Day 244...(2 Chronicles 3,4; Isaiah 6)..."Holy, Holy, Holy and Here I am Lord"

In the midst of all the woe of early Isaiah comes some beautiful passages. Are these not the inspiration behind two great hymns? "Holy, Holy, Holy" and "Here I am Lord." I hear those tunes as I read these passages...

"And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Day 243...(2 Chronicles 1,2; Isaiah 5)..."What Would You Ask For?"

Solomon could have asked for anything. He asked for wisdom. God blessed him for asking for wisdom to lead the great people of Israel. Is this the prayer that led to splendor? At the very least the splendor comes after the prayer.

In Isaiah there is a warning for those who call evil good and good evil, and light darkness and darkness light, the bitter sweet and the sweet bitter. Is this not the way of sin to make everything evil look good and good evil? This is a basic course in following God. The more we follow the better good looks. The less we follow evil begins to take hold. Our appetites follow one way or another for good or evil. Israel was about to taste the bitterness of the exile.

Day 242...(1 Chronicles 28,29; Isaiah 4)..."A Seamless Transition"

We read in the Old Testament of the orderly transition of kings. Perhaps the most orderly of all was David to Solomon. David paved the way for Solomon. This is a great model for pastoral transitions today. Here is a recap of how seamless the transition.

"The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before. "David son of Jesse was king over all Israel. He ruled over Israel forty years—seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king."

Day 241...(I Chronicles 26,27; Isaiah 3)..."Making the Bed"

There are sayings of today that communicate in the Bible. Here is the Message translation of today's Isaiah reading...

"Jerusalem's on its last legs. Judah is soon down for the count. Everything people say and do is at cross- purposes with God. A slap in my face. Brazen in their depravity, they flaunt their sins like degenerate Sodom. Doom to their eternal souls! They've made their bed; now they'll sleep in it." Of course "the bed" is going to be exile.

I see four sayings.

"on last legs"
"down for the count"
"slap in the face"
"making their bed"

Day 240...(1 Chronicles 24,25; Isaiah 2)..."The Problem in the Garden Again"

The human condition (as Disciple Bible Study calls it) has themes that repeat. In the Garden of Eden, pride got in the way. In the Book of Isaiah we see that pride again a problem. Is being proud one of the most dominant themes in the Bible? God lift up the humble but brings low the proud. Here is the passage...

"The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty,for all that is exalted" (and they will be humbled)

The human condition is us human beings making the same mistakes over and over again. "God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud" (James 4:6) is the way Book of James will describe this theme.

Day 239...(1 Chronicles 23,24; Isaiah 1)..."Transitions and One of My Favorite Books"

In reading the historical books of the Bible, I notice the care of detail in transitions. As David's kingdom ends and Solomon's begins, we get a snapshot of Israel's history. The Book of Chronicles lives up to its name as everything is seemingly chronicled.

We begin today one of my favorite Books Isaiah. Isaiah is long and tells three stories. First, Israel being disobedient. Second, Israel suffering in exile. Third, Israel seeing hope again. There is a basic theme of trusting the Lord to finding strength. We will read this message in different ways throughout the next sixty-six chapters.

One of our communion passages is found in the text today..."Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;though they are red as crimson,they shall be like wool." We also read of two important themes of defending the fatherless and the widow.

Day 238...(1 Chronicles 21,22; Song of Songs 8)..."David Calls for a Census"

David calls for a census. This sound okay on the surface but this was evil in the sight of the Lord.
Why? David wanted to know his strength as a nation in military numbers. The great theme in the Bible is the Lord makes you strong. As a result, Israel was punished and David was given a choice of method.

David would not have the same favor after this action. We can read the anticipation of Solomon's kingdom growing and David diminishing. Obviously, David was deeply sorry for emphasizing earthly numbers over God's power.

