2 Kings 19:5-37; Acts 21:7-17; Psalms 150:1-5; Proverbs 31:10-24

NT: “After we had been there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him over to the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, both we and the local people pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Since he would not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭21:10-14‬ ‭CSB)

Paul said earlier in chapter 20, that he was compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem. The Greek word translated in this version as ‘compelled’ is translated in other versions as ‘bound’. The Holy Spirit was telling him that he needed to go to Jerusalem, and he was constrained by faith and obedience to do nothing else – no matter what others said, nor the amount of warning he received. When Paul and his party reached Caesarea, they stayed a few days with Phillip. While they were there, Agabus came and prophesied what would come. Paul’s binding obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit would result in him being physically bound and handed over for prosecution. No one desires to go through challenges. No one enjoys being constrained and forced to do things or go places against their will. Paul’s companions meant well when they tried to persuade him from finishing his journey. But Paul knew what he must do, and deep down, his friends knew what he needed to do as well… so Paul and his companions laid down their will and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” It is tough when the Lord leads us to do something we don’t want to do. It’s even harder when people around you encourage your comfort more than your obedience. That’s where faith makes all the difference. Paul believed that God’s way is the best way. He knew that even though the way chosen for him would be uncomfortable, that way would bring about the most good in Him… and it would bring the most good through Him to others. Do we trust the Lord that way?  Are we willing to be compelled by the Holy Spirit?

Psalms: “Hallelujah! Praise God in his sanctuary. Praise him in his mighty expanse. Praise him for his powerful acts; praise him for his abundant greatness. Praise him with the blast of a ram’s horn; praise him with harp and lyre. Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and flute. Praise him with resounding cymbals; praise him with clashing cymbals.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭150:1-5‬ ‭CSB)

One of the things the Holy Spirit compels us to do is praise. One of the marks of a Spirit-filled life is a praise-filled life. The book of Psalms is a very real book, filled with real human emotion. Throughout the psalms, there are jubilant celebrations and deep sadnesses… there are psalms of trust and psalms of frustration and anger… there are psalms of victory and psalms of defeat. But the psalm that was chosen to close out the book is a psalm of jubilant praise to God. The word used throughout this psalm for praise is the Hebrew word ‘halal’. Halal is a fanatic celebration. Imagine the scene at a football game when the home team scores a goal: the entire stadium erupts in fanatical celebration over a few points on a score board. Psalm 150 calls us to the same and greater level of praise – not for points – but for Gods’ powerful acts and abundant greatness. If we allow ourselves to be compelled by the Holy Spirit into living our lives according to God’s word, will, and ways – though the way may be difficult and laced with sadness and frustration – through it all and at the end of it all, we will experience first hand, God’s powerful acts and abundant greatness… and we will be compelled to praise.

2 Kings 18:13-19:4; Acts 21:1-6; Psalms 149:2-9; Proverbs 31:8-9

OT: ““Don’t listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: ‘Make peace with me and surrender to me. Then each of you may eat from his own vine and his own fig tree, and each may drink water from his own cistern until I come and take you away to a land like your own land — a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey — so that you may live and not die. But don’t listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you, saying, “The Lord will rescue us.” Has any of the gods of the nations ever rescued his land from the power of the king of Assyria?’” …Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and reported to him the words of the royal spokesman. When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the Lord’s temple. He sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, and the leading priests, who were covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace, for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them. Perhaps the Lord your God will hear all the words of the royal spokesman, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke him for the words that the Lord your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the surviving remnant.’”” (‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭18:31-33, 37; ‭19:1-4‬ ‭CSB)

