In the Clay

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 4-5

In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah. (2 Chronicles 4.17)

Devotional Thought: I recently received a reminder and update to a dinner with an explanation from the hostess: "I was so focused on the details of the dinner that I forgot to confirm with the guests of honor!"  She was speaking of my wife and me, but I couldn't help but respond: "Guests of honor?  Who are they?  I can't wait to meet them!"  She just grinned!  Have you ever been paid a compliment that made you think, "Who are they talking about?"  Today's scripture provides a fitting metaphor of that...

King Solomon had employed Huram-Abi (or Hiram) to make the pillars, furnishings, and instruments of worship for the temple.  These instruments were made of gold, silver, and bronze - precious metals.  But these metals were cast "in the plain of the Jordan... in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah."  I find it interesting that precious metals, used in the worship of God, were fabricated "in the clay ground," or you might say, "in the dirt."  The molds for making these holy vessels were nothing more than dirt.

God has a way of transforming the commonest vessels into instruments of holy purposes!  I am reminded of what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth... But God chose what is low and despised in the world..." (1 Corinthians 1.26, 28).  In his second letter he reminded them, "We have this treasure in jars of clay..." (2 Corinthians 4.7).

How about you?  Are you feeling low?  Lower than dirt even?  Take heart!  God wants to pour the precious metal of the kingdom into your life so that you can become a vessel of honor and glory to him!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for transforming me "from glory to glory" so that I might be filled with your Holy Spirit and used for your holy purposes.  I offer myself to you in humbleness and faith.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 60: 6-12

6 God has spoken in his holiness: "With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth.

7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter.

8 Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph."

9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

10 Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.

11 Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!

12 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.