Psalm_14

Scripture

Psalm 14:5-7

⁵ But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,    for God is present in the company of the righteous.⁶ You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,    but the Lord is their refuge.

⁷ Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!    When the Lord restores his people,    let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

-       New International Version

⁵ Terror will grip them,    for God is with those who obey him.⁶ The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,    but the Lord will protect his people.

⁷ Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?    When the Lord restores his people,    Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.

-       New Living Translation

Observation

Although it’s unconfirmed exactly what Saul was facing when this Psalm was written, it’s clear he felt oppressed and/or opposed by unbelievers.   

Understanding

The message is clear…

-       God is with those who obey Him

-       The Lord will protect His people

-       The Lord restores His people

And the third (verse 7) is my favorite…

⁷ Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?    When the Lord restores his people,    Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.

It’s not a matter of if God will restore, but when; and we are reminded throughout Psalms that we serve a God who restores, who draws near, who heals, who rescues.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.  - Psalm 34:18

The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.  - Psalm 41:3

Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel? When God restores his people, Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.  - Psalm 53:6

And, if we believe that our God is unchanging, the same yesterday, today and forever more, then it’s safe to say, we still serve a God of restoration today. 

Life Application

God is the great restorer.

Restorer of relationships, hearts, people. 

Restoration can take many looks – healing, the righting of wrongs, forgiveness, being made whole, providing peace – all of which we need today.

May we cry out like David for the restoration we desire and need today – in our families, in our nation, in the hearts of those we love.

To check out the discussion or to join in click here.

2 Chronicles 7

Scripture  2 Chronicles 7:4-5 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the Lord. 5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. Thus the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

Observation-What does it say? After the nation of Israel worked to build the temple, and to fill it with all the different articles, including the altar, golden bowls, spoons etc., they brought forth an offering.  A sacrifice offering that totaled approximately 26,000,000 pounds of oxen and 18,000,000 pounds of sheep.  But before the sacrifice was accepted, Solomon prayed.  Solomon pleaded with God that he would hear the nation of Israel when they cried out to him.  God, in return revealed Himself to Israel in the form of fire.   

Understanding-What does it mean?  Dodger stadium, which is the largest stadium in the major league, holds 56,000 fans.  As I was reading this passage, I got this picture of piling the field at Dodger stadium full of sheep and cows.  After all of the field, and probably most of the field level seats, the left and right field pavilion, plus some of lodge level were filled three and four animals deep, we started a prayer service somewhere in China town.  As P.E.T.A begins their protest for the unethical treatment of the animals, God sends His fire down on Dodger stadium and consumes the whole place.  Not only would the fire be visible for almost one hundred miles, but the heat would be felt from quite a distance as well.  It sort of brings a whole new meaning to the God being a consuming fire.  

I am guilty of not realizing the power of prayer in my life.  Multiple times through scripture, we are warned not to turn away from God because he is a consuming fire.  Deuteronomy 4:23-24 tells us to not “forget the covenant of the Lord your God” because He is a jealous God.  In Hebrews 12:28-29, the author tells us, “we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God” because He is a consuming fire.  We are both warned of His power to destroy us, and to lift us up using the same phrase.  In my opinion, I would rather see the fruits of kneeling before him and the result of turning away. 

Life Application  Jesus, help me to kneel before you everyday.  Let me know the joy of not only bringing my requests before you, but also of hearing you speak.  Help me to be part of the generation that sees your fire in glory, and not in rage.  Help me to take joy in the discipline of coming before you.  

-Tyler Galloway

1 Timothy_3

Scripture 1 Timothy 3:2-7  2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife,temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.ObservationThe Apostle Paul continued in his letter to Timothy about the qualifications of a person being admitted to the office of a bishop or deacon. Understanding Shouldn’t we all live in a way that we too could be an overseer?Above reproach Faithful to our spouse TemperateSelf-controlledRespectableHospitableTeachableNot given to drunkennessNot violent but gentleNot quarrelsomeNot a lover of moneyManage our family well (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)Growing in our relationship with God Good reputation Application Matthew 16:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Father, you have called all of us who have been saved, to go and make disciples, to oversee those who want to follow you. Father, empower me with your Holy Spirit to live in a way that is leading people towards you, starting with my family. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Deborah Lee