Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
7 “But ask the animals — they will teach you — and the birds in the air — they will tell you; 8 or speak to the earth — it will teach you — and the fish in the sea will inform you: 9 every one of them knows that the hand of Adonai has done this! 10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the spirit of every human being. 11 Shouldn’t the ear test words, just as the palate tastes food? 12 Is wisdom [only] with aged men? discernment [only] with long life?
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
All year round, we have many opportunities to immerse ourselves in the beauty and grandeur of nature. From hiking in majestic forests and swimming in clear lakes to simply basking in the warmth of the sun, our seasons invites us to step outside and experience the world around us.
These precious moments in nature help us discover more about God because every last part of creation displays evidence of our Creator’s wondrous work.
The Bible often points us to nature as a way to learn more about God.
In this ancient passage from Job, the scriptures encourages us to look to the animals, the birds, the fields of earth, and the fish to renew our perspective by remembering that God has made every creature and natural setting we enjoy.
When we encounter God’s wonder in nature and feel awe, we’re experiencing more than just admiration for the grandeur, beauty around us.
We’re also sensing, witnessing to something infinitely greater, which points us infinitely beyond ourselves and inspires, encourages, motivates us to seek God.
Aspects of nature that inspire us with awe – such as the vastness of the sky, the the power of the thunder and lightning storm streaking across the vastness of the heavens, intricacy of a butterfly alighting on a flower, and the rhythm of ocean waves – can all lead us to contemplate the Creator who designed them.
Nature’s grandeur speaks untold numbers of volumes about God’s power and creativity. The great expanses of an ocean reminds us of God’s infinite love.
Towering mountains show us God’s powerful strength. The sun directs our attention to the light of hope God shines in the darkness of our broken world.
These incredibly diverse elements of nature are not just beautiful; they are deep and true revelations of God’s character, inviting us to know God more deeply.
Whenever we experience God’s wonder, we feel awe – a feeling that expands our perspective, allows us to see beyond our immediate circumstances to God.
This shift in perspective reminds us of our Creator’s caring presence with us.
It also reminds us of our finite place in the grand scheme of creation, showing us that we don’t have to become preoccupied with our worries and stresses, and we can implicitly trust our caring God to help us overcome our challenges and give us a sense of true peace. The wonderful God who holds all of creation in his hands, gave us the gift of order from chaos also holds our lives with loving care.
Regularly taking breaks from our daily routines to spend time in nature can be a powerful, disciplined, practice to relieve stress. In the middle of our busy lives, it can be too easy to become consumed by our responsibilities and challenges.
But when we step outside and allow ourselves to be captivated by the beauty of God’s creation, we are reminded that we are not ever going to be left alone.
The same God who cares for the birds of the sky, the fish of the sea cares for us.
Matthew 6:25-34 Complete Jewish Bible
25 “Therefore, I tell you, don’t worry about your life — what you will eat or drink; or about your body — what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds flying about! They neither plant nor harvest, nor do they gather food into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they are? 27 Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to his life?
28 “And why be anxious about clothing? Think about the fields of wild irises, and how they grow. They neither work nor spin thread, 29 yet I tell you that not even Shlomo in all his glory was clothed as beautifully as one of these. 30 If this is how God clothes grass in the field — which is here today and gone tomorrow, thrown in an oven — won’t he much more clothe you? What little trust you have!
31 “So don’t be anxious, asking, ‘What will we eat?,’ ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘How will we be clothed?’ 32 For it is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. 33 But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Don’t worry about tomorrow — tomorrow will worry about itself! Today has enough tsuris already!
As we let God’s peace wash over us during nature breaks, we can notice God’s presence more clearly, free from distractions. Nature provides a sanctuary where we can meet with God, lay down our burdens, and receive his peace.
So, enjoy as much time in nature as possible this year. Let all the animals, the birds, the winds, the waters, the whole breadth of the earth, and the fish teach you more about God and his wonderful care for everyone and everything. Enjoy feeling the ceaseless feelings of awe, allow it to renew your perspective on life!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Creator God, Author and Giver of all life, as I look at the wonder of your work in creation, I’m filled with awe. Thank you for the beauty of nature that surrounds me and for the way it reveals your power and love. Help me take time to immerse myself in your creation, to listen to the lessons it teaches, and to be reminded of your ever constant presence and care. When I feel overwhelmed by the stresses and challenges of life, draw me back to the peace of your creation. Help me to see so far beyond my circumstances and trust you as you hold all things together. May the beauty of nature be a constant reminder of your wonder and your loving care for me. Show, teach me through the animals, the birds, and the sea. Open my eyes to see all your wonderful work and my heart to receive your peace. I trust you, my Creator. Thank you, amen.
Psalm 29 Complete Jewish Bible
29 (0) A psalm of David:
(1) Give Adonai his due, you who are godly; give Adonai his due of glory and strength; 2 give Adonai the glory due his name; worship Adonai in holy splendor.
3 The voice of Adonai is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, Adonai over rushing waters, 4 the voice of Adonai in power, the voice of Adonai in splendor.
5 The voice of Adonai cracks the cedars; Adonai splinters the cedars of the L’vanon 6 and makes the L’vanon skip like a calf, Siryon like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of Adonai flashes fiery flames; 8 the voice of Adonai rocks the desert, Adonai convulses the Kadesh Desert. 9 The voice of Adonai causes deer to give birth and strips the forests bare — while in his temple, all cry, “Glory!” 10 Adonai sits enthroned above the flood! Adonai sits enthroned as king forever! 11 May Adonai give strength to his people! May Adonai bless his people with shalom!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
2 (1) The heavens declare the glory of God, the dome of the sky speaks the work of his hands. 3 (2) Every day it utters speech, every night it reveals knowledge. 4 (3) Without speech, without a word, without their voices being heard, 5 (4) their line goes out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world.
In them he places a tent for the sun, 6 (5) which comes out like a bridegroom from the bridal chamber, with delight like an athlete to run his race. 7 (6) It rises at one side of the sky, circles around to the other side, and nothing escapes its heat.
