Tag: faithfulness

Judges 2:6-15

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            The Old Testament book of Judges reads something like a soap opera.  The main characters are the ancient Israelites, fresh from coming into the Promised Land; God, the One who brought them into the land with a series of miraculous events and divine interventions; and, of course, the Judges, the men and women who ruled in the land.
            Moving through the chapters of Judges is full of adventures and misadventures.  It is a sad downward spiral of people forsaking the worship of God; God getting their attention; the people awakening to their dire condition and crying out to God; God sending a Judge to save them; the people slipping into a worse condition; and, the cycle starting all over again with more disastrous results and brokenness than before.
            In chapter 2, we get the clue as to where it all began and why it kept happening.  Tucked away in the middle of these verses is this cryptic and passive phrase: “After a while the people of Joshua’s generation died, and the next generation did not know the LORD or any of the things he had done for Israel.”
 
            There we have it.  The first generation of Israelites just plain failed to pass on their values, their experiences, and their knowledge to their children.  They simply were not intentional about providing the kind of education to their kids that would let them know who God is and what He did for them.
            The next generation will not know God unless this present generation takes to heart the mandate to graciously teach and develop their children in the words and ways of Jesus Christ.  It doesn’t just magically happen.
            What are some ways you can pass on the grace and truth of Jesus to the next generation?  How can you do it in a way that is loving and compelling, and not boring and pedantic?  If you are not confident in your familiarity of God, how might you go on a discovery with your kids or grandkids to find out more?

 

            Lord God Almighty, you have acted in the past with mighty deeds and gracious ways.  Help and enable your people to pass on their love for Jesus to the next generation so that your kingdom breaks into the generations and your will be done here on earth as it is always done in heaven.  Amen.

1 Chronicles 10:1-14

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            The books of Samuel and Chronicles contain, for the most part, the same content and material concerning the kings of Israel and Judah. Yet, whereas 1 & 2 Samuel gives a more straightforward narrative, 1 & 2 Chronicles often provides the narrative with explanatory comments.  So, we have such a story in today’s Old Testament lesson.  The last chapter of 1 Samuel gives an account of King Saul’s death, along with his sons.  However, in 1 Chronicles 10, we get the narration of their deaths along with a clear concise note on why King Saul perished in battle:
 
“So, Saul died for his breach of faith.  He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance.  He did not seek guidance from the LORD.  Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse” (ESV).
 
            The original compiler of Chronicles did so for the Jewish exiles who were returning to Palestine.  He did not want to simply recount the important stories of the kings of Israel; he wanted the exiles to know exactly why they went into exile to begin with, and how in the future they could keep it from happening again.  So, Saul served as Exhibit A of the kind of person that erodes the true worship of God and lives against the grain of faithfulness to the Lord.
 
            The true measure of a person of God is not in titles, positions, or membership.  The real test of a God-follower is being faithful to the revealed will of God contained in Holy Scripture.  Thus, to read it, know it, and live it is one of our highest callings as God’s people.
            Eternal God, you remain the same throughout the ages of time.  Help me to be faithful to your standard of righteousness and live faithfully into the ways of Jesus, my Lord.  Amen.

Malachi 2:10-3:1

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            They were faithless to one another; faithless to their wives; and, so, faithless to God.  God is described as actually being weary by lots of talk, but no faithful presence and action.  So it was the context and situation for this last little prophecy of the Old Testament.  The answer we are left with is that a messenger will be sent to prepare the way of the Lord.  He is coming, and it will be soon.
 
            Keeping the end of our lives and of history in mind helps bring greater clarity and purpose to the present.  Since Jesus is returning and coming soon we are to be faithful.  Faithfulness toward God means faithfulness to the significant people close to us.  We can pray and attend church and offer many words to God, but if we do not have a faithful presence and commitment to our families then God will not look with favor upon us.
 
            We are told twice in these verses to “guard yourselves in your spirit.”  It is necessary to monitor the condition of our souls and be in touch with the state of our spirits so that we remain faithful.  There must be a willingness to nurture our inner selves so that the outward actions reflect faithful commitment.  There needs to be vulnerability with oneself and submission to basic accountability structures so that we are aware of strengthening the inner person.  Rather than embrace a rabid individualism, communal and certainly familial dedication is a primary way of pleasing God and realizing his blessing upon us.
            Sovereign God, the One who sees and knows all, help me guard my spirit so that I will be faithful in all I do and in all my relationships with others, especially my own family and spouse.  Strengthen my soul to remain dedicated to seeing the coming of Jesus in all his glory.  Amen.