About the time between Isaiah and Jeremiah is the reign of Josiah, the child king. He was 8 years old when he became king. His father and grandfather were kings that did evil in the eyes of the Lord. For all the good Josiah did was not enough to turn the Lord’s anger with Judah because of all Manasseh, his grandfather, did to provoke the Lord. You are not held responsible for the sins of your father, but your good does not wipe clean an evil done by an ancestor either. Teach your children well in the ways of the Lord. Help them to “hide” God’s word in their hearts so they don’t sin against the Lord. Start or continue another generation of your family doing right in the eyes of the Lord.

The post Doing Right in the Eyes of the Lord appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

If you have been reading along with us in The Daily Bible – In Chronological Order, we finished Isaiah and will soon start into another major prophet, Jeremiah. But first, we will spend a few days in some of the minor prophets, like Nahum today. There is nothing minor about these prophets, just shorter writings than the major prophets. Often the minor prophets are just as impactful as the major prophets in bringing God’s word to the people and nations. In today’s scripture Nahum speaks of the judgment coming to Nineveh. The city had been spared judgment when they repented at the preaching of the prophet Jonah when he brought God’s warning to them. Now, a hundred and twenty-five years later, Nineveh has reverted to their old ways, rejecting God’s mercy on them, and God’s judgment will be delayed no longer. God always gives warnings and opportunities to change before His judgment is meted out. But, make no mistake, God is not mocked. You can’t fool God. Only real change results in real mercy.

The post Real Change appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The section of Isaiah preceding today’s scripture is God speaking to Israel, though they are in exile, captives of a foreign nation God used to bring judgment for Israel’s rejection of God. God reveals Himself to them, though they did not seek him. He promises to bring descendants out of the remnant of Jacob who will again possess the Holy Land. He will bring blessings for those that repent of their ways, but have no mercy for those that are unrepentant. He says he will create new heavens and a new earth, and Jerusalem will be a delight and His people a joy. In today’s scripture He contrasts that to what man will make to be God’s house. That whatever man makes will only be from He has already created. Man wants to build a house for God to gain favor with God, but God a house for His name is not what He wants. Again God makes clear it is not physical things that He wants from man, not a temple, an altar of stone, gold or other things man covets, but God wants a heart that desires Him above all else not matter the circumstance. As the scripture puts it, God wants “those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” It is good to check your heart regularly. Keep your heart following God, loving Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And, love your neighbor as yourself.

The post The Master Creator appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

About half of today’s scripture is very well known from Jesus’ reading it in the Nazareth synagogue one Sabbath at the start of his earthly ministry. Whether Isaiah 61 was the assigned reading or one that Jesus chose, he ended his reading, “…to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor”, with the statement, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus is proclaiming that He is the one God sent with Good News, to set people free from the bondage of sin. Yet, while Jesus stopped there, the scripture goes on, “and the day of vengeance of our God, t comfort all who mourn …” God’s message through Isaiah was yes, a Messiah is coming bringing good news, but also for those in exile and those grieving over the fallen Jerusalem, God has not forgotten them or city of Zion. He will bring his vengeance on those that caused this, and restore His people and their city – encouraging news for a people in despair. And we can take this another step further, that Jesus, Messiah came the first time to save, but is coming again, soon, as judge of all mankind. Prepare your hearts, prepare the way for Jesus, He is coming soon.

The post From Nazareth to Eternity appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The age old question when a good person dies young, before their time; Why did God allow this good person to die, yet bad people live a long life? The short answer is it is not God causing their death, but death comes as a result of man’s fallen nature, that when sin entered mankind, the life God intended for man was changed. The longer answer is that given man’s fallen nature, God is still working in our lives. Today’s scripture tells us that God takes away the righteous to be spared from evil. This requires the understanding that death is not the end of life. The righteous person, the believer in Christ, is taken to a better place. We can take comfort and joy in that fact.

The post Why do the Good Die Young? appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

These verses are from yesterday’s reading, but so much of Isaiah is tremendous scripture it is hard to select just one for the day. In the verses from the prior chapter in Isaiah, many people were appalled at Jesus because his appearance was so disfigured from the beating he suffered to carry out God’s plan for man’s redemption. But it was this suffering, this crushing he endured to take the punishment of sin that should have been yours and mine. All these wounds he suffered were to heal us from the penalty for our sin. Praise God if you have been born again, if you no longer need to fear the Day of the Lord for He has already judged us righteous in His eyes because of Jesus. Give Jesus all the glory and praise that is due His Name!

The post Jesus Suffered for You and Me appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

This must have been bitter sweet to the exiles. They are defeated and taken captives, exiled from their homeland. Jerusalem is a distant memory. Yet God tells them He hasn’t forgotten them nor Jerusalem. The promise that Joy and Gladness will be found in her again, along with the sounds of thanksgiving and singing. There is hope for the exiles! Today, perhaps God seems far away to you. Just as for the exiles back then, God promises good things for those who love Him. You can put your trust in Him.

The post God’s Eternal Love appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Isaiah prophecies what the Lord is saying about Messiah. He was despised an abhorred by the nations. Yet, to Him, kings will see you and rise up, a sign of respect and submission to a greater King. Princes will see and bow down, again the rulers of this world will all bow before Messiah, not on his first coming, but the second time he returns, every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus is Lord.

The post Let Every Knee Bow appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

What? Just yesterday God says to forget the former things. Today, He says to remember the former things. Is God confused? By no means. Yesterday, He said to forget the former things because He is doing a new work. If you are too caught up in only the former things you will miss out on the current and new things God is doing. We also saw how that applies to hurts and sin. Don’t get stuck in the past where you have no faith for the future. In Jesus’ hometown, Jesus could do little because of the people’s lack of faith. In contrast, today He says to remember the former things; remember what God has done, remember the promises He kept, remember perhaps the promises He made that are still yet to come. Remember those things so you can trust He will carry them out in the future. Those things from the past help build faith for the future. See, both forget the past and remember the past can be true. Both can lead to God working in us, bringing blessings to all those around us.

The post Remember the Former Things appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The Lord himself declares that there are times to forget the past and look to the future. This can apply both to good things that happened (don’t live in past glory) as well as bad things (don’t be held captive by the past). The very events that defined God’s love and strength to His people, the Passover and Exodus from Egypt, He now says to forget these former things, don’t dwell on them anymore because He is doing a new thing. Let go of your past, look to the future. God wants to do so much more in you than He has already done. Our walk of faith is an ongoing adventure. Allow God to show you his power and love each day. He is still in the business of breaking the chains that keep us in bondage. He is still in the business of giving us freedom from our past. His power to change us on the inside until it shows on our outsides, demonstrates His great love for us. Keep the faith so He can work miracles in and through you, to the glory of God.

