solomon

The GLORY of the Lord, Luke 1-2

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In this amazing time of Christmas preparation – we could lose sight of the meaning of Christmas – or at least the means which we honor it – or perhaps (as is with so many) never have heard the biblical story – and yet we are certain that the Lord has brought this story and will bring this reality to each person in His Own method – and we do get to help… And each of us gets to take a moment to know it is not just story but GLORY.

And as Linus in the Charlie Brown Christmas TV Special tells Charlie Brown – and all – that Jesus is Born – born to us and born to those shepherds who then went into town to see the baby – we know that God’s Word is perpetuated by it’s meaning not just mass media – it is the GLORY of God which brings God in all His Ways to the people – the GLORY of the LORD shows up to be beheld…

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

The GLORY of the LORD – is that lights – is that feelings – is that clouds – is that fire – is that sound – is that ‘what that?’, ‘how about that?’ – OH – it is surely MORE amazing than any words could use or describe. 

The Glory of the Lord had appeared on earth in ways before – like when Solomon (2nd Chronicles 7) was dedicating the temple and acknowledging that the Lord had brought them and brought His people to this point – after Abraham, Issac, Jacob, after Joseph in Egypt and after Moses brought them out, after David and to continue to bless His people forever with guidance. And Solomon praised God – and “as soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire descended from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. The priests could not enter into the Temple because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s Temple. When all of the Israelis saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord resting on the Temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement, worshipped, and gave thanks to the Lord, “Because he is good; because his gracious love is eternal.”

AMAZING – the Glory of the Lord – which filled the skies and the ground for Solomon as King – was NOW filling the skies for the lowliest shepherds – and announcing that God as Savior had been born as man in the lowly town of Bethlehem in the lowly tribe area of Judea. God made Flesh – Immanuel…

Imagine the GLORY that night – imagine the GLORY of such immense proportions that it would make shepards afraid – imagine too then that we SHOULD have a healthy fear of the Majesty of the Lord – and immense blessing feeling of the GLORY of the Lord to come down to earth into a baby who would grow to be despised as a messenger but as determined as God to BRING US HOME by Grace and Mercy – and GLORY…

The Glory of the Lord is our HOPE. Let us know that Jesus in GLORIOUS Victory overcame the world. This Christmas – remember the GLORY of the GOOD NEWS.

AMEN

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Luke 1-2 NKJV – Dedication to Theophilus –  Here is a Bible Gateway link listening: https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/bubb/nkjv/Luke.1
or reading:https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201-2&version=NKJV

Luke 1-2 NKJV
Dedication to Theophilus
Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

John’s Birth Announced to Zacharias
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”  And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth
Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

The Song of Mary
And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

And Mary remained with her [Elizabeth] about three months, and returned to her house.

Birth of John the Baptist
Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

Circumcision of John the Baptist
So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.” But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zacharias’ Prophecy
Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Christ Born of Mary

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

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Glory in the Highest
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

***

And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Circumcision of Jesus
And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Jesus Presented in the Temple
Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Simeon Sees God’s Salvation
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Anna Bears Witness to the Redeemer
Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

The Family Returns to Nazareth
So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

The Boy Jesus Amazes the Scholars
His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

Jesus Advances in Wisdom and Favor
Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

March Lions are BOLD, Proverbs 28

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“The righteous are as bold as a lion.” Solomon’s observation in Proverbs 28:1b

(I am keeping with my theme of March Lions and Lambs for this stretch of writing…)

I watched the Oscars as mindless meaty media and had many munchies as it was as marathon-like as any movie, but longer. I didn’t see any movie except “Wicked” which was so good, and like life, the deep understanding of the characters and their history in that movie is necessary to gauge their wickedness or goodness, or simply their human-ness gone astray. The Broadway musical score, of course, is grandeur and catchy at its best. The performance and every musical score were crowd pleasers on the show.

I don’t see many movies – but I’ve liked comedian Conan O’Brien, the Oscars host, for years, so made sure to tune in… and I appreciated the witty humor, gags, the speeches even, the glamor yes, and that the people liked doing their craft of making movies to inspire, teach, and entertain. Politics and faith, war and peace, fashion and firefighting, it all fit in the show. 

Some folks play both good and evil characters, but mostly human ones who can make mistakes. THANK GOD, GOD LOOKS AT AND WEIGHS THE HEART (more wisdom from Solomon in Proverbs 21). Like the movies, people get type cast, but God is the one who leads the better plots. Follow Him.

