Psalms is an amazingly rich book. I go to it many times when I'm down, sad, tired, struggling with faith and trust. Apparently, many of the writers were feeling that way when they wrote them. Maybe that's why we resonate with them. In fact, time and again you hear encouragement like this: "The LORD sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down." (145:14) Or this one: "The LORD raises up those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous." (146:8)
As I have read Psalms 145 through 150 now for a few weeks, each time certain verses will encourage my heart. Recently, I heard a man talk about the importance of believers knowing God's word. To know is something you do with your mind not your feelings. Feelings cannot be trusted. They are too fickle! But when our minds are filled with that that brings health, it will sustain us through dry and painful times on our spiritual path.
What I'd like to do is walk through Psalm 145 and just center in on the verses with "all" in them. And remember "all" means all!! I'll not list the verse numbers. It's only 21 verses and the whole Psalm is nourishing and should be read in its entirety.
The LORD is good to all and His mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You. The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds. The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. The LORD keeps all who love Him but all the wicked He will destroy. And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." (Philippians 4:8) OR... THINK, KNOW these things! Your feelings cannot be your guide. But God's Word is the map that can be trusted, for in it we learn "the Way, the Truth and the Life"!
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
Looking Up
The world without God plows through life seeking to solve all problems with a multitude of manmade solutions. And when finally they come upon problems to which their efforts are without success, they despair and fall into depression. All they had to do at the end of their rope, was to look up to Him, Who alone can do "abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to His power". (Ephesians 3:20)
We as believers in Christ readily agree that the unbelieving world needs to look up to God alone for the answers, yet even so, we, too, fail to ask Him, if needs be, every moment, for help in our daily walk. We should be even more ashamed that as followers of Christ and believers in the One true Creator God, we struggle in life issues without stopping to get on our knees in humble appeal to our Father above. Prayer is the most important work a believer is to be engaged. We are completely dependent on God's power to accomplish His work in our lives, no matter where we may find ourselves at present.
The importance of "looking up" really came home to me today as I began work on getting rid of unwanted growth at the bottom of my property. Privet hedge, while an ornamental for some, is a complete nuisance for me. And I will add that it is a most hearty and invasive "weed". As I began my exterminating process using a small saw, I was energetic and optimistic of my great goal. The wood is soft and I thought it would be a breeze. However, it became very tedious and time-consuming. At the beginning, I saw a few choice plants that had been crowded out. I had not even seen them until I was right on them. I wanted to save them! I wanted them to stand out; not to be hindered and smothered by the privet.
In the area I was working, there were only three choice plants. I began to cautiously saw because it was very grown up and I was afraid of snakes. However, the more confident I became, the closer to the ground I went until I was finally lying on the ground sawing feverishly. At first I had been calculated, looking up to see what I was doing. However, as I began to lie on the ground, I quit looking up. Low and behold as I felled bush after bush, one came down that was not a privet! It was, in fact, one of the three choice trees, I was trying to save. My heart sank at my own stupidity for not continuing to think through my choices by making sure they were right.
How like prayerless believers who try to fix their own problems with manmade efforts instead of crying out to the One who has the answers and the power. Let us remember our Creator daily, not just in the asking but in the joyful thankfulness and love expressed to Him in prayer. Prayer is our communication with Him. We look up to Him, not because we feel like it and not to experience some emotional high, but to express trust in His divine guidance of our lives. It's not about feelings, but about dependence and He is never unavailable! Let us not plow through life in our own strength and then regret a loss of something precious because we failed to ask God for direction. Look up, praise His holy Name and seek His guidance.
We as believers in Christ readily agree that the unbelieving world needs to look up to God alone for the answers, yet even so, we, too, fail to ask Him, if needs be, every moment, for help in our daily walk. We should be even more ashamed that as followers of Christ and believers in the One true Creator God, we struggle in life issues without stopping to get on our knees in humble appeal to our Father above. Prayer is the most important work a believer is to be engaged. We are completely dependent on God's power to accomplish His work in our lives, no matter where we may find ourselves at present.