The same king who captured the Northern kingdom of Israel and took its citizens into exile, turned his attention to Jerusalem and the Southern kingdom of Judah. First, King Sennacherib of Assyria demanded tribute, to which Hezekiah disappointingly obliged. Later, Sennacherib returned – and instead of demanding tribute, he demanded surrender. His plans were to exile the people of Judah, just as he exiled the people of Israel. He sent three envoys to Jerusalem to sow fear into the hearts of the people and negotiate the terms of surrender. The envoys mocked King Hezekiah and blasphemed the Lord God. This time, instead of giving into Sennacherib’s demands, Hezekiah humbled himself and turned to the Lord. Hezekiah went into the temple to plead his case before the Lord while he sent his three representatives to the prophet Isaiah. Hezekiah and the people of Judah were outmanned and overwhelmed. They had no ability to save themselves, and were in a desperate situation. Their only hope was to trust in the Lord God to deliver them… and deliver them, He would. Overwhelmed is a word that would describe many this year. 2020 has taxed all of us: natural disasters, a global pandemic, racial unrest, political unrest, economic instability, conspiracy theories galore, the death of loved ones, the loss of a job, the closing of a business… and there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight. When we are overwhelmed, the best thing to do is to do what Hezekiah did: humble ourselves, lay everything out before the Lord, and trust Him for His deliverance.

Psalms: “Let Israel celebrate its Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and lyre. For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. Let the faithful celebrate in triumphal glory; let them shout for joy on their beds. Let the exaltation of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, inflicting vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, binding their kings with chains and their dignitaries with iron shackles, carrying out the judgment decreed against them. This honor is for all his faithful people. Hallelujah!” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭149:2-9‬ ‭CSB)

Partnered with our humility is the praise of the Lord our God and Maker. Worship involves bringing ourselves low and lifting God up high. When we do not ascribe glory to God… when He is not highly esteemed in our eyes, the circumstances that challenge us will seem overwhelming… especially when we believe that we have to handle everything ourselves. However, when we humble ourselves and ascribe glory to God, our reality changes and our perspective shifts. We are able to view the circumstances that frighten us and challenge us from God’s point of view instead of our own. God loves and takes pleasure in those who place their faith fully on Him. He loves and takes pleasure in those who will humble themselves before Him… and he blesses the humble with grace and salvation. Praise is also powerful warfare against the things that surround and assail us. Like a large, two edged broad sword in the hand of a warrior, so is high and exalted praise on our lips. God establishes His throne in the midst of a praising people. When we make Him Lord, and shout and sing the praises of our King, we open the door for His rule and reign to enter our lives and our surrounding circumstances. We also announce to the spiritual powers and principalities around us that we are not merely fighting in our own strength, but are reinforced with all the power, authority, and resources of Heaven. Through humility and praise, impenetrable walls fall down, impossible situations are made possible, and ways are made where there were no ways. Through humility and praise, enemies are defeated and justice ultimately prevails. Through humility and praise, we take things out of our own hands and open the door for God to show Himself great on our behalf. If we are faithful to God and faithful followers of His Son Jesus Christ, then we have the great honor of bringing God’s glorious kingdom to bear in our lives and on our surroundings… and we do that through humility and praise.

2 Kings 17:29-18:12; Acts 20:16-38; Psalms 149:1; Proverbs 31:1-7

OT: “In the third year of Israel’s King Hoshea son of Elah, Hezekiah son of Ahaz became king of Judah… He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his ancestor David had done. He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses made, for until then the Israelites were burning incense to it. It was called Nehushtan. Hezekiah relied on the Lord God of Israel; not one of the kings of Judah was like him, either before him or after him. He remained faithful to the Lord and did not turn from following him but kept the commands the Lord had commanded Moses. The Lord was with him, and wherever he went he prospered.” (‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭18:1, 3-7a‬ ‭CSB)

