Set Apart

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The Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to serve Him. At the end of King David’s rule, he gathered together all the leaders, with the priests and Levites. 1 Chronicles 23:3 says, “Now the Levites where numbered from the age of thirty years and above, and the number of individual males was thirty-eight thousand. 38,000!
 
You and I have been set apart to serve the Lord. I love to think about Jeremiah 1:5. It applies to us as well. It says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you…” Sanctified means to set apart.
 
Hebrews 13:12-13 says, “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.”
 
Jesus’ priestly prayer before He went to the cross is recorded in John 17. Verses 16-17 say, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
 
Verse 19 says, “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” In John 14:6 Jesus said that He is the truth.
 
In this present world crises we are set apart to serve the Lord through our testimony of peace and rest. 2 Timothy 2:9 says that the word of God is not chained. We may be isolated in our homes, but we can pray!
 
We have an unprecedented opportunity right now. Let us be about our Father’s business in this time of world-wide crises. We are set apart to boldly approach His throne of grace, to find mercy and grace to help in the time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Prayer is a good work that we are preordained to walk in.
 
1 Peter 4:7-8 says, “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.”

Face Off Fear

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After the ark was brought back to Jerusalem, King David wrote a Psalm of thanksgiving. The first stanza is 1 Chronicles 16:8. It says, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!”
 
A thankful heart in the midst of fearful situations is a sacrifice that pleases the Lord. Hebrews 13:15 says, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”
 
Giving thanks is God’s will. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
 
Thankfulness opens our heart and is reflected through our eyes and body language. It is a posture of heart-trust. Fear, on the other hand constricts our heart, and causes us to drawn inward.
 
An authentic follower of Jesus is a testimony in times of trouble. Paul addressed the Thessalonians in 1:7-8. It says, “So that you became examples to all…for from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth…Your faith toward God has gone out…”
 
We have the words of life! We are Jesus-ambassadors. We are called to proclaim His name to those around us. Proverbs 3:27-28 is a great mandate for this season of crises.
 
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it, when you have it with you.”
 
I’ve always seen these verses as material things, but now I see them as giving out what sustains my own life–God’s word. I have the assurance of my salvation. Multitudes around me don’t. The Lord is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9).
 
We have His word to hide in when we are surrounded with fear-causing circumstances. What does an unbeliever have to hide in? Luke 21:26 says, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth…”
 
2 Timothy 4:5 says, “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Eternal Perspective

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1 Chronicles 29 is King David’s account of preparation for the building of the temple. He had wanted to build the house for the Lord, but the Lord chose his son Solomon to do the building.
 
David however laid up provision for it. In chapter 28 and 29 it recounted all the things he gave Solomon: the plans that the Lord gave him, the gold and silver by weight for all the articles to be used in every kind of service, bronze, iron, onyx stones, precious stones, and marble slabs in abundance.
 
David encouraged the leaders of the children of Israel to give. 29:9 says, “Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the Lord; and King David also rejoiced greatly.”
 
Then David blessed the Lord before all the assembly. Verse 11 says, “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours in the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all.”
 
Verse 14 is our application. It says, “…For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You.” All things that we have are from the Lord.
 
David laid up treasure for his son Solomon to build a temporal house for the Lord. It was desecrated by the succeeding evil kings, and later torn apart and plundered by the enemy.
 
Mathew 6:20 says, “Buy lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
 
Where is your heart-treasure? Verse 21 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” We have been given eternal life. The only things we can take from this life to heaven are souls. We are His ambassadors to proclaim His salvation.
 
People in crises are looking for answers. The Living Lord dwells within us. What are we doing now to introduce Him? In 2 Kings 7, 4 leprous men went to the Syrian camp. They found that the Syrian’s had fled. Verse 8 says that they took food and hid it. In verse 8 they said, “…We are not doing right…let us go and tell the king’s household.”
 
This is the time for us to willingly give what we have to those in need. First for salvation, and whatever else we have in our hand to give. Father, help us to see with Your eyes, and reach out in Your compassion to those who are fearful and have no assurance of eternal life with You.

Counting The Cost

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David went against God’s way by having the children of Israel counted. We continue the story in 1 Chronicles 21:18. The angel of the Lord commanded David to erect an altar on the threshing floor of Ornan (where the plague stopped).
 
David went and asked Ornan for a place to build the altar. Ornan offered to give the king all that was needed. Verse 24 says, “…No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing.”
 