8 (7) The Torah of Adonai is perfect, restoring the inner person. The instruction of Adonai is sure, making wise the thoughtless. 9 (8) The precepts of Adonai are right, rejoicing the heart. The mitzvah of Adonai is pure, enlightening the eyes. 10 (9) The fear of Adonai is clean, enduring forever. The rulings of Adonai are true, they are righteous altogether, 11 (10) more desirable than gold, than much fine gold, also sweeter than honey or drippings from the honeycomb. 12 (11) Through them your servant is warned; in obeying them there is great reward.
13 (12) Who can discern unintentional sins? Cleanse me from hidden faults. 14 (13) Also keep your servant from presumptuous sins, so that they won’t control me. Then I will be blameless and free of great offense.
15 (14) May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable in your presence, Adonai, my Rock and Redeemer.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Then Sings My Soul, My Savior God to Thee …
The hymn “How Great Thou Art” is a timeless worship song, cherished by generations of believers for its inspiring description of God’s greatness.
Its verses resonate deeply in our souls, leading us into moments of awe as we contemplate the wonder of who God is and how God works in our world.
“How Great Thou Art” is a classic hymn that remains popular today because it invites us to marvel in fresh ways at our Creator’s beautifully designed creation and his wonderful presence in our lives.
Each verse of this song serves as a gateway to understanding God more deeply and celebrating our great God in worship. When we are all singing this most beloved hymn “How Great Thou Art,” we truly grow closer to our great God.
The hymn originated as a poem written by Swedish pastor Carl Boberg in 1885. Boberg was inspired to write the poem after experiencing a wondrous sight in nature: a sudden thunderstorm followed by a clear, beautiful view over a bay.
The poem was set to music in Sweden, and the song later went through various translations. In the 20th century, British missionary Stuart Hine translated the hymn into English and expanded it with additional verses. Hine’s version of “How Great Thou Art” became popular around the world after George Beverly Shea sang it during the Billy Graham’s evangelistic crusades in the 1950s.
Here are five truths “How Great Thou Art” reveals about God.
1. God’s great glory in creation.
The opening lines of “How Great Thou Art” exclaim:
“O Lord my God,/when I in awesome wonder,/consider all the worlds thy hands have made./I see the stars/I hear the rolling thunder,/Thy power throughout the universe displayed.”
This echoes Psalm 19:1, which declares: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
It also evokes the imagery in Psalm 29:3-4: “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.”
As we enjoy God’s creation – from the sparkling stars to the powerful thunder – we can’t help but marvel at the wondrous beauty of its precise design, power.
Nature itself is evidence of God’s glory and creativity.
Romans 1:20 points out: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Psalm 104:24 celebrates God’s creative power: “How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.”
Job 9:10 says about God: “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.”
Throughout the entire song, “How Great Thou Art” emphasizes the importance of noticing the wonder of God’s work around us.
Every single part of God’s creation shows us something valuable about God that can inspire us with awe.
Singing “How Great Thou Art” can motivate us to spend time in nature as often as possible, experiencing environments that help us discover God’s greatness.
2. God’s holiness and righteousness.
Another profound truth “How Great Thou Art” reveals about God is his perfect holiness and righteousness.
The awe expressed in the hymn’s refrain, “Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,/How great Thou art, How great Thou art!” reminds us of the vision of God’s holiness the Bible describes in Isaiah 6:3, where the seraphim angels call to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
God’s holiness means that he is absolutely uncorrupted by sin and completely morally pure.
As Psalm 145:17 says: “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.” The hymn’s refrain captures the full reverent awe we feel when we think, search Scriptures and meditate about God’s great holiness and righteousness.
In 2 Corinthians 5:21, we read that God’s holiness and righteousness are accessible to us through relationships with Jesus: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
This profound truth should inspire us to praise God like the hymn’s refrain does. It should also motivate us to live lives that reflect God’s character by growing to be more holy ourselves. (1 Peter 1:15-16)
15 But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage]; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy (set apart), for I am holy.”
Ephesians 4:24 encourages us to: “… put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” The refrain of “How Great Thou Art” calls us to a deeper reverence for God’s majesty. It highlights a grateful response to God’s perfect nature and inspires us, motivates us, to make that response our own.
3. God’s constant presence with us.
“How Great Thou Art” reflects on God’s constant presence with us as it describes experiencing the extraordinary presence of God during ordinary moments like walking in nature: “When through the woods and forest glades I wander,/and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees./ When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur/And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.”
In Psalm 23:4, King David also uses the imagery of walking to describe the power of God’s constant presence: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Throughout the Bible, God promises us to be present with us.
In Exodus 33:14, God assures Moses, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promises his disciples: “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
God’s presence is a tangible reality we can experience regularly through prayer, meditation, and other spiritual practices.
In fact, if we have saving relationships with Jesus, God’s Holy Spirit comes to live right inside our souls, as 1 Corinthians 3:16 points out: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”
Psalm 139 beautifully describes God’s presence with us everywhere, pointing out in verses 7-10: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
In its refrain, “How Great Thou Art” encourages us to notice God’s loving presence with us wherever we go.
4. God’s plan to save us.
One of the most moving verses in “How Great Thou Art” declares: “And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in./That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,/He bled and died to take away my sin.”
This verse reminds us of what is perhaps the most famous Bible verse of all, John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
The hymn’s reflection onGod’s profound love for us through Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice invites us to feel awe at God’s wondrous plan to save our souls from sin and death.
Jesus’ death on the cross made it possible for humanity to connect with God again, as 2 Corinthians 5:17-18:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
In Ephesians 1:7-8, The Bible highlights the enormous generosity of God’s grace through his plan to save us:
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us…”.
Isaiah 53:5 prophesies about Jesus’ healing work for us on the cross:
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Jesus offers forgiveness from sins to all who place their faith in him, fulfilling God’s plan to save us.
Singing “How Great Thou Art” can help us focus on the greatest gift of all that God has given us through Jesus, the world’s Savior. Just like the song says, we “scarce can take it in,” but it’s still important to remember it on a regular basis.
5. God’s promise of eternal life.
“How Great Thou Art” concludes with a triumphant declaration of hope:
“When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation/And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart./ Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,/And then proclaim: ‘My God, how great Thou art!’”
This evokes the promise of Revelation 21:4, which envisions our future joy in heaven, saying about God:
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Jesus describes our eternal life with him when he says in John 14:2-3:
“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
Titus 1:2 assures us that we have “…the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.”