And watching the Oscars was good for an “evening in” on a roar of chilly weather, on an early March night. Sunday is when my weekend brain is full, just decompression of a weekend and “time for myself”.

And yet this weekend was also a good time for me and the Lord, because click click click, I forced myself to sit down and I organized 2 whole chapters of my writing for print and pdf. It seems a process, but it’s my purpose and my pursuit of God’s Heart holds me in alignment of both writing and curating. Most of my writing is captured brain waves that flash then disappear from memory, maybe someone reads or needs it, but like last year’s Oscar’s and star-winners and movies, it’s gone from memory that quick. But SCRIPTURE remains – the wisdom and the freshness of it refreshed.

SO, the Lions in scripture roar the righteousness right into place. The Proverbs seem to be Lion roars of observation and wisdom from King Solomon both good yet flawed. King Solomon saw A LOT, ruled a long time, wrote extensively in God’s name and in his own processing. Human and wise, King Solomon would have seen the righteous and the wicked, both, and known how to use a Lion as symbol for each:

1) The Righteous are as bold as a Lion.

…

2) Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

…

It is up to us to be aware of the difference between good, righteous and evil, wicked. It is like a movie in some ways to discover and discern the characters of life, but behind the scenes and in front too, we are to know God weighs the heart. We need to be a March Lion of righteousness “righted” by God and “Marching” in His Way. We need to be wary of wicked lions chasing us. We need to remember that we can be bold IN God – and let Him score our lives.

Amen 

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Proverbs 21:1-3, 29-31

In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.
A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

…

The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways.
There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.

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Proverbs 28 NIV

The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.

Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.

A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.

Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back.

The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.

Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.

A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

To show partiality is not good – yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.

Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue.

Whoever robs their father or mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is partner to one who destroys.

The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.

Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Jesus (and March Weather) Like a Lion and a Lamb

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“Create in me a clean heart.” – The song and scripture was so moving that I choked up, rolled tears down from my eyes in the concluding acts of “David” (Sight and Sound’s Production that I finished watching online). As David prays, offering his broken spirit in sorrow for sinful adultery with Bathsheba and the battle-sent murder of Uriah – sinfulness and greed taking over his backtracking, he himself heard the message from prophet Nathan of the slaughter of a lamb. David found himself again offering prayers to “be washed white as snow” – David had tears of repentance and remarkable re-fixation upon the Lord. He was always “after God’s heart” and shows us that the deepest sinner can still return to be the most sincere God seeker.

The more the trials, the more we can rely upon God – in good and bad.

David in the musical remembered the days the Lord was with Him as a child playing the harp and writing the psalms of songs, and David realizes the Lord is ever-present and faithful. 

“The Lord is after your heart – be after His” David urges Solomon, his son in the closing acts of his life and the play… The musical closes with David and all singing Psalm 23 boisterously and a visual of Jesus raising David into Heaven. Beautiful… Soul stirring and truthfully soothing.

Jesus came as the Lion of Judah and was slain as the lamb, in God’s Plan, in knowledge of salvation’s power, taking away the sins of the world, as far as East is from West. 

We say that the weather in March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. March 1st for us was like a lion sleeping and then awoke with wind storms and cold… Surely the end of this month will be much warmer, calmer, and we will have felt triumphant over winter. Lion to Lamb.

We might relate this to that Jesus came in like a lion to this world, because Jesus IS as the Lion of Judah, the King, and then relate to Jesus leaving as the Lamb, but remember also Jesus, the King, IS the Lamb slain before the beginning, before the foundation of the world was laid down. Jesus knew He would lay down His Life. Jesus always was and is the Lamb, innocent and sacrificial. Jesus was led by His loyalty to God the Father and by His Love for all of us. The sacrificing servant is oru example, as Jesus is also the Shepherd.

Jesus is the Lamb and the Lion, and Jesus is our Lord and King. 

We best, in any and all weather, GO with Jesus, because God goes with us. 

Be after His Heart.

Amen

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Psalm 23 of David 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

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David speaking to King Saul in 1st Samuel 17 how the Lord protects: “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine. [Goliath]” Saul then said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” 

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1st Kings 2:1-4

David’s Last Words to Solomon: When David’s time to die was near, he told his son Solomon, “I am going the way of all the earth. So be strong. Show yourself to be a man. Do what the Lord your God tells you. Walk in His ways. Keep all His Laws and His Word, by what is written in the Law of Moses. Then you will do well in all that you do and in every place you go. Then the Lord will keep His promise to me. He has said to me, ‘Your sons must be careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and soul. 