The post Let the Past be Past appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

There is nothing more to say. The Lord! The Lord! Hallelujah!

The post I Declare! appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Isaiah sees the time when Jerusalem has fallen and Judah is taken into exile. He sees beyond that when God’s judgment against Judah is complete, when He is again tender toward His people. Then, Isaiah prophecies about the coming of God’s Messiah. The glory of the Lord will be revealed and all mankind together will see it. Jesus came the first time as a babe in the manger to save the world, with John the Baptist the voice calling to prepare the way. He will return a second time as King. Prepare your way, prepare your heart, He is coming soon.

The post After the Judgment God Brings Restoration and the Coming Messiah appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

This is not the type of scripture verses you want to see, God will not let sin reign. Manasseh’s father, King Hezekiah ruled for 29 years, following God and leading the people of Judah back to the Lord. Manasseh proved to be the opposite of his father, leading Judah into sin with his idols and worship of them. Even though Manasseh reigned a long time, 55 years, he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Manasseh was one of the most evil kings of Judah. God’s judgment of Manasseh’s sin brought about the downfall of Judah and the destruction of Solomon’s Temple. But God was slow to anger, giving Manasseh a long time to turn to God. But he wouldn’t turn bringing God to carry out His judgment.

The post Manasseh, Evil King of Judah appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

About halfway through King Hezekiah’s reign, King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, and to avoid defeat in battle, Hezekiah agrees to pay tribute to Sennacherib, resulting in Sennacherib withdrawing from Judah. Hezekiah stripped the gold from the temple to give Sennacherib. At this point, Hezekiah gets ill and Isaiah brings a message he will die. Hezekiah’s prayer turns God’s decision, and promises to give him 15 more years of life. The famous sign given to Hezekiah that God’s promise will be done – the shadow goes backwards ten steps on a sun dial type stairway, meaning the sun moved backwards at God’s command. In keeping His word about delivering Hezekiah from the king of Assyria, God’s Angel of Death kills 185,000 Assyrian troops one night. In the morning all the dead bodies were discovered, so Sennacherib broke camp and returned to Nineveh in disgrace. Ever feel like the odds are against you? Have faith, trust in God, believe in Him, be saved.

The post The Sun Moved West to East appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Israel has fallen to Assyria. Many of the people are taken as captives to Assyria. Will Assyria advance further south and attack Judah and Jerusalem? Rather than consult God for His protection, Judah looks to Egypt and her horses and chariots to defend her. God is not pleased when His people choose other nations, other gods, other plans, rather than God. While Judah will later be defeated and taken captive by Babylonia, at this time God’s judgment is against Egypt and other nations for trying to step in for God – essentially leading Judah astray. God still fights for His people, He is constantly calling them to return to Him. If only they turn their face to Him, He will turn His face to them.

The post After Israel’s Fall, Where is Judah? appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Samaria, the capital of the northern tribes is captured after a 3 year siege. Israel has fallen! Many of the people of the northern tribes will be taken into captivity in Assyria. In their place, Assyria will repopulate Israel with people from Babylonia and other Eastern countries. These new people will become a hybrid of Jews called Samaritans. Israel’s fall came despite the Lord’s numerous warnings through his prophets. But Israel would not stop violating God’s first command (as well as others), “You shall have no other gods before me.” No idols – don’t worship something made by man’s hands – don’t worship them. God wanted their hearts to be fully after Him then. He wants the same thing of us today. He wants your heart fully devoted to Him, not to your job, your money, your possessions, you fill in the _________. There’s a TV commercial with the tag line, “How’s your heart?” That’s a question we should all ask and make sure you can answer in the affirmative.

The post The Fall of Israel appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The preaching of Isaiah contains both the prophecies of defeat and captivity, but also reconciliation for the nation and return to their land. The first verse of today’s scriptures is a cry that every believer could cry out at some point in his life. Lord be gracious to me, I long for you. Be my strength every morning, and my salvation in time of distress.

The post Our Cry appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

If you are against God, Isaiah’s prophecies, though given thousands of years ago, are still pertinent to you. God has not yet balanced the ledgers, His judgment has not been meted out in full. He is still holding out that you would come to Him in repentance and be saved. He has already laid the foundation and anyone who puts their faith and trust in Him will not be disappointed. Any deal you thing you have with His enemies, including death, He will nullify those deals. The terror of the night will not escape you. Turn to Him now, while it is still today, for today you have the chance, the opportunity to make things right with God. No one knows what tomorrow brings.

The post Justice Coming for Those Against God appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Isaiah continues in his prophecies, speaking of the “Last Days”, days when the Lord will lay waste the earth and devastate it. Days when the earth will dry up and wither, when the exalted of the world will languish because the people of the world will defile it, will disobey the laws and violate the statutes and break the everlasting covenant. The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in love, but after warning after warning, without repentance there is no forgiveness. Still for the faithful in Christ, the Last Days are not dreaded days. Yes, they will still be terrible days, but the promise of the Lord in our scriptures for today give us confidence that day will not only the Last Days, but for the believers it will be resurrection day – First Days.

The post Last Days – First Days appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The best thing that king Ahaz did was father a son, Hezekiah, who would do right in the eyes of the Lord, as his ancestor King David did. From the beginning of his 29 year reign as king, Hezekiah cleaned house and righted the ship, so to say, in the temple and amongst the Levites. People will follow their leader, and Hezekiah was a good leader. For us today, Jesus is our leader, and we know He is a good leader. If you have slipped on deck and fallen, He is there to help you up. He wants you to be well and thrive. He has good things in store for you. Turn to him, He promised to turn to you! There is nothing that can separate you from the love of God. Jesus has already done the work to reconcile you to God and to set you free from the bondage of sin, no matter how big or small the sin. As a famed basketball coach famously said, “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.”

The post Independence Day – Don’t Give Up appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Within Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the king of Babylon, today’s scripture also shares references to Satan, the fallen angel, cast out of heaven for the pride of raising himself to be like God. God doesn’t fool around with Satan, casting him down to the earth, where he is the prnce of the air. God is not finished with Satan yet, but even Satan is given opportunity to repent. But even after a thousand years Satan still thinks he can defeat God. Only when he is cast into the lake of fire is Satan banished forever. God remains in control, forever and ever, Amen.

The post Fallen From Heaven appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

King Ahaz gave in to what is common among those with little or no faith in God, or a wrong perception of God. God is not a genie at your command. Having no hope in God only leads to further destruction. In this case, not just for Ahaz, but for all Israel. Still, if there is a redeeming quality about Ahaz, it is that he fathered a son, Hezekiah, who would become a good and faithful King, leading the nation to God, rather than away from God as his father Ahaz had done.

