Bible League: Living His Word "The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain.'"— 2 Samuel 23:3-4 NKJV Dark clouds cover our world. If you check Wikipedia for "List of ongoing armed conflicts," you'll find that roughly one-half of the world's land area is engaged in some level of warfare. There's the Mexican drug war, the insurgency in the Sahel Region, the war in Ukraine, civil war in Sudan and Myanmar; the list goes on and on. While I'm writing this, the war between Israel and Gaza dominates the news. It's a conflict that stirs heated controversy around the world. According to some analysts, it could even lead to a third world war. People cry out in despair, "Where is God?" Maybe black clouds gather over your life. Sickness, mental issues, relational challenges, or material misfortune shake your existence. You cry out in despair, "Where are You, Lord?" David was well acquainted with all these emotions. He had been on the run from Saul, fearing for his life; he had been severely ill and fought many wars. In Psalm 22, David cried, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" Darkness... In 2 Samuel 23, we find David at the end of his life. He receives from the Lord what reads like a job description for the future kings of Israel. They must be "just, ruling in the fear of God." We know from the Bible that the kings of Israel and Judah didn't comply with these qualifications. On the contrary... To find a just king of Israel, ruling in the fear of God, we must go to Bethlehem, to that tiny stable. There, in the middle of the night, a child was born: the ultimate Son of David. He, the promised Messiah, came into a world that wasn't waiting for Him. Yet, He came! Choosing to leave heavenly riches, He entered our darkness. We don't know what will happen in this world. All we know is that our political leaders aren't just and God-fearing like they should be. They will never be able to bring light in the darkness and establish lasting peace on earth. We, however, can hold on to David's prophecy: Jesus is our King. He rules the world and will bring peace. We need not doubt it because it's the Rock of Israel who speaks. His words are and will always be true; He cannot lie. If you are stuck in darkness, let today's verses bring you light. The Rock of Israel, who is also the Rock of your salvation, speaks these words to you to comfort you. Listen to them and meditate on Jesus, who came to bring you new life ("tender grass springing out of the earth"). I hear Christmas bells ringing in David's prophecy. More than that, I hear the promise of the second coming of Jesus as the Morning Star (Revelation 22:16) when He will wipe away all our tears, and there will be no more darkness. "Behold," He says, "I am coming quickly!" Maranatha! By Anton de Vreugd, Bible League International staff, the Netherlands Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJoel Joel 1 -- The Word of the Lord to Joel: Locusts, Starvation and Drought; Call to Repentance NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Joel 2 -- An Army of Locusts; Turn to Me with All Your Heart; The Day of the Lord's Spirit NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Joel 3 -- The Nations Will Be Judged; Blessing upon Judah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Revelation 4 Revelation 4 -- The Thrones and Elders in Heaven: Worthy are you, our Lord and God NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.Insight What you say and what you don't say are both important. Proper speech is not only saying the right words at the right time, but it is also controlling your desire to say what you shouldn't. Examples of an untamed tongue include gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying. Challenge Before you speak, ask: “Is what I want to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?” Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ezra 7:22 Salt without prescribing how much.Salt was used in every offering made by fire unto the Lord, and from its preserving and purifying properties it was the grateful emblem of divine grace in the soul. It is worthy of our attentive regard that, when Artaxerxes gave salt to Ezra the priest, he set no limit to the quantity, and we may be quite certain that when the King of kings distributes grace among his royal priesthood, the supply is not cut short by him. Often are we straitened in ourselves, but never in the Lord. He who chooses to gather much manna will find that he may have as much as he desires. There is no such famine in Jerusalem that the citizens should eat their bread by weight and drink their water by measure. Some things in the economy of grace are measured; for instance our vinegar and gall are given us with such exactness that we never have a single drop too much, but of the salt of grace no stint is made, "Ask what thou wilt and it shall be given unto thee." Parents need to lock up the fruit cupboard, and the sweet jars, but there is no need to keep the salt-box under lock and key, for few children will eat too greedily from that. A man may have too much money, or too much honor, but he cannot have too much grace. When Jeshurun waxed fat in the flesh, he kicked against God, but there is no fear of a man's becoming too full of grace: a plethora of grace is impossible. More wealth brings more care, but more grace brings more joy. Increased wisdom is increased sorrow, but abundance of the Spirit is fulness of joy. Believer, go to the throne for a large supply of heavenly salt. It will season thine afflictions, which are unsavoury without salt; it will preserve thy heart which corrupts if salt be absent, and it will kill thy sins even as salt kills reptiles. Thou needest much; seek much, and have much. Daily Light on the Daily Path 2 Timothy 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.Colossians 1:11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously Colossians 2:6,7 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, • having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. Isaiah 61:3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. Ephesians 2:20,22 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, • in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Acts 20:32 "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Philippians 1:11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Philippians 1:28 in no way alarmed by your opponents-- which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
    |