Day 237...(1 Chronicles 19,20; Song of Songs 7)..."Shaving As a Punishment"

In our culture facial hair is not always permitted, and shaving may be rewarded. In David's day, to shave a beard was the opposite. It was a sign of humiliation. As was cutting the garments at the buttocks. In these acts of humiliation, we can only imagine how this fueled David and his mighty armies. Here is the passage...

"So Hanun seized David's men, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away. When someone came and told David about the men, he sent messengers to meet them, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, "Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back."

What was Hanun thinking when he humiliated David's men? David's order to grow the beards back before attack is also a sign of his patience to return to battle with signs of humiliation gone.

Day 236...(1 Chronicles 17,18; Song of Songs 6)..."Your Hair is Like a Flock of Goats"

In reading Song of Songs it is obvious compliments have changed! Can you imagine telling your wife the following?

"Turn your eyes from me; they overwhelm me. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Gilead."

or...

"Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up from the washing. Each has its twin,
not one of them is alone."

Do not try these at home!

Day 235...(1 Chronicles 15,16; Song of Songs 5)..."David Calls the First Choir Practice"

As far as I know, David is the first one to call a "choir practice." What is common place in the church perhaps can be traced to the passage in 1 Chronicles 16. How did David select? They were skilled at what they did! Here is the passage. What a concept!

"David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals. So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berekiah; and from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; ]and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. The musicians Heman, Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth , and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith . Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it."

Day 234...(1 Chronicles 13,14; Song of Songs 4)..."David's Fame Grows"

David follows God. He stands up to the Philistines again! (See Goliath) His fame grows.


"so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, "Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. So David's fame spread throughout every land, and the LORD made all the nations fear him."

Day 233...(1 Chronicles 11,12; Song of Song 3)..."David's City - Solomon's Carriage"

In today's reading, 1 Chronicles 11:7, we read of David taking the fortress of Zion and making this his residence. This residence would then become his city. In this reference we have the origin of "the city of David" Bethlehem...Jesus' birth place. The Zion reference also is a name meaning the city of God (as referenced in the hymn Marching to Zion).

As David had a city named after him, Solomon (in all his splendor) had 60 guards around his chariot. (Song of Songs 3) Do you think kings held a place of honor in this day? No wonder kings and presidents read with facination these books of the Bible.

Day 232...(1 Chronicles 9,10; Song of Songs 2)..."Saul's Death Retold"

Obviously, some of the Old Testament retells what we learn in other books. In essence you can know the story of the Bible without reading all of the Old Testament books. This the reason Disciple Bible Study only includes about 70 percent of the Bible. Redundancy does happen more the historical books than elsewhere. We usually gain some glimpses of more of the story in reading all the accounts. 1 Chronicles does tell us the reason Saul fell on his own sword. (1 Samuel does not allude to this)

"Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse."

Day 231...(1 Chronicles 7,8; Song of Songs 1)..."A Time to Blush"

Ecclesiastes taught us there is a time and season for everything under the sun. Song of Songs would teach us there is a time to blush. The language is extra sensual. Who says the Bible is boring? There are books in which there is violence and gore. And now in Song of Songs language that will make you blush.

Day 230...(1 Chronicles 5,6; Ecclesiastes 12)..."It's a Bummer to Get Old"

I have heard people say there is nothing golden about the "golden years." The preacher in Ecclesiastes would agree. He does make growing old sound all downhill...

"In old age, your body no longer serves you so well.
Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen.
The shades are pulled down on the world.
You can't come and go at will. Things grind to a halt.
The hum of the household fades away.
You are wakened now by bird-song.
Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past.
Even a stroll down the road has its terrors.
Your hair turns apple-blossom white,
Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body.
Yes, you're well on your way to eternal rest,
While your friends make plans for your funeral."

Ouch this book hurts. I prefer the wisdom of growing old in the Proverbs.

Day 229...(1 Chronicles 3,4; Ecclesiastes 11)..."How to Have a Great Tax Return"

As everyone still might be thinking about tax day, how about a simple message from Ecclesiastes? I like the plain message of how to have the best (tax) returns which says...