The nation of Israel that was united under the leadership of King David became divided into two nations after the rule of King Solomon. King Solomon’s descent into idolatry opened the door to the division of the nation. All of the kings of the Northern kingdom of Israel were evil and embraced the idol worship and ways of the nations around them. The Southern kingdom of Judah fared a little better. They had some kings that were faithful to the Lord and some that weren’t, but all of the kings of Judah made room for idol worship by allowing the high places to remain… that is until Hezekiah. Hezekiah’s father, King Ahaz, was as evil as they came – even involving himself in child sacrifice.  Hezekiah had no immediate example of godly leaders to follow, so he went all the way back to his ancestor King David and followed his example. As King David was zealous for the Lord, so was Hezekiah. Not only did Hezekiah follow the Lord, he destroyed all of the centers for idol worship. He even destroyed one of the religious relics from Moses because it had devolved into an idol of worship. Hezekiah made sure that as for him and his house, and for all those who were under his care and leadership – they would serve God and God alone. He would later be ridiculed for his zealousness, but because of his singleness of heart, the Lord was with him and graced him in all that he did. By looking back to King David as a godly example, King Hezekiah became a godly example himself: an example of a single-minded pursuit of God… an example of a leader completely reliant on the grace and wisdom of the Lord… an example of a committed reformer with a zealous devotion to the worship of God and God alone. Oh how we need some Hezekiahs today: some young men and women who will reject the ways and patterns of the prevalent godless culture… who will make no room for compromise in Who they worship and serve… who will root out and destroy every vestige of idolatry in their lives… and will lead the church back to a full faithfulness to God, His word, will, and ways.

NT: “You know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and during the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. You know that I did not avoid proclaiming to you anything that was profitable or from teaching you publicly and from house to house. I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus. And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there, except that in every town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭20:18b-24‬ ‭CSB)

Paul was compelled by the Holy Spirit to return to Jerusalem by Pentecost. In order to save time on his return trip, instead of passing through Ephesus, he had the leaders of the Ephesian church meet up with him in the coastal town of Miletus. There in Miletus, Paul gave a final farewell to his Ephesian family, because he knew that he would not see them again. Paul reminded them of his past, explained his present situation, and then warned them of the future. Post conversion, Paul lived an exemplary life… an example of a man completely devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul said that from the first day he set foot in Asia, he didn’t hold back on proclaiming the gospel and explaining the ways of God’s kingdom in Christ. He didn’t have a warm-up period… he didn’t spent days, weeks, months, or years just “being the gospel” and earning their trust before speaking. From day one, he was all in – proclaiming the gospel and getting his hands dirty in all the messes of their lives; enduring hardship and persecution along the way. And now, even though he knew that chains and possible death awaited him in Jerusalem… and people were warning him of such all along the way… he was compelled to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit despite what awaited him. Why? Because his goal was to complete the Lord’s goal. The things that he desired for himself were of no value. God had a call and purpose for his life, and he was determined to run that race, by the grace of God, all the way to the finish line no matter what hardships got in the way. I thank God for Paul… and for men and women like him, who will set aside their preferences and personal desires, and embrace fully the higher calling of grace from their Lord Jesus Christ. What an example! May my life be such an example to those who come after me.

2 Kings 17:1-28; Acts 20:1-15; Psalms 148:5-14; Proverbs 30:32

OT: “This disaster happened because the people of Israel sinned against the Lord their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt and because they worshiped other gods. They lived according to the customs of the nations that the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites and according to what the kings of Israel did… They served idols, although the Lord had told them, “You must not do this.” Still, the Lord warned Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commands and statutes according to the whole law I commanded your ancestors and sent to you through my servants the prophets.” But they would not listen. Instead they became obstinate like their ancestors who did not believe the Lord their God. They rejected his statutes and his covenant he had made with their ancestors and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves, following the surrounding nations the Lord had commanded them not to imitate… Therefore, the Lord was very angry with Israel, and he removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained.” (‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭17:7-8, 12-15, 18‬ ‭CSB)

