So I'm almost through I Kings in the 90 day challenge and though it has definitely been a challenge I have learned and gained so much! I have missed two days so far--made one up, then missed today so we'll see if I make up the time or if I can really finish in 90. Eep! I have learned that I really struggle to get this done if I don't do it first thing after I get up in the morning, and somehow my days seem even more full now that I'm not working--crazy!
I think that the most helpful thing for me has been that in reading in such quick succession I am able to really pick up on consistencies, patterns, cause/effect situations, etc... In studying Israel and really all of the Old Testament figures I am overwhelmed at God's patience with His people and His true compassion & love for them. I mean, you always hear about God's love for you, but reading about how He would punish them yet still hear them and forgive when they cried out to Him. I love this in Judges 10:10-16. In the first 5 verses you see how Isreal has forsaken the Lord for false gods and are being punished. Then in verse 16 "...they put away the foreign gods from among them, and served the Lord; and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer" (NASB, emphasis added). How special is that? That even when we turn away over and over and over, God loves us enough that it hurts Him to see us in misery--even over our own sin!
Another encouraging aspect of this study has been in seeing how God chooses and loves imperfect people. Yes, there are consequences to sin (Moses not going into the promised land, David not getting to build the temple & losing his first son with Bathsheeba), but this is exactly the places where you see Romans 8:28 lived out! I thought that it was especially intersting that God fulfilled his covenant with David (II Sam. 7:8-17) initially through Soloman--a child who was born to David & Bathsheeba! He would not have existed without David's sin, yet the Lord used his lineage.
Praise the Lord for His forgiveness, His graciousness, and His love!!!
Oh Amen!!! I miss you! We are struggling with a decision right now and the consequences are huge either way, I will try to explain it to you some other time but it is such an assurance to hear that even if we do mess up He is willing to accept us back and work through and in spite of our mistakes!
ReplyDeleteOh Amen!!! I miss you! We are struggling with a decision right now and the consequences are huge either way, I will try to explain it to you some other time but it is such an assurance to hear that even if we do mess up He is willing to accept us back and work through and in spite of our mistakes!
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