From Sea To See

Pour out your heart like water to God and let the faithfulness of God lift you up.

“He made a bronze altar…He made the Sea of cast metal, circular in shape…The Sea stood on twelve bulls…It held three thousand baths. He then made ten basins for washing…the Sea was to be used by the priests for washing. He made ten gold lampstands…He made ten tables and placed them in the temple…He also made a hundred gold sprinkling bowls.”2 Chronicles 4:1-8

Can you think of the last time you moved into a new place or updated your home? What was your process for designing and decorating? As they built the temple to have a place to gather and worship God, the people of God were very intentional about what filled the space.

At first glance, this could feel like a disorganized construction site with random objects like a bronze altar, the Sea, basins, lampstands, tables, and bowls, but every object was designed to help them worship. The placement of each object mattered to them and should matter to us. The very first thing the people walked past was the table of sacrifice. This is the beginning for us as well. Before we can worship, we must remember the sacrifice.

All our faith begins with Jesus. He is the one who sacrificed Himself for us. He makes us clean and purifies us from all unrighteousness. For the people of Israel, it was important to begin with sacrifice. The same is true for us. Every day, it is good to begin your day by giving thanks to Jesus for all that He has done for you. Have you taken time to thank Him, to dwell with Him, to be cleansed by Him of anything you have picked up this week that is not holy, that you might be filled with His presence?

There was a process of purification and preparation that led to praise. Like the objects in the temple, what you fill your life with will impact your ability to be filled with God’s presence. The chapter describes how a sinful people prepared a place to approach a holy God, be cleansed, and live in His presence. Is the pattern of your day and the design of your dwelling doing the same thing? Or does anything need to go? Do you need to make any changes?

“Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me…For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you. I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long— though I know not how to relate them all. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God? Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.” Psalms 71:3-20

Imagine for a moment what it would have been like to be friends with David. He must have been a pretty cool guy to be around. He was strong like a warrior but passionate like a performer. He was humble yet confident. He had strong convictions and a clear concentration. His focus was on God’s faithfulness, and praise ever overflowed from his lips. How would people describe being friends with you? Does your presence move others to praise God?

Look at the words David used. Look at what came from his mouth, revealing his heart. He said I will praise, I will declare, my mouth is filled, I will tell, and I will proclaim. What words are coming out of your mouth? What do they say about your heart? Think of how the people of God followed a process of purification to be filled with God’s presence. David is a great example of someone who set up his life and his space to draw closer to God.

“A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them. Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests. Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips. Fools mock at making amends for sin…There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Even in laughter the heart may ache…The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps. The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded…A quick-tempered person does foolish things…blessed is the one who is kind to the needy. All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” Proverbs 14:3-31

Solomon’s teachings today reinforce a message about making room for God, maintaining an outward focus, and being wise with what comes out of your mouth. Which of these teachings strikes a chord with you? What stands out and why? Is there a reason why God wants to get your attention?

Wisdom tells us that there is a way that seems right but ends in death. This could be a bumper sticker applied to every car. We live in a culture that is full of paths that seem right but end in death. Patterns of living that lead to separation and sin. Hearts, minds, and homes that are not centered in Christ nor purified to make room for the presence of the Holy Spirit. How do you need Christ to cleanse something in your life today? Are there any steps you have taken in the wrong direction that may have seemed right but are not helping you love others or love God?

“How the Lord has covered Daughter Zion with the cloud of his anger! He has hurled down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth…He has swallowed up all her palaces and destroyed her strongholds. He has multiplied mourning and lamentation for Daughter Judah. He has laid waste his dwelling like a garden; he has destroyed his place of meeting. The LORD determined to tear down the wall around Daughter Zion. With what can I compare you, Daughter Jerusalem? Your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can heal you? Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at every street corner.” Lamentations 2:1-19

Consider the incredible connections between Second Chronicles and Lamentations. In Chronicles, we saw the people make a place for cleansing, washing basins, and a large sea. In Lamentations, the author wrote that their wounds were as deep as the sea. Instead of people drawing close to God and experiencing the joy of His presence, the path that the people had walked, which seemed right to them, had ended in death, like Solomon warned in Proverbs.

The natural question is how? How did the people end up in this place of separation and pain? How could this have happened? The answer is often slowly and simply. God said they had strongholds He had to tear down. Areas where sin and pride had built walls rather than places of worship. One step at a time, sin can enter in and build a stronghold. What are your strongholds? The words of your mouth often reveal the strongholds in your heart.

If we are not careful to orient our lives around the Almighty and design the days of our lives and our dwelling places to draw closer to God, then we can walk on the path that ends in death. Do you have any walls that need to come down so you can worship fully and freely? Any places in your life that do not help you praise God or positively influence other people?

“Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul…when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” The commander…called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight…So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night” Acts 23:1-31

When everything around him is darkness, Paul shows us how a heart devoted to Jesus responds. He was caught in circumstances that were horrible and out of his control, yet he kept a clear focus like David. His focus was on God’s will, and he said he kept his conscience clear. Think about that for a second. A purified conscience filled with God’s presence can withstand any of life’s pressures.

All that we see in the text points to a life patterned to live for the kingdom and stay on the right path. Paul did not know where each day would lead, but as he listened to God, he heard the message to take courage. Then God did what God does. He began, through people, to keep Paul safe. The Lord was his refuge. Paul’s job was not to orchestrate every event; it was to order his life around Jesus.

Can you see the life God is inviting you into? A life designed to make room for His presence that is patterned to be empowered by Him. Odds are that you have strongholds that need to come down or objects that do not help you to always worship God freely. Start with Jesus. Let Him tear down the walls you have built and cleanse anything unholy.

Choose the path that elevates, not the path of ease. Fill your heart with love so that your mouth would praise like David. Hold fast to a focus that encourages care for the needy and helps others see there is hope. Today you may be in a tough place like Daughter Jerusalem in Lamentations. If so, pour out your heart like water and know that Jesus heals.

And it all begins and ends with Jesus. As we turn to Him, He invites us to become living sacrifices, giving our lives back to the One who gave His life for us. Seek the altar and make space for Him. Seek His presence, then you will see all the reasons to sing of His righteous deeds.