Almost 2 years ago my church family was encouraged to read the Bible through in a year and they started all over again in January 2023. So now I will confess, I finally finished 2 Samuel last week, not even half way through the Old Testament in almost 2 years 😳. But here’s the thing, I never even made the 2022 commitment to read in a year. You see, I did believe God wanted me to make the commitment to read the Bible in its entirety with a good commentary to guide me… No time lines… Just keep on reading and learning and soaking it in no matter how long it takes 🙂. Wow! Sometimes I feel like God has opened the windows of my mind and poured in showers of blessings. It’s been an amazing journey!
So, as I completed reading in 2 Samuel about the end of King David’s reign, I learned about his preparations for Solomon to build the Temple. David had rebelled against the Lord’s command and took a census of the people. As just a short summary, God was angry and the judgement angel brought a devastating plague. David repented and God allowed him to see the judgment angel hovering over a threshing floor. David then purchased that land to offer sacrifices to the Lord and God’s fire came down from Heaven and consumed the sacrifices. Going further back in time, this was the same place that Abraham had offered Isaac as a sacrifice and he was spared. It became the place where Solomon built the Temple. This was a sacred place of repentance and sacrifice, surrender and offering; a place of ashes. It became a place of great beauty and reverence; a place where the Glory of the Lord came down and resided in the Temple of His people. It became a place of worship. Those ashes from sacrifices became a place of great beauty.
That’s a really short version but as I read about this, God spoke to my heart and reminded me, yet again, that He brings beauty from ashes. Isn’t that a wonderful Word from the Lord? He comforts us in the ashes of our heartbreak, when it seems that nothing good can ever happen again; when we can’t even move; when we grieve.
The phrase “Beauty from Ashes” has been stuck in my heart and mind for a couple of weeks now since reading this passage. In searching for the origin, I found these precious words of Isaiah:
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom to the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
Isaiah 61: 1-3a NIV
Dear friends, I needed that Word! I dare say, this has been one of the hardest years of my life in more ways than I care to remember. God reminded me of His comfort and His restoration, and someday, Praise God, of His ultimate healing! He brings beauty from ashes in our lives! Thank You Lord! Bless Your Holy Name!
Dear friends, may I encourage you to commit to read and study His Word no matter the circumstances. Pray and seek His guidance. Keep your eyes on Him.
Just a quick note, I am so grateful for a dear pastor friend who introduced me to the work of Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe. “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament In One Volume” and many of his other publications are invaluable and a blessing. I found most of these on Amazon.
Another sweet friend from church encouraged me to ask Google for the locations of Scripture. I confess. I’m not good with numbers or Scripture number references. Such is life 🙂. Google has been extremely valuable too.
Thank you so much for reading and following along with Hope and a Dash of Humor! May the Lord bless you,
Kim💕🙏
Hope and a Dash of Humor 