July 19 - 2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chronicles 29-31; Psalm 48: Hezekiah Reinstates God's Reign over Judah

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chronicles 29-31; Psalm 48

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Hezekiah removed most (but not all) of the things Judah used to worship other gods.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Unlike his predecessors, King Hezekiah removed the Asherah shrines. He destroyed Moses' bronze serpent. Hezekiah trusted God and was greatly blessed.
First, he restored the Temple in Honor of God. He knew God's wrath came because they worshiped foreign gods. Hezekiah wanted to set right their relationship with God.
The Levites and priests carried out Hezekiah's orders. They rededicated the Temple with sacrifices and music. Everything returned to normal!
For the first time since Solomon's rule the Passover was celebrated fully. Hezekiah asked God to accept those who had clean hearts. Out of joy, they extended Passover for a week.

Psalm (P)Synopsis

Psalm 48

The sons of Korah praise God because He has made Jerusalem safe. God protected it from many kings. They call Judah to dance because God would protect them long enough to tell the next generation the story of God.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Hezekiah removed the shrines that had become part of their culture.

I love Hezekiah. He is a man I can respect and appreciate. He reinitiates God's reign over Judah. His willingness to remove not only his father's idols but also the shrines laid by Jehoram and Ahaziah centuries earlier shows moral courage. Then he did the unthinkable, he removed Moses' bronze serpent
more than a thousand years old! These shrines had become normal to Judah and taking them out may have caused quite a stir within the country. "We've always worshiped this way! Why are you changing it?" However, Hezekiah was not willing to let this stop him from obeying God. He knew these foreign gods caused God to punish Judah and Israel. He saw them take something from their past (Moses' bronze snake) and worship it instead of the God who healed Israel. He had seen with his eyes what happened when God's Chosen People do not worship Him. We must be willing to remove all things which prevent us from setting all things right with God, even if it is centuries-old and the only way we know how to do it.

Hezekiah invites Israel to join in the celebration of the Passover.

Hezekiah does not want Israel to be left out of the reinstitution of the Passover. He wants them to worship God again. Unfortunately, they are too far gone to return to their god. They mock Hezekiah and ignore his requests. We know how that ended.
Unfortunately, not all people will join in worshiping God, especially some of His Chosen People.

Hezekiah prays for the ritually unprepared to be forgiven.

I love that Hezekiah gives mercy to the priests and Levites who are unclean during the Passover. They have been lazy. They procrastinated preparing until it was too late. So Hezekiah prays that God would overlook the literal conditions stated in the Law of Moses. Guess what, God healed the people! Why did God do this? God cares more for the heart-state than the physical-state.
What does that mean for today? We should not worry about crossing every "t" or dotting every "i" when we think to worship. We should first fix our heart, try our best to be acceptable to God, and then ask for forgiveness for anything else. If our hearts are clean, eventually the rest will become clean. Until then, God will overlook our uncleanness.

When God's Chosen People worship God correctly with clean hearts, they do not want to quit.

One more thing I enjoy reading in the life of Hezekiah is their enjoyment of the first Passover. Hezekiah had offered so much food to the celebration (most likely because he expected Israel to join them) they decided to extend it another week. There was so much joy at finally worshiping their god with a clean heart that no one wanted to go home. So they all stayed. When we have clean hearts, we never want to stop praising God! Think about that the next you start looking at your watch when the service is going long. Is it because you have somewhere to be or because you feel exposed before a God who can see your unclean heart?

Are you ready to reinitiate God's reign in your life?

May 20 - Psalms 5, 38, 41-42: God Heals the God-Seekers

Today’s Reading: Psalms 5, 38, 41-42

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God lifts us up when we are down.

Psalm (P)Synopsis

Psalm 5

David wants God to listen to his groanings for help. God has nothing to do with evil and David is humbled to be in His House. Evil people breathe poison gas but God welcomes with open arms.

Psalm 38

David asks God to slow down his punishment. He is flesh and bones because of his sin. David longs to be with God but he is blind, alone, betrayed, and unable to communicate. He is about to go over the edge and calls for God to help quickly.

Psalm 41

David knows God will nurse him back to health. He asks God to put him together again. David has a bad reputation. He knows God is on his side because God knows him intimately. Blessed is God always! Yes!

Psalm 42

The sons of Korah are like a deer drinking in God. They were once at the head of the worship line. Now they are in the dumps. To help endure their troubles they review all God is and what God has promised. When they feel down, they fix their eyes on God. Soon things will look up again.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God is famous for welcoming God-seekers.

David has repeatedly mentioned the idea that God does not want us to be "religious." God wants us to seek after Him. He wants us to set things right, as He does. That is why he welcomes God-seekers. God welcomes anyone who will seek after him—and set things right.