During the reign of King Hoshea of Israel, the King of Assyria captured Samaria and deported all of the Israelites to Assyria. The book of 2 Kings was written to explain how God’s chosen nation… the nation that He powerfully delivered from Egypt, ended up in captivity again. This passage explains the reason very clearly. God’s people compromised their holiness and lived according to the customs of the nations they were to conquer. They rejected the worship of God and turned instead to worship idols. Instead of obeying the word, will, and ways of the Lord, they became obstinate and rejected His statutes. Over and over, God warned his people through the voices of His prophets, and over and over, they ignored His words. Finally God had no choice but to remove His hand of grace and give Israel over to the consequences of their sinful choices. As I read this, I wondered if what we have experienced in 2020 has anything to do with the way God’s people have compromised their holiness and calling to live according to the customs of the prevalent culture. Was 2020 an attempt to call the Lord’s people back to Himself and His word, will, and ways? Was 2020 a harbinger of things to come if we do not repent and return to our First Love? As we near the end of the year, let us not fail to learn the lessons and heed the warnings. Let us not repeat the folly of the nation of Israel, but instead, humble ourselves and seek the face of the Lord once again.

Psalms: “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded, and they were created. He set them in position forever and ever; he gave an order that will never pass away… Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted. His majesty covers heaven and earth. He has raised up a horn for his people, resulting in praise to all his faithful ones, to the Israelites, the people close to him. Hallelujah!” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭148:5-6, 13-14‬ ‭CSB)

This psalm calls all of creation to praise the Lord, for all of creation (humanity included) was created and set in order by the power and authority of His word. A horn is a symbol of strength. When God’s people praise Him, He endows His people with strength. He blesses them and graces them, which is quite the opposite of what happened to the northern kingdom of Israel. We can place our trust in idols, in politics, in economic prosperity, etc. and be given over to the futility of our own devices – or we can give honor and praise to the Lord our God and creator, and be blessed and graced with strength.

2 Kings 15:32-16:20; Acts 19:23-41; Psalms 148:1-4; Proverbs 30:32

OT: “King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria. When he saw the altar that was in Damascus, King Ahaz sent a model of the altar and complete plans for its construction to the priest Uriah. Uriah built the altar according to all the instructions King Ahaz sent from Damascus. Therefore, by the time King Ahaz came back from Damascus, the priest Uriah had completed it. When the king came back from Damascus, he saw the altar. Then he approached the altar and ascended it. He offered his burnt offering and his grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and splattered the blood of his fellowship offerings on the altar. He took the bronze altar that was before the Lord in front of the temple between his altar and the Lord’s temple, and put it on the north side of his altar. Then King Ahaz commanded the priest Uriah, “Offer on the great altar the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, and the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering. Also offer the burnt offering of all the people of the land, their grain offering, and their drink offerings. Splatter on the altar all the blood of the burnt offering and all the blood of sacrifice. The bronze altar will be for me to seek guidance.” The priest Uriah did everything King Ahaz commanded.” (‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭16:10-16‬ ‭CSB)

When Israel and Syria joined forces to attack Judah, instead of crying out to God for help, the godless King Ahaz turned to Assyria. He pledged his allegiance to Assyria and King Tiglath-pileser in exchange for their assistance and protection. When King Ahaz traveled to Damascus to meet his new master, he was impressed by the new and fashionable pagan altar that was set up in Damascus. The altar in Jerusalem was so outdated… so plain and unimpressive – so he sent a model and plans for the Assyrian altar back to Jerusalem with orders to build one just like it. When Ahaz returned to Jerusalem, he gave orders to offer all sacrifices on the new and trendy altar – but he would keep the old and out-of-date alter in case he truly needed to seek God for guidance. Ahaz had no heart for God, so he really didn’t care that much about honoring God in worship. Instead of bowing before God, he bowed before Assyria and the surrounding pagan culture. His worship was not offered to honor God. His worship was stylized to appease and conform to the trends of the dominant influences of the day. But just in case he needed it… he kept a connection to God in his “back pocket.” Has the church of our day fallen into the same sin as Ahaz of old? I am not an expert of worship forms around the world, but I am familiar with the trends and forms of worship in the United States. I am very supportive of our worship expression remaining current and relatable to the times – but when our worship becomes more about style than substance…when we begin looking more like the world and less like the sanctified people of God, we risk losing the actual worship of God by prioritizing the appeasement of our senses and submission to the culture. Is our worship substantive? Is honoring and obeying God’s word, will, and ways our first priority, or do we sprinkle in just enough God and Jesus in our worship to keep it “Christian?” It is fine and good to modernize our sound as long as trend, style, and relevance do not become the gods we worship.

