1 Chronicles 16; James 3; Obadiah; Luke 5
One little line in my reading caught my attention this morning. Well, actually quite a bit more did, but this is thought I am running with as I go about my day. It comes from 1 Chronicles where we reach the end of all the celebrating and worshipping that went on as the King David brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel. It is interesting to note that David had the Ark brought to Jerusalem rather than back to Gibeon where the tabernacle was located. I read one commentary that stated that this relocation of the place of worship to Jerusalem (the city of the king), done by his own authority (the authority of the king), and in doing so replaces the authority of the priests with the authority of the king. It gives us a picture of what happens when Christ the King comes.
All of that aside, what caught my attention was the last verse in today's reading from 1 Chronicles. "Then all the people departed each to his house, and David went home to bless his household." Is that what I do when I go home after spending time on Sunday with fellow believers, after our time of worship to I go home and bless my household? After I spend my time with the Lord in the morning, do I go on to bless my household? I would like to say the answer is always, Yes! But in fact I often get in the way of being a blessing to my household-and that includes the household of faith that I am a part of. Imagine how different my day would look if I truly surrendered to the authority of the King. I am so thankful for the "priestly ministry" of confession when I sin, but as my son and I were discussing yesterday, , we often focus on the result of sin and never really get to the heart of the matter. I confess and repent because I have blown it again, and I rejoice that Jesus' sacrifice covers it all-Oh, to grace how great a debtor I truly am! But what if I got to the heart of the matter? My life is not mine to do with as I please, it belongs to the Lord-I belong to the Lord. Oh, that I might truly live the rest of my days as one who is under the authority of the King. As one who recognizes who it is that really gets to plan my day. Oy, sometimes it would be so much easier to not have spent time contemplating what God is saying to me through His word.
Grace, Peace, and Mercy,
Debra