Joy and Freedom

453 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 6:14-16, “Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. (2 Sam 6:14-16) I want to spend just a little more time on David's change of clothing here. Picture a worldly king for a moment with all his royal robes. Kind of cumbersome wouldn't you say? Now David slips into the linen ephod of the Levite. The best way I can describe an ephod would be to liken it to a hospital gown. It's not a perfect comparison, but it should give you the sense of freedom that the body had in wearing it. To top that off, it was made of linen, and that too should conjure up an image of freedom. So David, wearing the linen ephod freely dances with joy before the Lord. He has established fellowship with God through a peace offering, ( a picture of the restored fellowship available to all through the sacrifice of Jesus) and now demonstrates the joy of that freedom in his impromptu dance. This same kind of joy and freedom is available to you and I through faith in Jesus! Joh 8:36 says, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” The lyrics of two songs come to my mind as I think of this new-found freedom in Christ. One is, “I could Sing of Your Love Forever,” It goes in part like this, “ Oh I feel like dancing, It's foolishness I know But when the world has seen the light They will dance with joy Like we're dancing now, I could sing of Your love forever,” and the seconds is “I Am Free.” Through You the blind will see. Through You the mute will sing, through You the dead will rise, Through You all hearts will praise, Through You the darkness flees, Through You my heart screams, “I am free!” I am free to run, I am free to dance, I am free to live for You, I am free! Oh beloved, taste the freedom of Christ. Receive Him as Lord and Savior. Shed your sins and all their guilt and everything else that encumbers you, and from this day forth, walk freely in newness of life.

The Broken Halleluiah

452 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 6:14-16, “Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. (2 Sam 6:14-16) What a celebration! The ark, the very presence of God, now being carried to Jerusalem properly and with God's blessing, and David cannot contain himself! He takes off his kingly garb and all it's trappings and slips on the simple clothing of the Levite. This simple garb gave his limbs room to dance, and dance he did. So how do you feel about that? Have you ever been in a worship service where people break out in dancing for the sheer joy of being in fellowship with God? Or conversely, have you ever been in a worship service where solemn ritual seems to be the norm? I think there is a warning here for us to guard against the attitude that Michal displayed as she saw David dancing. She “despised him in her heart,” The word despised here means to disesteem. In other words, she lost respect for David as she observed his method of worship. Worship of the Lord is a very personal matter and we all express it differently. I would encourage all of us to not judge the worship style of others. Don't break their Halleluiahs! At the same time, I would encourage all of us to guard against our flesh taking over in our worship. Dancing can be led by the flesh rather than the Spirit, and stoicism can also be led by the flesh. Let us all seek to keep the Lord the center of our attention wherever and whenever we worship. Keep it simple as Jesus said in Joh 4:24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Let us learn to put on the linen ephod and not the judges robe when we are in the presence of the Lord! Thank You Father for the freedom You give us to worship you. Let us not abuse it.

Another Take On 666

451 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 6:13 And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. Strange isn't it? David decides to stop moving the ark after taking a mere six steps and making an offering to God. Why six? Why not three? Why not seven? 10? 20 ? In biblical numerology, the number six is the number of man. Not “a man,” but man. David stopped at six because that's as far as he dared go without God., and so he sacrificed to God an offering that we could call a peace offering. Now after traveling the distance of man, he invites God into the equation, establishes peace with God through the blood, and is able to move forward to the seventh step and beyond. The number 7 represents among other things, the salvation of God. His number (3) combining with the world's number (4) God connecting to man equals salvation. (7) This would be a good time to talk about the number 666 as mentioned in the Book of Revelation. There is no number that has been given more attention and more attempted explanation than that number. I think we all have our favorite take on this number. My personal favorite is from the biblical commentator R.C.H. Lenski. Without getting overly technical with the Greek language as Lenski does, let me try to sum up his thoughts on this number. Basically he says that the number is a human number, it falls short of the divine number of 777. Armed with that information I think we can say that the number merely represents men without God. To describe man without God as a beast is a pretty safe bet. Don't believe me? Just read Romans 1:21-32, or just look around at a world today that is becoming increasingly godless. Just as David needed to add God to the mix in order to advance to the holy city, so do we. 666 needs to become 777. Man needs to be combined with the Holy Trinity to produce 777 and that happens through God given faith in Jesus Christ. The number 777 and all who bear it belong to God! The number 666 falls short of the glory of God and all who bear fall short of His salvation.