2 Kings 15:1-31; Acts 19:13-22; Psalms 147:12-20; Proverbs 30:29-31

NT: “Now some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus that Paul preaches!” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this. The evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus, and I recognize Paul — but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they ran out of that house naked and wounded. When this became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, they became afraid, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high esteem.” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭19:13-17‬ ‭CSB)

While Paul was living in Ephesus of Asia, some traveling Jewish exorcists came into town. They must have taken notice of how powerfully and authoritatively Paul was able to heal and deliver people through the name of Jesus Christ. Not to be outdone and overshadowed by Paul’s effective ministry, they attempted to use Jesus’ name as well. Their attempt at name dropping carried no power nor authority at all, and they were soundly humiliated. While Jesus’ name does carry all authority and power, the only ones who are recognized wielders of His name are those who know Him and have come under His Lordship. Jesus’ name is not a formula for victory or success, and the seven sons of Sceva found that out convincingly. The reason why Paul could effectively invoke the name of Jesus was because he was a submitted servant of Jesus through faith, and a commissioned ambassador of the Kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Many people in the U.S. and other culturally Christian nations of the world are much like the seven sons of Sceva. They think that they can use the name of Jesus as a talisman of sorts. They think that because they were raised culturally as “Christian” and “believe” in Jesus that they have access to all the rights, privileges, benefits, and promises of the Kingdom – but they don’t. Paul’s entire life was Christ. Christ was his Lord and Master. His years of growing up Jewish didn’t give him power and authority. His worshipfully surrendered and dependent relationship with Jesus Christ by faith filled his life with power and authority. Christ came into the word to bring life, light, peace, joy, and victorious power and authority – but the only way to fully receive those gifts is by fully believing on Him and completely coming under His Lordship.

Psalms: “Exalt the Lord, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion! For he strengthens the bars of your city gates and blesses your children within you. He endows your territory with prosperity; he satisfies you with the finest wheat.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147:12-14‬ ‭CSB)

God does indeed strengthen and bless His people. God does indeed provide for our needs and satisfy our deepest desires. He is faithful to His promises, but we must understand and remember that all the promises of God… all the blessings of God… all the protection, provision, and satisfaction of God are yes and amen in Christ. Therefore, the psalmist calls us to exalt the Lord and praise our God. In order to exalt the Lord, we must first abase all other names (including our own) and submit to His Lordship alone. In order to praise our God, we must first bring ourselves and our situations low in order to fully ascribe to Him the greatness and glory of His name. As the Christmas carol “O Holy Night” says, “Christ is the Lord. O praise His name forever! His power and glory evermore proclaim.” To fully experience all that Christmas means and to fully receive the gift that Christmas brings, exalt the Lord, praise His name, and make Him Lord of your life.

2 Kings 14:1-29; Acts 19:1-12; Psalms 147:1-11; Proverbs 30:24-28

NT: “While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” “No,” they told him, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” “Into what then were you baptized?” he asked them. “Into John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy… God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, so that even facecloths or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭19:1-6, 11-12‬ ‭CSB)

