Backgrounder on Proverbs 5-9:
The first 9 chapters of Proverbs
take the form of a fatherly address
for learning the fear of the Lord.
Beginning with Chap 5, Solomon
turns from a general appeal
to more specific application of
wisdom in everyday situations.
Pitfalls abound, ready to entangle
and destroy the unwary: immorality,
indebtedness, laziness, falsehood
and pride. Indulging in these sins
is a sure invitation to disaster.
Rather respond to call of wisdom,
which among its many benefits
is the favor of the Lord (Prov 8:35).
Lord, U Reward who Seek & Wait:
I love all who love me. Those who
Search will surely find me (P8:17)
(Wisdom said) I have riches and
honour as well as enduring wealth.
My gifts are better than gold,
even the purest gold, my wages
better than sterling silver (v18-19).
Blessed is the man who listens
to Me, watching daily at my doors,
Waiting at my doorway (v34) Amen Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 13)”
Backgrounder on Proverbs 1-4:
The author of Proverbs clearly
states the book’s purpose:
To know wisdom & instructions
(P1:2-5). God wants His people
to be wise (skilful) in making
moral and ethical choices. And
the first nine chapters of Proverbs
take the form of a fatherly address
to a young son – a divine primer
for learning the fear of the Lord.
Lord, U Direct as We Seek You:
Trust in the Lord with all your
heart and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall
Direct Your Paths (Prov 3:5-6).
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord & depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,
and strength to your bones (v7-8)
Honour the Lord with your wealth,
then your barns will Be Filled
to overflowing (v9-10). Amen. Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 12)”
God Gives Message of Hope:
(Prayer Walk thro Ezek 33-48)
Backgrounder: After the fall of
Jerusalem, Ezekiel delivered
messages of future restoration
(restoring the people of God &
restoring the Worship of God)
and Hope for the people. God is
holy but the temple had been
defiled. The nation had to be
cleansed thro 70 years of captivity.
Thus Ezekiel gives a vivid picture of
the unchangeable holiness of God.
Dear Lord, thank you for Your
message of restoration and Hope.
Even as we face struggles of life,
help us Lord to gain a vision of
the glory of God & a fresh sense
of Your holiness and greatness.
Even as we Turn from sins to U;
Enable us Move in the Spirit &
Revive our Dreams. Amen. Continue reading “Praying thro Ezekiel (Mar 11)”
God Restores You thro New Heart,
Fresh Start & Freedom from Sin
(Prayer Walk thro Ezek 1-24)
Backgrounder: While Jeremiah
was prophesying in Jerusalem
that the city would soon fall to
the Babylonians, Ezekiel was giving
the same message to the captives
who were already in Babylon.
Like those in Jerusalem, the
captives stubbornly believed that
Jerusalem would not fall. Ezekiel
warned them that punishment was
certain because of their sins and
that God was purifying his people.
He also brings a message of hope.
Lord, even as You announced
through Ezekiel, Your judgment on
Israel and other nations, You also
foretell the eventual restoration
of God’s people. We are grateful
for your mercy & lovingkindness;
that U Free us from Burden of Sin;
that U Give us Undivided Heart; &
that U Promise Fresh Start. Amen Continue reading “Praying thro Ezekiel (Mar 10)”
We have been covering the Bible
by time sequence, phase by phase
OT1: Five Books of Laws incl Job.
OT2: History Up to King David
from Joshua to 1 Chron + Psalms
as well as Reign of King Solomon
in 2nd Chron & Wisdom Poetry.
In OT Phase 3, we see decline
of the two Divided Kingdoms.
OT3A: 1 Kings, Obadiah & Joel
OT3B: 2K1-17 & Ministry of Jonah,
Amos, Hosea, Micah & Isaiah in run
up to Israel’s Dispersion in 722BC.