Blessed By God

450 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 6:11 The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household. 12 Now it was told King David, saying, "The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. The ark is taken to the household of Obed-Edom, we get further details in 1Ch 13:14, “ The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.” This speaks of special God-given care given to his household and even his possessions. The word “blessed” here means to kneel down. Imagine that. Imagine an adult kneeling down to a child and providing for that child's every need. This is what it's like to be blessed by God. God kneels down and provides what we need in a perfect manner. This blessing bestowed on Obed-Edom is a picture of the greatest blessing available to all through faith in Jesus Christ. In Jesus, the God-man stooped down to earth and gave His children all that we truly need. Namely forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Obed -Edom welcomed the presence of God in His house and was blessed. In like manner when we welcome Jesus into our house, we are blessed. Oh the joys of having Jesus live in us via the Holy Spirit, and all the fruit He brings to our lives. Jer 17:7,8 says, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. Thank You Father for stooping down and blessing Your children. May we live and joyfully celebrate that blessing every moment of every day.

A Flash of Wrath

450 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 6:8-11, “ And David became angry because of the LORD'S outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day. 9 David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, "How can the ark of the LORD come to me?" 10 So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household. (2 Sam 6:8-11) The word “anger” here comes with the sense of “fretting.” David was fretting about this whole situation. Who wouldn't? Uzzah became the flashpoint of God's just anger right before David's eyes. The word “outbreak” here is just another way of saying “breach.” Uzzah's actions caused a breach, a sudden outpouring of the wrath of God. We could almost liken it to a flash of lightning. A spark jumping the gap. Then David “was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, "How can the ark of the LORD come to me?" Oh that we all would grasp what is being said here. Maybe then, we wouldn't have such a casual attitude about sinning against a holy God. David was saying, “How can a holy God come to a sinner like me?” We should all live our lives in this same realization. We all deserve the sudden lightning strike judgment (the flash of wrath) that Uzzah received, but God in His grace, love, and mercy, sent His only Son, who became Uzzah for us. And on that Good Friday , on a hill just outside Jerusalem, God flashed His wrath against all your sins, my sins, and the sins of the world. Jesus took it all for you and I. Look again at Calvary. Look often at the cross and see the price of sin, and perhaps we will not take our own breaches with God's Word so lightly. Father, I am a sinner who justly deserves Thy punishment. Thank You for sending Jesus to take the punishment that I deserve. Help me from this day forward to gain a better understanding of Your displeasure with sin, that I may turn from it, and live a life pleasing to You.

Bending the Rules

448 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 6:4-7, “And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. 5 Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals. 6 And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. ( 2 Sam 6:4-7) Uzzah and Ahio were sons of Abinadab and they were the keepers of the ark in the house of Abinadab where it had been for the last 20 years. Apparently Uzzah and Ahio were not properly instructed in God-given handling instructions for the ark. Evidently no one had told them of the seventy men who died just because they “looked upon the ark,” ( 1 Sam 6:19) Their first mistake was placing the ark on a cart. The instructions were clear, Levites were to carry the ark with poles on their shoulders, and no one was to touch the ark. God in His forbearance allowed the transportation by cart, but the moment Uzzah touched the ark, he paid the penalty that God had clearly set forth in Nu 4:15, “they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die.” God is holy. He has given us rules to live by, and He's not kidding. The problem started for Uzzah when he and the others were okay with bending the rules of handling the ark. Some things never change! Most of the moral mess that we find ourselves in today stems from “bending God's rules.” This “bending sets us up for more disobedience and the serious consequences that always come from unchecked sin. Someone forgot to instruct Uzzah about the holiness of God and he paid the price. There is always a generation of Uzzah's who need to be instructed about the holiness of God. To not teach them the Laws of God is to set them up for a bending of the rules in their own lives, and opening them up for the possibility of severe spiritual damage down the road. God is holy. He's not kidding about His rules. Know them. Respect them. Respect Him. Love Him. And bring all your violations to the cross where you can confess them and receive His forgiveness. Father, guard us from our tendency to bend Your rules. Keep us ever mindful of Your holiness.