When we sing the song “How Great Thou Art,” we joyfully celebrate the reality of this hope. “How Great Thou Art” reminds us that our great God has prepared great joy for us to experience in heaven with him for eternity.
In conclusion, “How Great Thou Art” is a powerful worship hymn that declares and celebrates God’s greatness.
It beckons us, it invites us, it empowers us. to explore, to discover, the wonders of God’s glory displayed in creation, God’s perfect holiness and righteousness, God’s constant presence with us, God’s loving plan to save each of us, and also God’s total promise of eternal life for all who choose relationships with him.
As we sing “How Great Thou Art,” we can perceive so much more of God’s awe-inspiring greatness and worship him with reverence and with gratitude.
Gather with your friends, start a hymn sing to the tune “row, row your boat.”
Lose yourself, fully and completely and utterly in the fullness of our God …
In the name of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 29 Complete Jewish Bible
29 (0) A psalm of David:
(1) Give Adonai his due, you who are godly; give Adonai his due of glory and strength; 2 give Adonai the glory due his name; worship Adonai in holy splendor.
3 The voice of Adonai is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, Adonai over rushing waters, 4 the voice of Adonai in power, the voice of Adonai in splendor.
5 The voice of Adonai cracks the cedars; Adonai splinters the cedars of the L’vanon 6 and makes the L’vanon skip like a calf, Siryon like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of Adonai flashes fiery flames; 8 the voice of Adonai rocks the desert, Adonai convulses the Kadesh Desert. 9 The voice of Adonai causes deer to give birth and strips the forests bare — while in his temple, all cry, “Glory!” 10 Adonai sits enthroned above the flood! Adonai sits enthroned as king forever! 11 May Adonai give strength to his people! May Adonai bless his people with shalom!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
A Psalm of David. When he fled from Absalom his son.
3 O Lord, how my enemies have increased! Many are rising up against me. 2 Many are saying of me, “There is no help [no salvation] for him in God.” [a]Selah.
3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory [and my honor], and the One who lifts my head. 4 With my voice I was crying to the Lord, And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah. 5 I lay down and slept [safely]; I awakened, for the Lord sustains me. 6 I will not be intimidated or afraid of the ten thousands Who have set themselves against me all around.
7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked. 8 Salvation belongs to the Lord; May Your blessing be upon Your people. Selah.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
If your relationship with Jesus doesn’t put a spring in your step and cause you to dance a happy dance once in awhile, maybe you’ve hit a spiritual funk?
Maybe it’s time to re-evaluate your realization of how much Jesus loves you and exactly what you should be expecting from your relationship with God?
Sometimes we, and I say we as the church collectively, forget our salvation belongs to the Lord.
Far too often we want to defeat ourselves, beat ourselves up, work out our own situations and bring our own answers to the table. By doing so, our efforts fit our own agenda, personal narrative better, to the dilemma we may be facing.
The human will is powerful and our genuine willingness to try to work out our own truer answers without God’s help, only ends in the self deprecating, self defeating spiritual exhaustion, a frustration of our own inability and failure!
Re-read what David writes:
“Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! verse 1
Many are they who rise up against me. verse 1
Many are they who say of me, verse 2
“There is no help for him in God.” verse 2
Psalm 3:1-2 The Message
3 1-2 God! Look! Enemies past counting! Enemies sprouting like mushrooms, Mobs of them all around me, roaring their mockery: “Hah! No help for him from God!”
Not unlike David in his problem, we who are Christians today face similar situations. Our liberties, our morals, our values and our way of life as we know it are substantially threatened by those who mock, say, act as if there is no God!
The atmosphere created by what some want to call a new normal, a progressive normal, a socialist normal, is repeatedly trying to be established! Without God being any substantial part of it! Some say, get used to what we’re witnessing.
God would have me tell you, “things are not always as they appear to be!”
Matthew 6:4-13 The Message
2-4 “When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.
Pray with Simplicity
5 “And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for fifteen minutes of fame! Do you think God sits in a box seat?
6 “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
7-13 “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:
Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what’s best— as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.
As in David’s time and in the moment as we watch history in the making, fear is still the primary propellant and pusher of the enemies agenda and plans today.
After all the different diversions of attack throughout history, the devil is still stuck with the same playbook of lies, being manipulate, steal, kill and destroy!
Only God has the ability to create new, only God knows what the future holds and only God wants you to have an abundant life! Only Jesus came to give life.
2 Timothy 1:4-7 The Message
To Be Bold with God’s Gifts
3-4 Every time I say your name in prayer—which is practically all the time—I thank God for you, the God I worship with my whole life in the tradition of my ancestors. I miss you a lot, especially when I remember that last tearful good-bye, and I look forward to a joy-packed reunion.
5-7 That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.
Sometimes it’s far too easy for us to get caught up in the moment like David by the rise of circumstances and lose our focus of how big God is. When we focus exclusively on all our circumstances, the opportunity for fear not only raises its ugly head, but gains the confidence to become our primary center of attention!
Isaiah 55:11-13 The Message
8-11 “I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.” God’s Decree. “For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think. Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.
12-13 “So you’ll go out in joy, you’ll be led into a whole and complete life. The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause. No more thistles, but giant sequoias, no more thorn bushes, but stately pines— Monuments to me, to God, living and lasting evidence of God.”
Right there my friend proclaims the promise of our standing on Gods word!
Giving every believer the right to go through life doing the happy dance!
Gods word assures us He is willing to pull out all the stops in the removal of the burdens of life, if we let Him search our hearts, test us, to be a part of our lives!
If your relationship with Jesus doesn’t put a spring in your step and cause you to dance a happy dance once in awhile, just maybe you’ve hit a spiritual funk?
Maybe it’s time to re-evaluate your realization of how much Jesus loves you and exactly what you should be expecting from your relationship with God?
God’s word is still the full truth and will always be looking for ways to prosper God’s people, establish joy for their lives and accomplishing the impossible!
Constantly searching for those who want to become aware of His Promises and are willing to believe, and 100% trust that “nothing is impossible for God!”
Fear is the opposite of faith!
Fear’s main driving force is self efforts lack of ability!