The post Thank You for Your Son appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

In that day people will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense altars their fingers have made. In that day their strong cities, which they left because of the Israelites, will be like places abandoned to thickets and undergrowth. And all will be desolation. Isaiah 17:7-9

The post Judgments Against the Nations appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Judah’s reliance on Assyria for deliverance from the attack of Israel and Syria (Aram) results is God’s judgment on Judah for not trusting in Him to save them from Israel and Syria. God will then use Assyria as that judgment. The Lord promises Judah they are going through the judgment because they did not trust in the Lord, but He will change them so they will once again depend on the Lord. There will be a remnant that trusts in the Lord, and the Lord will direct His wrath to destroy the Assyrians. As the scriptures repeated say, the Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. The Lord wants you, and all, to be saved. Turn your hearts to Him, it is never too late to repent and receive forgiveness from God.

The post Rely on the Lord appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

It seems like king Ahaz of Judah is being righteous in his refusal to ask for a sign, even when the Lord invites Ahaz to do so. But, he is anything but a good king. He did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He made cast idols for worshiping the Baals. He burned his sons in the fire as sacrifices following the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before Israel. Here, when he learned of the planned attack by the northern kingdom Israel and their alliance with Aram, Ahaz doesn’t turn to God for help, instead he makes and alliance with Tiglath Pileser, king of Assyria. God warns Ahaz in verse 9, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” Ahaz did not heed God’s warning, he goes through with getting help from Assyria rather than waiting on the Lord. In response of Ahaz’s refusal, God gives him a sign of the coming Messiah.

The post The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

God has given many warnings that Israel will fall into Assyrian captivity. Here, we see the prophetic words are starting to come true. It will be several more years before Israel collapses totally, but make no mistake, unless the people repent, God’s judgment as spoken by the prophets is near. Alas, there is no repentance coming.

The post Beginnings of Captivity appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

In Micah’s third discourse, God’s charge against Judah is followed by a realization of what God wants from each of us. It is a fully worthwhile time to examine yourself and your heart and thoughts on what it means for you to “act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

The post What Gods Wants From You appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

When the Magi from the east came to king Herod, this prophetic verse was given by the priests and scribes as to where the Messiah was to be born. Before this verse, Micah’s second discourse rebukes the leaders of both Judah and Israel, the false prophets, and the sins of the Rulers. In other words, despite the sins Israel commits, God loves all people, and the Jewish people in particular, promising a Messiah to save them and lead them and rule over them.

The post Birthplace of Messiah appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Our reading in the Daily Bible in Chronological Order takes us to a contemporary or Isaiah, Micah the prophet. Micah like Isaiah ministers to the southern tribes, to Judah. His message is often similar to Isaiah’s, as well as the prophets to the northern tribes, Israel: God does not appreciate empty worship from those whose lives are morally and ethically bankrupt. Micah’s prophecies include judgments against Israel and Judah, including the fall of Jerusalem, the destruction of Solomon’s temple, and the exile/captivity in Babylon. But Micah also prophecies about the return from captivity and the birth of the Messiah in the city of Bethlehem.

The post The Prophet Micah appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Before God brings any judgment, He always gives warnings. He is slow to anger and abounding in love. He wants all to be saved. But, He gives man free will. Each person gets to shoose his own future. May you choose the Lord God. His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than our thoughts. May His face shine upon you and give you Hi peace.

The post Be Willing and Obedient, He will Bless You appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Our daily reading through the Bible in 2021 introduces us to the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah may be the greatest evangelist of God’s prophets. His ministry is mainly to Judah, the southern tribes. While there are more kings of Judah that did good, than kings of Israel, most of the kings of Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord.. As a result Isaiah’s prophecies tell the people about God’s judgment against religious formalism, idolatry, oppression, immorality, and pride. Isaiah pleads with the people to come to their senses before its too late.

The post The Prophet Isaiah appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Do you ever feel like Amaziah the priest? God is speaking to you, but you don’t want to hear Him. Instead, you rely on your stature or the works of your hands. No Lord, I don’t need your correction – I’m good. Look, Lord, I teach Sunday School, or I lead a Bible study, or I feed the homeless. Those are all good actions, but what God really wants is your heart, then everything else will fall into place.

The post Get Out of Here, Stop Prophesying appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The prophecies of Amos not only call out the evils of the northern tribes, but are an urgent call to Israel to repent. The time is coming that the Lord will bring judgment to Israel in the form of defeat to the Assyrians and captivity in a foreign land for many of Israel’s people. The time for judgment is not yet, so the people still have time to repent, and pray that God will have mercy on them. Even today in our lives this scenario could be playing out. Is there something the Lord has been warning you about? An attitude? A pattern of actions? Sin? You haven’t turned to God in repentance. Deep down you may know you should. If you would confess and repent, the Lord is faithful and just to forgive you your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. He may even have mercy on you so you suffer no consequences. If this is you, don’t delay, don’t get carried off to “captivity.” You want to be free of bondage, so don’t hesitate. Do it now.

The post May God Fogive You and have Mercy on You appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

God calls a common man, a lowly shepherd from Tekoa, near Bethlehem in Judah to prophesy against Israel and several other nations. Has God called you to be one of his prophets for today? As with Amos, it is not dependent on you being a pastor or evangelist or an author or celebrity. It is a matter of whether God has called you to speak what He tells you. Has God’s message to you been burning in your spirit that you can’t hold it in any longer. Is it such that even though you don’t want to speak it, you know that God putting it on your heart to be spoken to a specifc person or group, and you can’t suppress it, you can’t deny it. While some prophets in the Bible were trained to be prophets, some of them also became false prophets, speaking their own words, not God’s words. When you say, “the Lord says…” you better be sure it is the Lord that said it, and not you. The test of a prophet is simple. 100% accuracy every time, because if it is the Lord’s words they will be true. Don’t be caught up with the title “Prophet” but be a servant of the Lord. That is always the what we are called to do, and always the right thing to do.

The post The Prophet Amos appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

As Gentiles grafted into Israel and thus joint heirs with her, let us learn from history what to stay away from. Things that displease God. They are not a big secret, not even a small secret. God tells us straight forward in the Ten Commandments. You shall have no other god before me. Do not make for yourselves idols of wood or stone. Our creations are not God. There is only one God. Stay faithful to Him all the days of your life.

