The Power of Praise and Singing - 2 Chronicles 17-20

 2 Chronicles 20:20-23 (ESV)

And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

“Give thanks to the LORD,

for his steadfast love endures forever.”

And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

This is a marvelous example of the power of praise.  King Jehoshaphat, the king of Judea, was about to be attacked by the men of Amman and Moab.   The king assemblies his army and goes to war.   But rather than arm them with swords, shields and spears, he arms them with song.  He literally expects them to go out and shout praises to God against an army of violent men.   What would he expect to happen?  He expected a great victory and that is what God gave him.  Never, ever, underestimate the power of praise and giving thanksgiving to God.   

Promises of God are Kept by God - Numbers 33-36

Numbers 34:1-5 (ESV)

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel, and say to them, When you enter the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan as defined by its borders), your south side shall be from the wilderness of Zin alongside Edom, and your southern border shall run from the end of the Salt Sea on the east. And your border shall turn south of the ascent of Akrabbim, and cross to Zin, and its limit shall be south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it shall go on to Hazar-addar, and pass along to Azmon. And the border shall turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, and its limit shall be at the sea.

If you ever wondered why Israel wants to occupy the land they are in, the above statement from God, through Moses, is why.   We can learn a lot from the above set of verses:

1. God has an intentional plan.   God is not haphazard and lays out the plan for His people. 

2.  God has order.  He doesn’t just say something but He has boundaries and boarders for His plan. 

3. God has real promises and keeps them.   It was 470 years earlier that God told Abraham He would give this land to his ancestors.    God keeps His promises. 

4. God has real promises rooted in geography.   This is a key thought for us.  These promises have real, tangible markers.  

5.  God protects His people so that they can experience fulfilled promises.   When we think we can’t make it, God’s promises are still true.   God will do anything and everything to make sure we experience the promises He makes to us. 

6.  God sets boundaries for His people.  This entire section is to outline the boundaries for the people.  They were not given all lands, they were given the lands God designs for them.  God gives us gifts, but not all gifts.  He has a place for us in the Body of Christ.  He sets us where He wants.   

7.  The only thing that might hinder God’s promises to come true in our lives is our own disbelief and disobedience.  Remember, in the above passage, Moses is writing to the children of those lead out of Egypt.   They refused to obey and lost out on the promise land.  Moses himself will lose out.     

God will keep His promises to those who endure to the end in faith.   

Jesus Is Our High Priest - Hebrews 5-7

Hebrews 5:1-4 (ESV)

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

Jesus’s is our High Priest.   He can represent us because He lived here with us, but He can represent us to God because He lived here with us in holiness and perfection.   Note how He represents us in this:

High Priest prayer series:

Hebrews 7:22 (ESV)

22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

MONDAY- Propitiation

Hebrews 2:17 (ESV Strong's)

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

TUESDAY - Confession - High priest of our confession 

Hebrews 3:1 (ESV Strong's)

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, (Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary) homologia (ὁμολογία, 3671), akin to A, No. 1, denotes “confession, by acknowledgment of the truth,”)

WEDNESDAY - Temptation- Sympathize with our weaknesses

Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV Strong's)

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

THURSDAY - Representation- To act on our behalf

Hebrews 5:1,7 (ESV Strong's)

1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

FRIDAY - Mediation - seated at the right hand of God -

Hebrews 8:1 (ESV Strong's)

1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

Hebrews 8:3 (ESV Strong's)

For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.

Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV Strong's)

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

SATURDAY - Redemption  - Offered His life

Hebrews 9:11-12 (ESV Strong's)

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

SUNDAY - Sanctification- Suffered outside the camp

Hebrews 13:11-13 (ESV Strong's)

For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.

Preaching - Acts 3-4

Acts 3:11 (ESV)

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.

The he in the above text is the man Peter and John healed on their way to prayer at the Temple.    After the man’s healing, the people ran to hear more from Peter and John.   Acts 3-4 is a marvelous example of the early church proclaiming (Greek: kērugma) the Gospel:

There were six core elements of kerugma:

1). The fulfillment of prophecy

2). The ministry, death and burial of Jesus

3). The resurrection 

4). The ascension and exaltation 

5). The presence of the Holy Spirit

6). The call to action (repentance and forgiveness) 

What was the result of this great teaching in these two chapters? 

Acts 4:31-37 (ESV)

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

They Had Everything in Common

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

God Exposes Our Sin - Jonah

Jonah 1:7-10 (ESV)

And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

Before we think anything about the above passage we might want to consider this verse:

Numbers 32:23 (ESV)

But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.

God knows when we sin.   The above situation happens to Jonah because he chose to run away from God in disobedience:

Jonah 1:3 (ESV)

But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

God sees this and makes Jonah’s sin come to light before all.  Notice how God does this.  He allows a system created by the unbelieving sailors to bring to light Jonah’s sins.   They were using a custom of casting lots to ask the “gods” who it was among them that had caused this situation on the sea.  What these sailors did not know was the sovereignty of God over these things:

Proverbs 16:33 (ESV)

The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the LORD.

The sailors were trying to make a decision in the wrong way, but God used their decision to bring about His plan.  We need to make sure we don’t forget that.  The world has a system that is not intended to honor God, but God uses it for His very purpose.  

Perhaps the best example for that thought is this:

Mark 15:15 (ESV)

So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Pilate was playing politics and Jesus was crucified.  But God used man’s political structure and sinful nature to bring salvation to man.  Amazing!!! 

Where Is Your Trust? Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28:26 (ESV)

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,

but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

Perhaps before we discuss this proverb we ought to remember an earlier one written by Solomon:

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In both of these proverbs we have a major theme Solomon is communicating with his son (and us).   There are two roads we can travel.  One is filled with disaster and confusion and strife, even though it is painted with flowers, rainbows and good feelings.  Those who access this road think they are on the road to fortune and fame and end up in disaster and ruin.   The on-ramp for this road is the ramp of the flesh.     The other road before is the road entered by faith.  It has bumps and suffering and trials but, in the end, is filled with promise, blessing and joy.   We enter that road by the fear of The Lord.   That fear in "The Lord," gives us wisdom.  That wisdom allows us to walk wisely.   When we lean to our own understanding (our own mindset) we lack wisdom.  Our own mindset is made up of our own arguments, thoughts and limited perspective and the early imprints of our lives ... good or bad.  It is only God who can give us true understanding about life.   When we walk wisely (in the Fear of The Lord) we can know and be confident we will be delivered from the things of life.   God is in the way of wisdom.  When we follow the Spirit of God He gives us wisdom to change our the thoughts of our mind and to make the right choices and God honoring decisions.

Blessings In Obedience - Psalm 117-119:72

Psalms 119:2-5 (ESV)

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,

who seek him with their whole heart,

who also do no wrong,

but walk in his ways!

You have commanded your precepts

to be kept diligently.

Oh that my ways may be steadfast

in keeping your statutes!

If you have studied the Bible long enough you already know that Psalm 119 is all about God’s word.   There are a number of words that are used throughout the chapter to identify God’s word:

1. Law
2. Word
3. Testimony
4. Judgements
5. Rules
6. Statutes
7. Promises
8. Precepts

 

In the above set of verses we read the avenue by which we receive the blessings from keeping God’s word:

1. The word keep is used.
2. The word seek with a whole heart is used. 
3. The words do no wrong are used.
4. The words walk in His ways are used.
5. The words keep diligently are used. 
6. The words be steadfast in keeping your statutes are used. 

Make no mistake, there are blessings for obeying God’s word. But this is no ordinary obeying.   The is full commitment to His word.