Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
2 Kings 17
They went after false idols and became
false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning
whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them.
They went after the false and became false themselves. God help me. I will become like what I worship, I will be as what I follow. Help me to see, to pray, to intercede, to seek the true, the True. May I lose myself in You and Your truth, never the false nor the deception.
They also feared the Lord and appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests of the high places …. So they feared the Lord but also served their own gods….
May I fear You, Lord, so that completely and deeply that I am not able to serve a lesser god, my own god or any of the all sorts of lower-case-g-o-ds that is set up and appointed. Only You. Only, ever You. May I never dilute, dispute or recompute You. You are worthy.
They went after the false and became false themselves. God help me. I will become like what I worship, I will be as what I follow. Help me to see, to pray, to intercede, to seek the true, the True. May I lose myself in You and Your truth, never the false nor the deception.
They also feared the Lord and appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests of the high places …. So they feared the Lord but also served their own gods….
May I fear You, Lord, so that completely and deeply that I am not able to serve a lesser god, my own god or any of the all sorts of lower-case-g-o-ds that is set up and appointed. Only You. Only, ever You. May I never dilute, dispute or recompute You. You are worthy.
Monday, November 12, 2012
2 Kings 16
He (Ahaz) even burned his son as an offering, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.
Lord God, Jotham's grandson was burned as an offering. Jotham who did what was right yet failed on the high places loses a grandbaby to the lesser gods. God, for the sake of my children and their children, please show me my blindspots and help me to annihilate them, in Your Name.
Ahaz took the right instruments and created his own way to You. or to himself. Lord, help me to see where I dawdle long at a self-serving idea. Lord, I don't easily die to myself, Holy Spirit pierce through the tough membrane of my soul that my flesh, my pride, my self-stuff may be exposed to Your all-consuming light and be eradicated, exterminated and obliterated. today. I need this today. thank You.
Lord God, Jotham's grandson was burned as an offering. Jotham who did what was right yet failed on the high places loses a grandbaby to the lesser gods. God, for the sake of my children and their children, please show me my blindspots and help me to annihilate them, in Your Name.
Ahaz took the right instruments and created his own way to You. or to himself. Lord, help me to see where I dawdle long at a self-serving idea. Lord, I don't easily die to myself, Holy Spirit pierce through the tough membrane of my soul that my flesh, my pride, my self-stuff may be exposed to Your all-consuming light and be eradicated, exterminated and obliterated. today. I need this today. thank You.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
2 Kings 15
The Lord afflicted the king (Azariah/Uzziah, King of Judah) with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house. Jotham the king’s son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land. ... Jotham son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign. ... He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord ... The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the Lord. ... Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David, the city of his father.
Again, Lord, may I thank You for the peaceful change of hands our government experiences compared to what could be going on within the White House walls. Father God, please keep me from doing what is right in Your eyes, taking care of family needs, rebuilding devastated places and having success in my career but not tearing down the high places. The high places were never long destroyed; they were a constant snare to Your people, an enduring legacy and temptation to the ways of lesser gods. And Your kings, even when they did what was right in Your sight, managed to not remove them. I can't imagine that You gave them peace about this or that they thought those places were okay. But did they think about them? Did they ask You? Were they truly careful to do all that You asked? Were they blinded to these high places? Where these ancient sacrificing spots just some leftover hangouts and relics from previous generations which seemed to pose no harm, under the deceptive guise of how the folks liked to celebrate? Were they, in truth, spiritual boundary markers of the enemy, dedicated evil areas which continued to influence Your people and draw them away from the pure worship and relationship You offer. Were these the football stadiums, the malls, the buffets, the internet, the concerts, _______ parties, sleeping in ... the shrugging-off of gluttony, infidelity, abuse, pride, prejudice, critical spirits and anger issues because that's how momma or daddy did it? Were these persistent thorns the excuses we give and cling to for our families' perpetuation of brokenness - that's the way this family rolls? God help us. Help me to see the high places in my life, to be a tearer down of those poles and altars which call to the flesh, where sin and the soul commune. Lord, I need Your perspective on everything; especially the things I wrongly view as spiritual comfort food but which draw me away from You - even when it is merely a mindless activity. Time is not mine to gamble with, it is a gift, a trust You bestow on me to steward well. Show me the high places and fix in my heart and hands that which I need to decimate them, to the praise of Your Name and the release of Your power in long held enemy strongholds. You are my Stronghold, I need no other. I desire none other.