Faiths driving force is resting in the strength of Gods ability and the peace of mind stemming from it!
David had faced a similar situation of faith and fear we read of in
1 Samuel 30:1-7 The Message
David’s Strength Was in His God
30 1-3 Three days later, David and his men arrived back in Ziklag. Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They tore Ziklag to pieces and then burned it down. They captured all the women, young and old. They didn’t kill anyone, but drove them like a herd of cattle. By the time David and his men entered the village, it had been burned to the ground, and their wives, sons, and daughters all taken prisoner.
4-6 David and his men burst out in loud wails—wept and wept until they were exhausted with weeping. David’s two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken prisoner along with the rest. And suddenly David was in even worse trouble. There was talk among the men, bitter over the loss of their families, of stoning him.
6-7 David strengthened himself with trust in his God. He ordered Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the Ephod so I can consult God.” Abiathar brought it to David.
There was definite fear that all was lost, by all of David’s men including David.
There was also a glimmer of hope, stemming from the God given faith they all possessed!
Remember these men were warriors of many battles and triumphs following David and his pursuit of becoming King of Israel! They had no doubt many miraculous displays of David’s walk, connection and relationship with God!
Many a lesser man would have contemplated a different strategy resulting in failure and possibly great loss of life, as faced with the same circumstances.
But David, didn’t look to his own ability.
David looked only to Gods amazing ability!
I’m sure there was talk among his men, saying something to the effect of look what doing the Lords work has gotten us!
The voices of those grew against David to the point of the talk of Stoning him!
TBS.
David strengthened himself in the Lord and God answered him with a victory over his adversary’s and the returning of everything that had been taken from him and his men!
David’s realization of his own humility, allowed God to fully work out an amazing end to what seemed a hopeless situation!
David chose to do same again, with complete reliance on God, as we read from verse three again of our text.
3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
4 I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
5 I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
Selah, means to pause. David paused, or rested and strengthened himself in the amazing ability of God.
David could’ve been mad, he could have been thinking of retribution against Absalom. David could’ve been thinking a lot of things, but what he chose to be calm, do was rest and strengthen himself in what he knew to be his salvation.
David realized looking to God for his salvation, was what had sustained him every time he had ever faced any circumstance!
God had never let David down before!
His adversaries were too powerful and too numerous to count, but David remembered what God had helped him to be victorious over in the past!
David knew God had never let him down before and God would be willing to accomplish the impossible for him again, in the moment of his great needs!
Lions, bears, giants, adversaries, warriors, enemies, yes God had sustained David through each and every one!
Gods calling and anointing is without repentance!
Romans 11:29 The Message
A Complete Israel
25-29 I want to lay all this out on the table as clearly as I can, friends. This is complicated. It would be easy to misinterpret what’s going on and arrogantly assume that you’re royalty and they’re just rabble, out on their ears for good. But that’s not it at all. This hardness on the part of insider Israel toward God is temporary. Its effect is to open things up to all the outsiders so that we end up with a full house. Before it’s all over, there will be a complete Israel. As it is written,
A champion will stride down from the mountain of Zion; he’ll clean house in Jacob. And this is my commitment to my people: removal of their sins.
From your point of view as you hear and embrace the good news of the Message, it looks like the Jews are God’s enemies. But looked at from the long-range perspective of God’s overall purpose, they remain God’s oldest friends. God’s gifts and God’s call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded.
Today because of God’s loving act of grace to the world, We look to Jesus and our connectional relationship with Savior Jesus for our sustaining salvation and promise of deliverance!
We have David’s example, to not look at our circumstance, but to the one who controls and determines the outcome of our circumstances!
Knowing when we humble ourselves and ask for God’s help, God hears and responds to our needs!
Reading on from verse seven
7 Arise, O Lord;
Save me, O my God!
For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;
You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah
David calls on God to rescue him and bring salvation to the situation!
And then reflects on the times that God has rescued him and rescued Israel, and to seemingly have done the impossible time after time.
Asking for Gods blessing once again, and then pauses or rest in the assurance God will deliver!
Is it really that easy?
Under who’s ability?
Under mans ability, what David ask was impossible!
Under God’s ability, our requests really are that easy!
We repeatedly have the tendency to try making things for God harder than what they are!
Philippians 4:6-7 The Message
6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Paul tells us, to let God know what we need and have faith God will meet the need and to rest in the peace that passes all understanding God supplies through Christ Jesus until the need is no longer a need!
There is no harder or easier for God!
God can do anything He wants, anytime He wants, for anyone who has the faith the size of the tiniest mustard seed, which God has also already miraculously has provided and is willing to believe God can meet the need!
We find our true identity in Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord, when we finally kick fear to the curb and take our rightful place of resting in Jesus willingness, to show us unmerited favor!
Have we earned it? No!
Are we worthy of such reward?
If Jesus is our Savior then yes we are worthy!
Because of the cross, Jesus has made us worthy and able to receive the Favor God freely offers to all!
The only thing there is no room for in a Christians life today and what we face in the never ending onslaught of condemnation and attack by the accuser, is fear!
Because fear triggers and is fuel for doubt and unbelief!
Whatever you’re facing today doesn’t matter, because nothing is out of the realm of the possibilities of the One True Living God!
Whether it’s an addiction, or a financial need, or a physical condition makes absolutely no difference! If you’re trusting the results and outcome of what you’re facing to God!
Don’t let the fear caused by the failure of self effort, keep you from receiving the miracle your seeking.
Put your mustard sized God given seed of faith in the God of all things possible and rest in God’s willingness to split your mountain in half while making those same mountains of adversity sing for joy, while the trees clap with thunderous applause, in the glorious midst of clearing the pathway to your victory!
Do you know how much God loves you today?
Jesus established on the cross amount of Gods love for you is immeasurable.
God willingly gave His very best, so you could live in, walk in and experience His very best, all along your way to eternity!
Aren’t you glad you know Him?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 23 The Message
23 1-3 God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
13-15 This is what happens to those who live for the moment, who only look out for themselves: Death herds them like sheep straight to hell; they disappear down the gullet of the grave; They waste away to nothing— nothing left but a marker in a cemetery. But me? God snatches me from the clutch of death, he reaches down and grabs me.