God dignifies those who are down on their luck.

Being a Chosen Person of God does not mean we will always have things go our way. In fact, it may be the exact opposite. Yet what makes God significant and worthy of our praise is that He is willing to lift us up when we are down. God nurses us back to health. Praise God for setting us right when we are down and out!

Fix your eyes on God—He will lift you up!

May 5 - Psalms 1, 2, 15, 22-24, 47, and 68: The Way of God

Today’s Reading: Psalms 1, 2, 15, 22-24, 47, and 68

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Compare the way of God to the way of His enemies.

Psalm (P)Synopsis

Psalm 1

Blessed are the people who stay away from sin and stay in God's Word. They will endure while the wicked perish.

Psalm 2

Why do evil people stand so confident? Don't they know God is the King? God could give His Son anything He wanted. Land? No problem. Death of his enemies? Done. So be careful, rebels, your days are numbered.

Psalm 15

Who can be with God? Those who do the right thing and keep God's Word always. Then you will always be able to come to God.

Psalm 22

God! Why am I so far from you? Everyone is taunting me and questioning you! You have been my God since birth and yet I am now vulnerable to attack. Help me quickly! Then I will praise you. Our children for generations to come will know how you rescued me!

Psalm 23

God is David's shepherd and David will be God's protected sheep forever.

Psalm 24

God is the one who is in control! Who can come to Him? Those who do God's will. Wake up, everyone! God is the one who can protect us!

Psalm 47

Hallelujah, praise God! God protects His Chosen People by punishing their enemies! Sing songs to our great God! God is over all!

Psalm 68

God is good! He defeats His enemies and protects His Chosen People. He protects widows and orphans. God has chosen one mountain to live on forever. No army will ever defeat Him. Each tribe of Israel praises God. God is beautiful! Bless God!

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Those who stay near God are forever strong.

This is a theme that runs throughout several psalms today. Those who do not find pleasure in sin are not only protected by God always but are also like trees that never need watering. God invites all people who set things right to be under His protection.

Those who rebel from God will receive their punishment.

This is the other theme that runs through all eight psalms. David and the sons of Korah call out for the enemies of God to try and defeat Him. There is no way! God can defeat them forcefully or patiently wait for their power to dry up. God will defeat anyone who does not set things right on the earth.

God can give us anything we ask.

As mentioned a few days ago with the prayer of Jabez, if we ask God for what we need He will give it to us. There is nothing outside of God's ability. God's ability is limited only by our ability to ask and trust in Him.

Even if God is our god from birth there may be times when we feel abandoned by God.

That is the beauty and sorrow in Psalm 22. This is why Jesus quotes from this psalm while he is on the cross. Trust and obedience do not always equal easy and pleasure.

God protects widows and orphans.

Because they need protection.

Are you on God's guest list?

April 28 - Psalms 81, 88, 92 and 93: Sing Out to God, Even in Times of Woe

Today’s Reading: Psalms 81, 88, 92 and 93

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Today is another whirlwind of emotions, from great praise to a caution against going alone, from a feeling of abandonment to a song of praise for redemption, and ending with trust through hard times.

Psalm (P)Synopsis

Psalm 81

Asaph calls the people to observe a day dedicated to God. God has helped them through terrible times, but they would not listen to Him. So God allowed them to go their own way. If they return He will save them.

Psalm 88

Heman prays before God to save him. There is no one that can save him and he wonders if God will help. The only thing on his side is darkness.

Psalm 92

How wonderful is our God! He has made things right when our enemies came out to defeat us. God made us strong because we were good. God is our mountain of safety!

Psalm 93

God is a mighty king, stronger than any storm on the sea. Beauty and holiness are where God reigns forever.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

If we do not listen to God, He will turn us loose.

This is a sad statement from God,

But my people didn’t listen,
   Israel paid no attention;
So I let go of the reins and told them, "Run!
   Do it your own way!" (81:11-12, The Message)

God will allow us to ru(i)n our own lives if we do not listen to Him.

If we obey God, He will defeat our enemies for us.

In the same psalm God calls His Chosen People back,

Oh, dear people, will you listen to me now?
   Israel, will you follow my map?
I’ll make short work of your enemies,
   give your foes the back of my hand. (81:13-14; The Message)

Follow God's way of life and He will defeat your enemies for you!

Heman's prayer is similar to Job's cries.

Heman does not understand why God has abandoned him. He cries out but is afraid that his cries will become empty sound in an empty sky. However, he will spend the entire night praying to God if needs be. He will call out to God until he can no longer speak. As for now, though, darkness is his only comfort. Cry out to God in expectation of salvation—even when you are not sure He will hear!

