Verse of the Day 7/14
2 Chronicles 20:9 (NLT) They said, 'Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.'
Yesterday we considered how we are called to "take our positions", to take our stand, in faith, trusting in God, knowing that He is for us and He is with us. Today's verses come earlier in that same chapter. This stand is one of the great ones in the Old Testament. King Jehosephat called on his God when facing impossible odds. He took his stand and encouraged his people to do likewise. He wasn't looking back and casting blame for the circumstances but looked forward, looked to God for deliverance.
John MacArthur writes, "the king and the nation appealed to God in prayer and fasting. The fast was national, including even the children (v. 13). Jehoshaphat stood in the redecorated center court praying for the nation, appealing to the promises, the glory, and the reputation of God which were at stake since He was identified with Judah (vv. 5–12). In his prayer he acknowledged God's sovereignty (v. 6), God's covenant (v. 7), God's presence (vv. 8, 9), God's goodness (v. 10), God's possession (v. 11), and their utter dependence on Him (v. 12)."
We can look back at others in the Bible, other leaders in history, leaders in this country who have made similar calls, and asked for the people to do the same. We as individuals need to take a stand so that our nation can also take a stand. We are not trusting in a temple itself, but God, through Jesus Christ, our deliverer. When we call out to Him in our trials we are taking our stand. We should acknowledge His sovereignty, covenant, presence, goodness and our dependence on Him. When He delivers us we will stand amazed, in His presence.
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.
For me it was in the garden
He prayed: "Not My will, but Thine."
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.
He prayed: "Not My will, but Thine."
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.
He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior's love for me!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior's love for me!
In Christ,
Mike
Mike
Follow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
2 Chronicles 20:5-9 New Living Translation (NLT)
5 Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the Lord. 6 He prayed, "O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! 7 O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? 8 Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. 9 They said, 'Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.'
5 Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the Lord. 6 He prayed, "O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! 7 O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? 8 Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. 9 They said, 'Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.'
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