The post His Wayward People appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

When Ephraim (Israel) and Judah saw the judgment of God being poured out on them, they turned to the Assyrians for help. In a way it is like in Revelation where the kings of this world join up to fight against God. Will man never learn? Back in Hosea, despite their attempts, Israel and Judah cannot heal themselves, man is not able to produce a cure for what ails them. God says He will carry them off with no one to rescue them. Then He will go back to His place, until they admit their guilt. And they will seek His face; in their misery they will earnestly seek Him. Prophecies often have a primary and secondary meaning. Here, the primary is in the present, in fact, Israel and Judah express repentance in Hosea 6, “Come let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us; he has injured us, but he will bind up our wounds.” Unfortunately, this repentance is short lived and Israel is later taken into captivity by the Assyrians, the very people they had earlier sought help from against God. That is God’s justice. The secondary meaning in this prophecy may be futuristic. When God says He will go back to my place until they admit their guilt, some say this talks of the current state of Israel, as Romans tells us Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved. So the Jews failure to receive God’s grace because they tried to earn it through the Law led to God’s grace being extended to the Gentiles, which was God’s plan from the beginning. When the current nation of Israel repents and seeks God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, God will fulfill this prophecy. This may usher in the return of Christ. God does cause all things to work together for good, for those that are called according to his purpose.

The post I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt and seek me earnestly appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Hosea’s prophecies show God’s love for the nation He picked out of all the nations in the world. The people that are the apple of His eye. Yet the people in the divided kingdoms often do what God hates and warns against the most, worshipping idols and false gods.

The post Hosea appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Children know the story of Jonah and the whale. The miracle in the story was not that Jonah was swallowed by a big fish and thus saved, but that Ninevah, a large heathen city, believed God, repented from the least to the king, and as a result God’s wrath on the city was turned away for up to 150 years. Even the non-believing Ninevites repented of their evil ways, hoping that God would relent from his fierce anger. There was hope there, and that hope led even this heathen city to survival. How much more will God to for His people if they will humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways. This is true today as it was back then. If you are caught in wicked ways, repent and turn away now, while it is still today.

The post Jonah and the Big Fish appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. 2 Kings 14:23-24

The post Is There Hope? appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

King Joash and the officials of Judah abandoned the Lord and followed idols and other gods after the death of Jehoiada. While Jehoiada was alive, King Joash was for the Lord, even having the temple repairs completed, but now that Jehoiada has passed, Joash goes as far as ordering the death of Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada. After all that Jehoiada had done for Joash as a child king to now a king on his own, he shows no kindness to the family of Jehoiada. Joash is another example, as was King Solomon, that faith in God is a lifetime pursuit. You can do everything for the Lord early in life, but fall away later in life if you don’t keep a soft and humble heart toward the Lord.

The post The Ungrateful (might as well be) Dead appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

An apparent swarm of locusts devastates Judah, destroying crops and food supplies. The prophet Joel uses this invasion to describe another coming invasion, the Day of the Lord, when God will bring all mankind to an ultimate accounting for their lives and deeds. Despite the heaviness of Joel’s prophecy, he urges the people to fast and pray and repent – “rend your hearts” to stay God’s judgment. Our world today is in chaos in many ways, yet many people are blind to what’s going on. The Day of the Lord, His judgment is still coming. Thank God that Jesus is also still returning. Jesus is still in the business of reconciling man to God through his redemption on the cross. Pass it on while it is still today.

The post Prophecy of Joel appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Joash was the youngest king in Israel’s history, including the divided kingdoms of Israel (northern) and Judah (south). Throughout the nearly 500 years of ruler ship under kings, there good kings exhibiting greatness, wisdom, heroism, and selflessness, but mostly bad kings marked by treachery, power plays, coups, assassinations, and idol worship. Joash’s story is intriguing. His grandfather Jehoram, king of Judah, dies of diseases, his son Ahaziah takes over as king. Jehoram’s wife Athaliah is the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, king and queen of Israel. This family tie leads to some cooperation between members of the divided kingdom as Jehu who with zeal for the Lord was executing judgment against Ahab’s family also found some of Ahaziah’s sons and relatives and killed them, and was led to Ahaziah himself and killed him, too. Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah sees that her son the king is dead makes a power play and kills the remaining royal family and takes control of Judah. Unbeknownst to Athaliah, her youngest grandson Joash was taken by his aunt during the coup. For the next six years he is hidden and raised by his aunt and uncle, Jehoiada the priest. Behind the scenes Jehoiada works to form coalitions and make covenants to bring Joash back and make a descendant of David king over Judah again. At the young age of seven Joash is made king, and under the guidance of Jehoiada, the people return to the Lord. They tear down the temple of Baal, smashing the altars and idols, killing their priests. Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. Jehoiada served the Lord all his life, yet his greatest marks were the influence he had in leading a young boy into manhood in living for the Lord. Will you be a Jehoiada, faithful in serving the Lord, yet having the best still yet to come when you pour your life into a relationship mentoring a young believer? Time will tell.

The post Time Will Tell appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The king of Aram is ill. He sends his servant Hazael to go to Elisha and ask him if the king will recover from his illness. Elisha’s reply is somewhat puzzling. Tell him he will recover, but he will in fact die? There is a more as God reveals to Elisha, who shares it with Hazael, that Hazael will bring harm to the Israelites. He will set fire to their fortified places, kill their young men, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women. Hazael is puzzled, and asks Elisha how he, a servant, a ”mere dog” would accomplish such a feat? The Lord has showed Elisha that Hazael would become king of Aram. When Hazael returned to the king, he kills the king and succeeds him as king. The Lord used King Hazael to oppress Israel because of the sins the king of Israel caused the people to turn from the Lord. When the king turned and sought the Lord’s favor, the Lord listened to him and provided a deliverer against Aram. In a bit of irony, after Hazael dies, his son named Ben Hadad succeeds him as king.

The post Ben Hadad, Hazael, Elisha, Hazael, Ben-Hadad appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

At this time the king of Aram was at war with Israel (northern tribes). The king of Aram’s efforts against Israel are thwarted time after time by Elisha giving the king of Israel information from the Lord. The king of Aram is enraged and orders his men to find Elisha and capture him. They surround the city of Dothan and started coming in to capture Elisha. I can just see this next scene playing out on a large cinematic screen with cameras scanning the imposing forces. Cameras focus in on Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, who seeing all the horses and chariots surrounding them is scared for his life, “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” Elisha enters center stage and calmly tells Gehazi, “Don’t be afraid, for those with us are more than those against us.” Once again the camera comes in for a close up of Elisha who confidently prays, “Open his eyes, Lord, so he may see.” The camera shows Gehazi’s eyes light up in amazement, then begins to do a 360 degree scan of the Lord’s army with horses and chariots of fire standing watch surrounding Elisha. Up lifting, marching type music is blaring, but as the king of Aram’s men begin to approach, the music becomes a scattered, disjointed tune as Elisha prays and the Lord strikes the Arameans with blindness. The scriptures tell us as the blinded men approach Elisha, he tells them they are in the wrong city, but he will lead them to the right city and the man they are looking for. So Elisha leads them to Samaria, where the king of Israel lives.