It is a beautiful thing to praise God!

I don't want to skip over this section. We can become so wrapped up in good vs. evil that we forget to praise God for what He has done! Sing praises to God! Announce your love for God every day with music and song!

God's land is beauty and holy.

God is greater than any storm. God is greater than any sea. God's land is beauty and holy forevermore. Praise God for being stronger than anything that could defeat us!

Is darkness your only friend? Cry out to God!

April 24 - Psalms 43-45, 49, 84, 85, and 87: Psalms from the Sons of Korah

Today’s Reading: Psalms 43-45, 49, 84, 85, and 87

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The Sons of Korah experience similar emotions as David and express them in psalms.

Psalm (P)Synopsis

Psalm 43

The author wants God to help through being ridiculed and lied about. God would help, so why be down in the dumps?

Psalm 44

The sons of Korah cry out to God to help them through their battles. God helped their ancestors in Canaan and they are now calling on God to help them. They feel abandoned by God and want Him to return.

Psalm 45

The sons of Korah sing a song for a wedding. The groom is a top-notch specimen of a man. The woman is beautiful. She is greatly loved and will now become the most famous wife and mother in the land.

Psalm 49

The sons of Korah teach everyone about the importance of honoring God. No one can get where they are going by themselves. No one is immortal. So don’t think you are the end-all-be-all. No one is that great.

Psalm 84

The sons of Korah sing how wonderful God's house is. Animals of all kinds find homes there and raise their young to sing God's praises. They would rather camp outside God's house than spend a luxurious life in a place of sin. God's wonderful nature is that wonderful!

Psalm 85

Korah sings how great God is when He forgives His Chosen People. They ask God to release them from their punishment and renew their place in God's kingdom. They praise God because His creation is wonderful.

Psalm 87

God loves Zion. They are famous throughout the world. Israel is now reborn a great nation—full of children who are all God's children.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Even when we are persecuted, fixing our eyes on God relieves our soul.

Reading Psalm 43 helps us see the progression from anger to a call for redemption and ends in praise for the God who sets things right. Hold on to God when you are around ungodly people—He will lift your soul.

Don't trust your weapons. Trust God.

The Sons of Korah know that God gave their ancestors military victories. That is why they tell God,

With your help we’ll wipe out our enemies,
   in your name we’ll stomp them to dust.
I don’t trust in weapons;
   my sword won’t save me—
But it’s you, you who saved us from the enemy;
   you made those who hate us lose face. (44:5-7, The Message)

Don't trust your power to defeat your enemies. Trust in God's power to save you from your enemies.
Trusting in God to save us instead of our own strength is difficult when we become the most powerful nation in the world. However, we must keep this trust or God will leave us and we will be defeated by lesser powers.

Not all psalms end in hope.

Psalm 44 does not end with the assurance that God is coming. It ends with a cry of Help us! We need to see that not all thoughts, songs, or worship settings should end with a happy ending. God is comfortable with us complaining to Him, even if that complaining ends without acknowledging God's imminent arrival.

There is no such thing as self-rescue.

This discussion often becomes automatically politicized in the US between the "pull yourself up by your own bootstrap" conservatives and the "you didn't build that" liberals. In the end neither is correct because they leave out the most important part: God. There is no such thing as "pulling yourself up by your own bootstrap" when it comes to setting things right. The cost is too great. At the same time, no government or organization can set things right by themselves. The organization requires everyone on the same page. Both require God to set things right. We age and die. Governments age and die. We can only have things set right in our lives when we allow God—who is ageless—to set them right and then join Him.

It is better to sleep on God's doorstep than live as a guest in sin's house.

A marvelous use of imagery, Korah (or the sons of Korah) presents a great truth about the differences between being wholly for God and being honored by evil. In that age poor people would sleep at the door of rich people so they could have the food that was thrown out every day. So Korah is telling everyone that it is better to eat from the scraps of God's table and sleep outside than to be an honored guest at the house of evil. Even God's scraps are better than sin's banquet food.

When we are forgiven by God, all is well.

Forgiveness from God is greater than any other thing in the world. This is why Korah writes,

I can’t wait to hear what he’ll say.
   God’s about to pronounce his people well,
The holy people he loves so much,
   so they’ll never again live like fools.
See how close his salvation is to those who fear him?
   Our country is home base for Glory! (85:8-9, The Message)

When God announces us reconciled, all of life works again!

All of God's people are His personal children.

God's nation is famous throughout the land because God's people are not the vassals of their god. They are God's Chosen People. They are God's personal children and he writes their name in His book of genealogies. All of God's children are loved personally, not as a cog in a machine.

Which of these psalms touches your life where you are right now?