Again, Lord, may I thank You for the peaceful change of hands our government experiences compared to what could be going on within the White House walls. Father God, please keep me from doing what is right in Your eyes, taking care of family needs, rebuilding devastated places and having success in my career but not tearing down the high places. The high places were never long destroyed; they were a constant snare to Your people, an enduring legacy and temptation to the ways of lesser gods. And Your kings, even when they did what was right in Your sight, managed to not remove them. I can't imagine that You gave them peace about this or that they thought those places were okay. But did they think about them? Did they ask You? Were they truly careful to do all that You asked? Were they blinded to these high places? Where these ancient sacrificing spots just some leftover hangouts and relics from previous generations which seemed to pose no harm, under the deceptive guise of how the folks liked to celebrate? Were they, in truth, spiritual boundary markers of the enemy, dedicated evil areas which continued to influence Your people and draw them away from the pure worship and relationship You offer. Were these the football stadiums, the malls, the buffets, the internet, the concerts, _______ parties, sleeping in ... the shrugging-off of gluttony, infidelity, abuse, pride, prejudice, critical spirits and anger issues because that's how momma or daddy did it? Were these persistent thorns the excuses we give and cling to for our families' perpetuation of brokenness - that's the way this family rolls? God help us. Help me to see the high places in my life, to be a tearer down of those poles and altars which call to the flesh, where sin and the soul commune. Lord, I need Your perspective on everything; especially the things I wrongly view as spiritual comfort food but which draw me away from You - even when it is merely a mindless activity. Time is not mine to gamble with, it is a gift, a trust You bestow on me to steward well. Show me the high places and fix in my heart and hands that which I need to decimate them, to the praise of Your Name and the release of Your power in long held enemy strongholds. You are my Stronghold, I need no other. I desire none other.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
2 Kings 14
Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: “Come, let us face each other in battle.”
Father, this makes me think of the church and how one part attacks another in the Body - without regard to the divine nature of what You have established. One denomination versus another, one layperson against a leader or another layperson. It's like the elbow wants to pick a fight with the ear. God, help us to all remember we are on the same side, and it's not any of our sides - it is Your side. Lord may we treat well all the members of Your Body, Your Bride and be gracious that the world would know us by love and not sarcasm, backbiting nor treachery. May we walk in the freedom from this world which You paid so dearly for. Help us to be careful in our gathering with each other (not that this seems to be a problem; but let us not rest carelessly because of that), help us to be faithful intercessors for the rest of the Body throughout the world. To the praise of Your Name.
Father, this makes me think of the church and how one part attacks another in the Body - without regard to the divine nature of what You have established. One denomination versus another, one layperson against a leader or another layperson. It's like the elbow wants to pick a fight with the ear. God, help us to all remember we are on the same side, and it's not any of our sides - it is Your side. Lord may we treat well all the members of Your Body, Your Bride and be gracious that the world would know us by love and not sarcasm, backbiting nor treachery. May we walk in the freedom from this world which You paid so dearly for. Help us to be careful in our gathering with each other (not that this seems to be a problem; but let us not rest carelessly because of that), help us to be faithful intercessors for the rest of the Body throughout the world. To the praise of Your Name.
Friday, November 9, 2012
2 Kings 13
Lord God, I have a couple of superficial
responses to this chapter: all of these J names are confusing (and
remind me of a pop-culture family with more than a dozen and half kids);
Aram, Arameans, Aramaic the language of the New Testament – I hadn’t
recognized how long-standing and prevalent their influence/rivalry was
on Israel and Judah – nor how much Israel’s sinfulness welcomed the
enemy……the sins of leadership which led the people astray, the seemingly
small things which yielded huge consequences. It’s interesting to me
that Your holy words are preserved in the language of the enemy. Is
that so all would have a chance to know – the captive and the captors
alike?
The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”
On a more serious note, Lord, even though Elisha’s directions seem a bit capricious, he is almost always referred to as “the man of God” in Your Word, by You. Underscoring that Elisha does speak and act on Your behalf, he does bear Your anointing, he does obey and honor Your Name. What a privilege to be called “the man/woman of God.” Holy Spirit, please help me to follow that hard after You, to walk worthy of the anointing, to present myself as “one of God,” to the praise of Your very great Name. Help me to keep doing what You told me to do until You tell me otherwise (to not grow weary in well-doing or ground-striking or faithfully presenting myself to You), that the destruction of the enemy may be thorough because the defeat is complete. Keep me from mediocrity in obedience that excellence may mark the triumph, for You are worthy, O Lord, my God and my Warrior-Lord. And help me to strive for that virtue of superbness in the times of suffering. I appreciate that Elisha who had twice the anointing as Elijah is suffering from the illness which kills him without whining about how Elijah got to leave this world and how the people keep coming to him for help. He walks the narrow road in his personal disciplines. Thank You for this example and for Your enabling others (me, included) to walk in that noble and godly fashion.