Once in Samaria, Elisha prays that the blinded men’s eyes would be opened, and they looked around and they were there, inside of Samaria. The king of Israel captures the Arameans, and asks Elisha, “Shall I kill them?” This would be the natural thing to do in that day and circumstance, kill your enemy. But Elisha tells the king not to kill them, in fact to give them food and water and release them to go back to their master. The king did as the prophet Elisha directed him, and they were let go to return to their master. The scripture ends this story with the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory. Here is the Proverbs (25:21-22) in action, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” Paul adds on to this Proverb in Romans 12:20-21, saying, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

The post Elisha Brings Peace From Aram appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Obadiah’s prophecy against Edom predicts the certain doom that awaits this country that was judged because of her pride in rejoicing over the misfortunes that befell Jerusalem and the trouble it brought on it’s brother Israel. From the womb there was tension between Esau and Jacob. This conflict did not stop through their descendants for over a thousand years. We see it when Israel becomes a nation and their request to pass through Edom on their way to the Promised Land is rejected causing Israel to have to take the long way around Edom. It continued through fighting with King Saul, then King David, and opposition against Solomon, Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram. Obadiah predicts that Edom will reap what it sows, and will be brought to ruin which is confirmed through history. Obadiah’s prophecy stands as a warning to the enemies of God’s people, especially those who ought to be brothers.

The post Edom Stands Judged appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Obadiah’s prophecy against Edom predicts the certain doom that awaits this country that was judged because of her pride in rejoicing over the misfortunes that befell Jerusalem and the trouble it brought on it’s brother Israel. From the womb there was tension between Esau and Jacob. This conflict did not stop through their descendants for over a thousand years. We see it when Israel becomes a nation and their request to pass through Edom on their way to the Promised Land is rejected causing Israel to have to take the long way around Edom. It continued through fighting with King Saul, then King David, and opposition against Solomon, Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram. Obadiah predicts that Edom will reap what it sows, and will be brought to ruin which is confirmed through history. Obadiah’s prophecy stands as a warning to the enemies of God’s people, especially those who ought to be brothers.

The post Edom Stands Judged appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Elisha is called upon by the Kings of Judah, Israel, and Edom to inquire of the Lord as they battle against the king of Moab. Elisha delivers the message of what the Lord will do, and the next morning water filled the land. To the Moabites with the morning sun shining on the water it looked like blood. The Moabites thought the three kings must have fought among themselves and slaughtered each other. They move in to take the anticipated plunder, only to find the men of the three kings alive and well. The Moabites are cut down, and the Israelites invaded the land and slaughtered the Moabites and accomplished all that the Lord spoke through Elisha. The Lord is not slow to act. He is always on time, His time. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

The post The Lord Will Deliver appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

When Elijah was taken into heaven, his protégé Elisha succeeds him. Elisha goes on to exceed Elijah in the number of miracles recorded in the Bible as well as his ministry in general. Elijah is highly regarded in Judaism as he is prophesied to come first before the Messiah comes. This is why a door is left open during the Passover Seder in hopes that Elijah would come and be followed shortly by Messiah. Jesus, the Messiah, said that prophesy was fulfilled by John the Baptist who was his forerunner. A worthwhile study for anyone interested is a comparison of the life and miracles of Jesus and Elisha, both who are designated by one recognized in his time as a true prophet, and in a sense by the same prophet although separated by roughly 900 years.

The post Elijah, Elisha, John the Baptist and Jesus appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The appointed judges represented the Lord in the decisions they made. The people would see the wisdom, mercy and justice of their God if they served Him and carried out their jobs accordingly. It was not about them, but about their God. It is similar with each believer. Whether we are actual judges or anything from the lowest to the highest job in the land, we should do our best, doing our work as working for the Lord. Colossians 3:23 tells us whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

The post For the Lord appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The wicked King Ahab desired Naboth’s vineyard so much, the wicked Queen Jezebel schemes to have Naboth killed so Ahab can take possession of the vineyard. At the Lord’s direction Elijah confronts Ahab and says to him, This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property? In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood – yes, yours! And concerning Jezebel, Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country. Our verses today tell of Ahab’s response to Elijah. God recognizes true repentance, even that of an evil man like Ahab, and turns His wrath away. God looks at the heart, it is never too late to repent and turn to the Lord. But, Ahab will return to his sinful ways, and his sins will bring disaster on his house after this temporary reprieve.

The post God Knows a Humble Heart appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Elijah the prophet challenged the 450 prophets of Baal to a duel of Gods. Before the duel starts Elijah asks the people to make up their minds, if the Lord is God, follow him, but if Baal is God, follow him. But the people say nothing, they will not commit. The prophets of Baal have the first shot at showing everyone that Baal is God. But their cries are not answered all day. Their sacrifice lies untouched on the altar. It is near the end of the day and Elijah gets his chance to call on the Lord God. His sacrifice is set up and for good measure he has 4 large jars of water poured over the sacrifice and wood three times until the water runs off the altar and fills the surrounding trench. Then Elijah prays to the Lord and asks Him to answer him so the people will know that you Lord are God, any you are turning their hearts back again. The Lord answers as only He can. He brings fire down that burns up the sacrifice, the wood, the stone altar, the soil, and all the water in the trench. There is no question that the Lord showed Himself. And the people’s response? Their hearts turn to God and they fall prostrate and cry out, The Lord – He is God! The Lord – He is God! If there was ever any doubt of who is greater, The Lord God left no question it is He!

The post The Lord – He is God! The Lord – He is God! appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Asa, king of Judah, showed true strength and trust in God. How often do we hear God, but don’t do anything about it. Here, Asa gets encouragement from God through the prophet Azariah. “Be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” Asa’s actions is rewarded with four more years of peace. Asa’s example for us is similar to another leader of Israel given the charge to be strong and courageous, Joshua, who led Israel into the Promised Land. Each of us is called to be strong and courageous in the army of God. His is not army of soldiers, but rather an army of believers who trust and obey the Lord their God. Believers who seek glory for their king, rather than themselves. Those who put God and others before themselves. Are you enlisted in the army of God? Don’t hesitate, the reward is heavenly.

The post Hear the Word, Act on the Word appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Rehoboam has been king for about 5 years when he and the southern Israelite tribes (Judah) are attacked and overwhelmed by Shishak king of Egypt. They capture fortified cities of Judah. When the prophet tells the leaders of Judah why they have been defeated by Shishak, they humble themselves before the Lord. When the Lord sees that the leaders humbled themselves He does not destroy them, but promises to deliver them soon. God used Shishak to bring judgment on Judah. Only their humbling themselves saved them from certain death. Before God delivers them He makes Judah serve Shishak for a period of time before delivering them. He teaches them the difference between serving the Lord God who loves them and a foreign king who would have killed them if not for the Lord’s intervention. What a lesson for us today. When we fall into sin, humble yourself, repent of your sin, don’t try to hide it from God. Doubling down on sinful actions puts you in bondage to that sin. Let the Lord free you through your confession and repentance. He is faithful to forgive your sin if you do so.