These Prime Time Devo's are heard on my radio program shortly before 6p.m. every Monday thru Friday on 91.9,91.5 The Family. When I have the day off, or when regularly scheduled programming is interrupted, the Prime Devo does not air, and I don't update it on my blog. So once again I am posting a repeat Devo. This one aired on August 21, 2012. it's called "Tell the Story." Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Sa 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." (1 Sa 7:12) The Ebenezer stone. The monument set up by Samuel to remind the people of the Lord's help in their battle with the enemy. The name itself a testimony to a time when the people were delivered from the Philistines. This stone would give a reason to explain to all who passed by who the Lord is and what He is capable of doing. Fathers and their children could even take a pilgrimage to the spot and the father could relate the story to their children. That's what monuments do. They tell stories of what has been done. Jacob set up a monument at the place where he had the vision of the angels ascending and descending to earth. Joshua set up twelve stones at the place where the Israelites crossed the Jordan. These stones were always meant to tell the story of God's redemptive work among the people, and they were meant for all the generations that would follow. I don't have a pile of stones set up in any geographical area, but I do have a file in my computer that I call thanksgiving stones. This file is my permanent record of God's redemptive workings in my own life. When things happen in my life that can only be explained by the power of God, I make note of them. I like to take them out and read them periodically. They are great faith strengtheners and help prepare me for any future spiritual battles that I may face. They remind me that “thus far the Lord has helped me.” There is one monument, one Ebeneezer that we should never overlook. It's called the cross. Crosses are everywhere, unfortunately they have often become merely a piece of jewelry to adorn our necks, or part of the dressing of a building. But they should be used as a tool by us to tell the story of “God so loved the world.” It's what monuments do, they tell stories. The next time you see a cross, use it as an opportunity to tell the story of Christ's love for the world.

Deny, Take Up, Follow

We are hosting an event for Compassion International on 91.9,91.5 The Family today, so I will not be airing a Prime Time Devo. So I thought I would dig into the archives and re-post one from this date four years ago: # 511 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 8:34b “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Jesus says there are three things that His disciples must allow for. They must (1) deny themselves, (2) take up their cross, and (3) follow Him. Commenting on this passage, the 19th century Swiss theologian Frederic Godet said that “three things are necessary in traveling: first to say farewell, (to self); secondly, to carry our baggage (the cross); thirdly to proceed with the journey (follow Me). Today we will look at what it means to “follow Jesus.” It is not enough to deny self and to take up our cross, we must complete the journey. We must keep following Jesus. Through God-given faith, we are placed in the hands of Jesus for the journey, but He does not hold us with a clenched fist, we have the choice to cease following Him at anytime. The journey is long and treacherous, but He promises that no one can pluck us out of His hand. Oh the devil and his demons may swarm around us, tempting us and engaging in intense spiritual warfare, but we are safe as long as we choose to stay in the hand of Jesus, and we demonstrate our willingness to stay as we daily confess our sins, and live in His forgiveness. Father, help those today who may be tempted to give up. Thwart any and all efforts of the enemy to discourage them, give them Holy Spirit power to endure.

God's Not Kidding

447 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 6:4-7, “And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. 5 Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals. 6 And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. ( 2 Sam 6:4-7) Try to be a part of this crowd of 30,000 people transporting the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem. The kingdom has been reunited, the Philistines defeated, and now the ark of the covenant, the very presence of God being transported to Jerusalem. Oh what a joyous occasion. But suddenly the joy is interrupted by an act of an angry God! Uzzah, who had been walking alongside the ark when the oxen stumbled reaches over to steady the ark to keep it from pitching off the cart and falling to the ground, and immediately he is struck dead by God! We don't know how he died, but it was sudden and there was no doubt that it was an act of God. Why Uzzah? He did the same thing you and I might've done in his place. How many times have you reached over to put a restraining hand on a child sitting on the seat next to you in the car, or perhaps an aging parent. It is a knee jerk reaction of protection for someone you care about! Well, the explanation is very simple, Uzzah disobeyed God and paid the penalty. Nu4:15b gives specific instructions for the handling of the ark, “the sons of Kohath (Levites) shall come to carry them; (the furnishings of the sanctuary) but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die.” Uzzah died because God's not kidding. Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden and death came into the world because God's not kidding. Look at the cross on Calvary and know that in the matter of sin....God's not kidding. It is only by His grace that you and I have not suffered the same fate as Uzzah. Father, restore a sense of Your holiness to Your people.

Follow God's Guidelines

446 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 6:1-3, “Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the LORD of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. 3 So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. ( 2 Sam 6:1-3) With the threat of Saul's family diminished and the Philistines defeated, David turns his attention to bringing the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. The ark of course was the very throne of God amongst the people, the footstool of the Most High God. It was the ark where God bore witness to the people and through prescribed rites and rituals in His Word dispensed mercy to His people. It was a type of Christ who now stands as the Mediator between sinful man and a holy God. Saul had let the ark lie in obscurity in the house of Abinadab for over 50 years and now David sought to bring this focal point of the God of His fathers front and center. This was no small occasion to David, and 30,000 choice men of Israel were selected to bring the ark to it's new home. We read in 1 Chr 13, that there were “songs, lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.” This was a huge festive procession! But there were some problems here. David, in his haste to bring the ark home, forgot to read the instruction manual for the ark. The ark had been returned to the Israelites by the Philistines in a new cart, and so a new cart was used to bring it to Jerusalem. The Philistines didn't know any better, but the Israelites should have known better. God's instructions were that the ark was to be carried on the shoulders of the Levites! This transportation by cart had serious repercussions as we shall see, and this whole incident should serve as a reminder to us that our zealousness to serve God should always be carried out within the guidelines of His Word. Father, you have given us Your Word for a reason. Help us to learn to follow it on all occasions.