"Be generous: Invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns. Don't hoard your goods; spread them around. Be a blessing to others. This could be your last night."

We give not for a the sole purpose of a tax deduction but to grow in generosity. I am confused by the "preacher" who is so serious when he lets his hair down with the phrase...

"Live footloose and fancy-free— You won't be young forever. Youth lasts about as long as smoke. You won't be young forever. Youth lasts about as long as smoke."

Day 228...(1 Chronicles 1,2; Ecclesiastes 10)..."Historians Will Love This Reading"

If you like genealogy and history, you are going to love 1 Chronicles. Matthew begins with a whole chapter dedicated to Jesus'. Did you know most of the first 12 chapters of 1 Chronicles is basically genealogy and history. If you love it enjoy. If you don't read through with the broader theme of the roots of our faith in mind.

Ecclesiastes has more zingers today. Here is my favorite..." If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success." Is this where Stephen Covey came up with "sharpening the saw" the leadership concept? I guess we know which one came first.

Day 227...(2 Kings 25; Ecclesiastes 9)..."More Zingers from Ecclesiastes"

Just when you thought "the preacher" in Ecclesiastes peaked with one liners...he comes up with a new zinger.

"The race is not always to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor satisfaction to the wise, Nor riches to the smart, Nor grace to the learned. Sooner or later bad luck hits us all. No one can predict misfortune. Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds in a trap, So men and women are caught By accidents evil and sudden" (The Message)

Ecclesiastes is definitely not boring or lacking colorful insight. I have enjoyed reading this time through these chapters. Perhaps because we have many cynics, sarcastics, and ranters for these times we live today.

Day 226...(2 Kings 23,24; Eccesiastes 8)..."Josiah Was A Leader Unlike Others."

Josiah was a good king. 2 Kings 23 tells us specific reasons he was admired. As I read through the chapter, he cleaned house. Out with worship and symbols of other gods. Out with leaders not obedient to God. Out with any practices contrary to God's law.

As a result Josiah is remembered as a king beyond comparison. He was more obedient and humble before the Lord than most everyone but David. In a listing of so many bad kings, this leaves hope that leaders can be good. Our world can be cynical toward leaders today...yet, we are reminded in 2 Kings leaders can be good.

All leaders today would do well to remember the obedience and humility of Josiah.

Day 225...(2 Kings 21,22; Ecclesiastes 7)..."Really Young Kings Who Served a Long Time"

Manasseh became king at twelve and did evil in the Lord's sight. Josiah became eight and did well in the Lord's sight. Their kingdoms started young and lasted a long time. Manasseh reigned fifty five years. Josiah reigned thirty-one year. I am fascinated that one could become king so young and serve so long. The outcome though is the same as other kings. One was good and one was bad.

Manasseh was one of the most evil kings. His evil was more corrupt than other kings. Here is a sample of his evil..."He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger." One of the worst bad kings.

Josiah, on the other hand, received high praise..."He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left." I like that image of not turning to the right or left. It sounds like his comparison to David is very noteworthy.

Day 224...(2 Kings 19,20; Ecclesiastes 6)..."A Question for all Ages"

One question for all ages is asked by Hezekiah. Will there be peace in my lifetime? Thousands of years later...we ask the same question. As much as things change, this hope stays the same. Here is the passage...

"The word of the LORD you have spoken is good," Hezekiah replied. For he thought, "Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?"

Day 223...(2 Kings 17,18; Ecclesiastes 5)..."In Our Place"

One common trait in the human condition is humankind forgetting to worship God and falling into disobedience. This lack of obedience would send Israel into exile. Here is how it is stated in 2 Kings.

"All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt."

This theme comes up also in Ecclesiastes.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

"Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few."

God is in Heaven and we are on earth. This puts humankind in their place. Or should I say puts us in our place!

Day 222...(2 Kings 15,16; Eccesiastes 4)..."Teamwork Teaching out of Nowhere"

Ecclesiastes turns negative again. Is there a passage more negative? ..."And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun." Ouch! I cannot think of a more negative passage from the one known as the "preacher."

