Coffee With The Lord

Ever learn a lesson the hard way?  Like, it pays to change the oil in your car once in awhile and not ignore the little warnings that pop up in the display on your dash.  Or how about the lesson that embarrassing tattoos go on your body a lot easier than they come off.  Or maybe, it might be a good idea to think twice about that post on Facebook or the content of that e-mail before you click “send”.  Don’t worry, I’ve got my own list of “lessons learned the hard way!” 🙂

David learned an important lesson “the hard way” … The lesson?  Sincerity is not enough… It pays to do things God’s way – to seek His word and will and then to obey!

David had a noble and admirable desire… He wanted to bring the Ark (the sacred box that epitomized God’s presence among His people) back to its resting place in Israel.  David said, “‘Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.’  The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.’”

This is what the Bible says, “So David assembled all Israel… David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name. They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets. When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled.  The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.”

David’s response?  “Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. David was afraid of God that day and asked, ‘How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?’” (From 1 Chronicles 13)

David had not followed God’s command – he was sincere, but disobedient – he ignored Divine directions.  The Ark was to be moved only by the Levites, who were to carry it with poles inserted through rings in the side of the ark (Exodus 25.12-15).  None of the holy things were to be touched, on penalty of death (Numbers 4.15).

Later David “Prepared a place for the Ark of God and pitched a tent for it.  Then David said, ‘No one but the Levites may carry the Ark of the Lord and minister before Him forever’ … Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. He said to them, ‘You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.’ So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel.  And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.” (From 1 Chronicles 15.1-15)

Lesson learned!  (But the hard way) …  My prayer today?  Lord help me to learn the important lessons of life and worship… Help me to seek your will before I act… may I learn “the easy way”!  May I pay close attention to what your word teaches and not simply do what “seems right in my own eyes.”

Just thought I’d share 3 great “Sips” from Proverbs (with my brief personal comments) from my time of “Coffee with the Lord this morning… Good stuff!! (Using New King James Version this morning)

From Proverbs 24:9 – “The devising of foolishness is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination.” My comment in the margin: “Remember this and don’t forget it!”

From Proverbs 24:10 (next verse) – “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” My comment: “Stay strong! Do what is necessary to sustain strength physically, emotionally, and most of all spiritually!”

Then Proverbs 24:11-12 – “Deliver those who are drawn toward death and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, ‘sure I did not know this,’ Does not He who weighs the heart consider it? He who keeps your soul,, does He not know it? And will He not render to each person according to their deeds?” My comment: Protect, help and rescue those in need and at risk both personally and spiritually! No excuses!”

Hey, really good stuff in Proverbs!!

FAITH! … It’s a big deal for me – and for that matter ANYONE who wants to please God and know Him personally! “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God mut believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him!” (Hebrews 11:6)

This morning I finished reading the section of Hebrews 11 in my Bible (Hebrews 11:32-40). My personal definition of faith is “confidence in God (and everything about Him – His person, His character, His dealings with us and others, His word, His promises, His warnings, etc.) In fact, here’s what I jotted in the margin of my Bible this morning about that final section of Hebrews 11…

“Here are all the kinds of things that FAITH – confidence in God – accomplishes in a person’s life (great things and challenging things – EVERYthing!)… Here it for your reading, reflection and response…

“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets — who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection.

“But some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated — of whom the world was not worthy — wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

“And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” (From Hebrews 11:11–40 ESV)

Yup… FAITH – Confidence in God through all that life brings our way – God’s faithfulness – God’s purposes fulfilled in my life! I’m trusting in Him!