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Psalm 51:9-15 of David in repentance: Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

A Remnant Left to Rediscover, from Haggai’s Prophesy

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There’s a special movie (replaying  on Netflix) that I enjoy replaying and replaying segments, “Monuments Men”, 2014 with George Clooney, Bill Murray, John Goodman. This movie is about finding and restoration of art and possessions in World War II, it has amazing experiences for those portrayed. I appreciate the experiences are only 90 to 100 years ago, but we don’t hear about these things much anymore, there is much to reach and teach younger generations. There’s a remnant left to rediscover. The story is true with some movie magic thrown in. It seems war movies like this could teach so much about valuing treasures and especially people. It’s clearly, sadly, a broken world then and now…

The last part of prophet Haggai is God’s reminder to the priests of the era that God’s people are defiled by not having a temple and examples of dedication and sacrifice. The people need true repentance. The people are essentially not living in remembrance of the times the temple was built, 500 years prior by Solomon, and of how God blessed them and will bless them again when they show dedication. These people live 500 years before Jesus comes. They are the remnant that God has remembered and wants. 

This is also a lesson for us to return to God, to be building our lives on the Rock, the firm foundation of Jesus, and the knowledge that He came and will come again. The dedication of the temple is of our lives to Him. The new temple also to come is for the healing of the nations. God will bring a remnant of His Promised people back, and bless them. He will bless ALL who turn to Him and repent. Of course the ultimate blessing will be extraction from the brokenness of the world into God’s Kingdom. 

This short book Haggai contains a lot of good treasured knowledge about God and His Plan – with warnings about not listening, similar to the warnings given to Solomon by God at the start of the temple building 500 years prior: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”  From 2nd Chronicles 

May we continue to remember the repentance to God for not listening and following and trusting  and ask for restoration.

Amen 

The 5 minute Bible Project video on YouTube is really good at explaining this chapter in time: 

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Haggai 2:10-23

Blessings for a Defiled People

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: If someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?’”

The priests answered, “No.”

Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?”

“Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.”

Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.

“‘Now give careful thought to this from this day on—consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple. When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not return to me,’ declares the Lord. ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit.

“‘From this day on I will bless you.’”

Zerubbabel the Lord’s Signet Ring

The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.

“‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

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From 2 Chronicles 7:11-22

Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king’s house: and all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.

And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.

If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 

For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.

But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;

Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house?

And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.

RESTORE and RENEW, Rebuild FOR the Lord, as per Prophet Haggai

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I could have called this devotion: the cat been PROMISED that I clean out Christmas decorations and RESTORE more room in the windows!!!! She needs her space RESTORED!!!

Time to REBUILD. 

Of course best time is spent in REBUILDING FAITH.

So, as per Prophet Haggai, we are learning about RESTORING PEOPLE’S FAITH AND REBUILDING GOD’S HOUSE! This is a chapter of the Bible timeline we rarely hear much about, the rebuilding of the temple of Jerusalem after so much exile and destruction. It was worth it!!! And this was the now rebuilding that would last into the Roman era.

“I am with you,” declares the Lord.

In our perusal through the old testament prophets, it’s been a rough road for the people of Israel and Judah, exiled and then allowed to return to their temple area (original building by Solomon hundreds of years earlier) but they didn’t restore the temple first, they restored their own houses first… And, as the Lord reminded them, they only scraped by… 

The Lord then sent the prophet Haggai to remind them: “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Let us absorb this message – it us SO IMPORTANT to take care to RESTORE. Restore one’s health, one’s attitude, one’s prospects, BUT FIRST RESTORE YOUR REACHING OUT TO GOD. Restore the praise in your life. Restore the devotion and prayer life and yes, even your schedule for communicating with God directly… That’s the RESTORE message here…

Take this “midwinter break”, to decompress, allow downtime in order to gear up for “up time” – RESTORE faith and fellowship and fuel up… mostly, serve the Lord in Your FIRST resort not last…

There is a time to rest (but don’t over-indulge) then take a time to rebuild… And like God’s lesson to Haggai to tell the people, don’t neglect the Lord because God can bless you even more to abundance when you listen to His Plan first….

Our 1st and best restoration? Listening to God!!!

Amen

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Haggai 1-2:8 NIV

A Call to Build the House of the Lord

In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest: This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’”

THEN the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord.

Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with you,” declares the Lord. So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.

