Corona Devo 1088

He issued this order to the Levites, who were to teach all Israel and who had been set apart to serve the Lord: “Put the holy Ark in the Temple that was built by Solomon son of David, the king of Israel. You no longer need to carry it back and forth on your shoulders. Now spend your time serving the Lord your God and his people Israel. (4) Report for duty...

(5) “Then stand in the sanctuary at the place appointed for your family division and help the families assigned to you as they bring their offerings to the Temple.  ~II Chronicles 35:3-5

In literal translation, the priests had been assigned to carry the Ark of the Covenant back-and-forth, into the Temple during worship, and back out afterwards.  The priests dutifully carrying the Ark symbolized the presence of God being brought-in (on their shoulders).  

But here, King Josiah issues a new order: Put the holy Ark in the Temple... You no longer need to carry it back and forth on your shoulders.  ~II Chronicles 35:3

I see/read/feel the direct correlation and instruction of these verses into our lives today: We do not have to carry God's holiness on our shoulders.  We can't.

We do not have to purposely or dutifully "usher-in" God's presence/blessing/forgiveness day after day after day.  That's not up to us.  That's not "on our shoulders".  

Jesus put that burden/task/duty on HIS shoulders for us at the cross.

Through His death AND RESURRECTION from death, Jesus and our Heavenly Father issued a new order.

We don't have to invoke the Lord's spirit or blessing/we can't earn it/and we do not heft-it in our own merit upon our shoulders.  That used to be the (Old Testament) way, before Jesus came...but Jesus came, and He issued a new order.

All we have to do is confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).   

No more carrying our sins/our "works"/and God's hoped-for-holiness on our shoulders.

But do not think for a moment that the Lord leaves us idle or without Kingdom assignment.  Our next duty is given in the next breath of the verses: Now spend your time serving the Lord your God and his people Israel. (4) Report for duty...  (5) “Then stand in the sanctuary at the place appointed for your family division and help the families assigned to you as they bring their offerings to the Temple (II Chronicles 35:3-5).  

Josiah was speaking to the Levites, who were to teach all Israel and who had been set apart to serve the Lord (II Chronicles 35:3).  

God is speaking to us through his Word today.  God is speaking to us, his "Levites", his "priests", his children who have been set apart to to teach all those who also had been set apart to serve the Lord.

How should we be spending our time?   Now spend your time serving the Lord your God and his people... 

That's our faith thought-for-the-day and our spiritual take-away from time in the Bible today.  

We do not have to carry God's holiness on our shoulders.  We do not have to purposely usher it in when we feel conditions (or ourselves) are "right" or "holy" to honor Him.  All of that is no longer on our shoulders.

Josiah's words meant one thing to them then.

Josiah's words have great depth and application in a different sense for us today.  Let God apply His Word to our hearts and faith today.

He issued this order to the Levites, who were to teach all Israel and who had been set apart to serve the Lord: “Put the holy Ark in the Temple that was built by Solomon son of David, the king of Israel. You no longer need to carry it back and forth on your shoulders. Now spend your time serving the Lord your God and his people Israel. (4) Report for duty...

(5) “Then stand in the sanctuary at the place appointed for your family division and help the families assigned to you as they bring their offerings to the Temple.  ~II Chronicles 35:3-5

Jesus, our King... Recenter us today.  The deeds and works and holiness are not on our shoulders.  You put them on Yours.  Your new order for us is to teach others to serve the Lord.  We can do that today, with Your help.  Show us how.  Carry us on Your shoulders.  Amen.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com


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