The importance of "looking up" really came home to me today as I began work on getting rid of unwanted growth at the bottom of my property. Privet hedge, while an ornamental for some, is a complete nuisance for me. And I will add that it is a most hearty and invasive "weed". As I began my exterminating process using a small saw, I was energetic and optimistic of my great goal. The wood is soft and I thought it would be a breeze. However, it became very tedious and time-consuming. At the beginning, I saw a few choice plants that had been crowded out. I had not even seen them until I was right on them. I wanted to save them! I wanted them to stand out; not to be hindered and smothered by the privet.
In the area I was working, there were only three choice plants. I began to cautiously saw because it was very grown up and I was afraid of snakes. However, the more confident I became, the closer to the ground I went until I was finally lying on the ground sawing feverishly. At first I had been calculated, looking up to see what I was doing. However, as I began to lie on the ground, I quit looking up. Low and behold as I felled bush after bush, one came down that was not a privet! It was, in fact, one of the three choice trees, I was trying to save. My heart sank at my own stupidity for not continuing to think through my choices by making sure they were right.
How like prayerless believers who try to fix their own problems with manmade efforts instead of crying out to the One who has the answers and the power. Let us remember our Creator daily, not just in the asking but in the joyful thankfulness and love expressed to Him in prayer. Prayer is our communication with Him. We look up to Him, not because we feel like it and not to experience some emotional high, but to express trust in His divine guidance of our lives. It's not about feelings, but about dependence and He is never unavailable! Let us not plow through life in our own strength and then regret a loss of something precious because we failed to ask God for direction. Look up, praise His holy Name and seek His guidance.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Shouting and Singing
If you were in the middle of a public place like an airport,
grocery store or maybe a ballgame and all of a sudden, in even the busy buzz of
noise, you hear a shout, what would you do? Or in the same scenarios, you hear a voice singing, what
would be the tendency of your reaction? For me, I answer with a definite, look around to see from
where it’s coming. We have in
Psalm 65 a wonderful exclamation of praise to God. John MacArthur’s study notes categorize it as "praise for
spiritual blessings and praise for natural blessings". He says it’s a Psalm full of "hopeful, confident,
ever-enthusiastic feelings in response to God’s goodness". And with this praise, he brings out,
are "no complaints or curses".
Verses one through five rehearse the wonderful spiritual
blessings to man: praise, performed vows, forgiveness, chosen, nearness
dwelling, answers, salvation, and trust.
And there is so much that can be gleaned from this Psalm, but as the
final for my “Just Five Psalms” posts, I’d like to bring out one jewel taken
from the second part. The praise
of the natural blessings is verbalized as the writer’s prerogative by nature
itself. “You make the dawn and the
sunset shout for joy…and the valleys are covered with grain; they shout for
joy, yes, they sing.”
As I envisioned this scenario, it dawned on me (excuse the
pun) that the sun, from the rising to the setting does just that. One cannot help but take notice of
light penetrating the darkness like a shout that would be noticed in the midst
of a busy crowd. It comes up
piecing through the night with its gladness and it goes down beautifully
arrayed with ever-changing color shouting it’s wonder until it disappears. And the hills, meadows and valleys
covered with grain do their share of shouting for joy and singing. I cannot help but take in the wonder of
it all as I ride down a country road. Feasting on the beauty all around in nature’s shouting
and singing fest, I cannot help but
pay attention and look around.
Nature’s verbal display to and from God are scenes I never want to take
for granted. I must look. And I, too, must praise! For to enjoy the creation while being
personally united to the Creator is a joy upon joy that will never be taken from
me. I am, as John MacArthur says,
full of "hopeful, confident and ever-enthusiastic feelings in response to God’s
goodness". And may my complaints
grow dim in the glow.
Friday, January 30, 2015
But God!
Even King David, in his extreme difficulty, gets self-centered in prayer. In his complaint, concern and fear, his request to God is "my", "my", and "me". "Hear my voice", "preserve my life" and "hide me" are the requests that speak the reality of immediate self-preservation. At that moment, what good is praising God, if death is imminent? (Verses 1-2, Psalm 64)
But is death imminent? Is David actually on the verge of death? Looking at the continuation of each request, we see that his fear lies in the "dread" of his enemy, not yet the reality! As he says in verse one, it's his "concern" or "complaint". How many times do we work ourselves up into a fearful frenzy over dread, worry, or anxiety of the future? If you say, "never", then more power to you. But, I'm ashamed to say that most of my anxiety is over that which has not yet occurred. Dread is an overwhelming emotion that can paralyze.
