READING: 1 Chronicles 14-16, John 19:1-30
It’s one of those verses again that always grabs my attention—primarily because it shows the impotence of false gods. When David defeated the Philistines via the power and promise of God, the Philistines “abandoned their gods there” (1 Chron 14:12). David then ordered the destruction of those gods, and his warriors carried the idols away and “burned them with fire” (2 Sam 5:21, 1 Chron 14:12). It’s almost comical to think about a people who abandon their gods, seemingly because those gods had apparently been useless. Moreover, the very idea that any god can be left behind, taken, and burned raises questions about the power of that god.
Compare that idea to the picture of the God of Israel in the prayer of thanksgiving in 1 Chronicles 16:
- “He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth.” (16:14)
- “For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;He also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols,but the Lord made the heavens.” (16:25-26)
- “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” (16:34)
When I look at these contrasting pictures between false gods and the true God, I want to do nothing other than what the Word requires: “Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually” (1 Chron 16:11).
PRAYER: “Help me, God, to seek no other god but You.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Chronicles 17-19, John 19:31-20:18
