LifePoint Lubbock

Day 169
Proverbs 27-29

Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully. Proverbs 28:5 (NIV)

Our human nature seeks control, but we cannot see into the future, nor can we control it. Our eyes cannot see past the present, which is a good thing. Ignorance is better than arrogance. We trust in God rather than trusting in ourselves. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.

Those who are evil cannot understand justice. Their minds are blinded by their own prejudice. Their only concept of justice is one that benefits them, not others. The godly not only understand justice, but they also seek the One who is just. When we seek the LORD, we find wisdom and understanding. There is a sense of willingness to hear and to learn from God’s word. Just as a lack of appetite is often a symptom of a deeper problem, so a lack of attention to God’s word is a sign of spiritual sickness.

Since the Garden of Eden, human instinct has been to cover our sins. Man covers sin with shame and secrecy, while God covers sin with His endless grace and love. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

“A faithful man will abound with blessings” (28:20) Obedience and faithfulness bring blessings. This was especially true under the Old Covenant, where God promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. But it is true under the New Covenant as well. The way of this world leads to destruction, while following God leads to blessings in this life as well as the next. God rewards faithfulness.

Day 168
Proverbs 25-26

It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them. Proverbs 25:2 (NLT)

Godly wisdom is nothing like worldly wisdom. It is not quick to speak with an arrogant desire to share everything it knows to display superiority. Those who are truly wise are apt to say less not more. In 25:24 we find yet another saying concerning a quarrelsome wife. Solomon was surrounded by a thousand women, so I imagine he spoke from personal experience. The quarrelsome person, regardless of gender, believes their wisdom is superior and that everyone would benefit from it.

Much is said of the fool in Proverbs 26. The attention that comes from idolizing a fool often leads to their own downfall and destruction. Arguing with a fool only makes you a fool as well. Other times a wise word is necessary to expose a fool and perhaps protect those following the fool in his folly. The Lord’s wisdom sets things right. It takes true wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent.

Our key verse today takes us to the source of all the wisdom. The universe is full of mysteries, both spiritual and material. God continually defies my human logic and challenges my conventional wisdom by revealing glimpses into His kingdom. In our searching, we discover the treasure of the pursuit of the unknown. In our pursuit, we acknowledge our own lack of understanding. In our lack of understanding, we call upon the One who lacks nothing. Our glory is in the realization that we are no longer merely pursuing something, but someone. Isn’t that what God has desired all along?

Day 167
1 Kings 9, 2 Chronicles 8

“Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?” People will answer, “Because they have forsaken the LORD their God.” 1 Kings 9:8b-9a (NIV)

In today’s reading Solomon has completed the temple and the palace. At this point Solomon has reigned for almost a quarter of a century. Now that these great projects are completed, Solomon must deal with life after his greatest accomplishment. With the accomplishment of work comes the relaxation of effort. Idleness can be very dangerous. That time when Solomon “had achieved all he had desired to do” (9:11b) reveals how consuming the building and furnishing of the temple and palace had been in Solomon’s life. It was at this point that God appeared to Solomon a second time. God begins with, “I have heard your prayer” (9:3a). The great prayer we read in the previous chapter means nothing unless God heard it. It is much better for our prayers to be effective than eloquent. God’s answer to Solomon’s great prayer had a great condition. If Solomon walked with the Lord in integrity and faithfulness, then he could expect God’s continued blessings on his life and the life of Israel. But if he did not or if they did not obey God’s commands and worship God alone, then He would cut them off. Israel would become an example, a bad one. “Don’t be like Israel. You remember what happened to Israel, we don’t want that to happen to us”, others would say. Everyone would know it was because Israel followed other gods.

These words are not threats made in anger. They are warnings made in love. What a loving, compassionate God we have that He would warn us of our wanderings. God’s greatest desire for Israel and for us as well is that we walk with Him in obedience and faithfulness. He warns us so that we might avoid the pain and heartache associated with wandering away. He disciplines those He loves, and He warns us in order that we might avoid the discipline and enjoy the blessings that come when we walk with Lord.

Day 166
Psalm 134, 146-150

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD. Psalm 150:6 (NIV)

Psalm 134 is the last of the songs of ascent. As those blessed by God, we are called to bless God. We bless Him by praising Him. God’s people should always give Him their praise, thanks, honor, and glory.

Psalm 146 begins the Hallelujah Psalms (146-150). Hallelujah is a compound word of two Hebrew words: “hallel”, which means praise and “jah”, which is short for Yahweh. Hallelujah means “Praise the LORD.”

Psalm 147 tells us it is good, pleasant, and fitting to praise the LORD. As we understand the greatness of God, His care, His incredible power, and the nature of His everlasting word, it should stir within us even more “Hallelujahs”!

Psalm 148 calls on every member of creation, both in heaven and on earth, to praise Yahweh. Revelation 5:11-13 tells us there will be a universal chorus when every created being will join in the hymn of praise.

Psalm 149 tells us that God takes delight in His people. What is in us that God would take delight in? Nothing, except what He Himself placed there. If God sees any beauty in us, it must be His own reflection.

Psalm 150 concludes the Hallelujah Psalms and the entire book. We praise God for what He has done (acts of power) and for who He is (surpassing greatness). This psalm as well the book concludes with “let everything that has breath praise the LORD.” The book begins with “Blessed” and ends with “Hallelujah”. Always remember, child of God, you are blessed! So, sing out your Hallelujah to the One who blesses you with every breath!