The post Humble Yourself Before Him appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

King Solomon has passed away. His son Rehoboam succeeds him as king. Too bad succeeding Solomon doesn’t bring success with it. King Rehoboam in his first big decision as king, listens to the advice of young men who grew up with him rather than the advice of the elders, and promises to put an even heavier burden on the people than his father Solomon did. This decision brings about the split in Israel that lasts some 200 years until the northern tribes fall to the Assyrians around 723 BC and many taken as captives to Assyria. Taking wise council in the very beginning could have kept Israel together as a country. Accepting council from your elders is both wise and godly, something we should all practice.

The post The Divided Kingdom appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Solomon reaches his conclusion for the meaning of life. To fear God is to recognize and respect that He is God and we are his creation. Solomon’s call for all men to obey God, keeping His commandments pleases God and fulfills man’s destiny. Man was created to have fellowship with his creator. Doing so, having a right relationship with God is our purpose in life, is what gives life meaning. Being in a right relationship with God truly makes all the things Solomon reviewed, analyzed, and contemplated meaningless, a chasing after the wind. God is in control, all the rest of these things are secondary to Him.

Solomon’s life concludes with his passing away. Scripture says Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. Then he rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king. In the end, Solomon’s life was as it is for everyone. The things that mattered were in the earlier times of his kingship when he followed the Lord wholeheartedly. That gave meaning and purpose to his life.

The post Solomon’s Conclusion appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Another word that Solomon uses to describe the many things from which man seeks meaning is “meaningless”. While there is a time for everything, there is nothing new – whatever is has already been done, and what will be has been done before; and God will call the past to account. Wickedness was there in place of judgment and justice, but God will bring judgment on both the righteous and the wicked. Man’s efforts to make his life meaningful is futile, it is meaningless. Everything is meaningless. If this is the case, man is in sad shape. Who will save man and give him the meaning in life he so desires?

The post Meaningless, Meaningless, Everything is Meaningless appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

A recurring phrase used by Solomon is “a chasing after the wind.” The phrase describes the futility of the effort. No matter how much or how fast or how long you chase the wind, you never catch it. You never get anything out of chasing the wind, other than tired, worn out, and defeated. As far as being caught, the wind is undefeated. Solomon looked at his wisdom, and even that he concluded was chasing after the wind. With his wisdom he analyzed pleasure, achievement, work, oppression, achievements, relationships, politics, false worship, wealth, materialism, prosperity, defiance, wickedness, injustice, and strength, and found them all falling short of providing meaning to one’s life – they were all chasing after the wind. What then is the meaning of life? What purpose is man here for? These questions have been asked since man was created. Many have sought it, few have found it, but it is available to everyone

The post Chasing After the Wind appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

What is the meaning of life? At one point or another we all ask ourselves that question. Solomon in all his wisdom searched for the answer. What did the wisest man determine? It is not the great wealth Solomon had, it is not the 1,000 wives and concubines he had, nor the children he fathered. Solomon contemplates many possible answers to the question before finally arriving at an answer at the conclusion of his essay.

The post Ecclesiastes – The Search for Meaning appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Solomon’s fall into the worship of other Gods is a reminder to us that it is easy to fall into sin. Everyone is susceptible to falling if they are not perpetually focused on God and His ways. Here, Solomon’s 700 wives and 300 concubines lead him astray from God and His ways. They play a major part God taking the kingdom away from Solomon.

The post Solomon’s Downfall appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The post Psalm 127 appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:13

Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt. Proverbs 27:11

The post A Happy Heart appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. Proverbs 17:6

Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:31

The post Children, Parents, Elders appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22

The post Faith, Generosity, and Wealth appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully. Proverbs 28:5

When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. Proverbs 21:15

The post Honesty and Justice appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

When there are many words, wrongdoing is unavoidable, But one who restrains his lips is wise. Proverbs 10:19

A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

The post Speech appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. Proverbs 22:24-25

The post Temper and Patience appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. Proverbs 25:21-22

The post Treating Your Enemies appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Proverbs 12:15

The post Listen to Advice appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The post Purpose of the Proverbs appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His rebuke, For whom the LORD loves He disciplines, Just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11-12

The post Proverbs of Solomon appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

God has blessed Solomon tremendously with wisdom as Solomon had requested, and with great riches and honor which he did not ask for, but with which God readily blessed him. The Queen of Sheba traveling a great distance with a very large caravan to see for herself this King Solomon is an honor in itself. She verifies the reports she has heard of Solomon’s wisdom and wealth. Her remarks are incredible, and appear to indicate she is a believer in the God of Israel. May our words, our conversation, always be seasoned with grace and love, and say as much about our relationship with the Lord Jesus as the Queen of Sheba’s.

The post The Queen of Sheba appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The Temple for the Name of the Lord is completed. Solomon summons the elders f Israel, all the heads and chiefs of the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant to the new temple. After the priests, who were Levites, carry the ark in the way prescribed by the Lord through Moses, it is placed in the Holy of Holies, beneath the wings of the cherubim. The priests then all moved outside the Temple with the musicians and singers setting up on the east side of the altar. Thus, as they face the altar, the Temple is behind and to the south of the altar. The trumpeters, the cymbals, probably harps and lyres and 10 stringed instruments all playing as the singers praise the Lord: “He is good; His love endures forever!” This was such a celebration giving thanks to God. It predates a much greater celebration that we find in the book of Revelation. In heaven, the Four Living Creatures never stop saying, ”Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” Then the 24 elders who sit surrounding the Throne say, ”You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Then a multitude of angels, ten thousand times ten thousand sing, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Get ready church! In heaven we will join in worship as we’ve never seen on earth – nothing close. Why not start now? Shout out your praise for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Don’t hold back on worshipping him. He IS worthy to receive glory and praise!

The post The Lord is Good; His Love Endures Forever appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Solomon sets out to build the temple for the Lord that his father David had intended in his heart to build. When David prayed to God about his intentions, God told David that he was a mighty warrior and his hands had shed much blood. Because of that David would not be the one to build this temple, but rather it would be his son that would build the temple. David was so excited he prepared all the plans and materials for building the temple, ensuring everything would be ready for Solomon to carry out the desire of his heart. And Solomon was up to the task. With God’s help, Solomon had peace on every side and the foundation was laid in Solomon’s fourth year and the temple completed seven years later.

