PASTORS' DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Jun
19

Leaning On Lattice

Jon Burgess

Scripture
1After King Ahab’s death, the land of Moab rebelled against Israel.2One day Israel’s new king, Ahaziah, fell through the latticework of an upper room at his palace in Samaria and was seriously injured. So he sent messengers to the temple of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether he would recover. 2 Kings 1:1-2
Observation

Who leans on lattice anyway? Did he really think the flimsy wood would hold his weight? Lattice is built for show not support. It was foolish to put his trust in something that could never hold him up. What King Ahaziah did in the natural he also did in the spiritual and both will lead to ultimately to his demise. This is why the prophet Elijah confronts him with these words: “This is what the Lord says: Why did you send messengers to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Is there no God in Israel to answer your question? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.” 2 Kings 1:16

Application

Where am I leaning on the lattice? Where am I putting my trust in that which cannot possibly hold me, sustain me or heal me? Where am I going to other sources and other places with questions instead of going to the Lord? Forms of latticein my life: man's opinion, my knowledge, what's popular, what's easy, people that agree with me, convenience, shortcuts, past success, etc. I have so many options every single day to lean on that which will ultimately leave me flat on my back in pain. How do I know if I'm leaning on lattice instead of my Lord? Who do I call on when everything is going great? That's who I will call on when everything is falling apart. King Ahaziah called on Baal-zebub and that turned out to be as helpful as lattice.

4 I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
7 Arise, Lord!
Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the Lord comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.
Psalm 3:4-8

Prayer

I call out to You Lord and You hear me, You hold me, You help me! Forgive me for the times I have gone to people before going to You. Forgive me for the times I have leaned on things other than You. You hold me when things are going great and when things are falling apart. You never let me down. You are my rock and I will lean in on You right now no matter what others are leaning on around me.


Devotions for June 19

2 Kings 1,2,3
Psalms 82
1 Timothy 1

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