Ensign: The Story So Far

All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye. Isaiah 18:3

AN ENSIGN ON THE MOUNTAINS                       4 November 2016


WORD COUNT: 4,657



Adam, Sheth, Enosh,So begins the Old Testament book of 1 Chronicles (read "First Chronicles") where with 2 Chronicles ("Second Chronicles") following we essentially get a picture of the story so far that God has used the writers of what becomes the Bible to tell us. In fact, the two Books of the Chronicles where I'm currently in my Bible study were originally one book -- it got split in two when the Bible was originally translated into Greek in the 3rd century BC.


This isn't to say you shouldn't read Genesis through 2 Kings ("Second Kings") by any means.


Jewish tradition ascribes Ezra the scribe and priest who gets the next book of the Old Testament named for him as the author of [both] Chronicles. Bringing together this account from the first man Adam to the Persian king Cyrus allowing all the Jews (read: survivors and descendants of the fall of Judah to Babylon) to return to Jerusalem should give the people who read this a sense of where they come from and where God is going with all this.


Also, from Cyrus' standpoint it was a good public relations move.


Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which in Judah. Who among you of all his people? The LORD his God with him, and let him go up. The people and events described from 1 Chronicles 1:1 to 2 Chronicles 36:23 span several thousand years. To have that much to look back on -- and make no mistake, to the first readers of Chronicles it was history with all the bells and whistles by and large as it happened, nothing larger than life here -- you would think people would have learned more from it, what to do and what not to do to live a full and fruitful life!

You would think we would learn, and we have God's complete Word for it!


There are moments this year I have deliberately avoided saying anything about an election -- who should win or not, what issues should be favored or not, and many posts even among people with similar beliefs to mine say that this election is more pivotal, dare we say apocalyptic, that any that's come before! I hear that and think what a narrow view they have. No matter who wins or what's favored (or not), we can be secure that none of this is taking the LORD God by surprise! Nor should is surprise us that HE'S in charge, He Who made us in His image, after His likeness. (Even when we don't live up to either one.) Not only do we render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, our Creator makes sure Caesar is there and has limits.

Just another page in the story so far,

David 


P.S. I write this devotional to keep in touch with you, and I hope it encourages you and me too! If it's not or you want me to get lost, please let me know. Thank you!


Thank YOU, Lord, that we can come to you in prayer and that we can count on You to provide for all our needs, even when we don't know what they are. And let us come to You in prayer for the peace of Jerusalem on both sides of the fence and all over the world.


Thank You as well, Lord, for everyone in leadership and service both here and abroad. Thank You for the opportunities we have and the promise of new life through You by Your Son Our Brother, Jesus the Christ.


And may we all seek and have a blessed week! Amen.