When Paul traveled back into Asia Minor after bringing the gospel message to Greece, he encountered a group of disciples in the Asian city of Ephesus. Something was apparently missing in these disciples’ lives, for Paul was compelled to ask them if they had received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is requisite to our lives in Christ, and it was odd for Paul to encounter “believers” who did not demonstrate the power and fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives. When he questioned them, he found out that they had not even heard about Jesus Christ, much less the Holy Spirit. They had identified with the baptism of John the Baptist and were living righteously in hopes of the coming Messiah. When they believed on Jesus and were baptized in His name, they were immediately baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit, with the ability to prophesy (in the spirit and in the understanding) the heart and truth of the Lord. Jesus promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to His disciples and explained that the Holy Spirit is necessary to fully live the life of a faithful disciple. In fact, Jesus said that by the Holy Spirit, His disciples would do greater works than He did… and Paul’s life demonstrated that. Normal life for a submitted and faithful disciple was to be full of, empowered by, and led by the Holy Spirit. A disciple who was not fully immersed in the Holy Spirit was unusual… and when that was the case, it was corrected right away. The Holy Spirit was not just gifted to the Apostles. He was gifted to all disciples. What was true of the disciples in the early church should be true of Christ’s faithful disciples today. All that is required is complete faith in Jesus’ name and a pure and submitted life to the Lord. If an earthly father is willing to give his child what he asks for, how much more willing is our Heavenly Father to give us the Holy Spirit when we ask.

Psalms: “Hallelujah! How good it is to sing to our God, for praise is pleasant and lovely. The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; he gathers Israel’s exiled people. He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; he gives names to all of them. Our Lord is great, vast in power; his understanding is infinite. The Lord helps the oppressed but brings the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; play the lyre to our God, who covers the sky with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, and causes grass to grow on the hills. He provides the animals with their food, and the young ravens what they cry for. He is not impressed by the strength of a horse; he does not value the power of a warrior. The Lord values those who fear him, those who put their hope in his faithful love.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147:1-11‬ ‭CSB)

This psalm begins the same way Psalm 146 begins: Hallelujah! Which means to fanatically boast and celebrate the Lord. The psalmist then goes on to say that it is good and right to [zamar] sing and make music to God, for it is beautiful and pleasant; and [tehillah] songs of praise are beautifully suitable for those who are upright in heart. In Psalm 22, in the middle of a time when David felt abandoned by God, he encouraged himself by remembering and proclaiming that the Holy God is enthroned on the praises of His people. I don’t think it is a stretch to say that the line in this psalm about the Lord gathering and rebuilding His people, is directly related to His called-out people lifting up and singing songs of praise to His honor. Our God is great and incomparable in every way. He knows all and and can accomplish all. He is easily able to heal all of our wounds (physical and emotional) and provide for our every need – but there is something about His people acknowledging that fact through praise that releases His blessing. God is not impressed with our strength or our resources… He is not impressed with what we have built or amassed in our own strength and understanding. He is not concerned with what we can do for Him. What impresses God is when we humble ourselves to place our hope completely on Him, and fully respect and honor His greatness. The way we express that trust, hope, honor, and respect is through praise. When we, as God’s chosen people, sincerely bow ourselves down and lift up songs (expressions that come from our heart of hearts) of praise to Him, He will establish His throne in our midst. He will call back and unite His people – His church, around Himself. He will rebuild His church that has been weakened through carnality, self-righteousness, and self-reliance. He will bless His people, provide for their every need, and empower them by His Holy Spirit to cover the earth with His grace and glory. Hallelujah! And amen!

2 Kings 13:1-25; Acts 18:23-28; Psalms 146:3-10; Proverbs 30:21-23

OT: “When Elisha became sick with the illness from which he died, King Jehoash of Israel went down and wept over him and said, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” Elisha responded, “Get a bow and arrows.” So he got a bow and arrows… Elisha said, “Open the east window.” So he opened it. Elisha said, “Shoot!” So he shot. Then Elisha said, “The Lord’s arrow of victory, yes, the arrow of victory over Aram. You are to strike down the Arameans in Aphek until you have put an end to them.” Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!” So he took them. Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” So he struck the ground three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to them, but now you will strike down Aram only three times.”” (‭2 Kings‬ ‭13:14-15, 17-19‬ ‭CSB)

