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Bible Pathways 5/20/2001



May 20

Read I Chronicles 27 -- 29

David had reigned over Israel forty years (I Chronicles 29:27) and his life was nearing an end. The nearer he came to the world of everlasting worship, the more he spoke the praise language of Heaven. His last recorded message to his earthly kingdom is one of the greatest expressions of worship found in the Old Testament. In the last year of his reign, David assembled all the princes of the tribes and the captains of the military companies. Then he told them how God had chosen Solomon to build His Temple. He told the people that their greatest concern should be to keep and seek for (to become familiar with) all the commandments of the Lord your God (28:8). Then David charged Solomon to know the God of your father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek Him, He will be found of you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off for ever (28:9).

David then offered one of the most inspiring prayers recorded in the Scriptures, a prayer of thanksgiving, praise and adoration. David prayed: Blessed be thou Lord God of Israel . . . . Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the Heaven and in the earth is Yours; Thine is the Kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all . . . in Your hand is the power . . . to make great, and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious Name (29:10-13). It was a precious acknowledgment of the Lord's blessings upon Israel, and all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshiped the Lord (29:20).

David's heartfelt prayer is a reminder to all of us that in prayer, it should not be simply to ask Him to forgive us of our sins and then ask for all the things we still want. Prayer should be a time of praising Him, to adore Him and worship Him with thanksgiving for who He is, for what He has given to us, and for what He has promised. If we recognize our total dependence upon God for everything, we will praise Him for His provision and for His protection from sin, Satan, and selfish living. But, when we neglect to praise the Lord daily, our worship often becomes a mere ritual. True worship is an expression of adoration from the heart. Every day, under every circumstance, and in every thing give thanks (I Thessalonians 5:18). To grumble about our circumstances is to express dissatisfaction with God's arrangement of our lives. And to do this means we are questioning His wisdom and His love for us.

Kneeling, bowing the head, and stretching forth hands are all expressions of worship. David was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write: Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. . . . Praise ye the Lord. . . . for the Lord is good: sing praises unto His Name (Psalms 134:2; 135:1-3). The Holy Spirit directed the Apostle Paul to write: I will . . . that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting (I Timothy 2:8).

Christ Revealed: Through the gold offered for the Temple by David from his personal wealth (I Chronicles 29:3-5). Gold is the purest metal (Rev. 21:21) and represents the preciousness and great worth of Christ.

Word Studies: 27:2 course means division; 29:1 tender means inexperienced; 29:3 proper good means personal treasure.

Prayer:

Government Officials: Sen. Michael Crapo (ID), Rep. Wally Herger (CA), and Rep. Nick Rahall (WV) · Pray for Worldwide Evangelization For Christ International · Country: Indonesia (216 million) five large and 13,662 lesser islands in Southeast Asia · Major languages: Bahasa Indonesian (modified form of Malay) and English · Growing pressure from Muslim leaders to limit advances of Christianity by not renewing many of the missionaries permits to stay in the country · 44% Muslim; 35% Islamic mixtures; 10% Protestant; 4% animist; 4% Roman Catholic; 2% Hindu; 1% Buddhist · Prayer Suggestion: Keep your mind on the Lord and trust Him; He will give you peace (Isaiah 26:3).

Optional Reading: I Corinthians 7

Memory Verse for the Week: I Timothy 2:8



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