Amelia Grace has a favorite book at my house. She knows where it lives and she invariably reaches for it at bedtime when she sleeps over at Yolly and Poppy’s but at almost every visit, she pulls it down to read on her own. Thomas would climb up in my lap, book in tow for me to read but not Amelia. Much like Thomas’s mom, her Aunt Caroline before her, she’s a “do by self” kinda gal.
I caught her on video recently in the playroom reading her favorite, This Little Light of Mine, Concept by Darcy Pattison, illustrated by Hannah Skelton. (This Little Light of Mine: A Lift the Flap Children’s Book: Darcy Pattison, Hannah Skelton: 9781684086306: Amazon.com: Books) She thought I was busy ordering her Easter pajamas on my phone so she sang happily on, stopping only once to check to see if I was watching. Her mom sat across from me in the recliner and when she neared the end and her sweet little voice rang out, “hide a bushel in your nose,” we both nearly lost it! But she kept right on singing her little heart out, completely unaware of her mistake.
Jesus, who sees her heart, accepts her childish innocence as praise of the highest order!
“The chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did.
They also saw the children in the temple courtyard shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
But when they saw all this, they became angry.
“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus. “Haven’t you ever read about it in Scripture?
It says, “ ‘Lord, you have made sure that children and infants praise you.’ ” (Psalm 8:2)”
Matthew 21:15-16 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/mat.21.16.NIRV
When we are all together, my grandchildren play happily together one minute and tussle the next, but when either Thomas or Amelia starts singing Jesus Loves Me or God Is So Good or This Is The Day The Lord Has Made, which they do often, the other immediately joins in. Even the babies stop and take notice. They regularly pretend to lead worship or preach, not because we have coached them to but because they have been taken to church. They may not understand what I or their parents do yet about the importance of worship but they experience something worth repeating. My prayer is that one day they will make the connection between the words of their praise and the One who alone is worthy.
“David sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.
He sang: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence.
I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.
The waves of death overwhelmed me; floods of destruction swept over me.
The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.
But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I cried to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.”
2 Samuel 22:1-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2sa.22.1-7.NLT
“I look up to the mountains.
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord.
He is the Maker of heaven and earth.
He won’t let your foot slip.
He who watches over you won’t get tired.
In fact, he who watches over Israel won’t get tired or go to sleep.
The Lord watches over you.
The Lord is like a shade tree at your right hand.
The sun won’t harm you during the day.
The moon won’t harm you during the night.
The Lord will keep you from every kind of harm.
He will watch over your life.
The Lord will watch over your life no matter where you go, both now and forever.”
Psalm 121:1-8 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/psa.121.1-5.NIRV
This Psalm was composed to be sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. Israel tended to make Jerusalem more sacred than the God whose Spirit dwelled there. David knew God. He was not a perfect man. Neither am I for all have sinned and fall far short of God’s glorious standard. (Romans 3:23) David knew God before Christ and he was chosen by God not only to be a forebear of Messiah but to mirror the King who was to come. We too are chosen to reflect Jesus in the world. I add a verse to This Little Light Of Mine when I sing it with my grandchildren. It bothered me that Satan’s name would be mentioned but not Jesus so we sing, “Jesus is my little Light. I’m gonna let Him shine.”
Taken out of context, parts of David’s song recorded in II Samuel 22 may remind you as it does me of the rich young ruler’s reply to Jesus.
“The Lord has been good to me because I do what is right.
He has rewarded me because I lead a pure life.
I have lived the way the Lord wanted me to.
I’m not guilty of turning away from my God.
I keep all his laws in mind.
I haven’t turned away from his commands.
He knows that I am without blame.
He knows I’ve kept myself from sinning.
The Lord has rewarded me for doing what is right.
He has rewarded me because I haven’t done anything wrong.”
2 Samuel 22:21-25 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/2sa.22.21-25.NIRV
“Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
“Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good.
But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man asked.
And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me.”
But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
The disciples were astounded.
“Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible.
But with God everything is possible.””
Matthew 19:16-26 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.19.16-26.NLT
But God made an important remark about David, indeed about us, when He sent Samuel to anoint David as the new king of Israel.
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him (not David but each of his seven older brothers).
The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them.
People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1sa.16.7.NLT
We must read the entire victory song to hear David’s heart. Much of Psalms reads the same as Paul’s well known passage.
“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need.
My power works best in weakness.”
So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.12.9-10.NLT
“For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.
This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.4.6-7.NLT
But “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.
They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.
They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”
We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.
All of this is for your benefit.
And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.
That is why we never give up.
Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.
For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long.
Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.
For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
2 Corinthians 4:4, 13-18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.4.4-18.NLT
Faith like this is how David survived being on the run, not knowing where his next meal would come from, being separated from his family, in constant danger and under threat of death. He knew his calling. He was only rightful king because his anointing came from the High King of Heaven. He knew when to stand and fight but he also knew when to bow the knee.
