Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “The Faithfulness of God” – Monday, 9 June 2014 - Scripture: Nehemiah 9:19 yet you in your manifold mercies didn’t forsake them in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud didn’t depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go. 20 You gave also your good Spirit to instruct them, and didn’t withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.21 “Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing. Their clothes didn’t grow old, and their feet didn’t swell. 22 Moreover you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you allotted according to their portions. So they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan. 23 You also multiplied their children as the stars of the sky, and brought them into the land concerning which you said to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.
24 “So the children went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they pleased. 25 They took fortified cities, and a rich land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns dug out, vineyards, and olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled, became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
26 “Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, and cast your law behind their back, and killed your prophets that testified against them to turn them again to you, and they committed awful blasphemies. 27 Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them. In the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviors who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries. 28 But after they had rest, they did evil again before you; therefore left you them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them; yet when they returned, and cried to you, you heard from heaven; and many times you delivered them according to your mercies, 29 and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they dealt proudly, and didn’t listen to your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances, (which if a man does, he shall live in them), turned their backs, stiffened their neck, and would not hear. 30 Yet many years you put up with them, and testified against them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet would they not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
31 “Nevertheless in your manifold mercies you did not make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious and merciful God.
“The Faithfulness of God” by Bill Manning
The history of Israel teaches one truth above all others: God is forever faithful.
The Israelites tested God in every way. Over and over they turned their backs on God’s righteousness. They responded to God’s goodness with stubbornness, arrogance, rebellion, and backsliding. Their sorry story has been preserved in Scripture and retold to successive generations for one reason: To teach us of the compassion, mercy, and unfailing love of our faithful God.
Sin did to the Israelites what it always does: It destroyed them. Because of their sins, the armies of their enemies overran their land, making their lives miserable. When they turned their backs on God, foreigners came and ruled over them, subjecting them to tyranny. When they persisted in their evil ways, hostile empires dispwersed them to other lands so they could no longer be a nation. The scriptures tells us that “when they cried out to you . . . you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time” (Nehemiah 9:28b).
- Is God Sovereign over every part of your life?
- Imagine where you might be apart from God’s care.
- Praise and thank God for His unfailing Love and Faithfulness.
Hymn for Today:
“Let All the People Praise Thee” by Lelia N. Morris1. O magnify the Lord with me,
Ye people of His choice.
Let all to whom He lendeth breath
Now in His name rejoice.
For love’s blest revelation,
For rest from condemnation,
For uttermost salvation,
To Him give thanks.
Refrain:
Let all the people praise Thee.
Let all the people praise Thee,
Let all the people praise Thy name
Forever and forevermore.
2. O praise Him for His holiness,
His wisdom, and His grace;
Sing praises for His precious blood
Which ransomed all our race.
In tenderness He sought us;
From depths of sin He brought us;
The way of life then taught us.
To Him give thanks.
Refrain:
Let all the people praise Thee.
Let all the people praise Thee,
Let all the people praise Thy name
Forever and forevermore.
3. Had I a thousand tongues to sing,
The half could ne’er be told
Of love so rich, so full and free,
Of blessings manifold;
Of grace that faileth never,
Peace flowing as a river
From God, the glorious giver.
To Him give thanks.
Refrain:
Let all the people praise Thee.
Let all the people praise Thee,
Let all the people praise Thy name
Forever and forevermore.
Thought for Today:
“Know therefore that Yahweh your God himself is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with them who love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations,” (Deuteronomy 7:9)
Prayer Needs:
Faculty and Students as they prepare for full-time Christian ministry in Cape Verde!
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