16-19 So don’t be impressed with those who get rich and pile up fame and fortune. They can’t take it with them; fame and fortune all get left behind. Just when they think they’ve arrived and folks praise them because they’ve made good, They enter the family burial plot where they’ll never see sunshine again.
20 We aren’t immortal. We don’t last long. Like our dogs, we age and weaken. And die.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
For centuries, Western society has benefited from the widespread influence of the Christian faith.
While the history of the West is filled with examples of human depravity, where there has been a consistent Christian presence it has, in many ways and at many times, stayed the hand of evil.
Most of us have not had to grieve and groan through the experience of what a society looks like when it completely abandons and rejects and forgets God.
The Scriptures, however, do give us a grim picture of what happens when people have convinced themselves that there is no God.
It is a picture of a rejection of humility, where “the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul” and rejects God in his pride (Psalm 10:3-4). Humility is where the knowledge of God begins; therefore, those who reject God reject humility too.
Not only do such proud people reject God; they also revile Him, cursing and renouncing Him (Psalm 10:3). Too often prosperity leads people to curse God.
Their lives are going so well that they believe nothing can touch them and they will give no account to their Maker. Their prosperity gives them a false sense of security. They think they can live as they like, that “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it” (v 11), that there will be no repercussions for their behavior.
With no accountability for how people live, there is no need for the powerful to serve or the strong to be gentle: we can treat others however we please, and so the godless man “sits in ambush … he murders the innocent … he lurks that he may seize the poor” (v 8-9).
It is with good reason, then, that the psalmist says, “Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.” Psalm 49:20
When we abandon, reject and revile God, we foolishly think we are secure, which inevitably convinces us that it’s acceptable for us to mistreat others.
It is tempting to think that passages like this one only describe other people.
But we should not be too quick to look away from ourselves. Are there ways we have rejected humility, believing ourselves to be sufficient without God?
Have we let our prosperity numb us to our neediness and accountability before God? Has our treatment of those around us been marked by self-interest and arrogance instead of love and service? We may confess to have faith in God, but perhaps there are just a few hidden areas of our lives that require repentance.
The picture of man “in his pomp yet without understanding” is indeed a bleak one—both in this life and at its end. So praise God that this is not the whole picture.
Psalm 16:9-11 The Message
9-10 I’m happy from the inside out, and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed. You canceled my ticket to hell— that’s not my destination!
11 Now you’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I’m on the right way.
Psalm 16:9-11 Amplified Bible
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my innermost self] rejoices; My body too will dwell [confidently] in safety, 10 For You will not abandon me to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. 11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
If you and I ever dare ourselves to come to understand that we have a Creator to whom we are utterly invaluable and accountable, and that that this Creator has ransomed mine, your, soul and will receive you into eternal life (Psalm 49:15), then the pomp of this world will soon assume its rightful place, and in Jesus Christ you, I, will enjoy purpose, hope, forgiveness, and pleasures forevermore.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 15 Amplified Bible
Description of a Citizen of Zion.
A Psalm of David.
15 O Lord, who may lodge [as a guest] in Your tent? Who may dwell [continually] on Your holy hill? 2 He who walks with integrity and strength of character, and works righteousness, And speaks and holds truth in his heart. 3 He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4 In his eyes an evil person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord [and obediently worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder]. He keeps his word even to his own disadvantage and does not change it [for his own benefit]; 5 He does not put out his money at interest [to a fellow Israelite], And does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
To the director: With stringed instruments, on the sheminith. A song of David.
6 Lord, don’t punish me. Don’t correct me when you are so angry. 2 Lord, be kind to me. I am sick and weak. Heal me, Lord! My bones are shaking. 3 I am trembling all over. Lord, how long until you heal me?[a] 4 Lord, come back and make me strong again. Save me because you are so loyal and kind. 5 If I am dead, I cannot sing about you. Those in the grave don’t praise you.
6 Lord, I am so weak. I cried to you all night. My pillow is soaked; my bed is dripping wet from my tears. 7 My enemies have caused me such sorrow that my eyes are worn out from crying.
8 Go away, you wicked people, because the Lord has heard my cries. 9 The Lord has heard my request for mercy. The Lord has accepted my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be filled with fear and shame. They will be sorry when disgrace suddenly comes upon them.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Troubled Souls and the Glory of God
The wailing cry of anguish is the tone of Psalm 6.
The emotional expression in it reaches a fever pitch.
And yet here is the remarkable thing that we’re going to look at about this psalm: the motivating factor for David’s deliverance from the state of his troubled soul is not primarily comfort and reprieve.
What David’s troubled soul longed for the most was the glory of God.
Have you ever been so overwhelmed at the circumstances of your life that all you can do is curl up in the fetal position on your bed and cry?
I know we are trying to be the church and the sun is sometimes shining and then sometimes the dark clouds of an impending Category 5 storm are nearby.
Most of us are pretty strong looking on the outside today, but let’s not pretend or play games here.
For one reason or another, at one time or another – you’ve been there.
Completely in distress – whether it be from the consequences of your own sin, grief over the loss of a loved one, or guilt, or fear, or the utter inability to vent your anger, or debt, or danger.
Anguish in this life is universal.
If I dropped you in a remote part of the world where they spoke another language, you’d not need an interpreter to understand the wailing cry of anguish – it is pretty much a universally recognized, understood sound.
Someone somewhere is in a desperate state of needing immediate assistance.
So, we have David, somewhere in sometime of his life desperately calling out.
Psalm 6 The Message
6 1-2 Please, God, no more yelling, no more trips to the woodshed. Treat me nice for a change; I’m so starved for affection.
2-3 Can’t you see I’m black-and-blue, beaten up badly in bones and soul? God, how long will it take for you to let up?
4-5 Break in, God, and break up this fight; if you love me at all, get me out of here. I’m no good to you dead, am I? I can’t sing in your choir if I’m buried in some tomb!
6-7 I’m tired of all this—so tired. My bed has been floating forty days and nights On the flood of my tears. My mattress is soaked, soggy with tears. The sockets of my eyes are black holes; nearly blind, I squint and grope.
8-9 Get out of here, you Devil’s crew: at last God has heard my sobs. My requests have all been granted, my prayers are answered.
