February 24, 2011 (I Chronicles 1-5, Various Psalms)

These beginning chapters of I Chronicles are pretty much chronicling the genealogies, pretty boring stuff. But this gem was in there as well:

^{I Chronicles 5:20} They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him. So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated.  ²² Many of the Hagrites were killed in the battle because God was fighting against them. 

And then again, what happens over and over, not only in their lives but in ours:

^5:25 But these tribes were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors. They worshiped the gods of the nations that God had destroyed.

Sometimes I wish I could be a "Monk"and just worship God all day and not be tempted to 'worship the gods' all around me. It's so easy in this life to get off track...to be consumed with all the 'cares of this life' and seemingly lose sight of God, His grace and His plan. But I guess that's the tension - what He is trying to teach us - to be 'in' the world, but not 'of' the world. I must just continue to keep the truth of His word before me, remembering this:

^{Psalm 73:23} Yet I still belong to you;
      you hold my right hand.
 ²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
      leading me to a glorious destiny.
 ²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?
      I desire you more than anything on earth.
 ²⁶ My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
      but God remains the strength of my heart;
      he is mine forever.

 ²⁷ Those who desert him will perish,
      for you destroy those who abandon you.
 ²⁸ But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
      I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
      and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

He IS wonderful - as I wrote that I thought of this passage in Isaiah:

^{Isaiah 9:6}For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

This passage is a prophecy of Jesus - and yes, He IS wonderful. Thank You Jesus that in the midst of all that we go through down here, You are preparing a place for us. You love us with an everlasting love and nothing can change that. Thank You for taking the pain and punishment of the cross so that we could go free.