When Elisha was near death, King Jehoash of Israel went to visit him and honor his life – but apparently Jehoash wasn’t completely committed to the word of the Lord through Elisha. His visit to Elisha wasn’t born out of conviction. It was probably born more out of duty and respect. When Elisha began giving Jehoash a prophetic picture, Jehoash half-heartedly went along with it… probably thinking that Elisha was just a delirious old man on his death bed. Had Jehoash struck the ground with conviction, God would have used him to lead Israel to a convincing and complete victory over their enemies. But because Jehoash lacked conviction, his fight with the enemy would lack completion. Oh what the Lord is willing to do through men and women who serve and obey Him with true conviction and not half-hearted obligation and lip service.

NT: “Now a Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John’s baptism. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately. When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters wrote to the disciples to welcome him. After he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭18:24-28‬ ‭CSB)

Apollos was a man with conviction who wholeheartedly and convincingly served the Lord to the best of His understanding. When he arrived in Ephesus, he didn’t know about Jesus… he was simply preaching with boldness the message of John the Baptist – a message of repentance from sin and turning to God. Priscilla and Aquila (partners of Paul) took him aside and shared with him the full gospel… that the coming of the Lord that John the Baptist foretold had happened… and that a new way to God, through Christ, had been opened. When Apollos heard the full truth, he defended the full gospel vigorously and convincingly. Oh to be like Apollos: first to be humble enough to welcome correction when needed, and then to be a vigorous and convincing witness for the Lord, convinced and convicted that Jesus is the Messiah.

Psalms: “Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. He remains faithful forever, executing justice for the exploited and giving food to the hungry. The Lord frees prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord raises up those who are oppressed. The Lord loves the righteous. The Lord protects resident aliens and helps the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. The Lord reigns forever; Zion, your God reigns for all generations. Hallelujah!” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭146:5-10‬ ‭CSB)

Conviction goes much deeper that just belief… it is far stronger that just mental ascent. So much of what people call faith today is no more than mental ascent… they merely believe in their mind that something is a certain way – but when things get challenging, their mental ascent turns to doubt and fear. Conviction is a deep-down visceral knowing in your heart of hearts that can withstand doubts and challenges. The writer of this psalm had a conviction of who God is. So strong was his conviction, that he said not to put your trust in men, but put your whole trust 100% on the Lord. He knew, that he knew, that he knew that God was the Maker of heaven and earth and that God is faithful forever… that God loves the righteous and frustrates the ways of the wicked. Read through this description of God. Do we truly believe this to be true of Him?  Are we convicted of it? If so, how does God’s character and the things He values line up with our character and values? If we differ from the Lord, true conviction would compel us to change to become more like Him, value the things He values, and do the things He does. That’s where the Holy Spirit comes in. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would convict us of sin and righteousness. As we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we too will become the people of conviction that God can use mightily.

2 Kings 11:21-12:21; Acts 18:12-22; Psalms 146:1-2; Proverbs 30:18-20

Psalms: “Hallelujah! My soul, praise the Lord. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I live.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭146:1-2‬ ‭CSB)