As the Old Testament cannon comes to a close, the prophet Zechariah speaks God’s message to the governor of the remnant who was allowed to return to Jerusalem from Babylon by King Darius of Persia. Zerubbabel is governor and the temple of God, which was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar’s army is being rebuilt. No doubt those who returned to the destruction felt helpless and overwhelmed but God reminds them that His plan is steadily advancing, His temple will be rebuilt, and He will once again reign as King. So, in the Spirit of Proverbs 3:5-6, they should not rely on their own understanding. Rather they should trust in the Lord with all their hearts, obeying Him and watching as He makes their paths straight.
“So he said to me, “A message from the Lord came to Zerubbabel.
The Lord said, ‘Your strength will not get my temple rebuilt.
Your power will not do it either.
Only the power of my Spirit will do it,’ says the Lord who rules over all.
So nothing can stop Zerubbabel from completing the temple.
Even a mountain of problems will be smoothed out by him.
When the temple is finished, he will put its most important stone in place.
Then the people will shout, ‘God bless it! God bless it!’ ”
The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple.
His hands will also complete it.
Then you will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me to you.
Do not look down on the small amount of work done on the temple so far.
The seven eyes of the Lord look over the whole earth.
They will see Zerubbabel holding the most important stone.
They will be filled with joy when they see it.””
Zechariah 4:6-7, 9-10 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/zec.4.6-10.NIRV
““At that time a fountain will be opened for the benefit of David’s family line.
It will also bless the others who live in Jerusalem.
It will wash away their sins.
It will make them pure and ‘clean.’”
Zechariah 13:1 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/zec.13.1.NIRV
“The stone the builders didn’t accept has become the most important stone of all.
The Lord has done it. It is wonderful in our eyes.
The Lord has done it on this day.
Let us be joyful today and be glad.”
Psalm 118:22-24 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/psa.118.22-24.NIRV
“Christ is the living Stone.
People did not accept him, but God chose him.
God places the highest value on him.
You also are like living stones.
As you come to Christ, you are being built into a house for worship.
There you will be holy priests.
You will offer spiritual sacrifices.
God will accept them because of what Jesus Christ has done.
In Scripture it says, “Look! I am placing a stone in Zion. It is a chosen and very valuable stone. It is the most important stone in the building. The one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (Isaiah 28:16)
This stone is very valuable to you who believe.
But to people who do not believe, “The stone the builders did not accept has become the most important stone of all.” (Psalm 118:22)
And, “It is a stone that causes people to trip. It is a rock that makes them fall.” (Isaiah 8:14)
They trip and fall because they do not obey the message.
That is also what God planned for them.
But God chose you to be his people.
You are royal priests.
You are a holy nation.
You are God’s special treasure.
You are all these things so that you can give him praise.
God brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:4-9 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/1pe.2.4-9.NIRV
“O Lord, you are my lamp.
The Lord lights up my darkness.”
2 Samuel 22:29 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2sa.22.29.NLT
“Jesus looked right at them and said, “Here is something I want you to explain the meaning of.
It is written, “ ‘The stone the builders didn’t accept has become the most important stone of all.’ (Psalm 118:22)”
Luke 20:17 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/luk.20.17.NIRV
“Scripture says that Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders did not accept.
But it has become the most important stone of all.’ (Psalm 118:22)
You can’t be saved by believing in anyone else.
God has given people no other name under heaven that will save them.”
The leaders saw how bold Peter and John were.
They also realized that Peter and John were ordinary men with no training.
This surprised the leaders.
They realized that these men had been with Jesus.”
Acts 4:11-13 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/act.4.11-13.NIRV
“God often transforms us, not through sudden impact, but through constant contact.” ~Dave Adamson on Instagram@aussiedave
“So you are no longer outsiders and strangers.
You are citizens together with God’s people.
You are also members of God’s family.
You are a building that is built on the apostles and prophets.
They are the foundation.
Christ Jesus himself is the most important stone in the building.
The whole building is held together by him.
It rises to become a holy temple because it belongs to the Lord.
And because you belong to him, you too are being built together.
You are being made into a house where God lives through his Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:19-22 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/eph.2.20-22.NIRV
““But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham my friend, I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’
For I have chosen you and will not throw you away.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
See, all your angry enemies lie there, confused and humiliated.
Anyone who opposes you will die and come to nothing.
You will look in vain for those who tried to conquer you.
Those who attack you will come to nothing.
For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God.
And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.
Though you are a lowly worm, O Jacob, don’t be afraid, people of Israel, for I will help you.
I am the Lord, your Redeemer.
I am the Holy One of Israel.’”
Isaiah 41:8-14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.41.14.NLT
“Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation.
Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple.
He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.
And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.
What’s more, you are his holy priests.
Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him.
But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.”
And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people.
You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.
As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were like sheep who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.”
1 Peter 2:2-9, 25 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.2.2-25.NLT
“For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
And having chosen them, he called them to come to him.
And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself.
And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?
If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?”
Romans 8:29-32 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.29-32.NLT
“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.”
Ephesians 1:18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.1.18.NLT
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