Devotionals - Discover the Book - Sept. 8, 2008

How Do We Remember God?

TREMBLE AT HIS WORD Habakkuk 3:16     “When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones; And I trembled in myself, That I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, He will invade them with his troops.”(NKJV)

• Like David Psalm 119:120 “My flesh trembles for fear of You, And I am afraid of Your judgments.” (NKJV)
• Like Isaiah 6:5 So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts." (NKJV)
• Like Jeremiah 23:9     My heart within me is broken because of the prophets; All my bones shake. I am like a drunken man, And like a man whom wine has overcome, Because of the LORD, And because of His holy words.” (NKJV)
• Like Daniel 7:15, 28   “I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 28 "This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart." (NKJV)
• Like John Revelation 1:17 “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.” (NKJV) 

PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME. The Scriptures teach us to praise God by two special activities: 

Echoing his attributes.  Praise expresses the character of God.  Some Christians study the New Testament almost exclusively because it reveals many truths that were mysteries in the past.  But one great reason to study the Old Testament is that it powerfully reveals the character of God, enabling us to praise Him better.

• Habakkuk praised God for is character, that He is a Holy, Almighty, Eternal, Covenant Keeping God (Hab. 1:12-13) -and that praise solved a great problem in his own heart.  He didn't understand why God was going to judge Israel by sending the evil Chaldeans to conquer them (1:6-11). Habakkuk wanted God to revive and restore His people, but they had overstepped the limit of His patience.
• In the midst of his confusion, Habakkuk remembered this: God is holy-He doesn't make mistakes.  God is a covenant keeping God-He doesn't break His promises.  God is eternal-He is outside the flux of history.  Following his praise, Habakkuk affirmed what we have been learning throughout this chapter, that "the righteous will live by his faith" (2:4).
• He felt better even though his circumstances hadn't changed.  God did allow the Chaldeans to overrun Israel for a time, but Habakkuk knew his God was strong enough to handle any circumstances.
• Instead of worrying about problems we cannot solve, we should say, "Lord, You are bigger than history.  You own everything in the entire universe.  You can do anything You want to do.  You love me and promise I will never be without the things I need.  You-said You would take care of me as You take care of the birds and the flowers.  You have promised that Your character and power are at my disposal." That kind of praise glorifies God. 

Echoing his actions. God's attributes are displayed in His works.  The psalms are filled with lists of the great things God has done for His people.  They praise Him for parting the Red Sea, making water flow from a rock, feeding His people with manna in the wilderness, destroying their enemies, making the walls of Jericho fall, and many other powerful works.

• After reevaluating his problem, Habakkuk praised God for His works, trembling at the power displayed in them (3:16).  He affirmed that he would rejoice in the Lord even if everything crumbled about him (w. 17-18).  Why?  Because God had proved Himself in the past.  That's why the Old Testament contains such an extensive history of God's works-so we can know specifically how God has proved faithful.
• If you have a problem facing you that you don't know how to solve, remember to praise God.  Say to Him, "Lord, You are the God who put the stars and planets into space.  You are the God who formed the earth and separated the land from the sea.  Then You made humanity and everything else that lives.  Although humanity fell, You planned our redemption.  You are the God who carved out a nation for Yourself and preserved it through history, performing wonder after wonder for that nation.  You are the God who came into this world 

FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF HABAKKUK

• When Burdened talk to God.
• When Bended listen to God.
• When Blessed Praise God. 

Why Should We Remember God?

Because God rewards five actions. These are things God remembers for good!  In order written in Bible: 

GOD CROWNS THOSE WHO DENY THEIR FLESH:  1 Cor. 9:27   Follow Him, not self.

GOD CROWNS THOSE WHO BRING HIM PEOPLE:  1 Thess. 2:19  God crowns those who bring Him what He wants. God wants people, not houses, plaques, collectibles.  “No U-Haul behind a hearse.” 

GOD CROWNS THOSE WHO WATCH FOR HIM: 2 Tim. 4:8  Look for Him.  

I’ll always remember the parsonage window in Rhode Island. When I drove up to the garage Bonnie would have the little ones watching. With wide eyes they would sound the coming home of dad. My joy is such a tiny example of God's longing for our attention! 

GOD CROWNS THOSE WHO LOVE HIM: James 1:12 God crowns those who love Him. God wants your heart! 

Love only counts to God if it’s first place, priority #1 love, more than hobbies, money, professional achievements, scholastic honors, sports victories, possessions.

Do you place a higher priority on God or your job? Your house? Recreation? How about your finances(spend more time with investments on earth or heaven?) 

GOD CROWNS THOSE WHO SERVE HIM: 1 Pet. 5:4 Serve Him. 

Seven stages Bible overview, summary= creation, corruption, catastrophe, confusion, cross, church, consummation 

Just as significant as the associations of this passage with the Creation account, however, are the several close associations between Noah's altar and Moses' altar at Mount Sinai following the Exodus (Exodus 24:4-18). A brief list of some key parallels gives a sense of the verbal and thematic similarities:

·        The building of the altar in both accounts follows a major act of God's salvation--God's rescue of Noah from the Flood and God's deliverance of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt;

·        The altar and the offering in both accounts mark the establishment of a "covenant" (berith) with God (Gen 9:9; Exodus 24:7);

·        The outcome of both covenants is God's "blessing" (wayebarek Gen 9:1; uberak Exodus 23:25);

·        The central provision in both covenants is protection from "beasts of the field" or "wild animals" (hayyat ha'ares Gen 9:2; hayyat hassadeh Exodus 23:29) and human enemies (Gen 9:5-6; Exodus 23:22);

·        Specific mention is made that the "earth" will be preserved from destruction (Gen 9:11; Exodus 23:29);

·        In Genesis the visible "sign" of the establishment of the covenant is the rainbow in the "clouds" (be`anan 9:13-17), and in Exodus the conclusion of the covenant making is marked by the appearance of the glory of God in the "cloud" (he`anan 24:15) that covered the mountain;

·        In both covenants stipulations are given to which the people must be obedient (Gen 9:4; Exodus 24:3).

The Facts and Lessons of the Flood