By definition, dread is to anticipate with great apprehension or fear. Some other words attributed with dread are: forebodings, terror, horror, alarm, panic, fright, trepidation and many more. There is dread of death, sickness, bad weather, failed plans, loneliness, no income and the list goes on. David wanted God to hear his concern over the "dread of the enemy". He wanted God to hide him from "secret counsel" and "tumult". He describes his enemy in great detail. But as David does this, all of a sudden, he shifts gears.
From fear to confidence, David all but wakes up from the drug of dread to the brightness of an all powerful God. "BUT GOD"!! (How many times is that phrase used in the holy scriptures?) God considers the helplessness of his own. In David's coming and laying his fears before the throne, he becomes aware of the Divine Presence of an in control God!! It's almost like another Person stepped in to finish the Psalm with the plight of the wicked and the privilege of the righteous.(vv. 7-10) "Gladness, refuge and glory" await those who seek God with an upright heart. (v. 10) With the brightness of a future with those promises, dread dissipates along with the darkness.
But is death imminent? Is David actually on the verge of death? Looking at the continuation of each request, we see that his fear lies in the "dread" of his enemy, not yet the reality! As he says in verse one, it's his "concern" or "complaint". How many times do we work ourselves up into a fearful frenzy over dread, worry, or anxiety of the future? If you say, "never", then more power to you. But, I'm ashamed to say that most of my anxiety is over that which has not yet occurred. Dread is an overwhelming emotion that can paralyze.
By definition, dread is to anticipate with great apprehension or fear. Some other words attributed with dread are: forebodings, terror, horror, alarm, panic, fright, trepidation and many more. There is dread of death, sickness, bad weather, failed plans, loneliness, no income and the list goes on. David wanted God to hear his concern over the "dread of the enemy". He wanted God to hide him from "secret counsel" and "tumult". He describes his enemy in great detail. But as David does this, all of a sudden, he shifts gears.
From fear to confidence, David all but wakes up from the drug of dread to the brightness of an all powerful God. "BUT GOD"!! (How many times is that phrase used in the holy scriptures?) God considers the helplessness of his own. In David's coming and laying his fears before the throne, he becomes aware of the Divine Presence of an in control God!! It's almost like another Person stepped in to finish the Psalm with the plight of the wicked and the privilege of the righteous.(vv. 7-10) "Gladness, refuge and glory" await those who seek God with an upright heart. (v. 10) With the brightness of a future with those promises, dread dissipates along with the darkness.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Shadows
I watched a YouTube video recently of young toddlers experiencing their shadows for the first time. They were crying fearfully and trying to run from them. For me, it was both sad and hilarious! It was sad because these babies were seeing for the first time what was to them a dark and ominous presence that would not go away. I wanted to comfort the child while at the same time I was laughing heartily. However, even as an adult, I admit being startled by my own shadow more than once. Also, more times than I can count, I have been refreshed by the shadow of a great tree protecting me from the light and heat of the sun on a hot summer day. It was a "refuge" for me.
David, in Psalm 63:7, shares this meaning of the "shadow" as he says, "You have been my help and in the shadow of Your wings (a symbol of protection), I sing for joy." Notice David says, "shadow of Your wings". He doesn't hear the shadow or feel the shadow with his hand. But David can "see", understand, know that the shadow is there.
Knowing and understanding, we run to the shadows for a covering against the "heat" and "blinding presence" of trials. Without that understanding, like the babies, we run in fear from that dark presence. But our shadows only prove we are here. The baby doesn't know that yet. Are we still babies in regard to God? Do we have to actually see Him, touch Him, audibly hear Him to run to Him for our protection?
David didn't need the actual "Wings" of God to touch him to feel comforted. He was comforted in the "Shadow". It makes me think of the verse, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, then we shall see face to face." (1 Cor. 13:12) God increase our faith with the knowledge of Your word to keep us at rest and at peace until we see Your face. Let us be content with hope in the Shadow of Your wings.
David, in Psalm 63:7, shares this meaning of the "shadow" as he says, "You have been my help and in the shadow of Your wings (a symbol of protection), I sing for joy." Notice David says, "shadow of Your wings". He doesn't hear the shadow or feel the shadow with his hand. But David can "see", understand, know that the shadow is there.
