December 21, 2021 -- II Chronicles 2:13-14 -- Am I working in obscurity?
/Dearly loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
“Now I have sent a skilled man, who has understanding, Huram-abi, 14 the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre. He is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and to do all sorts of engraving and execute any design that may be assigned him, with your craftsmen, the craftsmen of my lord, David your father.
II Chronicles 2:13-14 ESV
Solomon was going to build a temple to the LORD his God. It would be very great. He asked the neighboring king, Hiram of Tyre, to send him a man skilled to do all kinds of work for the adornment of this temple. As with the construction of the tabernacle (used as the meeting place while Israel wandered), so with the building of the temple, someone from the tribe of Dan is set to work. In this case it is Huram-abi, his mother is from Dan and his dad is from Tyre.
For the work of bearing burdens, moving quarried stone and taking rafts of precious wood and carrying these from the harbor up to the temple mount, Solomon assigned 70,000 workers. There were 80,000 quarrymen. What a huge labour force employed for this work. One man is named, Huram-abi, tens upon tens of thousands are skilled laborers or workers in their own right, but these are not named. Without these 150,000 workers cutting stone to precise measurements, and their 3,600 oversees to coordinate their work there’d be nothing for Huram-abi to work with at the site of the temple.
It is very easy to think, I am working in obscurity. What I do, how can that make any difference? Does anyone notice? The LORD our God notices each one. Every laborer in His Kingdom is known by Name. We are His, not by a human will or husband’s decision (John 1:13), but we are His because of the precious blood of Jesus Christ. That glorious covering means we are precious in the sight of our Glorious God. His Spirit works in us and through us to accomplish the work of our Father, to the honour and glory of Jesus Christ. Whatever it is God gives you to do, do it with all your might to His praise.
Stay sober one more day.
Honour your spouse, especially when it is difficult to do so.
Pray for the person who God the Spirit keeps impressing on your heart.
Give generously, quietly, though no one else may know it, the LORD our God sees you.
In fact, there is no such thing as obscurity in the Kingdom of God, for the Spirit of God is at work to seal within you the salvation of Jesus Christ and work in you so that sin is more and more hateful to you and the things of Jesus more and more pleasing.
Who is like You, O LORD of Glory, Father of all mercies? There is none and nothing that is Your equal. You do all things perfectly, wondrously, and all You do results in praise to Your Name and evokes from angels and saints greater shouts of “Hallelujah!” Faithful Father, thank You for the work of Jesus Christ, by Whose blood each Christian is counted as precious in Your sight. Thank You, Sovereign Majesty of Heaven, for the gift of Your Spirit, by Whom each Christian is known to You, empowered for holy service. Triune God, if what I do is to be done before many people, let Your Name be praised because of me. Triune God, if what I am to do is done in obscurity, without the knowledge or acknowledgement of others, let Your Name be praised because of me. Strengthen me, along with Your countless tens of millions upon millions, to be willing workers in Your Kingdom, serving with every bit of strength given us, until we hear the trumpet sound and see Jesus return with all His holy angels with Him. Amen.
https://youtu.be/43rnW8AdtqY
1. How bright appears the Morning Star,
With mercy beaming from afar;
The host of heaven rejoices;
O righteous Branch, O Jesse's Rod!
Thou Son of Man and Son of God!
We, too, will lift our voices:
Jesus, Jesus!
Holy, holy, yet most lowly,
Draw thou near us;
Great Emmanuel, come and hear us.
2. Though circled by the hosts on high,
He deigned to cast a pitying eye
Upon his helpless creature;
The whole creation's Head and Lord,
By highest seraphim adored,
Assumed our very nature;
Jesus, grant us,
Through thy merit, to inherit
Thy salvation;
Hear, O hear our supplication.
3. Rejoice, ye heavens; thou earth, reply;
With praise, ye sinners, fill the sky,
For this his Incarnation.
Incarnate God, put forth thy power,
Ride on, ride on, great Conqueror,
Till all know thy salvation.
Amen, amen!
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise be given
Evermore, by earth and heaven.
source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/christmascarols/h/howbrightlyshinesthemorningstarlyrics.html
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