The Promised Glory of the New House

In the second year of King Darius, on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

QTIP – Quit Taking It Personally – Guard Your Heart

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…attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings…   Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life...   Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

It was the very end of the multi-division presentation at work when they talked about the survey results that you may see and interpret within your group (small or site-wide) and they urged people to act upon them without getting upset if they were general or specific comments that seemed negative. We always need to be correct in our work ethics, but INSTEAD of the negative implications of getting upset,  consider these comments as OPPORTUNITIES for growth. Yes. The best acronym I heard – QTIP – “Quit Taking It Personally”… yes.. 

When we don’t think about situations and how we are personally affected, we are then able to think more broadly in helping. When we don’t ‘get our noses bent out of shape’, we can keep moving and be less shaken. And if it’s just a venting session, don’t you get steamed too…

I connected this QTIP “cute-tip” about not letting things bug you, not taking things personally, with a scripture right away – ‘Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it’… from wise Solomon.

TRUE, as your heart can sway and overspill, can corrupt your mind allowing it to get carried away, causing even more angst. 

A QTIP is USEFUL – I use them to grease my sewing machine. Useful for hygiene yes, as well as cleaning up little things, as a decorating tool paintbrush for improvement, and ELEGANTLY MADE and clean if we don’t let them overspill the clean container. 

Our hearts are needed that way too, USEFUL, could paint a picture of our lives, ELEGANT and hard-working, CLEAN if we keep them that way. And yet they are indescribable as fragile and strong at the same time.

In the wisdom of Solomon, GET WISDOM, and guard your heart… use the wisdom to ‘live long and prosper’…

And QTIP.

Amen

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Proverbs 4:18-27

The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. 

Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

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Proverbs 4:5-13

“Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”

Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life

Callings, Cherubim, Coals, Cloud, Court, Details Details Details, Ezekial 10

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Details Details Details!!!

There is SO much written in the bible about the Lord and this chapter of Ezekiel is filled with imagery, not imagination but IMAGERY described that is so elaborate one would THINK it is imagination. But imagination this elaborate and imagery this detailed – well only the Lord could put it forth to be simply a part of the scene of the day. Cherubim with wheels, four faces on the creatures as cherubim, human, lion, eagle and wheels under. The elaborate creatures with wings and eyes move by being filled with the SPIRIT of living creatures. So it’s but a segment of visualization of creatures and a throne, as the cloud too is the Spirit of the Lord. Chapter 10 is a visual experience, and I both listened (*audio link below*) and read the chapter. It’s a detailed description of Ezekiel’s witness to then tell others, to be a witness against the disorder of the day. God’s Living Creatures can move under His command – we should to.. Unfortunately that generation and many from Moses’s generation on, even from Adam and Eve’s time, those folks who didn’t get on the ark with Noah – well they were all wandering and NOT wondering.

The cherubim are described: “Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels. I heard the wheels being called ‘the whirling wheels.'”

These cherubim traveled with the Glory of the Lord – it’s elaborate detail to demonstrate the LEAVING of God from a special place, a place directed by Him, the TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM built by Solomon, envisioned by David, the HOLY Worship location. The LEAVING was a crucial consequence of the disobedience of the people of the time who should have been following the Lord. 

Then the glory of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them. They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.

We will learn in chapter 11 that Ezekial travels to be witness to the locations that God goes – then is able to tell the people what happened. Let US also be travelling in witness – for even though we don’t see the cherubim in flesh  – we surely see the Glory of the Lord lived out – witness to the Way – a calling to the called is to carry on the details details details for God now.

We want to be moved by the Spirit too. God wants our witness.

Keep Wheelin’ – Keep Seeing – Keep Praising

Amen

LISTEN here:

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/suchet/nivuk/Ezek.10

Ezekiel 10 – God’s Glory Departs From the Temple

I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne of lapis lazuli above the vault that was over the heads of the cherubim. The Lord said to the man clothed in linen, “Go in among the wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in.

Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of the Lord rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple, and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the Lord. The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far away as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.

When the Lord commanded the man in linen, “Take fire from among the wheels, from among the cherubim,” the man went in and stood beside a wheel. Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand to the fire that was among them. He took up some of it and put it into the hands of the man in linen, who took it and went out. (Under the wings of the cherubim could be seen what looked like human hands.)

I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like topaz. As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went. Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels. I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.” Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures I had seen by the Kebar River. When the cherubim moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not leave their side. When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still; and when the cherubim rose, they rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in them.

Then the glory of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them. They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.

These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Kebar River, and I realized that they were cherubim. Each had four faces and four wings, and under their wings was what looked like human hands. Their faces had the same appearance as those I had seen by the Kebar River. Each one went straight ahead.