Knowing and understanding, we run to the shadows for a covering against the "heat" and "blinding presence" of trials. Without that understanding, like the babies, we run in fear from that dark presence. But our shadows only prove we are here. The baby doesn't know that yet. Are we still babies in regard to God? Do we have to actually see Him, touch Him, audibly hear Him to run to Him for our protection?
David didn't need the actual "Wings" of God to touch him to feel comforted. He was comforted in the "Shadow". It makes me think of the verse, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, then we shall see face to face." (1 Cor. 13:12) God increase our faith with the knowledge of Your word to keep us at rest and at peace until we see Your face. Let us be content with hope in the Shadow of Your wings.
Monday, January 19, 2015
"God Only"
Continuing some thoughts about Psalm 62, I wanted to bring out David's distinct dichotomy between God and man. Also, I wanted to note David's encouraging himself with his reflection. I see this as a great reminder to us as believers of the importance of rehearsing God's word daily, moment by moment and at all times. It keeps our perspective focused rightly.
David's description of man, as I wrote in the previous post, is one that we need to rehearse to keep us humble. And to remind us of the state of men in the world without God, that they will not intimidate our resolve. Here are some of those reminders from this Psalm: "leaning wall, tottering fence, delighting in lies, hypocrites and vain". We need to get the picture of what we truly are that our salvation will become more precious and our God more amazing. David was amazed and comforted by his awareness of God. God was his Only Everything! Meditate on this great truth and find rest from your troubles and fears. He's your "salvation, rock, stronghold, refuge, power and in the midst and surrounding it all is His lovingkindness.
David was plagued in this Psalm as in many Psalms with men that would dethrone him, make him a prisoner and or kill him. But he knew where to find a safe hiding place. In the first two verses he says, "My soul waits in silence for God only." I'm convicted by his silence! (Although, he does say "silence", we have this Psalm full of words.) He tells all that he is doing, then because of all that God is doing, he will not be "greatly shaken"(v. 2). As he restates this same declaration a few verses down (vs. 5-6), he changes a bit. He adds "hope" in verse five and drops "greatly" in verse six: "I shall not be shaken!" He goes on to declare to others (a witness), "trust in Him at all times...pour out your heart before Him". He also states twice that God is his refuge. Then he proclaims the encouragement to the people, "God is a refuge for us." Do you see the progression of his strength as he rehearses these truths?
As stated at the beginning, I believe David's rehearsal of man in his feeble state and God in all His power, encouraged the king in times of need. I see in this Psalm a progression of strength and resolve. I see him escalate in excitement as he writes verses ten through twelve. He warns men of this world and reminds the lovers of God not to trust in vain hopes of ill-gotten gain as though there will be any satisfaction whatsoever for their hearts. No, the only work in which a man has hope is that work of obedience wrought by God on humble seeking hearts. God's lovingkindness and power are our only hope for this life and the one to come.
May we take courage from this great king, a man after God's own heart, a man full of flaws but also full of great thoughts of God: God Only. Let his reminders be our reminders as we travel the road of life and continue in obedience to God and into the likeness of Jesus. God Only! Be encouraged.
David's description of man, as I wrote in the previous post, is one that we need to rehearse to keep us humble. And to remind us of the state of men in the world without God, that they will not intimidate our resolve. Here are some of those reminders from this Psalm: "leaning wall, tottering fence, delighting in lies, hypocrites and vain". We need to get the picture of what we truly are that our salvation will become more precious and our God more amazing. David was amazed and comforted by his awareness of God. God was his Only Everything! Meditate on this great truth and find rest from your troubles and fears. He's your "salvation, rock, stronghold, refuge, power and in the midst and surrounding it all is His lovingkindness.
David was plagued in this Psalm as in many Psalms with men that would dethrone him, make him a prisoner and or kill him. But he knew where to find a safe hiding place. In the first two verses he says, "My soul waits in silence for God only." I'm convicted by his silence! (Although, he does say "silence", we have this Psalm full of words.) He tells all that he is doing, then because of all that God is doing, he will not be "greatly shaken"(v. 2). As he restates this same declaration a few verses down (vs. 5-6), he changes a bit. He adds "hope" in verse five and drops "greatly" in verse six: "I shall not be shaken!" He goes on to declare to others (a witness), "trust in Him at all times...pour out your heart before Him". He also states twice that God is his refuge. Then he proclaims the encouragement to the people, "God is a refuge for us." Do you see the progression of his strength as he rehearses these truths?