OT3C: 2 Kings 18-25 as well as
Nahum, Zephaniah & Habakkuk
& ministry of Jeremiah in run up
to Judah’s Dispersion (605/586BC)
Followed by Daniel. Continue reading “Preview on Ezekiel (Mar 10)”
Backgrounder on Psalms 146-150:
Like the dramatic crescendo of
a symphony, the book of Psalms
builds to a climax of Praise.
Praise God from one generation
to the next (P146); praise God
for His tender care (P147);
praise God for his creation (P148);
praise God for His justice (P149);
praise God for His greatness (P150)
Praise the Praiseworthy Lord!
Lord, U Keep Promise Forever:
I will praise the Lord as long as
I live. I will sing praises to my God
even with my dying breadth. Don’t
put your confidence in powerful
people; there is no help for you
there. When their breathing stops…
all their plans come to an end.
But happy are those who have
the God of Israel as their helper,
whose hope is in the Lord their God
who made (the) earth; who Keeps
every Promise forever (Ps 146:2-6) Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 9)”
Backgrounder on Psalms 140-145:
Your enemies will either drive you
from God or drive you to God.
In David’s hour of need he found
a sure Refuge (Ps 140, Ps 142),
a trustworthy Friend (Ps 141),
a listening Ear (Ps 143),
a strong Arm (Ps 144),
A Merciful King (Ps 145);
and You Can Too !! Amen.
Lord, U are Merciful & Will Save Us:
The Lord is kind and Merciful…
He showers compassion on all…
Your faithful followers will bless U.
They will talk about the glory of
your kingdom; they will celebrate
examples of yr power (Ps145:8-11)
The Lord is faithful to all His
promises & gracious in all He does.
The Lord Upholds all who fall & lift
up all who are bowed down(v13-14)
The Lord Is Near to all who call on
Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire
of those who fear Him; He also will
Hear their cry & Save them (v18-19) Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 8)”
Backgrounder on Psalms 140-145:
Your enemies will either drive you
from God or drive you to God.
In David’s hour of need he found
a sure Refuge (Ps 140, Ps 142),
a trustworthy Friend (Ps 141),
a listening Ear (Ps 143),
A Strong Arm (Ps 144),
a merciful King (Ps 145);
and You Can Too !! Amen.
Lord, You bring us Thro Trouble:
Bless the Lord, who is my rock.
He Gives Me Strength… He is
my loving ally and my fortress,
my tower of safety, my deliverer.
He stands before me as a Shield,
& I Take Refuge in Him (Ps 144:1-2)
O Lord, what are mortals that You
should notice us, mere mortals
that You should care for us ?
For… our days are like a passing
shadow. Bend down the heavens,
Lord & Come Down (v3-5) Amen. Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 7)”
Solomon’s Fame & Failure
(Prayer Walk thro 1 Kings 1-11)
Backgrounder: As David’s life
draws to a close, he publicly
proclaims Solomon his successor.
Solomon asks God for wisdom
to rule skilfully rather than for
wealth to live lavishly. In return,
God gives him both! Before his
death, David charged Solomon
with the responsibility of building
a house for God in Jerusalem.
Under Solomon’s able leadership,
the nation boundaries expand
five times the area ruled by David.
Financially, Solomon enjoys
unparalleled prosperity as tribute
from neighbouring nations flows
into national treasury. But even
as the nation prospers, the seeds
of spiritual decay are being sown.
Solomon’s passion for pagan
women turns his heart from the
God of heaven to gods of men.
Dear God, Thanks for the lessons
from the life of King Solomon.
Help us to Seek Your Wisdom;
Help us Follow Yr Will & Obey it &
Help us Turn our Heart to U. Amen
Lord, we Seek Your Wisdom:
That night the Lord appeared to
Solomon in a dream & God said:
What do you want? Ask and I will
give it to you! Solomon replied:
You have made me king… but
I am like a little child who doesn’t
know his way around… Give me
an understanding heart so that
I can govern your people well
and know the difference between
right and wrong. For who by
himself is able to govern this
great people of yours? The Lord
was pleased that Solomon had
asked for wisdom (1Kings 3:5-10)
Lord, help us seek your wisdom.
