:

David took seriously the task of organising the worship that would take place within the Tabernacle and the Temple that would eventually be built.The greatest asset he knew that he would need were faithful priests who would do the work and fulfill the requirements that were set before them.  David reaches back into tradition to find a template to follow and organises his priests according to the order and family heritage that Moses and Aaron originally ordained.  This was not only a mark of great respect but also a wise move, given that he was following a pattern that had worked and brought blessing for hundreds and hundreds of years.  Tradition is not a bad thing as long as it is not followed blindly without engagement or understanding.

Proverbs 1:

The book of Proverbs is the first of Solomon’s three books which appear within the Word.  Solomon was a prolific writer, composer and poet; he was a man who collected his own thoughts on the nature of wisdom and collated them, along with many other’s wise words which he had heard.  The opening chapter gives us a clear understanding to the purpose of the book.  Proverbs is a book of practical wisdom to “give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion; A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.”  So it is a book which can help everyone.  Wisdom is personified in this book and she stands out in the street wanting to be heard…will we listen or will we be numbered among the foolish who pass her by?

Ezekiel 1:

To place Ezekiel in history is very straightforward: in the first few verses we find the answer.  Ezekiel prophesied to the captives who had been taken away to Babylon.  He first heard from the Lord in the 5th year of the captivity and he continued to act as prophet for many years to come.  The first encounter Ezekiel had with the Lord was powerful and life changing.  It was a revelation of the power, majesty, complexity and awesome potential of the Lord and of Heaven.  As you read it you realise that Ezekiel is attempting to describe things which are beyond description.  He speaks of multi-faceted faces, wheels within wheels, beasts with wings and overwhelming sounds, lights and testimonies.  A powerful journey has begun and we are invited to be a part of it.

Day 363

1 Chronicles 23:

As David came to the last days of his life most of his attention was focused on preparations and ministry within the house of God. He appointed the Levites special roles of leadership and worship but also challenged them that the days of focusing on a ‘movable tabernacle’ were now over.  The Ark of the Covenant was now at ‘rest’ and the Temple was coming soon…the ‘old order’ had to pass away so that the ‘new order’ could emerge and take the nation forward into its glorious new relationship. It is very important to recognise ‘transitional times’ in our lives, to respond to them and to allow the Lord to do the ‘new thing’ that He has for us.

Hebrews 13:

As the book of Hebrews comes to a close, the writer sends his final comments and encourages us to do those things which the Lord has ordained us to do.  We are not to live according to convenience and the things we desire;  we are called to live uprightly and according the leading of the Spirit.   He gives us all a challenge to recognise the leaders that the Lord has installed amongst us and instructions on some of the aspects of worship which ensure that we will remain in the presence of the Lord.  A personal farewell concludes what is a most challenging and systematic letter and we are left with some great promises which remind us that we are part of a wonderful covenant with the Great Shepherd with whom we are destined to live forever!

Day 362

1 Chronicles 22:

After David had met with God at the Threshing Floor of Ornan he knew what he needed to do with the last years of his life.  He made the determination to prepare all the materials that would be needed for his son Solomon to build the Temple of the Lord.  Many of the achievements of Solomon are because of David’s willingness to prepare a ‘platform’ for him to succeed.  In this chapter we see David sowing ‘seeds’ into Solomon which will later become healthy plants which will bear wonderful fruit.  True maturity is when you are willing to work in order to see others succeed and true leadership is when you are prepared to make sacrifices so that others will have the resources they need to achieve great success.  God’s plan goes beyond your generation and we need to look forward.

Hebrews 12:

“Looking unto Jesus”!  This chapter sums up the total focus of the Gospel in three short words.  Our life will make sense, we will find success, we will overcome problems and fulfil our God-given purpose if we hold onto these three words.  You could spend a week studying this great chapter and I hope that you read it at least more than once today.  It is a soaring statement of life and hope.  We are surrounded and cheered on by witnesses; we are the sons and daughters of God; our God is a consuming Fire…there is so much here for you.  As you take in these powerful words, enjoy all that Christ has purchased for you!

Day 361

1 Chronicles 21:

As David sat on his throne whilst his armies were away fighting he wanted to find out the number of troops he had and the total size of his nation.  This sounds like a reasonable request of a leader except for one important reality – the Lord had promised that the Children of Abraham would be as numerous as the sand of the seashore.  It was actually a sin to rely on the strength that could be counted of men and horses…the people of God were meant to put their trust in the Lord and in Him alone!  Joab knew that this was the wrong thing to do but his counsel was ignored.  Judgement followed and David falls on the mercy of the Lord.  The judgement of God stops at the threshing floor of Ornan and this site becomes the location of the future temple.  Judgement begins and ends with the Lord and we must never forget or ignore His commands.

Hebrews 11:

Hebrews 11 is the best known chapter in the Bible on the subject of faith.  It encapsulates the major aspects of the topic by introducing us to the reality that all who have gone before us have had to operate in it.  Faith is the substance (reality, realisation) of things for which we hope.  That is why Hope is so important.  Faith becomes the ‘linch-pin’ in all matters concerning the Lord.  As it says in verse 6 ‘without faith, it is impossible to please God!’  As you enjoy your reading today, recall all of the heroes of faith who have gone before us.  Now it is our turn.  They are watching us!  Time for us to walk in faith!

Day 360

1 Chronicles 20:

We find that David remains behind when his armies go out to battle (“in the spring when kings go out to war”).  Great works are completed in his name but he is distant from them. David was called to be a warrior king and it is important to remember that we are destined to be successful when we are functioning in our calling.  David at home was a target for the biggest enemy of all.  David fell into the sin of adultery at the time when he should have been out with the army, the following chapter is another illustration that proves the old saying “Idle hands are the devil’s playground”.

