Guest ~ Lynn Mosher, @lynnmosher
With Marcie Bridges, @Marcie_Bridges
I’m so honored to have Lynn Mosher speak to us this week. I have admired her work for quite some time and feel so incredibly humbled that she would accept an invitation at the last minute to be my guest this week. So with much gratitude and joy…
WELCOME TO HEART THOUGHTS LYNN!
“These were the potters and those who dwell
at Netaim and Gederah;
there they dwelt with the king for his work.”
1 Chronicles 4:23
there they dwelt with the king for his work.”
1 Chronicles 4:23
There They Dwelt with
the King
the King
Have you ever come
across a Bible verse that jumps off the page at you? I don’t mean a verse
you’ve read a bazillion times or can quote in an instant. I mean some obscure
verse.
across a Bible verse that jumps off the page at you? I don’t mean a verse
you’ve read a bazillion times or can quote in an instant. I mean some obscure
verse.
I came across one. Well, actually, I’ve come across others,
but the more I think about this one, repeat it, or dig into it, the more I love
it. So, here it is…
but the more I think about this one, repeat it, or dig into it, the more I love
it. So, here it is…
Hidden at the end of the list of begats in 1 Chronicles 4,
where Jabez and his prayer reside, is this verse:
where Jabez and his prayer reside, is this verse:
“These were the potters and
those who dwell at Netaim and Gederah;
there they dwelt with the king for his work.”
(1 Chron. 4:23 NKJV)
(1 Chron. 4:23 NKJV)
Not such a great verse, you say? Well, if you read it in the
King James or the Masoretic Text (though each is worded slightly different), it
says this, “These were the potters, and those who lived among plants and
hedges. They lived there with the king for his work.” (Mas)
King James or the Masoretic Text (though each is worded slightly different), it
says this, “These were the potters, and those who lived among plants and
hedges. They lived there with the king for his work.” (Mas)
Better? Not yet? Let
me show you what I see in it.
me show you what I see in it.
First, the definitions. The Hebrew word for…
*potters is a
technical potter’s term, used in connection with the potter at work, and means
to form, fashion, to produce, create, craftsmanship, handiwork, etc.
technical potter’s term, used in connection with the potter at work, and means
to form, fashion, to produce, create, craftsmanship, handiwork, etc.
*dwell/dwelt/lived
means remain, abide, inhabit, etc.
means remain, abide, inhabit, etc.
*Netaim means a
place in Palestine,
among plants
place in Palestine,
among plants
*Gederah means a
place in Palestine,
wall, hedges
place in Palestine,
wall, hedges
*work also means
business, employment, deputyship, workmanship, service, use, and ministry.
business, employment, deputyship, workmanship, service, use, and ministry.
Dwelling with the king meant in his kingdom.
So, where are you dwelling
right now? Where in His kingdom has the King placed you to carry out His work?
right now? Where in His kingdom has the King placed you to carry out His work?
You may, at the moment, feel hemmed in, surrounded by walls
of
of
hedges. Maybe even thorny ones. Maybe you see them as a hindrance. And maybe
they are. Or maybe they are there to protect you. Maybe to discipline you.
Maybe for you to learn a lesson. Or maybe to separate you from something until
you gather up strength.
But wherever He has placed you, He is there…dwelling
with you.
with you.
Whatever the reason for the hedges in your life, or mine,
they are of the King’s permissive will, sifted through His mighty fingers. Fit
for you…and fit for me. Otherwise, He would remove them.
they are of the King’s permissive will, sifted through His mighty fingers. Fit
for you…and fit for me. Otherwise, He would remove them.
And the pottery? That is the King’s work that He has
willed for us to do. The labor of your hands…and my hands. In His kingdom.
willed for us to do. The labor of your hands…and my hands. In His kingdom.
Through his letter to the Colossians, Paul tells us, “Work
hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord
rather than for people.” (Col. 3:23 NLT)
hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord
rather than for people.” (Col. 3:23 NLT)
Within the hedges of whatever situation you are
dwelling right now, that is the divine place of the King’s work for you. That
is your service, your ministry.
dwelling right now, that is the divine place of the King’s work for you. That
is your service, your ministry.
Remember, it is a privilege to serve Him. So, “Whatever you
eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God.” (1 Cor.
10:31 NLT)
eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God.” (1 Cor.
10:31 NLT)
What pottery-work has
the Lord placed in your hands to accomplish for Him?
the Lord placed in your hands to accomplish for Him?
Where is your there? Is it behind the hedges,
dwelling
with the King?
with the King?
There you dwell with the King
for His work.
for His work.
There. With the King.
But wherever He has placed you, He is there…dwelling with you.
Lynn Mosher loves to dig into
God’s Word and treasure hunts for golden nuggets along the road Home. Lynn lives
with her hubby (since 1966) in their Kentucky nest, emptied now of three kidlets
and embracing three giggly grand-chicklets. Her greatest passion is to share
those nuggets in her devotionals and inspirational stories, fulfilling God’s
call on her life to encourage others and glorify the Lord. Lynn writes monthly
for several sites and bi-weekly at her online residence, Heading Home.
You can find Lynn’s website at http://lynnmosher.com/
God’s Word and treasure hunts for golden nuggets along the road Home. Lynn lives
with her hubby (since 1966) in their Kentucky nest, emptied now of three kidlets
and embracing three giggly grand-chicklets. Her greatest passion is to share
those nuggets in her devotionals and inspirational stories, fulfilling God’s
call on her life to encourage others and glorify the Lord. Lynn writes monthly
for several sites and bi-weekly at her online residence, Heading Home.
You can find Lynn’s website at http://lynnmosher.com/
Thank you so much, Marcie, for allowing me to be your guest and for your kind words. I'm honored. Blessings to you! 😀
Lynn, I have enjoyed getting to know you and am just so grateful for your love for the Lord. You inspire me so much every day. Thank you for helping me and blogging for me this week. 🙂
What a lovely illustration, Lynn! Thank you for sharing it!
Thank you so much, Norma. So appreciate it! 😀
Lynn, trust you to find this gold nugget most of us would never have discovered. I must say dwelling in the grounds of the King, being available for His service… is most appealing…..I'm just not quite so sure if I would be able to live IN the garden…. 😉 Bless you for this wonderful illustration.
LOL Thank you, sweet Mary! You would be the loveliest flower in the garden! So appreciate your stopping by. Bless you!