Thursday, July 30, 2009

Today's Devotional Scripture

Today's Verse
A book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.
~Malachi 3:16

Thoughts on today's verse...
The ancient Egyptians had "The Book of the Dead." The principal purpose of ancient Egyptian funerary literature was to help the deceased pass through the dangers of the Underworld and be reborn into new life. The "Book of the Dead" refers to the funerary texts which the Ancient Egyptians called "the spell for coming forth by day". This title refers to the belief that the deceased took a whole night, as did Re with his solar barque, to travel through the realms of the dead. The all-conquering spirit of the deceased would then emerge triumphant with the morning sun. [© 2001-2008 EGYPTOLOGY ONLINE]

Now, back to Malachi and the Hebrew children... About 100 years had passed since their return to Palestine. The second Temple had been built in Jerusalem, but the people's enthusiasm had worn off. All the people and the priests were in a "backslidden" condition and had become mechanical in the observance of the Law. Though lax in their worship and delinquent in their tithing, they could not understand why God was dissatisfied with them. The book of remembrance mentioned in Malachi 3:16 was for all those Jews who had not defected or neglected the true worship of the Lord. God was remembering their faithfulness to Him.

This begs the question, which book do I want to be mentioned in? "The Book of the Dead" or God's Book of Remembrance?
My prayer...

Oh Lord, my God - as interesting as the history of other cultures is, I desire to learn from the history of your Word. May I not repeat the mistakes of the Hebrew children! May my worship be true and faithful, may my tithes honor You and may they be used for Your glory. ~Amen!

Yours, because we're His,

Tamara

4 comments:

  1. "Mechanical in the observance of the Lord".
    I think lately that description pretty much sums up me.

    Thanks for this.
    All the best,
    Eileen

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good morning Tamara...
    Hope your day is going well.
    Wanda

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  3. Wake up calls...that's what we need not just in the morning but for all of our lives on earth. And it's a good thing if we follow through and become alert to all we are called to do through love and kindness.

    Thank you for all that history too...even pagans like the Egyptians needed reassurance and were really looking for the one true Creator. I have often heard that the Egyptian ankh was a foreshadowing of the Cross.

    blessings and hugs,

    marcy

    ReplyDelete

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