Grains of Sand

“ No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man. But it is God who judges. He brings one down, he exalts another ” —Psalm 75:6, 7, NIV. In recent weeks the world attention has focused on the Middle East. Suddenly and definitively, the Egyptian people found their voice and used it. Neigbouring states living under repressive regimes, followed Egypt’s example.   Now the world watches Libya. Here freedom will be harder to gain. My mind goes to Cuba, to Venezuela, to Ecuador and other places, wondering if the fire will catch in these countries where freedom has more than just a few limitations. The period of the Judges in Israel are a reminder that there is so much more happening than any of us could possibly be aware of. The God of the nations, whether or not those nations acknowledge Him, is at work carrying out His plans and purposes. In one of Israel’s darkest periods of history, pagan and repressive regimes became God’s instruments to punish sin, to ...

Both yesterday and today, I encountered a couple of passages in my reading that ignited the flames of desire in me. Yesterday I read 2 Chronicles 4-6 and today I continued with chapters 7-9. All of these describe the celebrations and ceremonies that went on as King Solomon dedicated the temple he had built for the Lord. In yesterday's reading I came upon 2 Chronicles 5:13, 14. The musicians have launched themselves full-tilt into worship. As the singers raise their voices toward heaven, the writer records: " Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God ." Then a little further on, after Solomon offers a wonderful prayer to God, the Scriptures record: " When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the te...