Matthew 23:37-39 Hen and Chicks
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: August 5, 2019 Matthew 23:37-39
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
(Understanding the Text) This passage starts out seeming as if Jesus is angry and vengeful towards the scribes and Pharisees, but at the end it is clear that Jesus is trying to wake up the religious leaders. He wants to shake them so that they will turn from the path that they have been traveling on. Finally, it ends with Jesus mourning over the people that He has invested so much in, yet who constantly refuse to be saved. This will be the second time that God totally withdraws His protection from the city of Jerusalem. The first time was during the Babylonian exile with promises of return. The first time was always accompanied with a promise that Israel would be the chosen people again when they repented and returned to Jerusalem, but this time the only promise is about seeing Jesus again. The house is left desolate because God is leaving it. They will not have God living in the temple again. They will not see God dwelling with them as a people again. They will see Him again when He comes, and if they have chosen Him, they will be with Him.
(Revelation of God) This passage gives insight into how much God wanted Israel to succeed as a nation. He wanted the prophecies that He had given them of spreading and filling the whole world to come true. He wanted to protect them from the other nations and demonstrate that the God of Israel could be counted on to be with His followers. But they would not cooperate. He felt protective towards them, but they allowed their hearts to harden and would not be a people of mercy and justice. They chose instead to be a people of intolerance and cruelty and greed. They were no better than the Gentiles who had no knowledge of God.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that God desires to gather me under His wings also. He wants to protect me and teach me to fly as He does, but there is a sinful part of me that wants to grovel in the dust. I want to fly also, but that requires trust, and I am not very trusting. It also requires humility. That is difficult. Too often I want to make myself a little god and be diminished instead of allowing God to raise me up to heaven. I pray that You will transform me so that I am like You instead of full of dead men’s bones like I am so often. I pray for the joy of knowing You and trusting You.