10 Cowards, my enemies disappear. Disgraced, they turn tail and run.
What was causing David this extreme trouble in his body and soul?
Some have wondered if he was ill because of the reference to his bones.
But as one commentator put it: “neither the reference to bones in agony nor the ambivalent word heal necessarily implies some sort of illness.
The agony of “my bones” means the same as “my soul is in anguish.”
The truth is… regardless of his state of health, there are two things that are certainly implied as background to the psalmist’s anguish.
The Primary One is his sin.
In verses 2 and 9 we see that he needs God’s mercy and in verse 1 we see that he fears God’s anger.
So David’s anguish is a compound anguish of his own sinfulness and the sinfulness of others.
A lot of you can testify from experience that both the guilt from our own sin and the ill-intended accusations of others can make us feel physically sick at times.
David had them both going on.
Interestingly – the malice of others appears to be God’s means of discipline for David’s sin.
Here in this psalm David does not cry out to God and ask him to withhold correction and discipline. Instead, because of David’s uneasy conscience he appeals to God’s grace to temper the discipline he knows he deserves.
David knows that his only plea…his only hope… is the mercy of God.
Our Praying When It Hurts
We’ve sung this song by Matt Redman called “Blessed Be Your Name.”
The first verse says,
Blessed Be Your Name, in the land that is plentiful, where Your streams of abundance flow. Blessed be Your name.
The 2nd verse starts out: Blessed be Your name, when the sun’s shining down on me, when the world’s ‘all as it should be.’ Blessed be Your name.
Every blessing You pour out I’ll turn back to praise!
But there are other lines in that song too – lines that deal with real life:
Blessed Be Your name when I’m found in the desert place, though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering. Though there’s pain in the offering,
Blessed be Your name.
I love the honesty and validity of that song.
When everything in life is as it should be, prayer is easy.
It tends to be vague and general.
It rolls out of our mouths, and it doesn’t even have to come from very deep inside.
You know the prayer – the one you don’t really think about, but you’re supposed to pray out loud so you end up saying something like,
“God, thank You for this day and thank You for everything.” Really? It’s like tossing a hand grenade. It’s so unspecific, you’re bound to hit something!
But then there are prayers like the one where you say,
“God, whatever it takes to change my completely messed up life, just do it!”
There are prayers in the hard times.
There are prayers in the harder times.
There are prayers in the hardest times.
There are prayers in the most catastrophic of times.
Those prayers are all different.
Prayer in the hard times is more like an arrow shot straight for the mark.
We tend to get very specific.
We tend to speak more from our hearts.
Psalm 6 is a prayer that David fired off that’s more like an flaming arrow.
It was obviously written during one of his many hard times in his life:
O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long? Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave? I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.
At first glance, David may just sound like someone who’s going through a devastating hardship in life.
I want something a little more upbeat – something that isn’t written in a minor key! Let’s read something David wrote when life was peachy, sunshine, roses!”
But I want us to see there’s something for us to do in regards to praying in the hard times of life – something besides swallowing them, just ignoring them.
In other words, I want each of us to get more skilled at praying when it hurts.
I believe that this Psalm can help us with that.
First, it will help us to…
I. Get In Touch With the Reason for Sorrow
Why does David ask God to turn to him?
(verse 4) Where has God gone?
Why is David’s couch soaked with tears?
Look again at verse 1:
“O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.”
Rebuke…discipline.
David recognized that sizable part of the problem in his life were his own sins.
The fact is much of the sorrow we’re faced with in life is mostly our own doing.
Look at the faces of inmates down a row of prison cells and understand that our own wrong choices can bring us sorrow.
Look at the faces of the homeless aimlessly walking the streets or in a shelter. It grieves me greatly that nearly all of them go to great lengths to hide their face.
It can bring us sorrow because we don’t like the consequences: We don’t like traffic tickets, stitches, or being grounded by our parents when we are wrong.
Those things happen to us, with resolve, we suffer through them, and if we’ll be honest with ourselves, they’ll happen because we chose to do what was wrong.
“If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.”
1 Peter 4:15-16 The Message
14-16 If you’re abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It’s the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they’re on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that’s a different matter. But if it’s because you’re a Christian, don’t give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name!
That’s not the only reason our sin makes us sorry.
There’s a very real form of suffering called guilt that David seems to speak of in this Psalm.
Most of us are familiar with that concept of Guilt.
Have you noticed; dogs have a unique way of looking guilty.
Now, scientists tell us that they don’t really “feel guilty.”
They just put on that face because it has a tendency to stop the yelling when you find out what they did.
We don’t like it, but the feeling of guilt is truthfully a good thing, if you’re a guilty person – and Romans 3:23 admonishes us that we are all guilty of sin.
Romans 3:23-24 Easy-to-Read Version
23 All have sinned and are not good enough to share God’s divine greatness. 24 They are made right with God by his grace. This is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ.
It’s like the light on the car dashboard that comes on when there’s a problem.
Now, that red light on the dashboard may have been annoying – maybe even distressing – but it has a purpose.
It indicates that there’s a problem.
Driving on down the road absent addressing the problem could damage the car.
Guilt is that way.
That stressful feeling that you get when you lie, that nervous feeling you get when you see someone you’ve mistreated, that uneasiness that sweeps over you when you cheat someone – that feeling is guilt, and it’s a warning light that you have a problem, definitely something which needs to be fixed and forgiven too.
The answer isn’t to ignore it or run from it.
You need to get in touch with the reason for your sorrow, deal with the reason.
Guilty feelings shouldn’t be wasted!
They’re supposed to send us to God.
The way we get rid of them is for Him to take away our guilt, so that we don’t have to feel guilty anymore!
I love the passage in II Corinthians 7 where Paul talks about some of the strong words in a previous letter he wrote to them. Make a note Paul did not say God wants you happy. In fact, he says the opposite.
