[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_SOCIAL_ICONS]
Today: Psalms 90:1-10; Romans 15:14-33; 1 Chronicles 12:23-40; 1 Chronicles 13 & 14
Psalms 90
The first half of this beautiful prayer (from my favorite Old Testament character, Moses “the man of God”) establishes our relationship to God. We are so small and weak compared to Him. He turns “people back to dust, saying, ‘Return to dust, you mortals.'” (v.3) A thousand years in God’s sight are “like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” (v.4) Our lives are fleeting, maybe only “seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” (v.10) We are like “new grass of the morning; in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered.” (v.5-6)
Romans 15
And so Paul closes out his most compelling epistle with a promise to visit the Roman Christians soon. He likely had no idea as he wrote those words that his visit would be in chains. My heart drops a bit when I read his words, “Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there…” (v.25) because it was there, in Jerusalem, that he was arrested.
Paul tells his readers that he is going to Jerusalem to deliver a donation to the poor from Macedonia and Achaia. “So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution,” he writes, “I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.” (v.28-29)
He did visit them when he was brought there under arrest and in chains by the Roman officials. He stayed there in Rome and was ministered to by the Roman church members for many years. It was indeed God’s will that he would come to them “in the full measure of the blessing of Christ” and be refreshed by their company.
“The God of peace be with you all. Amen.” (v.33)
1 Chronicles 12 & 13
David’s army was ENORMOUS!!! I added up all the numbers and David’s army contained 340,822 soldiers! “Like the army of God!”
One of the very first things David did as king was to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. The Ark was holy, it was where the presence of God dwelt. So David wanted to bring God’s presence back to the Israelites.
God’s presence should not be taken lightly. When the oxen carrying the Ark stumbled and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady it, “the LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.” (v.13:9-10)
We can understand David’s anger that God had struck down Uzzah, who had not intentionally done anything wrong. But God’s wrath is a terrifying thing. May we never disregard His presence! God gives and He takes away at HIS discretion. He is worthy of our trembling fear.
But He also loves us fiercely. He will bless wherever His presence is honored.