Out of nowhere, though, comes teaching about teamwork...

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down,his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"

Ecclesiastes is an up and down Book.

Day 221...(2 Kings 13,14; Ecclesiastes 3)..."Out of No Where Comes Inspiring Words"

In laboring through the first two chapters of Ecclesiastes, how refreshing to come to chapter three with maybe the most eloquent words in the Bible along with 1 Corinthians 13. Here is the passage in the classic King James Version....

" To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace."

Day 220...(2 Kings 11,12; Ecclesiastes 2)..."Better to Be Smart than Stupid"

What does Ecclesiastes tell us today? Again, this is not good reading to cheer you up from a bad day. (Tomorrow will be better) There is one teaching that stands out today.

"It is better to be smart than stupid"

How about that teaching of the Bible? The writer says sarcastically it is bad for both the smart and stupid. Yet...if you had to choose it is better to be smart.

There is more hope for the wise. Jesus commends the "wise builder" for building on the good foundation. His life stands through all the adversity of life. The "preacher" of ecclesiastes obviously was fighting through a negative outlook.

Day 219...(2 Kings 9,10; Ecclesiastes 1)..."

In the case of Ecclesiastes, we find the words..."vanity of vanity." What does this mean? I like the Message translation..."boring." This is not the passage to read, if you are already depressed.


"Everything's boring, utterly boring— no one can find any meaning in it. Boring to the eye, boring to the ear. What was will be again, what happened will happen again. There's nothing new on this earth. Year after year it's the same old thing. Does someone call out, "Hey, this is new"? Don't get excited—it's the same old story. Nobody remembers what happened yesterday. And the things that will happen tomorrow? Nobody we'll remember them either. Don't count on being remembered."

Easter Sunday...Day 218 (John 20, 21)..."Running with Joy"

John's Gospel is the most distinct of the four. In the case of the resurrection, he has disciples running to the tomb. How dramatic the good news! Here is the account...

"So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed."

There have only been a handful of occasions when I have observed people with such good news they were running. What an image of joy! I think about the practical side of this message...we cannot stand still we must "run" and share the good news. Is the "good news" of Jesus too good to stand still? How about it Church? Is this not the best news of all?

I pray everyone will have a blessed Easter and run with the "good news"..."He has risen indeed!"

Almost Easter...Day 217 (John 19)..."Nicodemus In Between Crucifixion and Resurrection"

How appropriate that Nicodemus helps prepare Jesus' body for burial. This "in between" time of Good Friday and Easter is something to ponder. In my mind, Nicodemus (who came at night) eventually experienced a full conversion. His presence at the burial scene reminds us that gradual conversion is just as legitimate as instant conversion. How I would like to ask Nicodemus to share how one afraid to be seen with Jesus earlier would be so visible at burial. Would this not also speak to a genuine conversion, as Nicodemus stayed whiled the disciples strayed.

May God bless you on this Easter Eve! We are almost ready to proclaim the victory!

Lent Day 46...Day 216 (For Lent John 17,18)..."Jesus Teaches how to Pray"

John's account of the last twenty-four hours of Jesus prior to the cross includes and entire chapter on prayer. This would be the transition from "garden of olives" to the betrayal and arrest. Jesus teaches how to pray with the Lord's Prayer. He also teaches a structure for prayer.

1) Pray for yourself.

2) Pray for those closest to you (disciples).

3) Pray for the world.

This structure is great for us today. Have a great Holy Saturday.

Lent Day 45...Day 214 (John 16 for Holy Week)..."Great News for Troubled Times"

John 16 contains a prophetic word from Jesus with the cross looming ahead. Is there a verse more powerful than this one with the Gethsemane, betrayal, denial, arrest, trial, and crucifixion just ahead. Here is the passage...


"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

This is also a great passage to meet the challenges of life. When facing trouble, crisis, the unknown or fear...always remember how great the trial Jesus has overcome the world. This is great news for troubled times!