Day 165
2 Chronicles 6-7, Psalm 136

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

As the temple is dedicated, Solomon blesses the people of Israel and the God of Israel. At the heart of Solomon’s prayer, he acknowledges Israel’s greatest need: forgiveness. Our greatest need still is to be forgiven. Solomon concludes his prayer with “LORD God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember the great love promised to David your servant” (2 Chronicles 6:42, NIV). While the king was referencing himself, it would be used by Israel to express their hope in the coming Messiah. To this day we pray in the name of Jesus, the ultimate Anointed One.

2 Chronicles 7:14 is a wonderful promise. There is something naturally humbling about prayer. We recognize that our strength, knowledge, and capabilities are all inadequate. God’s promise of answered prayer is contingent on repentance. Not only must we humble ourselves, but we must also turn from our wicked ways. It is not enough to turn our hearts to the Lord; we must also turn our lives to the Lord. God promised to hear the prayers of His humble, prayerful, seeking, repentant people and to forgive their sins and heal their land.

In Psalm 136 each verse repeats the responsive phrase, “His mercy endures forever”. It encourages the people to praise God for His goodness and His merciful, steadfast love. God’s greatest demonstration of His forever enduring mercy is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Join us Sunday for "Integrity" as we continue our teaching series on the Holy Spirit.
Listening Guide https://bit.ly/4uDqed4

Day 164
1 Kings 8, 2 Chronicles 5

In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and fear you, just as your own people Israel do. 1 Kings 8:43b (NLT)

The temple was completed, and it was time to furnish the temple with the items housed in the tabernacle. Solomon planned a spectacular grand opening ceremony that began with a parade. He assembled all the elders of Israel and the heads of tribes to bring the ark of the covenant to its new home. The priests brought all the other furnishings in the tabernacle. This event represented the culmination of the covenant YAHWEH made with Israel 500 years earlier when He delivered them from Egypt. The Shekinah glory filled the house of the LORD. This cloud led Israel through the wilderness and stood at the door of the tabernacle when God met with Moses.

Solomon recognized that the temple was God’s plan, not his or his father’s. David and Solomon were tools, but the work was all God. Solomon clarifies that God has a special presence in the temple, but He is far too great and powerful to be restricted to the temple. Even on this great occasion of celebration, Solomon asks God to hear their prayers when they sin, are defeated, face famine and plagues, go to battle, and when they are captured and carried off. God hears our prayers in the good times and the bad.

Solomon even prays for those who are not Israelites. God wanted the court of the Gentiles to be a place where all the nations could come and pray. That’s why Jesus was so angry when He found it had been turned into a flea market. He drove out the moneychangers and merchants so those seeking God would have a place to worship. Solomon asks God to hear the prayers of foreigners so “all the people of the earth will come to know and fear you” (1 Kings 8:43, NLT). We are the fulfillment of Solomon’s prayer.

Day 163
1 Kings 7, 2 Chronicles 4

Huram put these two bronze pillars at the porch of the Temple. He named the south pillar He Establishes. And he named the north pillar In Him Is Strength. 1 Kings 7:21 (ICB)

1 Kings 6 tells us Solomon spent 7 years building the temple and 1 Kings 7 tells us Solomon spent 13 years building his own palace. While the temple was glorious, it seems Solomon wanted his own palace to be more glorious and luxurious than the temple. It is often the test in our human life to see whether we dedicate more time, energy, and resources to the things of God or the things of man. Our actions show whose kingdom we value most.

Two magnificent bronze pillars are described in great detail. These pillars were so impressive that they were given names: “Jachin”, meaning “He shall establish” and Boaz, meaning “in strength”. They were reminders to both the people and future kings that ruling was by God’s appointment, by God’s grace, and in God’s strength. We ought to remember these same truths today. As grand and glorious as the temple of Solomon was when it was built, eventually it was destroyed. But what Christ Jesus has done for us lasts forever and can never be destroyed. Philippians 1:6 says, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (NIV). Our lives are to be lived by God’s grace and in utter dependence on Him. Those pillars still stand as the strength of our lives: He establishes and in Him is strength.

Day 162
1 Kings 5-6, 2 Chronicles 2-3

The word of the LORD came to Solomon: “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father.” 1 Kings 6:11-12 (NIV)

Although David was not permitted to build the temple, he began gathering materials needed. When Solomon became king, he continued the process. The amount of manpower and materials needed for this monumental project could only be afforded during times of peace and prosperity.

For over 400 years the tabernacle had served the nation of Israel. The building of the temple was the Lord’s direction. The main structure of the temple was divided into the holy place and the most holy place. The entrance hall was 30 feet wide by 15 feet deep and located on the east side. Side chambers were located on the west, north, and south sides of the temple. A large courtyard surrounded the entire structure. The temple itself was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high. The temple was the same design as the tabernacle but twice as large.

The conditional promise of God came to Solomon and his descendants. God promised that obedience would be blessed. God did not promise to live in the temple but to dwell in His people. The temple was a place for man to meet with God, not a place for God to live. Israel must remember to focus on the God of the temple and not the temple of the God. The temple was a reminder that God liked to establish and strengthen things. He established a relationship with His people and gave his people strength. The temple, like the church, announced to the whole community, “Come here and get established in the Lord. Come here are receive strength from the Lord”.