How does this apply to us? Luke 14:25-33 was Jesus talking to the multitudes about the cost of being His disciple. Verse 27 says, “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
 
Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
 
1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
 
We are to live in the world as a witness through our relationship with the Lord. We are to be a fragrance of Him to those around us. 2 Corinthians 2:14 says, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”
 
Right now the world is in crises. People are looking for answers. Churches are not meeting in buildings, but we are the church without walls. May our heart’s peace be a testimony to those around us who do not know Him.
 
I think of the Moravian young men. They counted the cost. They sold themselves as slaves in order to bring the gospel to slaves who lived and died on that island. Their motto was: Our Lamb has conquered, let us follow Him.
 
Mordecai’s words to Esther are applicable for us, the whole body of Christ. Esther 4:14 says, “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
 
Lord, help us be witnesses of Your grace in this moment of time in our nation and in the world. Help us to effectively pray, count the cost, and rise up to seize the opportunities in this time of the unprecedented opportunities.

God’s Way Will Not Be Opposed

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King David sought to have the ark brought back to Jerusalem. If you remember, it had been captured by the Philistines. They sent it back and it remained at the house of Abinadab. You can read it for yourself in 1 Samuel 6-7.
 
The first time they attempted to bring it back cost a man his life. The ark was always to be borne on the shoulders of the Levites. Instead, it was put on a cart carried by oxen.
 
I Chronicles 13:9-10 says, “…Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark, and he died there before God.”
 
We are never to put our hand out to stop what God is doing. David learned a hard lesson that day. The next time he determined to bring back the ark, he set everything in motion according to God’s way.
 
15:1-2 says, “David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it. Then David said, No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the Lord has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.”
 
David went against the Lord again. Joab warned him, but David went ahead with his plan. This time it cost the lives of seventy thousand men. 21:1 says, “Now satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.”
 
Each time we are tempted we have a choice. We are never tempted by God. We are tempted through the pride in our heart, thinking we know best.
 
Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” The Lord’s way is the only right way. Job 42:2 says, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.”
 
Holy Spirit bend our minds to the Father’s will. Help us to keep our eyes on You. As You lead, may we follow in humility and trust. Help us to remain still in our hearts and not do anything in our own strength. You are shaking the world through the C virus. Help us align our thoughts through truth.

Tenacity

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1 Chronicles 11 is a list of David’s mighty men and what they did. We need to remember these are the same men that came to him originally when he escaped to the cave. 1 Samuel 22:2 says, “And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them…”
 
1 Chronicles 11:11 says, “…Jashobeam…lifted up his spear against three hundred, killed by him at one time.”
 
Verses 13-14 say, “…the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a piece of ground full of barley…they stationed themselves in that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.”
 
2 Samuel 23:10 is an account of Eleazar the son of Dodo. It says, “He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day…”
 
His hand stuck to the sword is a great example for us of tenacity. No matter how hard our situation is, how vulnerable we may feel, it is God’s word in our heart that will cause the Lord to prevail for us. He watches over His word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12).
 
His word will not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11). We need to stand in the barley patch of our trial and tenaciously wield our sword of God’s word against the enemy of our soul.
 
Psalm 18:18 says, “They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support.” The enemy wants to use our trials as a mean to destroy our faith, yet the Lord uses them to purify our faith. He strengthens our faith so that we can stand in the day of battle.
 
Psalm 149 is to be our stance in the midst of our crucible-trial. Verses 6-9 say, “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand…to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgment–this honor have all the saints. Praise the Lord!”
 
When we hide His word in our heart, when we speak it from our mouth, we will be like David’s mighty men. Daniel 11:32b says, “…but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”

What Is In A Name?

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Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.”
 
Names are very important in the Bible. That is why the Lord changed Abram to Abraham which means multitude of nations (Genesis 17:5).
 
Years ago, at youth camp, my parents took each child’s name and gave them a spiritual application. Mine is Judith, which means praise, and Marilyn, which meaning comes from the bitter myrrh resin. I am to turn my bitter circumstances into praise.
 
1 Chronicles 1-10 is a list of genealogies.Yet in chapter 4 there is something very significant I want you to see. Verse 9 says that Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother called him Jabez, “…because I bore him in pain.”
 
Verse 10 says, “And Jabez called on the God of Israel says, Oh, that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain! So God granted him what he requested.”
 
Jabez refused to own the label his mother placed on him. He refuted (deny or contradict a statement of accusation) it! He pleaded with the Lord to not allow what she named him to define his life.
 
So it is with us. The pronouncements, labels, and judgments people place on us are not who we are. We need to refute them, and not allow them to shape our lives.
 
