"Draw Near to Listen Rather Than to Offer the Sacrifice of Fools" (6/19)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ecclesiastes 1-6.

Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil” (Ecclesiastes 5:1).

As Solomon and the Jews would go to the temple to worship, we go to various locations to worship God today. The wise man’s warning is necessary for us: be careful how you worship God.
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Solomon’s Plan to Build the Temple (6/11)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Kings 5-6; 2 Chronicles 2-3.

When Solomon was about to build the temple, he contacted Hiram (or Huram, depending on the translation), the king of Tyre to receive workers and materials from him that would be necessary for the project. In his message to Hiram, we see four attitudes that Solomon possessed that are important for us to emulate.

Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, dedicating it to Him, to burn fragrant incense before Him and to set out the showbread continually, and to offer burnt offerings morning and evening, on sabbaths and on new moons and on the appointed feasts of the Lord our God, this being required forever in Israel” (2 Chronicles 2:4).

We first see that Solomon had a desire to worship God according to the pattern He had given to Israel. In building the temple, Solomon was not trying to do things his way, but God’s way.
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Book Review: Digression

DigressionDigression is the latest book by Aaron Erhardt in which he tackles the threat of apostasy within the Lord’s church that comes as a result of Christians failing to see the church as being distinct from the churches of man. Once the Lord’s church is seen as being no different than a human denomination, then these denominations become something to be emulated rather than opposed.

What Aaron deals with in his book is nothing new. Every generation must be taught about the one true church and the need for Bible authority in all that we do. Our generation is no different. If these lessons are not taught and learned, then we should not be surprised when the Lord’s church cannot be distinguished from the denominations. We sometimes hear, “the church is only one generation away from apostasy.” This is true. And that is why Aaron’s book is so important.
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Presuming to Know What Will Please God (5/7)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17.

Many people in the religious world simply do what they please in their service to God, expecting God to accept whatever they decide to do. David’s plan to build a house for the ark of the covenant reminds us that this is not the case.

And it came about, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, ‘Behold, I am dwelling in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under curtains.’ Then Nathan said to David, ‘Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.’

It came about the same night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, ‘Go and tell David My servant, “Thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not build a house for Me to dwell in; for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from one dwelling place to another. In all places where I have walked with all Israel, have I spoken a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, “Why have you not built for Me a house of cedar?” ‘ ” ‘” (1 Chronicles 17:1-6).

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"How Can I Bring the Ark?" (5/4)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Samuel 5:11-6:23; 1 Chronicles 13-16.

Most of us remember what happened to Uzzah: he touched the ark (which was forbidden) in order to steady it on the cart, and God struck him (1 Chronicles 13:7-10). David was upset over this. Not only did this man die, but now the king was not sure how to bring the ark to him.

David was afraid of God that day, saying, ‘How can I bring the ark of God home to me?’” (1 Chronicles 13:12).

David knew that this first method of transporting the ark was not acceptable. He needed to find another way to move it.
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Obedience is Greater than Lineage (4/27)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Chronicles 6.

The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari. The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses and Miriam.

And the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar” (1 Chronicles 6:1-3).

Aaron was chosen to be the priest of God for the people of Israel. He, and his sons, were of the tribe of Levi which had been set apart by God to do His work. It was a special privilege to be born into such a group. But while the passage above lists all of Aaron’s sons, the one below singles out one of them – the one who would be his successor as high priest.
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Qualifications to Lead

Man with Tie

During an election year, it is common for people to discuss what characteristics qualify a candidate for public office. The Bible certainly addresses the role and desired character of civil authorities, but I want us to focus on a higher authority in this study – God.

In the Old Testament, God was the Israelites’ King (1 Samuel 8:7). In the New Testament, Christ is the person of God identified as our King (John 18:37). He is in a position of ultimate authority, even over our civil rulers (Ephesians 1:20-21). But what qualifies Him to be our King and worthy of honor and respect?
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