As stated at the beginning, I believe David's rehearsal of man in his feeble state and God in all His power, encouraged the king in times of need. I see in this Psalm a progression of strength and resolve. I see him escalate in excitement as he writes verses ten through twelve. He warns men of this world and reminds the lovers of God not to trust in vain hopes of ill-gotten gain as though there will be any satisfaction whatsoever for their hearts. No, the only work in which a man has hope is that work of obedience wrought by God on humble seeking hearts. God's lovingkindness and power are our only hope for this life and the one to come.
May we take courage from this great king, a man after God's own heart, a man full of flaws but also full of great thoughts of God: God Only. Let his reminders be our reminders as we travel the road of life and continue in obedience to God and into the likeness of Jesus. God Only! Be encouraged.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
"Lighter Than Breath"
Psalm 62 is full of rich truth, and it's hard to pour out just one drop in order to confine my post. In only twelve verses, David profoundly proclaims the vast chasm between God and man. And his phrase "lighter than breath" as translated by the New American Standard aroused my attention immediately.
Scripture proclaims time and again the short stay of man on the earth. To sit and meditate on eternity in relation to the "dot" of time on it's line is an exercise of staggering proportions. But add man's place on that dot, and, quite frankly, I shut down. The Bible makes man's fleeting moment clear in its description with phrases as in Psalm 103, "we are but dust", "days are like grass", "as a flower...when the wind passes over it, it is no more", and "its place acknowledges it no more". That last one really stabs me with thought: "It's place acknowledges it no more." We tend to think of ourselves as so important. But when death comes, it's over. And we realize the brevity of it all as we watch that occur with family and friends.
There are many more phrases in the Bible referring to our short earthly stay, but the one for this post is new to me, one I had not noticed in previous readings of Psalms: "lighter than breath". The context from verses nine and ten is talking about men, poor and rich "are together lighter than breath". Think about it. There is no substance whatsoever to our breath. True it is what keeps us alive, but blow a little out and try to touch it or hold it. Why we can't even see it. In the winter you might blow it on a cold window and write out your name if you're quick enough, but all in all, it's one of those mind-boggling reminders of the transient state of man.
So, what's the purpose of this post? God is mindful of us. God's mind is full of us. That is why He sent Jesus to redeem us, to change us. What are our thoughts of Him? And when grappling with the reality that we are "together lighter than breath", let that lead you to rest in our all-powerful Creator who cares for us in our low estate. WOW! Blows me away!!
Scripture proclaims time and again the short stay of man on the earth. To sit and meditate on eternity in relation to the "dot" of time on it's line is an exercise of staggering proportions. But add man's place on that dot, and, quite frankly, I shut down. The Bible makes man's fleeting moment clear in its description with phrases as in Psalm 103, "we are but dust", "days are like grass", "as a flower...when the wind passes over it, it is no more", and "its place acknowledges it no more". That last one really stabs me with thought: "It's place acknowledges it no more." We tend to think of ourselves as so important. But when death comes, it's over. And we realize the brevity of it all as we watch that occur with family and friends.
There are many more phrases in the Bible referring to our short earthly stay, but the one for this post is new to me, one I had not noticed in previous readings of Psalms: "lighter than breath". The context from verses nine and ten is talking about men, poor and rich "are together lighter than breath". Think about it. There is no substance whatsoever to our breath. True it is what keeps us alive, but blow a little out and try to touch it or hold it. Why we can't even see it. In the winter you might blow it on a cold window and write out your name if you're quick enough, but all in all, it's one of those mind-boggling reminders of the transient state of man.
So, what's the purpose of this post? God is mindful of us. God's mind is full of us. That is why He sent Jesus to redeem us, to change us. What are our thoughts of Him? And when grappling with the reality that we are "together lighter than breath", let that lead you to rest in our all-powerful Creator who cares for us in our low estate. WOW! Blows me away!!
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