The post A Temple for the Name of the Lord appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Very early in his kingship, Solomon exhibits his understanding of the responsibilities ahead of him. He does not take being king lightly, nor for his own benefit, but in humility expressing himself as only a child, although he was not, Solomon knows that the job of king is bigger than him and needs to rely on God to carry it out. He asks for a discerning heart, for wisdom in governing God’s people. God is pleased, and gives Solomon wisdom as no man has ever had. God also blesses Solomon with what he did not ask for, both riches and honor. When we pray and ask for God to meet our needs, in Solomon’s case wisdom, God will supply all our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Trust in Him who is able to do more than we can ask or imagine.

The post A Discerning Heart (Wisdom) appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

From creation to Adam, Abraham, Moses, and finally David, our readings in The Daily Bible has walked us through God’s working with the man He first created, to that man’s descendant, David, whom God describes as a man after my own heart. David is about to die. His son Solomon is poised to be the next king of Israel. David’s charge to Solomon, to walk in obedience to God and to keep his decrees and commands, is very much like David, whom God also said of, he will do everything I want him to do. David had his faults, his failures, his sins that were spelled out for every reader of the Bible to see for all time. Despite all these, and there were many, David found forgiveness and redemption is God his Savior. David always had a soft heart toward God, confessing his sins and falling before the Lord asking for mercy, and receiving the grace that God freely gives. Very few in history will ever have a life like David, but millions and millions of people through the ages will receive the same grace as David, the grace through faith that saves, the grace that is a free gift from God. If you have never received God’s grace and the forgiveness of your sins, do it now. Don’t wait another second. Romans 10:9 says, If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. May the Lord bless you and keep you, and smile upon you, and give you peace.

The post God’s Grace appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The post Sing Praises to God appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The post His House, His Temple, His Dwelling appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The post Blessed are those whose hope is in the Lord appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The post Thirst for God appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The post Lord, You Are My Hiding Place appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The post Even Before I was Born appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The post Your Name, O Lord appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The post Keep Me on Your Path of Purity appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The post Praise the Lord Forever appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The post Shout for Joy to the Lord appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The psalm calls for us to give glory to God for his power and goodness. We are waiting with anticipation to praise Him, even as the Levites stood by at night ready to sing to and praise the Lord at the appointed hour. There is great quiet joy in waiting, in the anticipating of praising the Lord. One version says there will be silence before You (Lord). Sometimes there is nothing so loud as silence, silence waiting to burst into worship and praise. Let this psalm lead you into that place before the Lord.

The post Praise awaits you, Lord! appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:1-9

Sometimes during a sporting event, a big hit, a big basket, a big play happens that causes everyone to rise to their feet and cheer. If the scene is big enough, sometimes the announcer does say a thing, just letting the crowd relay the feeling. Psalm 8 is like that. No commentary, no explanation is necessary. The psalm speaks for itself. Take it all in.

The post Psalm 8 appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

God deserves all the glory because of His love and faithfulness. The psalm then goes on to contrast he idols that God abhors and God Himself, the God who is the creator of heaven and earth and blesses those He chooses. May He bless you each day.

The post To Your Name be the Glory appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

It is easy to see the wealth and fame may people achieve. When you look at their lives, many if not most are not godly people, but driven people looking out for themselves. Sometimes you may wonder what your life would be like if you were like them, if you were among the rich and famous. Psalm 49 reminds us that life is fleeting, that the seeming riches of this life end at death’s door if the person does not trust in Jesus. Whereas the believer’s rewards will be for all eternity. I am reminded of a story I’ve heard several times. I don’t know if the story is true, and if it were, who it is about. I probably don’t even have all the “facts” of the story straight, but I think you’ll get the point. A couple is heading back to the US after serving 40 years in the mission field ministering to less fortunate people and leading many to Christ. On the same flight is military commander who has fought and won many battles. As the plane lands and the passengers exit the plane, a band and a large group of people greet the commander joyously celebrating his return home. The old missionary couple exit the plane, lost amid the crowd and celebration for the commander. The husband remarks, “It’s just not fair.” His wife gently reminds him, “Don’t worry dear, we’re not home yet.” Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Our home is not of this world. We are in a mission field all the days of our lives, but one day we will be greeted by Jesus upon returning home.

The post This is not your home appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Psalm 36 is the second of two psalms with David servant of the Lord in superscription. Psalm 18 is the first of the two psalms. In the superscription of Psalm 18 it says (David) He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and form the hand of Saul. He said: (v1) I love you, O Lord, my strength. (v2) The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. In Psalm 36 David contrasts the wickedness of man (v1-4) with the excellency of God (v5-10). David sings of the mercy of the Lord, and the faithfulness of the Lord, and the righteousness of the Lord, and the Lord’s unfailing love. It is no wonder that in Psalm 18 David could declare his love for the Lord on whom he stands. In a near parallel way, let us sing of Jesus, both for who He is and what He has done, and how we love Him because of who He is and what He has done. He is worthy to receive power and might and honor and glory and praise.

The post He is Worthy appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Psalms 120 to 134 are songs of ascents. These psalms form a hymn book used by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for the annual feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Psalm 121 affirms that all true help comes the Lord, who is the Keeper of Israel. How does this psalm apply to the believer who is not of Israel? In Ephesians 3:4-6, Paul explains the Mystery of Christ: through the gospel of Christ, Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body and sharers together in the promise in Jesus Christ. God’s plan of salvation, available to all people, not just Israel, comes through gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul so succinctly states the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:2-4: By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. So when God watches over Israel, He watches over all who are heirs together with Israel through Jesus Christ. Over you, God actively watches and cares, not because of what you’ve done, but because He loves you so much.

The post Because He Loves You appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

The God of all creation, the King over all, the Lord of all Lords. We come to bow before Him and worship Him. But, we are more than worshippers, we are His flock, He is our personal Shepherd. Our goal with our Shepherd? To recognize his voice, to hear, listen, trust and follow Him.

The post We are the People of His Pasture appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

I am reminded of Joshua’s declaration, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Faith is a choice, so be certain of your choice and live boldly according to your faith. Know what you believe, but more importantly who you believe and trust with your soul. Faith is a life or death choice, let your life and all you do reflect it.

The post As for Me appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

David writes this psalm in a time when God has given him a relatively peaceful period. David is not in anguish over personal sin, he is not being pursued by enemies, he is not desperately in need of God’s intervention. It is almost like David is enjoying the sunshine breaking though after several days of rain and clouds. David reflects twice in this psalm saying my soul finds rest in God alone, because 1) my salvation comes from him, and 2) my hope comes from him. David ends the psalm with foundational truths to stand on: You oh Lord are strong, and You oh Lord are loving. Our salvation and our hope in this life and for all eternity lies in our God who is strong and loving to accomplish both.