Open my ears to it & help me to
recognise wisdom when I hear it.
Give me the wisdom to know
what to do & how to do and the
courage to follow through on it.
And we know that even as we put
You God & Your agenda first that
U will satisfy all our needs. Amen
Lord, we Follow Yr Will & Obey it:
Praise the Lord who has given
rest to his people Israel, just as
he promised. Not one word has
failed of all the wonderful promises
he gave thro his servant Moses.
May the Lord our God be with us
as he was with our ancestors;
may he never forsake us.
May he give us the desire to
do His will in everything and to
obey all the commands, laws
and regulations that he gave
our ancestors (1 Kings 8:56-57).
Lord, we praise you for keeping
covenant and fulfilling your plan.
Give me the desire to do your will.
Thanks for the promise that in
your faithfulness you will fulfill
your purpose in my life just as you
fulfilled all yr promises to Moses.
Not one of them failed and
neither will your promises to me.
So we purpose in our heart to want
to obey God & Do His will. Amen.
Lord, we Turn our Heart to You:
As Solomon grew old, his wives
turned his heart after other gods,
and his heart was not fully devoted
to the Lord his God, as the heart
of David his father had been…
Thus Solomon did what was evil
in the Lord’s sight; he refused
to follow the Lord completely…
The Lord was very angry with
Solomon for his heart had turned
away from the God of Israel who
had appeared to him twice. He
had warned Solomon specifically
about worshipping other gods but
Solomon did not listen (1K11:4-10)
Lord, we turn freshly to U today.
I want to stay close to U & not turn
my heart away as Solomon did.
Help me to never make an idol
out of anything or anyone, or
put them before you in any way.
Keep me to follow You all the days
of my life. Thank you for all the
good things You have given me.
And I put you above all else. Amen
Dear God, Thanks for the lessons
from the life of King Solomon.
Help us to Seek your wisdom,
recognise wisdom when I hear it
& courage to follow through on it.
Thanks for the good plan for each
of us & that u fulfil your promises.
Give me the desire to Follow your
will and the Obedience to do it.
Help me to Not to Make an Idol
out of anything or anyone.
Keep us to Follow U all the days
of our life, even as we purpose
to put you above all else.
Help us Turn our heart wholly to U
& we shall have no gods before U.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
We have been covering the Bible
by time sequence, phase by phase
OT1: Five Books of Laws incl Job.
OT2: History Up to King David
from Joshua to 1 Chron + Psalms
as well as Reign of King Solomon
in 2nd Chron & Wisdom Poetry.
In OT Phase 3, we see decline
of the two Divided Kingdoms.
OT3A: 1 Kings, Obadiah & Joel
OT3B: 2K1-17: Ministry of Jonah,
Amos, Hosea, Micah & Isaiah in run
up to Israel’s Dispersion in 722BC.
OT3C: 2 Kings 18-25 as well as
the ministry of 3 minor prophets:
Nahum, Zephaniah & Habakkuk
& ministry of Jeremiah in run up
to Judah’s Dispersion (605/586BC)
Continuing, Daniel presents a
majestic sweep of prophetic history
World powers come and go,
but God will establish His people
forever. Nowhere is this theme
more apparent than in the life
of Daniel, a young Jew transplanted
to Babylonia. His adventures
In the palace and the lion’s den
show that even in exile God has
not forgotten His chosen people.
Daniel’s dreams & interpretations
of others’ dreams convince Jew
and Gentile alike that wisdom
and power belong to God alone.
God is in control, not only of the
present, but of the future as well.
We will cover the book of Daniel
in one weekend under 2 divisions:
a) Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
and Daniel’s Faith (Dan 1-6)
b) Daniel’s Visions on the Beasts
and of the Man (Dan 7-12).
Look Out for devotion on Daniel
to strengthen your faith in God.
Shalom/Chris