Hallelujah is a phrase made up of two Hebrew words: halal Yah. Halal means praise and Yah is the abbreviated name of God (YHWH). This psalm begins with an exclamation, “Praise the Lord!” The psalmist then says to his soul, “Praise (halal) the Lord (Yehovah).” Yehovah (or Jehovah) is the variant of God’s name that the Jewish people were allowed to say. Hallelujah is a phrase that is familiar to people the world over, yet in its familiarity, it has lost its meaning. For us in the U.S., when we hear the phrase “Hallelujah,” we probably conjure up images in our mind of a pious church lady or an overly theatrical television evangelist. For some, the word oozes with self-righteous religiosity and is used to parody Christianity. At its root, Hallelujah has nothing to do with drawing attention to ourselves and our piety, but has everything to do with drawing attention to the ever-present God of the universe and His greatness. Halal, the word for praise, means to boast and become fanatical about someone. Sports fans know what it is to ‘halal’ their team or favorite sports figure. Fans set all self-imposed decorum aside when it comes to boasting about their team. They wear their team’s logo all over their body… they paint themselves in their team’s colors… they wear their favorite player’s jersey… they talk about their team to anyone who will listen… and when their team or player does something great, they jump up and down and celebrate like maniacs. That is the root of the phrase Hallelujah. However, we don’t become fanatical about a team or a player. We become fanatical about the Great I AM… the God who is always present… Who doesn’t just bask in victories of the past, or keeps stringing us along with promises of future victories, but is presently – in every moment of our lives – working on our behalf to make us victorious over the things that beset us. The praise that God deserves isn’t the praise that is comfortable for us. A lot of times, I hear worship leaders say something to the effect of, “If it’s comfortable with you, raise your hands,” or… “If it’s comfortable with you stand up and sing with us.” Comfortable praise is not Halal praise… which is why the psalmist tells his soul (the seat of desires, emotions, thoughts, will) to halal the Lord. Our soul rarely wants to give God the praise that He deserves because it is a sacrifice of our desires, our emotional state, our reputation, our comfort, and our will. However, if we press past our level of comfort and how we feel at the moment to boast on the Lord, it will open a door of life, peace, joy, faith, and grace into our lives that will sustain us through the challenges of life. So, today and every day, Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

2 Kings 10:32-11:20; Acts 18:1-11; Psalms 145:8-21; Proverbs 30:17

Psalms: “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love. The Lord is good to everyone; his compassion rests on all he has made. All you have made will thank you, Lord; the faithful will bless you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom and will declare your might, informing all people of your mighty acts and of the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; your rule is for all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words and gracious in all his actions. The Lord helps all who fall; he raises up all who are oppressed. All eyes look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all his acts. The Lord is near all who call out to him, all who call out to him with integrity. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry for help and saves them. The Lord guards all those who love him, but he destroys all the wicked. My mouth will declare the Lord’s praise; let every living thing bless his holy name forever and ever.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭145:8-21‬ ‭CSB)

In the first few verses of this psalm, David described the importance of passing the knowledge of God from one generation to another. Beginning in verse 8, David described the character and attributes of the God that he had come to know and understand. God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and great in [checed] mercy and faithful committed love. Many images of God picture Him as an old man with a beard and a nasty temper who hurls lightning bolts on those who question Him. That is not the character of God at all. Many people think that God the Father is vengeful and angry… but that Jesus the Son is kind and merciful. That is not true either. Whatever we see in Jesus, we can know is in God the Father… and everything that is in God the Father, we will find in Jesus. God is both just and merciful, righteous and gracious. His commitment to the human race is longsuffering and His covenantal love is unbreakable. Notice how many times the word ‘all’ is used in this passage. All doesn’t mean a select few. All means all. All good things come from the Father of Lights. The fact that we as humans, regardless of our spiritual state, have anything good in this life to enjoy and celebrate is testament to God’s great mercy and longsuffering towards all. Love comes from God. The ability to be joyful and happy comes from God. Life and fruitfulness comes from God. The miracle of reproduction comes from God. That general graciousness of God flows to all. For those who think that hell is going to be an eternal party… just consider that your ability to enjoy a party comes from God, and once you are completely removed from God, so will your ability to enjoy anything. However, for those who choose to be faithful to God… who humble themselves and call out to God for help… who honor and respect the Lord, God is extra gracious. He blesses those who are faithful to Him with superabundance. As long as God’s longsuffering has lasted, it is not eternal. There will come an end to His patience. At that time, those who were not faithful to Him, who took advantage of His graciousness and squandered their lives, will be cut off from His general benevolence and will spend eternity separated from life and anything good. Those who were faithful to God will be swept up to abide with and enjoy His presence for eternity.