The post My Salvation, My Hope appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Psalm 46 is attributed to the sons of Korah. The specific person in this genealogy is not identified. Perhaps it was a collaboration of more than one descendant of Korah. In some ways it is a testimony to God’s grace that sons of Korah even have a part in the Psalms. Korah, a great grandson of Levi, was one of the key figures leading a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. As a result, Korah and his family were swallowed up by the ground due to their insolence. Korah’s descendants were not punished for the sin of their father, in fact, one descendant was Israel’s king maker. The prophet Samuel, at God’s direction anointed Saul, Israel’s first king, then David, the next king. The eleven psalms by the sons of Korah include some of the most beautiful psalms in the Bible. A quick study of these psalms would reveal a treasure trove of memorable verses. Here in Psalm 46 are several of them, including those in verses 1-3; God is our refuge and strength; an ever present help in trouble; we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea. Then in verse 10, Be still and know that I am God.

The post Be Still and Know that I am God appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

David the psalmist goes through a range of emotions similar to what many of us have felt. He is fearful and scared, he is beaten or chased by his enemies, he is desperate, he needs God but can’t find Him, he knows the answers he needs are in the Lord, without the Lord he knows he will be overcome. David cries out his heart to the Lord, but doesn’t dwell in his fears and emotions forever. By the end of this short psalm David declares the answer he knows is true and that he must follow: I trust in your unfailing love; I rejoice in your salvation; I praise you for you have been good to me. David’s psalm is like Jesus answering Satan when he was tempted after fasting 40 days in the wilderness. David speaks the truths he knows and leans on them rather than being overwrought by his fears. When you face similar times as David, remember the truths of God and lean on Him. When you’re not strong, He will help you. He is always strong.

The post Psalm 13 appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Many of the Psalms were written by David before he became king. He was King Saul’s personal musician to sooth Saul’s spirit when he was tormented in the spirit. David was truly a gifted songwriter and musician as well as warrior and king. He was not a perfect man, he has a pure heart exhibited in his actions and the psalms. Take joy as we dive into the Psalms. As David writes in Psalm 5: Let all who take refuge in you be glad, let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous, you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

The post Psalms appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

If you only read the subject line, you might have thought today’s scripture was about Moses and Joshua. But the same phrase that Moses, an really it was the Lord through Moses, spoke to Joshua as Moses was nearing his time of death and the leadership of the nation and entering the Promised Land was turned over to Joshua. Here, David is nearing the end of his life. God has chosen Solomon to be king after David. Solomon is charged with building the Temple, the House of the Lord. David gives Solomon the same words of encouragement, Be strong and courageous. For both David and Moses, they would not complete the desire of their hearts, but would pass it on to the man God chose to complete the job. Both David and Moses knew Solomon and Joshua could be strong and courageous because it was not all on their shoulders, bur rather they could pass on the message that God is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work is finished. In your life, you could insert your name in place of Solomon or Joshua, not that you would build the Temple or lead Israel into the Promised Land, but that Jesus died, and because he died (and rose again), God is with us. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will be with you to complete the calling he has for you and he calls you home. Therefore, be strong and courageous!

The post Be Strong and Courageous appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Nothing stays the same forever. In this case it was the jobs, the responsibilities of Levites. With the tabernacle staying in Jerusalem and no longer moving from place to place, a key Levite responsibility is no longer needed. Instead of the responsibility to carry the tabernacle, they are now helping in the service of the temple by being in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and other responsibilities. There will be times when our area of serving or ministry will change for any number of reasons. As long as we are still serving the Lord, we should do it with joy and passion to do a good job. After all, our service is not about us. But about serving the Creator of the universe, our Lord and King, our Heavenly Father, about other people Whatever we do, do it as unto the Lord. With that attitude, you will never mess up, and ministry will be satisfyingly complete.

————————————————————————————————————-
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2021
Subject: He will be my son

Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. But this word of the LORD came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ “Now, my son, the LORD be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the LORD your God, as he said you would. 1 Chronicles 22:6-11

Before calling his young and inexperienced son to tell him what the word of the Lord was concerning Solomon, David had made extensive plans and preparations for building the House of the Lord. David had plans for the Temple to be of great magnificence, and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Image young Solomon getting this news from his father, you have
For David had said, “Since the LORD, the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever, the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service.” … The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the temple of the LORD: to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the house of God. They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the special flour for the grain offerings, the thin loaves made without yeast, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size. They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same in the evening. 1 Chronicles 23:25-26, 28-30

Nothing stays the same forever. In this case it was the jobs, the responsibilities of Levites. With the tabernacle staying in Jerusalem and no longer moving from place to place, a key Levite responsibility is no longer needed. Instead of the responsibility to carry the tabernacle, they are now helping in the service of the temple by being in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and other responsibilities. There will be times when our area of serving or ministry will change for any number of reasons. As long as we are still serving the Lord, we should do it with joy and passion to do a good job. After all, our service is not about us. But about serving the Creator of the universe, our Lord and King, our Heavenly Father, about other people Whatever we do, do it as unto the Lord. With that attitude, you will never mess up, and ministry will be satisfyingly complete.

————————————————————————————————————-
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2021
Subject: He will be my son

Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. But this word of the LORD came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ “Now, my son, the LORD be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the LORD your God, as he said you would. 1 Chronicles 22:6-11

Nothing stays the same forever. In this case it was the jobs, the responsibilities of Levites. With the tabernacle staying in Jerusalem and no longer moving from place to place, a key Levite responsibility is no longer needed. Instead of the responsibility to carry the tabernacle, they are now helping in the service of the temple by being in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and other responsibilities. There will be times when our area of serving or ministry will change for any number of reasons. As long as we are still serving the Lord, we should do it with joy and passion to do a good job. After all, our service is not about us. But about serving the Creator of the universe, our Lord and King, our Heavenly Father, about other people Whatever we do, do it as unto the Lord. With that attitude, you will never mess up, and ministry will be satisfyingly complete.

The post A Change in Ministry! appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

Before calling his young and inexperienced son to tell him what the word of the Lord was concerning Solomon, David had made extensive plans and preparations for building the House of the Lord. David had plans for the Temple to be of great magnificence, and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Image young Solomon getting this news from his father, you have planned for me to build God’s House? A magnificent temple worthy of the Name of the Lord. What a task to give anyone, much less a young man. The work on the temple will be a lot for Solomon to oversee, but that is surely outweighed many times over by God’s proclamation that Solomon will be his son, and God will be his father. And God will establish Solomon’s throne of his kingdom over Israel forever. Wow!!! God truly said that about me? Building the House of the Lord will be a slam dunk – the Lord is definitely with me. Later, the choice of Solomon is proven right when in a dream God grants him one request, and he asks for wisdom to govern Israel and to know right from wrong. If you are a believer in Christ, you were predestined to know Him. May your response to God be as filled with awe of God as Solomon’s was. And may your heart be after God and others, well before yourself.

The post He will be my son appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.