Worship
Scripture
Who enjoys reading a biblical genealogy? (Or any genealogy?) I confess, when I come across those chapters that go on laboriously “begetting” one ancient dude after another, almost all with names ridiculously impossible to pronounce, verse after ad nauseum verse, I start to skim, and I whisper a prayer, “Lord, get me to the end of this!”
Obviously, though, succession and lineage were big deals in ancient Israel, as we see in tracing the lineage of Christ from the pages of the Old Testament to the New. But what’s really in an Old Testament genealogy for us?
Let’s take a look at the half-tribe of Manasseh’s men who were numbered in the census of today’s reading. These guys were prolific, their bravery in combat was celebrated, and they were even known as famous! But what became of them, for all of their heroism, valor, and manliness? The record of Chronicles reveals that because they were “unfaithful to the God of their ancestors” and gave themselves over to the worship of foreign gods, they were taken into exile by the king of Assyria. In the end, their careers were forgotten, their heroic reputations counted for naught, and their legacy was a moral embarrassment.
We remember in this excerpt from a forgotten genealogy that no matter how impressive our resume looks by earthly standards, God in the end measures and rewards our worth as men and women first of all by the measure of our response to his calling, and then by our character and the consistency of the witness our lives produce.
So my aim in life, then, should be that when my name appears in some future volume of genealogy.com, my descendants will be proud to read, “David was faithful to the God of his ancestors, both in practice and in worship.”
If such is the measure of our lives, then we are certain that we will not be exiles, separated from God’s blessing and presence. Furthermore, and best of all, our children and grandchildren will inherit the blessing of a truly life-giving legacy, a legacy that gives life because it points to the giver of Life.
Prayer
HONOR GOD
John 3:16 NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God has given us new life in Christ. Take a moment and thank Him for this incredible gift!
ASK GOD
John 3:21 NIV
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Living by truth brings light and sight. Ask God to give you a heart for His truth. What do you need to confess to Him? Where do you need His help?
SUBMIT TO GOD
John 3:18 NIV
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Submit your heart to God today and live free of condemnation!
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, thank you for these passages that illustrate what the Jews went through in order to stay pure in your eyes. Thank you that we do not have to bear the same burdens. Thank you for making the yolk of Christ light and perfect. Lead us to seek closeness and “cleanliness” in your eyes that we may honor Christ and his sacrifice he made for us. In Jesus Name, Amen.