We creatures worship; God the Creator reigns

Tuesday, October 1, 2013 Devotions: Ps 94, 95, 97, 99; 2 Chron 29:1-3; 30:1-27; 1 Cor 7:32-40; Mt 7:1-12 Let YHWH, Master and God of vengeance, shine forth! The arrogant mock and posture before Him, saying 'The Lord cannot see or understand,' and they crush Your people and afflict Your heritage. They murder widows and pilgrims and orphans, thinking themselves immune to judgment. But consider: the One Who created ears and eyes can hear and see; He knows all, and judges all. Let those rejoice whom God disciplines, and leave the wicked in God's hands to judge and punish. YHWH is our hope and stay; Lord, Your steadfast love and faithfulness are my security. When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cheer my soul. God, You Are my Rock and my Stronghold, my Refuge and Strength. Let us join in praise before our God; make a joyful noise to the Rock of our Salvation! YHWH is a great God, the great High King above all deities. In His hands are the depths of the earth; the sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land. Let us worship and bow down before YHWH our Maker; we are His, the flock of His hand, living in His world under His authority. Let earth and heaven rejoice in the might and awesome majesty of our God; angels in heaven and mortals on earth sing His praises. Idolaters are bound for destruction; but YHWH preserves those who hate evil and love His ways. Light dawns for the righteous; let us give thanks to His holy Name! Mighty King, lover of justice, You have established equity and executed justice and righteousness. Extol YHWH our God and worship Him alone, for YHWH our God is holy! Hezekiah was king of Judah; he came to the throne at age 25, and ruled in Jerusalem for 29 years. He was a king who did what was right in God's eyes, according to the model of his ancestor David. He restored God's temple and sustained His priesthood. He invited all Israel and Judah to come to a renewed Passover, held extraordinarily in the second month. Couriers took the invitation throughout the Land. But only a few from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun responded. However, all Judah joined in the king's initiative. They cleansed the temple and its district of idolatrous objects. The acting priests and Levites sacrificed for their own sins, and for those of the rest of God's people. Hezekiah prayed that God would pardon all who took His feast in an unclean manner, and YHWH accepted his prayer and healed the people. They kept Passover for seven days, and then did it another seven days. And their prayers were heard in heaven, the holy habitation of God. Paul advocated chaste singleness as a means of focusing all one's attention on God. He didn't oppose marriage, but argued that married men and women had multiple concerns, and were prone to greater anxiety. He conceded that marriage was preferable to sexual sin, but also said, 'whoever refrains from marriage does better.' Likewise, he advocated that widows and widowers remain single after the death of a spouse. And Paul concluded: 'And I think that I have the Spirit of God.' He believed his perspective was reflective of God's own attitude. Jesus preached: Don't judge others, lest you be judged yourself. You critique tiny faults in others, like a speck in their eye, while overlooking massive faults in yourself, like a log in your own eye. Hypocrites, take the logs from your own eyes first; then you'll see more clearly to help remove the speck from the eye of your brother or sister. Keep holy things from unbelievers—from dogs; and don't cast your spiritual pearls before swine, for they will trample your treasures underfoot, then turn and attack you. Ask God for what you want and you'll get it; keep seeking what you need, and you will find it; keep on knocking, and God will see that the door opens before you. You mortals know ho to respond—if your child asks for bread, you don't give him a stone, do you? If your child asks for fish, you don't give her a snake, do you? So if you, who are evil, know how to give good things to your children on earth, how much more will your Father Who Is in heaven give good things to those ho ask Him. Do to others what you want them to do to you; this is the epitome of the law and the prophets.