Here is who we are:
 
Chosen – John 15:16
Blameless – Ephesians 1:4
Justified – Romans 5:1
Forgiven – Ephesians 1:7
Healed – Isaiah 53:5
Living stone – 1 Peter 2:4
Ambassadors – 2 Corinthians 5:20
Sealed for eternity – Ephesians 1:13
 
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
 
Labels in our past are passed away. Don’t let them cling to you. Cast them off! Isaiah 62:2 is speaking of Israel but we can apply it to ourselves. It says, “…You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name.”
 
 
 
 

Hezekiah Part Two

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There are many personal applications for us from the life of Hezekiah. Here are a few:
 
The enemy of our soul hates God, and therefore hates us. The Lord reminded Hezekiah in 2 Kings 19:6 to not listen to his words. It says, “…Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.”
 
The Lord is well able to deal with our enemy when he attacks us. Verse 35 says “And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand…” 185,000!
 
Hezekiah was sick and near death. He cried out to the Lord. The Lord extended his life 15 years. YET in that 15 years his son Manasseh was born. 21:11 says of Manasseh, “…he has acted more wickedly than all the Amorites who were before him…”
 
Verse 12 says because of him, the Lord was going to bring calamity on Jerusalem. Verse 15 says, “…Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, tell he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another…”
 
When I was in high school a good friend of mine, Buster, was waiting to have open heart surgery. I will never forget what Jack Kesling said to him: Buster, remember Hezekiah. Though the Lord extended his life, in that time he bore a son that was exceedingly wicked. Be careful what you ask for.
 
It reminds me of what Steve Saint prayed as his daughter lay dying after a massive brain aneurysm: Lord I don’t want in the short run what will cost me in the long run.
 
Amy Carmichael, missionary in India, wrote: For grace to endure and to conquer is never given until the moment in need. Graham Cooke said: I know You allow in Your wisdom what You could have easily prevented in Your power.
 
Father, help us to be led by Your Holy Spirit in every moment, and in every situation of our lives. Help us to accept what You allow as coming from Your hand. Help us to stand in Your promise that those who fear You will not lack any good thing. Thank You for Your great grace.

Hezekiah

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In 2 Kings there is a long list of succeeding kings. From chapters 8-18 there are battles of this king conquering that king. There are outright murders, etc.
Chapter 18 introduces Hezekiah who was the son of Ahaz an evil king. Verse 3 says, “And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.” It brings a sigh of relief. A good king!
Verse 4 says that he removed all the high places and broke down the sacred pillars. He cut down the wooden images. He even broke in pieces the brazen serpent Moses had made (which the people worshipped).
Verse 5 says, “He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.”
Then the adversarial king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh to speak threatening words. Think of the Rabshakeh as our adversary. Verse 36 says, “But the people held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, Do not answer him.”
Jesus did not answer the devil in the wilderness except through ‘It is written.’ That is our stance as well when the fiery darts of our adversary are lobbed against us. We don’t acknowledge or own them. We must stand against them with our door shield of faith.
Here is something else that Hezekiah did. 19:14 says, that when he received the letter he, “…went up the the house of the Lord, and spread it out before the Lord.”
In verse 15 his prayer declared who God is. “…You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.” Then he petitioned the Lord. Verse 16 says, “Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.”
When we are assaulted with fiery dart lies, we do well to stand in who the Lord is, and who we are in Him. Colossians 3:3 says that our life is hidden with Christ in God. Isaiah 54:17 says, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord; and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord.”

Our Restorer King

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Remember the Shunammite woman who was barren? The story continues in 2 Kings 8:1. Elisha told her to go wherever she could because a seven year famine was coming.
 
Verse 3 says that after seven years she went to make an appeal to the king for her house and her land.
 
Verses 4-5 is Gehazi telling the king about the great things Elisha had done. The woman came as he was speaking. Verse 5 says, “…My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.”
 
Verse 6 the king appointed a certain officer for her and said, “…Restore all that was hers, and all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the land until now.”
 
We have a Restorer King! Think of what He has given us. Isaiah 58 is about His chosen fast. Though this is speaking of Israel we can make application. Verse 12 says, “Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.”
 
Jeremiah 30:17 says, “For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, says the Lord…” Joel 2:25 says, “I will restore to you the years that the …locust has eaten…”
 
We are called to be ministers of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
 
We are the Restorer King’s certain officers. We are to proclaim the good news to those who are captive to satan and his ways. We are His ambassador-representatives. We may be the only Bible others read.
 
2 Corinthians 2:15 says, “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” Watch for opportunities, and seize them in the moment of the opportunity like Gehazi did.