How lovely is His dwelling place

How lovely is Your dwelling place...

Such a famous line. Full of wonder and awe. 

It makes me ask, "Is this attainable?" "Can I know the beauty of Your dwelling place?"

But then I sat in my comfy chair, opened my Bible, and dwelled for a bit on Psalm 84. All I wanted was to know HIM. Yes, the big H.I.M.... HIM. The Almighty One so lovingly talked about in this hymn. 

It is only 12 verses. Yet, I came up with a long list of truths I discovered about HIM. 

HE IS...

Presence

Present

Strength

Dwelling

Blessing

Generous

History

Covering 

Favor

Grace

Glory

Shield

Protector 

Anointed

Strength upon Strength

Sun & Shield

Listener

Answerer

No wonder the Psalmist said his soul yearns for the presence of the LORD and his flesh cries out for the living God.

As I sat and pondered, I felt His beauty. I was encouraged by His presence. I understood joy and delight basking in His goodness. I celebrated His Strength upon Strength that pours in His grace so that His glory may pour out. His input becoming output. 

I inhale His grace and breathe out His glory.

Hmmmm. Yes, better is one day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere.

May we dwell in His presence today!

Shalom Shalom y'all!

Did Korah's kin have to suffer because of his rebellion?

Sometimes, I read something and it makes me ask questions. This morning I read "and the line of Korah did not die out" (Numbers 26:11). But I noticed no number in the census was given for them. Without the census number, they could not receive the land inheritance. Without land, how could they work?  It made me wonder, did Korah's kin have to suffer and become slaves because of his pride?

What I found humbled me so much. Even Korah's rebellion which caused instant discipline that shocks you because 250 men were swallowed up in a hole that day (go read it in Numbers 16:1-40), there is a redemptive story.

Did you know that Korah's descendants served in the tabernacle as musicians, gatekeepers, and custodians (1 Chronicles 6:31-37; 9:19; 9:31-32; ; 25:1-7; 26:9)?

Did you know that 11 Psalms are attributed to the descendants of Korah?  Songs of longing for God, the power and protection of God, the presence of God emphasizing joy and the desire to be with God (Ps. 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 84, 85, 87, 88).

Now, I know our God is a God of redemption. I know His presence, provision, protection, and joy. Yet, I caught myself assuming the descendants of Korah were doomed because of their fathers rebellion. I know better. I love that God stopped this erroneous thought process.

How often do we say, "So and so is unredeemable?"  How often do we imply a person, politician, people group, or nation could never be redeemed? I know I hear and feel the brunt of these often in my world. And yet again, God caught the lie in my head this morning.

Listen! God is in the business of redeeming people! No person, people, or politician is beyond redemption. We must be praying for souls!  It is not our job to judge, condemn, slay, catch in sin, etc. Our role is to draw people closer to God so they know know the love of the Father through His Son! 

I can't stop thinking of the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. I am in aww that despite their sins or errors God chooses to have us remember their moment of faith. 

This morning I am celebrating the descendants of Korah that chose to help us draw closer to God. Just this week, I had a leader in Greater South Asia tell me how much it meant to the tribal people when they heard for the first time Psalm 42 in their heart language. 

Korah's descendants are still impacting kingdom culture today.

Shalom y'all.