Bible Pathway - May 18, 2012

Highlights:

King David, beloved of the Lord, is enticed by Satan and sins; as a result, 70,000 people die (I Chr. 21:14). What does the king do to stop the plague (21:26)? David continues gathering material for Solomon to build the Temple.

Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God (I Chr. 22:19).

Through much afflication and trouble, David provided a vast supply of the material that Solomon would need to construct the Temple (chap. 22). David's love for God was great. Even though he was nearing the close of his life, he was still making preparations for the construction of the Temple. He was doing this fully knowing that he would not be the one to build the House of God, but his son, Solomon would.

But there was something of far greater consequence than the money and materials. David emphasized the urgency of the builders' having a certain quality of character. He appealed to the laborers to set their hearts on God and seek the Lord in building the Temple. Sometimes it seems there is very little concern about character these days. There is very little concern over keeping an upright testimony and guarding our hearts against the things in the world that entice us towards sin. Thank God, David was concerned with the kind of persons who would be working on this Temple, the House of God. Just like in those days, God calls us to set our hearts and minds on Him. And thou shalt love the Lord with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first Commandment (Mark 12:30).

David's words to Solomon should be on the heart of every Christian parent, that they build the House of the Lord thy God, as He hath said of thee (I Chr. 22:11). We, too, should be concerned that our children live to bring honor to God. David wanted his son, Solomon, to be God's man. Therefore, he gave him a huge challenge to build the House of the Lord. We should also challenge our own children to walk in His ways, recognize the call of God in their lives; and share their witness for His Kingdom. As parents, we need to teach our children the things that direct their faces toward God. We are instructed to: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4).

Throughout the Bible God used young people to impact His Kingdom in a positive way. We need to look no further than David, Samuel, and the young pastor, Timothy.

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth theron. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon (I Cor. 3:10).

Thought for Today:

The youth of today are the nation of tomorrow.

Christ Revealed:

Through the altar David built to sacrifice unto the Lord so that Israel might be restored to a right relationship with God (I Chr. 21:18,26). Only through Christ can we be restored to a right relationship with God. We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:24).

Word Studies:

21:13 a great strait, deep distress; 21:15 repented Him of the evil, felt compassion due to man's repentance and intercession; 22:3 without weight, beyond calculation; 23:1 old and full of days, reached old age; 23:6 courses, divisions or groups; 23:11 in one reckoning, counted together; 23:24 by their polls, individually, by census, head counts.

Prayer Needs:

Pray for Government Official: Sen. Tom Udall (NM) • Country: Dominican Republic (8 million) in the West Indies, occupying the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola • Major language: Spanish • Religious freedom • 96% Roman Catholic (many are spiritists); 2% Protestant; 1% Afro-American spiritist • Prayer Suggestion: Sing praises to the Lord (Ex. 15:1-19).

Optional Reading: 1 Corinthians 5

Memory Verse for the Week: 2 Corinthians 8:9