Hebrews 10:

Chapter 10 of Hebrews is a HUGE chapter.  So many aspects and so many truths.  I would encourage you to read it more than once and allow the Lord to bring a clear picture to you as you focus in on one particular truth. For me, verses 19-24 speak loudly today. We have a High Priest, we have access to the presence and purpose of God through a ‘new and living way’, we have the boldness to enter and we have been washed and purified.  Now is our opportunity to stir up each other, to ‘love and good works’ and gathering together regularly for fellowship because the great day is approaching when the Lord will return for us. A powerful thought for starting the day but no matter when you are reading this, today is your opportunity to put your faith into action!

Day 359

1 Chronicles 19:

David reaches out to a nearby neighbour and his advances are seriously misinterpreted.  Sometimes our best intentions are received this way and there is little or nothing we can do about it.  The Ammonites treated David’s emissaries shamefully and really burn the bridges of relationship with him.  They make things worse by hiring mercenaries to fight David.  This warlike position requires David to respond in kind and so the battle is fought and he is victorious.  The end result is that the Ammonites become the servants of David when his desire was for them to be friends.  We need to be very careful in our responses and when we realise that we have made a mistake we need to back pedal rather than making things progressively worse.

Hebrews 9:

Christ is the High Priest of good things to come!  The sacrifice that He offered cannot be compared to lambs or goats or bulls.  His sacrifice of Himself was a ‘once for all’ offering which brought peace forever with God! Because of this sacrifice we have entry and fellowship with the Almighty.  What blessed and wealthy people we are who know and experience the reality of the fullness of the presence of the Lord with us. Today is a day to live!  Today is a day to remember that the Lord appears in heaven on our behalf and we can have great faith, comfort and satisfaction in the knowledge that the Lord is on our side!  Make sure that you enjoy your day and remember that you are your own Priest and how closely you walk with the Lord is is up to you!

Day 358

1 Chronicles 18:

As David established his influence we see him take steps to ensure it for the future.  He defeats armies and removes the hope of them rising up against him again, he removes treasures from distant lands and dedicates them to the Lord, and he continues to expand his kingdom and in doing so, the Kingdom of God.  He does not try to do it alone, he lifts up people who are gifted and responsible and places them in key roles.  It is important to recognise that none of us are complete in and of ourselves but we function best when we are invited to work in unity with others.

Hebrews 8:

The writer of Hebrews continues to establish his case for the New Covenant.  The Lord’s desire was not just a system that would be more effective (with Christ as the sacrifice and Christ as the Priest) but one that would bring about ongoing and true relationship with the Father.  The desire of God has never been for sacrifice, offering and temples made with hands.  He has wanted us to ‘know’ Him and to be ‘known’ by Him.  “None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.”  Let’s look forward to the day when this Word is true and all people know the Lord!

Day 357

1 Chronicles 17:

David desired to build the Lord a house – worthy of His great name and reflective of His awesome presence.  The idea seemed good to him and to Nathan the prophet but the Lord had different things in mind.  He had never asked to be housed in a fine house with cedar walls but had desired to be with the people and available to the people.  The Lord promises that if there is any building to take place, He is going to be the one who does it.  He makes a solemn promise to build a house for David, that his family will prosper and that the hand of the Lord will be upon it.  David is overwhelmed by the generosity and determination of the Lord.  When we realise that the Lord is on our side and desires good things for us – it takes our breath away and causes us to want to praise Him more and more!

Hebrews 7:

We must remember the major clue we are given from the title of this book.  It is the “Letter to the Hebrews”.  Much of what is dealt with in this chapter is difficult to understand and laborious if you fail to recognise the significance of what is being discussed.  Here the writer is outlining the significance and replacement of the existing (Aaronic & Levitical) priesthood, (which is populated by ordinary men who are set apart for the task) and the “new covenant’ priesthood which is held and completed in one remarkable individual – Christ!   The first 21 verses of this chapter outline the nuances of the variation between the two and powerful truths that are introduced and exposed, but verses 22-27 bring the final argument which explains the reason we have for excitement and joy.    “…a better covenant. …He continues forever…an unchangeable priesthood…able to save to the uttermost…He always lives to make intercession… who is holy, harmless, etc…WHAT A SAVIOUR!!!

Day 356

1 Chronicles 16:

The Ark comes to rest in its new home – “the Tabernacle that David had erected for it”.  This is a different “Tabernacle” than that of Moses.  No-one was able to see the Tabernacle in Moses’ model, it was hidden away behind the veil but there was no veil between the Ark and the people in David’s Tabernacle.  It was a wonderful prophetic picture of the openness we now have in approaching and having relationship with the Lord.  It is worth a shout of joy and a loud song of praise because the way to the Lord is open and we are free before Him! David establishes a roster of worship and a regulation of righteous service to be continued daily before the Lord… this is, in fact, a wonderful ‘Old Testament’ model of ‘New Covenant’ Worship!

Hebrews 6:

The writer speaks of Christ as ‘an anchor for the soul’.  It is wonderful to know that you can put your trust in the Lord! We can expect good things from the Lord and good success in our lives as we patiently endure all that is ahead of us.  But the writer also encourages us not to become ‘sluggish’ but determined in our quest to fulfil all that the Lord has for us. So today is your opportunity to be both diligent and certain that your hope in heaven is waiting and your effectiveness on earth is assured!