Friday, April 7, 2023

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A REASON TO DANCE

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 6

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Here are the remains of a column rising out of the ground in ancient Laodicea, the home of the “lukewarm church,” one of the seven churches of the book of Revelation (Rev. 13:14-22).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 2 Samuel 6:14-15

Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

Psalm 68, a song, may have been composed by King David for the occasion of bringing the Ark up to Jerusalem. David writes, “Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. Sing to God, sing praises to His Name.” He also tells of a procession into the sanctuary: “The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after. Among them were the maidens playing timbrels” (Psalm 68:24-25). The Apostle Paul quotes a verse from Psalm 68:18 refering to Christ’s ascension into Heaven (Ephesians 4:8-10). There was at least one person who was not happy on the day the Ark was brought to Jerusalem. Saul’s daughter, Michal, was miserable. She had been manipulated by her father, and it seems that David didn’t love his first wife. Back in 1 Samuel 17:25 it is stated that Saul’s daughter would be given to the man who defeats Goliath. We can be sure that Michal had no say in the matter. Nevertheless, she came to love David (1 Samuel 18:28), and they were married. In the next chapter, Michal saves David’s life (1 Samuel 19:11-17). Then Saul intervenes again and gives Michal to another man. Now, after David took her from the other man, it seems there was no love there. Michal and David had been deeply hurt. Perhaps this history will help us understand David’s later conduct with other women (no excuse), and Michal’s bitterness and outburst against him…and why she was childless.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I ask for healing of hurts from the past. I ask for a greater measure of joy and for freedom to express that joy before You in my worship of You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve been thinking of the words of Isaiah which Jesus read from the scroll when He announced His mission before His hometown congregation (Isaiah 61:1 & Luke 4:18). As I meditated on the messed-up relationship between David and Michal, I’ve been feeling sad. Now, however, I’m starting to rejoice as I read Isaiah and Luke. Jesus declared that the Spirit of the Lord has “sent Me to heal the brokenhearted” and “to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” Yes! Yes! I’ve seen Jesus do this again and again. Jesus is our “Ark.” He is the manifest presence of God in our lives. In fact, I’m thinking of two married couples I know well whose hearts were broken. Recently I sat in a restaurant with one of these couples and heard these words from both husband and wife: “Jesus has healed us so powerfully that we love each other more than ever before.” Only Jesus can do that. Jesus changes everything! Rejoicing fills my being as I think about Jesus.

Yours for expressing the joy of the Lord!

David

P.S. Norma-Jean showed me her facebook link to Budapest, Hungary. Here is a dance of joy from their celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. They call this a “Flash Mob.” To think that just over 20 years ago their communist government was trying their best to eradicate faith in God from all Hungarian people. I say to all killjoy atheists: Give up! You’ll never win! (click here) Celebrate Jesus!

In today’s reading, David brought the Ark of the Covenant up to Jerusalem. The sacred Ark contained the two tablets with the Ten Commandments, the rod of Aaron that blossomed and a pot of manna.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

4 thoughts on “Friday, April 7, 2023”

  3. Can any of us really fathom what it took for the mortal side of Jesus to make the extreme sacrifice that he made knowing what was to come.’Make no mistake’,he was ‘in’ a mortal body and felt what humans felt so he was very much afraid of what was to come;so much so that he sweat blood…all the more reason to give the utmost thanks.Thank You,Jesus.May God bless ‘David’s bloggers’.
    ….The Only One

    If I had been the only one,
    No matter what I had done,
    He would have sent His only Son,
    To die before the setting sun.

    I may have thought I was dirt,
    But He loved me anyway,
    Through all the trials and hurt
    To save me for judgement day.

    He broke the demon’s strangle hold
    But we have to be free to choose,
    Either love or Satan’s earthly gold,
    But choose the glitter,then you loose.

    So do not hunger for great wealth,
    For riches may bring you to ruin
    And you will find in heaven’s stealth
    That treasure there is widely strewn.

    Free choice is a great gift to all,
    It came with Him off the cross,
    And if I stumble and I fall,
    He saves me from eternal loss.
    G W(Bill) Marshall / 23 March, 2014

    …..This Living Rose

    Long ago there grew a Flower
    That had a fragrance to cherish,
    Such that greed could not devour
    And in death refused to perish.

    This fragrance grew and then spread wide,
    It’s scent still borne by so many,
    And found it had never died;
    It’s wealth worth not a penny.

    Like the wind that you can not ride
    And a river that keeps flowing,
    This Scent of love will not hide
    But is a Rose that keeps growing
    .
    Kings and angels have bowed to greet,
    The aroma of this tender seed,
    For they knew none could defeat,
    This living Rose that fills all need.
    G W (Bill) Marshall / Dec10, 2012

    Reply ↓

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