The Wind of the Spirit

445 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 5:22-25, “Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, "You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 24 "And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines." 25 And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer. (2 Sam 5:22-25) The Philistines regroup and amass their troops for a second attempt to defeat Israel, and once again David wisely seeks the Lord as to whether or not he should engage the enemy. But God gives David an unusual answer. He says, “Don't meet them head on, I want you to circle up behind them and attack them from the mulberry trees.” Further God tells David to hold off the attack until He gives him the signal, and that signal would be the “sound of marching in the mulberry trees.” Obviously, this would be a very noticeable rustling of the leaves. It reminds me of the sound we might here in the trees here in Wisconsin just before a front moves through with a change in the weather pattern. The point is, God wants David to rely on Him so David will understand that the battle belongs to the Lord! Zec 4:6b says, “'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,'” This battle is a great picture of that first Day of Pentecost when Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received power from on high and then....”suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” It was their signal to leave the house and join with God in confronting the enemy with the gospel! So where is the wind of the Spirit today? Where is God moving. I can't answer that for you. All I can tell you to do is hop in the boat and hoist your sails and wait for the wind to come to you. God is just looking for some willing sailors. You might be dead in the water now, don't panic! Wait for the Lord! Spend this time by prayerfully reading His Word. That way, you'll be ready, willing, and able when the wind blows and the Spirit will take you where He wants you to be.

Like A Tsunami

444 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 5:17-21, “ Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?" And the LORD said to David, "Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand." 20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 21 And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away. (2 Sam 5:17-21) On March 11th, 2011, a tsunami hit Japan. Over 15,000 people lost their lives and most of us still have the images of destruction in our mind. The breach of water on the coastline tossed cars around like game pieces in the game of Life. Ships were scattered about like games pieces from Battleship. The sheer power of the tsunami was mind-boggling to watch. This is what God wants to do for you in your battle with sin. He wants to give you the same kind of victory that David had over the Philistines. Let's see what happens when we substitute “sin” for Philistines in these passages and apply it to your life. “When sin heard that Jesus was now reigning in your life, sin sought you out. (It is the devil's counter-punch) So you went to your stronghold (the prayer closet) to seek guidance from the Lord., and you asked God, “should I do battle with sin? Will I win?” And God said, battle against sin and I will give you the victory.” And with God on His side, David describes the washing away of the Philistines as we might describe the effects of a tsunami! Sin fled and left all it's idols scattered behind! Halleluiah! Friend, battles with sin are inevitable! The victory will only come when you are willing to battle, but the battle always belongs to the Lord. Rely on Him, trust in the power and promises of His Word! It is as David wrote in Ps 68:1, “Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him.” Father, help those just now, today who are battling sin, wash it out of their lives like a tsunami!

Welcome To the Brotherhood of Kings

443 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 5:10-16, “So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. 11 Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house. 12 So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel. 13 And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 Now these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. (2 Sam 5:10-16) David is on top of the world. God is with him as the anointed King of Israel. Word gets out to surrounding countries and Hiram King of Tyre sends emissaries to David with an offer to build a palace for him that would be suitable for an earthly monarch. Put yourself in David's shoes here. This warrior-shepherd boy has a wealthy King come to him and offer to build him a palace. One can almost see the jubilant celebration going on in David's head! I have arrived! Surely God is with me! Look at this beautiful house built for me, and it didn't cost me a cent! Without a doubt, such a gift should cause one to break forth in thanks and praise to God! But to tie it in with God's special favor is a mistake. Believers aren't the only one's who catch such breaks in this world. Jesus said in Mt 5:45b, “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Unfortunately, David interpreted this gift of Hiram as a gesture of “Welcome to the club of the kings of this world!” This membership comes with a price of temptation to follow the ways of the world and that's exactly what David did, for in the very next verse we read of him taking on concubines and wives, after all, this is the way that the kings of the world strengthened their hand. This trap is set for you and I every single day, especially in this land of unheard of prosperity. Thank God for your material blessings, but don't allow them to lure you into the ways of the world, rather keep seeking and searching God's Word for advice on how to live. The guidelines are the same for the rich and poor, and it is in keeping (treasuring) His Word that one finds true prosperity. Father thank You for all the blessings You have poured out on us, but help us to not be lured into the ways of the world.