The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”
On a more serious note, Lord, even though Elisha’s directions seem a bit capricious, he is almost always referred to as “the man of God” in Your Word, by You. Underscoring that Elisha does speak and act on Your behalf, he does bear Your anointing, he does obey and honor Your Name. What a privilege to be called “the man/woman of God.” Holy Spirit, please help me to follow that hard after You, to walk worthy of the anointing, to present myself as “one of God,” to the praise of Your very great Name. Help me to keep doing what You told me to do until You tell me otherwise (to not grow weary in well-doing or ground-striking or faithfully presenting myself to You), that the destruction of the enemy may be thorough because the defeat is complete. Keep me from mediocrity in obedience that excellence may mark the triumph, for You are worthy, O Lord, my God and my Warrior-Lord. And help me to strive for that virtue of superbness in the times of suffering. I appreciate that Elisha who had twice the anointing as Elijah is suffering from the illness which kills him without whining about how Elijah got to leave this world and how the people keep coming to him for help. He walks the narrow road in his personal disciplines. Thank You for this example and for Your enabling others (me, included) to walk in that noble and godly fashion.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
2 Kings 12
But Joash king of Judah took all the sacred objects … and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram, who then withdrew from Jerusalem.
For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.
God, as I read how King Joash, (as he was so intent on rebuilding the temple – sort of, v. 6) sent away the sacred objects, the treasures from Your temple and the palace, I was reminded of this second verse. Not that he was abusive or brutal or treacherous, or even disobedient to his parents or his priest. He may not have been heartless or slanderous nor uncontrolled; but he (and probably with good intentions) paid off King Hazael (how long does this guy get to trouble Your people?!) with Your stuff. Even the palace stuff was Yours; but he didn’t check with You. It seems he thought financial might, economic savvy, pretty shineys were the way out of this trouble. I am saddened that he appears to love the power of money and not You. That he never sought Your answer. That his answer came from a place which did not love Your influence in all matters – he had the form of godliness; but he denied its power as he did not acknowledge You nor Your power. He did it man’s way. Okay, I’ll stop. It’s just that I see my tendency in this scenario, to want to handle the daily affairs as a delegator (fix the temple, do your homework, make good choices) and not as one who is involved in the process enough to ensure that the matters are resolved (having milestones for accountability for temple assembling, let’s try factoring that polynomial this way, what are good choices today?). I don’t want to solve anything that You do not author or authorize; but I still do. Help me Holy Spirit to see again and afresh my desperate dependency and soul-deep need for You, Your power and Your answers to all things – really all things, moments, interactions, circumstances, thoughts, plans, reactions, encounters, etc. I cannot do this on my own, and I don’t want to – grant me vision to see where I am deceived and choose to bust a godly or goldly move without You. Holy Spirit, rise up in me with the spiritual discipline to stop the foolishness and wait for You. Thank You! And thank You that You speak to such a wayward soul as me.
For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.
God, as I read how King Joash, (as he was so intent on rebuilding the temple – sort of, v. 6) sent away the sacred objects, the treasures from Your temple and the palace, I was reminded of this second verse. Not that he was abusive or brutal or treacherous, or even disobedient to his parents or his priest. He may not have been heartless or slanderous nor uncontrolled; but he (and probably with good intentions) paid off King Hazael (how long does this guy get to trouble Your people?!) with Your stuff. Even the palace stuff was Yours; but he didn’t check with You. It seems he thought financial might, economic savvy, pretty shineys were the way out of this trouble. I am saddened that he appears to love the power of money and not You. That he never sought Your answer. That his answer came from a place which did not love Your influence in all matters – he had the form of godliness; but he denied its power as he did not acknowledge You nor Your power. He did it man’s way. Okay, I’ll stop. It’s just that I see my tendency in this scenario, to want to handle the daily affairs as a delegator (fix the temple, do your homework, make good choices) and not as one who is involved in the process enough to ensure that the matters are resolved (having milestones for accountability for temple assembling, let’s try factoring that polynomial this way, what are good choices today?). I don’t want to solve anything that You do not author or authorize; but I still do. Help me Holy Spirit to see again and afresh my desperate dependency and soul-deep need for You, Your power and Your answers to all things – really all things, moments, interactions, circumstances, thoughts, plans, reactions, encounters, etc. I cannot do this on my own, and I don’t want to – grant me vision to see where I am deceived and choose to bust a godly or goldly move without You. Holy Spirit, rise up in me with the spiritual discipline to stop the foolishness and wait for You. Thank You! And thank You that You speak to such a wayward soul as me.
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Thank You for this story which shows that no matter how messed up the parent is, You can still redeem the child. I pray that my children and those spiritual children of my heart would trust in You more so than any of their ancestors, may they hold fast and tight and long to You – for You have them. May they bring You praise and make You famous in their lives.
Lord God, the Assyrian king’s words (verses 31-32ish) sounded so much like Your words of the Promised Land. Help me to really recognize the origin of familiar words lest I be led astray in my laxness. This is war, I can’t afford to be careless in my assenting. Your Word, oh Lord, Your Word and no other. Help me today to experience more of You.