Day Five

Psalm 86, Exodus 32, Nehemiah 12:27-47, 1 Corinthians 4

Psalm 86

Ps. 86:1-2 - David asks God to incline His ear towards Him for he was poor and needy. How fascinating that the King of Israel would choose the words poor and needy to describe his state in life. He was the king! What could he possibly need?

But, David was wise, and he knew that in comparison to God, he was as poor as a pauper. He needed God's intervention in his life. He needed God's grace. Even though he was the King of Israel, and perhaps the most powerful ruler in the world during his time, David was nothing when compared to the King of Kings. If you are a leader, may this be how you view God. May you be a person who recognizes the authority of God. David, in verse two asks God to preserve his life, for he is godly. He also calls himself God's servant. David's wisdom didn't come from his position as king, but by his position as a servant of the Most High King.

Ps. 86:5-12 - David praises God for the fact that He is good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon Him. There are a lot of people who call upon God. This verse is one more evidence of the fact that God loves all people. Not all people will spend eternity in heaven with Him, because He forces no one to follow Him. But, He stands ready to forgive the vilest of sinners who call upon Him.

I heard an interview with a serial killer this week who accepted Christ's forgiveness in the final years of his life. He was won to Christ by a Prison Fellowship volunteer who had dedicated his life to sharing Christ with prisoners. The prisoner was sure that God couldn't forgive one like he, who had killed so many. Finally, after months of faithful witness, the killer confessed his sins and acknowledged his need of Jesus and trusted Christ with his life. We have an amazing God who loves even the "vilest offender who truly believes."

It's after hearing stories like that, that the truth of verse 8 rings out loud. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.

Exodus 32

Ex. 32:1-6 - When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” - I'm struck by just how important godly leaders are. In the absence of Moses, the people reverted to the pagan rituals of their Egyptian captors. And, Aaron, who should have known better, went along with it. How many times have wrong decisions been made to appease the masses? Sometimes the voice of the leader cannot be heard above the raucous cries of the masses. That's when a leader must lead by not only his or her voice, but by his or her life. With godly conviction he or she will stand in the gap between God's truth and the people's will. Aaron cowered under pressure. He made a decision without consulting God that would have devastating results on the people. The actions of leaders always effect more people than themselves. To lead is a high calling. May we do it in God's strength.

Ex. 32:19- It blows me away how Moses reacted when seeing the sin of his people. Before descending the mountain, Moses had pleaded with God to have mercy on the people. God threatened to wipe the stiff-necked Children of Israel off the map, and start brand new with Moses. God relented after Moses' pleading. But, now, in verse 19, after seeing for himself the sin of the Israelites, Moses' anger burns, and he destroys the tablets of stone upon which the Ten Commandments had been written, by the very finger of God. The prior verses go into great detail about the precious stones. And, Moses' in his anger breaks them. He had a glimpse into the heart of God as he saw the people in their sin.

Ex. 32:26 - then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. - There they are, the Sons of Levi! Throughout the Old Testament you see this godly line standing up for truth. (See Nehemiah 8).

Nehemiah 12:27-47

Neh. 12:43 - And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away. - The wall of Jerusalem was complete. What a day of rejoicing it was. The people had seen God do something incredible. Their prayers were answered. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away. That was an awesome testimony to all who heard. May people hear our rejoicing when God has worked in our lives! May they know what God has done!

1 Corinthians 4

1 Cor. 4:5 - Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.- There were those in Corinth who were seeking to discredit Paul's ministry. He made sure that they knew in no uncertain terms that it was God who was the judge, not man. And, God would bring into the light the things that the Corinthians did in the darkness. He would bring impure motives to light.

1 Cor. 4:16 - I urge you, then, be imitators of me. - Have you ever had a spiritual mentor? I hope you have one in your life right now. If not, it's a relationship worth pursuing. The Apostle Paul was so striving to live as Christ had called him to live that he could write the words of this verse. He wanted to be a model for the Corinthian church. Just like we all need to have spiritual mentors, we who are believers should also seek to be a mentor in some other person's life. Could you say what Paul said to those you mentor? It's a goal worth pursuing.