Jerusalem: Where Kings Were Buried

442 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 5:9 Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward. 10 So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.” David conquers Jerusalem and makes the city his own, and throughout the Old Testament the city of Jerusalem is referred to as “The City of David.” it would become the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant and the great temple would be built there as well. Still another striking feature of the term “City of David” is that it is most often mentioned as the burial place of kings. Thirteen times in the Books of 1st and 2nd Kings, we read of kings that died and were buried in “The City of David.” Jerusalem, the City of David, the burial place of kings, and the place where prophets are put to death. Jesus, speaking of this city said in Mt 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” And so the last great Prophet put to death in Jerusalem is Jesus. This Jesus, the “Son of David” and in the kingly succession of David, is crucified and is the final king to be buried in Jerusalem, but we all know that the grave could not hold this Son of David. Should archaeologists uncover all the graves of Jerusalem, all the bodies of these kings from David and Solomon to Joash, and all the prophets who were buried there would be found, but one body, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ is not there. He is risen! He is risen indeed! This is our blessed hope! As the Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle Paul in 1Co 15:16-19 says, “ For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” He is risen, and whenever you hear the term “City of David” think of the one king who was buried there but is now risen and seated at the right hand of the Father. Then rejoice because those who have died with faith in Christ will one day also rise from the grave and be with Him in Paradise forever! Father, thank You for our blessed hope! Thank you for the gift of faith!

From the Inside Out

441 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 5:6-8, “And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you," thinking, "David cannot come in here." 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David). 8 Now David said on that day, "Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David's soul), he shall be chief and captain." Therefore they say, "The blind and the lame shall not come into the house." (2 Sam 5:6-8) The Jebusites were a pesky people who had taken up refuge in the city of Jerusalem. The city was very well fortified and the Jebusites kept possession of the city even during the days of Joshua. They challenged David by saying their city was so impregnable that even the blind and lame could defend it. David evidently liked this word picture because he then referred to the Jebusites as the “blind and the lame.” Puhlease, David did not hate lame and blind people, (his life was a clear demonstration of just the opposite!) He is just saying that he regarded these Jebusites as enemies and if they insisted on being so proud as to say they could defend their city with the blind and lame, then David will obligingly call them “the blind and lame.” I like the fact that David's first act as King was to conquer Jerusalem, It reminds me of Jesus and the gospel, first conquering Jerusalem and then Samaria and now the ends of the earth. Further, I like the method of conquering. David does not take the city from the outside, but rather he comes up through the water pipes. He conquers from the inside, and so it is with the gospel of Christ. He conquers the human soul from the inside. It's a matter of the heart. Some people appear to be impenetrable on the outside, but God is able to conquer the heart through the work of the Holy Spirit. There is no one beyond the reach and power of His grace. Father, thank You for breaking through my defenses, and just now, I pray for those in my own circle of acquaintance who appear impenetrable, and I pray that You win them for Jesus.

Let God's Timing Rule Your Life

440 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 5:1-5, “Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, "Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. 2 "Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, 'You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.'" 3 Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. ( 2 Sam 5:1-5) Finally, the kingship that was appointed to David on that day that Samuel went through all the sons of Jesse before God told him to anoint David as Saul's replacement has come to pass. This should serve as an example to all of us to be patient in regard to the promises of God. Learn from David. Don't panic and don't force the issue, let God bring His plan for you, to you, in His timing. David was 30 years old when he finally assumed the office of King of Israel. This was the same age that Jesus was when he was baptized by John and began His Holy Spirit anointed ministry on earth. I believe this was no accident as David serves as a type of Jesus, and Jesus, like David, never forced the issue, He let the Father bring all things to Him in His timing. Many times the people around Jesus sought to force the issue, but Jesus would remind them of the timing. His mother urging Him to do something at the wedding at Cana and He replied, “Woman, My hour has not yet come.” His brothers put pressure on Him to go public big time with His miracles at the Feast of Booths, but Jesus replied, “My time has not yet come.” When Lazarus died, Jesus didn't take off immediately, he waited a couple of days, because it was a matter of timing. Ps 31:14,15a says, “ But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." 15 My times are in Your hand;” let God's timing rule your life. Trust Him for today, for you do not know what tomorrow will bring. God will put enough opportunities to serve on your plate today, seize them, knowing that he will also take care of your tomorrow. “Father don't let me get so caught up in my plans that I miss Yours!