2 Corinthians 7:8-13 Easy-to-Read Version
8 Even if the letter I wrote you made you sad, I am not sorry I wrote it. I know that letter made you sad, and I was sorry for that. But it made you sad only for a short time. 9 Now I am happy, not because you were made sad, but because your sorrow made you decide to change. That is what God wanted, so you were not hurt by us in any way. 10 The kind of sorrow God wants makes people decide to change their lives. This leads them to salvation, and we cannot be sorry for that. But the kind of sorrow the world has will bring death. 11 You had the kind of sorrow God wanted you to have. Now see what that sorrow has brought you: It has made you very serious. It made you want to prove that you were not wrong. It made you angry and afraid. It made you want to see me. It made you care. It made you want the right thing to be done. You proved that you were not guilty in any part of that problem. 12 The main reason I wrote that letter was not because of the one who did the wrong or the one who was hurt. I wrote so that you would realize, before God, how very much you care for us. 13 And that is what was so encouraging to us.
When you are feeling sorrow, consider if you yourself are the reason for it.
If so, you have some Psalm 51 level of changing to do.
There’s another source of sorrow, though, and we don’t control it. It’s…
2. Other Peoples’ Sin
In verse 7 David says, “My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.”
Life has always had its share of sorrow caused by other people.
Someone steals your money, you suffer because of their theft.
Someone bullies you at school, you suffer because of their meanness.
Someone says something mean to you, you suffer because of their words.
Someone treats you rudely, you suffer because of their selfishness.
There are definitely times when our sorrow is caused by someone else’s sin.
Even diseases and natural disasters and death itself are a part of a creation that has been tainted by Adam and Eve’s sin – just because they beat me to it.
But even in the middle of all that unfair suffering that you didn’t cause, God is doing something with you.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons…God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.
Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been disciplined and trained by it.
Do you realize that when you suffer at the hand of someone else’s sin it’s an opportunity for God to grow you and mature you?
When we get in touch with the reason for sorrow in our life, we are far better equipped to handle it.
David’s Psalm here is an open study of the source of our sorrows.
It’s also a way that we can…
II. Restudy the Reasons We Can Ask for Help
From a very young age, our parents teach us that if we are ever lost or in trouble, and we find a sheriff or a policeman, you can go to him for help.
He will be a safe person, and he’s there to help you.
By the way, parents, I’m glad that’s still a good thing we can teach our children.
We can ask for help when someone is there to help us.
If I go to visit my doctor at her office, and I look at her medical school diploma on the wall, that’s a sign to me she’s someone who can help me with medical issues.
I find 3 reasons in this Psalm that reassure us that we can ask for God’s help in hard times.
The first one has to do with ourselves, and then the next 2 have to do with something that’s true about God.
Do you want to be able to ask God for help?
Then come to Him with…
1. A right heart
When David writes Psalm 6, he’s not only acknowledging that he needs help from God, he’s also acknowledging he needs forgiveness and mercy from God.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Being sorry for our sin – to the point where it causes us to mourn, is one of the first prerequisites for asking God for His help.
If you’re heart isn’t right in this matter, if you think you can ask God to help you feel better without ever wanting Him to change you, you’ve neglected to pay closest attention to the first reason you can ask God for help.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
If you can’t have genuine heartfelt regret for your sin against God, then you have no place to ask Him to help you with it.
I wonder how often we’ve failed to ask God’s help because, deep inside, we’re unwilling to deal with something in our lives that we know shouldn’t be there.
Satan somehow convinces us to hang onto it, and the result is we forfeit God’s help because we know we can’t ask for it.
Let it go!
Get rid of it.
Bring a heart to God that’s ready to be whatever He wants you to be, and you’ll find that you can ask Him for the help you need. That one is very much up to us.
2. God’s mercy
David was very open with God about his sin and his littleness. He said,
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
So often we get frustrated that there isn’t more justice on the earth.
I’m pretty sure I don’t want to plead with God for justice for me.
What we need to appeal to is God’s mercy.
We need to be thanking Him daily He hasn’t dealt with us according to our sins.
I can tell you, there’s a whole lot more peace to be found in appealing to God’s mercy than trying to convince Him He owes me better than what I’m getting!
A 3rd reason we can ask for God’s help is His glory. Actually, the basis for all true requests that we make to God is His glory. That’s the point of v5 “No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave?” In other words, “Lord, if I’m killed off, there will be one less person on earth to bring you glory.” Someone put it this way, “Churchyards are silent places; the vaults of the sepulcher echo not with songs; Damp earth covers dumb mouths.”
Even though he was asking God for help, David realized that the reason he could do that was because he was seeking God’s glory. Think about that the next time you want to ask God for something. James said,
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Our lives need to be lived to bring glory to God.
You are not your own, you were bought with a price.
The reason for all true prayer is ultimately to bring God glory.
You can ask for help.
If you need some reassurance of that, Psalm 6 is a prayer of David, a man who had frequently, magnificently messed up, asking God for help! Does he get it? …
III. Look at the Difference Prayer Makes
David’s struggling through.
He realizes his own failings.
His enemies are pressing in.
He realizes he’s going to need to throw himself on God’s mercy, that there are some reasons he’s even able to do this at all.
Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping. The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.
(1. Real repentance)
One of the ways you can tell if someone has truly changed from his former way of life is by the changed attitude he has toward sin.
In fact, that’s the main change in the life of anyone who accepts Jesus – your whole attitude toward sin. Someone who has repented of sin may still stumble, but that person will hate the sins that cost His Savior’s blood.
It will make you want to say, “Away from me, all you who do evil! Get it away from me!” Like Jesus, we have to cleanse the temple!
We have to throw out the money changers!
Look at the difference that prayer makes here in David’s words!
(2. Genuine Tears)
In other cultures, even though the language is quite different from English, there are some things that are universal.
One is the word, “Hey!” Another is a smile.
That’s the same everywhere.
Another one is tears. When you look into the eyes of someone who’s deeply suffering, there’s no need for an interpreter. Tears mean the same in every language. David knew that his tears were something God truly understood.
Psalm 56:8Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll…
Too often we’re taught to hide our tears – especially if you’re a man.
Tears are an admission. Tears mean weakness. Tears mean dependence.
I want to tell you, the manliest of men ever to live cried real tears. John 11:35
And if we’re engaging in real, effective prayer, it’s going to involve some tears sometimes.
God isn’t turned off by that.
“…the LORD has heard my weeping. The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer…”
Genuine tears are a definite part of the picture here. And so is the last part!
In conclusion, Psalm 6:3 is a emotionally poignant expression of the psalmist’s very deepest anguish, loudest pleading with God and longing for deliverance.
