November 25: 2 Samuel 6:12-19

Key Verse: 2 Samuel 6:14
Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might

Devotion:
When king David had commanded the Ark of God to be brought into Jerusalem, there was an incident where Uzzah reached out to stead the Ark as it began the oxen drawing it stumbled. Uzzah was struck dead because God had already told them nobody should ever touch the Ark with their hands; it had to be kept pure for God.

David then ‘parked’ it at Obed-Edom’s house and God blessed the household! David then knew God had not abandoned the Ark and called for it to be brought into Jerusalem. There was a lot of pomp and ceremony as they brought the Ark in with sacrifices of a bull and a fattened calf being made as they entered. David even dances with all his might in front of the procession only wearing an ephod. Whilst people debate at to what the ephod actually was, we can think of it somewhat like a hospital gown which leaves little to the imagination!

Now, would you be on the side of Michal who was horrified of the fact that is all he was wearing, or would you be on the side of people who cheered because David was opening himself before God?

When you go to praise God, do you hide your emotions and sing like a chorister, or do you sing and dance with true abandon before your God? I’m not saying we all need to rush around half naked before God, but having the confidence God is look well on you for doing what you are doing is a step in the right direction. We need to not just love people more, but allow them to see we want God to see how we really are!

Points to Ponder:
How to you worship God?

Will you also try to give others gifts as part of your worship?

November 24: 1 Chronicles 16:8-14

Key Verse: 1 Chronicles 16:11
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

Devotion:
When we look for prayer or how to pray, we often focus on the New Testament because that is where Jesus taught us to pray and we have many things He and the disciples prayed for as examples. But when we look into the Old Testament we find many examples of the prophets and kings praying to God and pleading with Him for many things.

The people in the Old Testament show us how God answered their prayers in many way. The writings may not be as explicit because these scriptures have been passed down through generations of scribes and we have those retold stories and songs to give us the hope which bring faith and ultimately God into our lives.

This book gives us the history of the people of Israel and, in this case, King David giving Asaph the position of chief priest to minister before the Ark of the Lord. The prayer starts out like Jesus taught us by giving praise to God our Father, not just through prayers but in song and stories and acts done to show others of God’s provision for us.

But the part which strikes me the most of looking to the Lord for His strength every day and always. We can remember all the stories of how much He has done for us from the beginning through the scriptures of the Old Testament. We can remember what He requires of us through the commands, judgments and miracles He alone has done for us all!

Points to Ponder:
How often do you start by recognising God for who He is?

How often do you seek Him each day?

November 23: Luke 19:41-44

Key Verse: Luke 19:44
They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognise the time of God’s coming to you.

Devotion:
Imagine knowing exactly what is going to happen to each member of your family; how would you be able to cope with that knowledge! When Jesus reached the point where He could see Jerusalem, He stopped and wept because He knew what was going to happen. Despite all the teaching and the scriptures, the people had built up their own ‘religion’ based on what they thought was good and not what God was trying to tell them.

People become self-important when they think the stake of others lives are in their hands. They make decisions based on their own intellect instead of the wisdom of God. Nobody has enough knowledge to be able to cater for a whole country and any dictator who assumes such a role will fall.

God’s peace comes to those who follow Him and obey Him. It comes to the people who are willing to listen and not to make their own minds up. It comes to the people who look out for others and not promote themselves over all else. Too many politicians take on the role of self promotion when they gain some power and that separates them from the people.

God wants people who will support people and love people. He wants leaders who are willing to do as He asks for His people and not promote their own ideology. God would like good and faithful servants...

Points to Ponder:
What do you see as the most important thing in your community?

Where is God in your community?