God's glory – Be Still…

2 Chronicles 5:2-14 – The Ark Arrives

Read 2 Chronicles 5:2-14

It’s passages like this that make even my heart sing! The palpability of worship truly inspires. We know moving the Ark of the Covenant is serious business to be done in just the right way prescribed by God. Rather than fear, the people rejoiced.

With the temple construction complete, it was time to move God’s presence back in. Only after the arrival of the Ark could the temple be truly finished. The work King David had initiated was fulfilled. In readings to follow, Solomon will pray and dedicate the space. For now, we’ll focus on worship!

Advent 🕯 Isaiah 9:1-2 -Hope

Read Isaiah 9:1-2

Our Advent preparations are heading into the home stretch. It’s time to take a deep breath and prepare for the final frantic moments yet to come. Why do we try to pack so much into such a short period of time? There’s traveling, cookie baking, card sending, concert attending, rehearsing, decorating, wrapping gifts, carol singing–I’ve got to be forgetting something! Yes — hoping in Christ!

Isaiah’s prophecy speaks loudly to us as well. We can surely identify with living in a “time of darkness and despair,” too. Anytime God is absent from a conversation or a decision or an event, the potential for darkness exists. Isaiah’s message brings hope to those living in darkness when he says, “will not go on forever.”

2 Kings 7:3-20 – Drama in Samaria (Part Two)

Read 2 Kings 7:3-20

What an ending! Again, God came to the rescue of his people and used his prophet to let the people see. Did you wonder what ever happened to the lepers who had the privilege of seeing the results of God’s work? God had scared a whole army away so his people could be fed. Talk about making a statement!

These lepers feared something would happen to them if they kept this “secret” to themselves. Do you think that means they had the fear of the LORD? Yet their desperate hunger spoke louder than their faith or fear for they first feasted on the treasure they had found! Imagine the joy they felt! It would have been like Christmas morning as a kid!