This verse, along with the larger context of Psalm 6, offers a powerful reflection on human suffering, trust in God, and the timeless significance of lament. It too serves as a source of encouragement and comfort for believers, reminding them of God’s faithfulness, God’s mercy and compassion in the midst of life’s trials.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 16 The Message
16 1-2 Keep me safe, O God, I’ve run for dear life to you. I say to God, “Be my Lord!” Without you, nothing makes sense.
3 And these God-chosen lives all around— what splendid friends they make!
4 Don’t just go shopping for a god. Gods are not for sale. I swear I’ll never treat god-names like brand-names.
5-6 My choice is you, God, first and only. And now I find I’m your choice! You set me up with a house and yard. And then you made me your heir!
7-8 The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.
9-10 I’m happy from the inside out, and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed. You canceled my ticket to hell— that’s not my destination!
11 Now you’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I’m on the right way.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
7-15 Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don’t look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
A Daily Prayer for Every Christian
Psalm 51:10-13 Complete Jewish Bible
10 (8) Let me hear the sound of joy and gladness, so that the bones you crushed can rejoice. 11 (9) Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my crimes.
12 (10) Create in me a clean heart, God; renew in me a resolute spirit. 13 (11) Don’t thrust me away from your presence, don’t take your Ruach Kodesh away from me.
“It happened to me because I did not think it could happen to me.”
That’s what a homeless man said to me after getting involved in a relationship that almost destroyed his marriage, his children almost being taken from him.
Taking the “reasonably good” life he had made for himself and his family for granted, He never thought anything like that could, would, ever happen to him.
He’s not alone.
It’s easy to think we are immune to sin and temptation. Many of us go to church and try to live right. Sometimes we even shake our heads when others fall into sin, and more than one Christian has said, “That will never happen to me.”
But that’s when we become extremely vulnerable. Paul warns against that when he says, “Watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
We would do well to make David’s prayer in verses 10-11 our daily prayer.
No matter how strong we might think we are or however good our intentions might be, in our own strength we are never going to be a match for Satan.
David was speaking from life long experienced when he prayed, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.”
Take some time over the next few days to memorize that prayer, or write it out and put it on your refrigerator door or bathroom mirror. Pray it often. Only with God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit do we have the power to resist temptation.
In the face of sin and separation from God, grace is a refreshing stream that restores salvation. But the joy of salvation is found only when we realize and accept the forgiveness, grace, and restoration God has given us — when we drink from the stream of grace. The joy of salvation is sustained in a changed lifestyle, changed mindset, and an ongoing recognition that we walk with God.
Search Me, Investigate Me, Test Me, and Uphold Me
I believe that deep, abiding joy is largely missing in much of the church today.
I have heard Christians say, “We did not do enough when we had the chance, We prayed down a revival in our church, we did not give revival a real chance.”
Yet revival cannot happen by prayer alone. There cannot be any such awakening unless people hunger diligently for God’s Word. And they must wholly commit, sacrifice their lives to being guided and governed by the Scriptures. We cannot obtain heaven’s joy until the pure Word has convicted us of our backslidings.
When David was disobedient, he tried to hide it from everyone, he tried to cover it up and in doing so, all of his bones felt like they were crushed within him, he utterly lost the joy of the Lord, a joy would only be restored by true repentance.
David knew this, so he prayed, “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. . . . Purge me” (Psalm 51:2–3, 7). David also prayed to regain what he had lost: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12).
Ezra told the people rebuilding Jerusalem, in essence, “You have hungered so long for God’s Word and allowed it to work in your hearts. You have repented and mourned, and God is pleased. But now it is time to rejoice! Take out your handkerchiefs and wipe away your tears. It is a time for uncompromising joy!”
The glory of the Lord fell on Israel, and the people spent the next seven days rejoicing: “All the people went their way to eat, and to drink . . . and to make great mirth, because they understood the words that were declared unto them” (Nehemiah 8:12, KJV).
The Hebrew word for “mirth” here means “gladness, happiness.” This isn’t just a good feeling, but a deep, inner exuberance. It is clear to everyone around that this wellspring of uncompromising joy has only come from God in heaven.
When God’s Word is revered, the result is an outpouring of genuine “Jesus joy.”
Test Me, Cleanse Me, Uphold Me With A Willing Spirit
Psalm 51:7-13 Complete Jewish Bible
7 (5) True, I was born guilty, was a sinner from the moment my mother conceived me. 8 (6) Still, you want truth in the inner person; so make me know wisdom in my inmost heart.
9 (7) Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 10 (8) Let me hear the sound of joy and gladness, so that the bones you crushed can rejoice. 11 (9) Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my crimes.
12 (10) Create in me a clean heart, God; renew in me a resolute spirit. 13 (11) Don’t thrust me away from your presence, don’t take your Ruach Kodesh away from me.
David’s request to be sustained (thoroughly supported) with a willing spirit (a heart quick and ready to respond) could be viewed as a culmination of the Lord creating in him a clean heart, giving him an unwavering spirit of obedience, not grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) and a restoration, renewal of his joy.
The Evidence of Being Sustained by the Lord with a Willing Spirit:
1. Remembering and rejoicing (vv.1-3) that the Lord:
Stooped down,
Drew the believer out of the pit of despair and destruction,
Gave a place to stand and a path that leads to flourishing, and
Gave a new song to the Lord of all mercy.
2. Understanding foundational truths:
Happy/blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord (whose ultimate confidence is in the Lord). Those who TRUST/DEPEND upon the Lord display trust by not turning to, or seeking counsel from, the self-sufficient proud or those who believe lies.
The Lord has multiplied our joys beyond measure and we continuously recount the tender mercies of the Lord (vv.5, 11).
The Lord delights in heart-felt obedience. We are to delight to do the will of the Lord with an open ear (receiving the Scripture) and treasuring the Word in our hearts.
We are to speak of his tender mercies, proclaiming the goodness/mercy of the Lord (vv. 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b).
QUESTIONS:
1. How does the reality of verses 5 and 11 lead to an “unspeakable obligation” on the part of those who have received mercy?
2. What lies do we most readily believe in our current culture?
3. How do we speak of the mercies of the Lord (Malachi 3:16)?
4. To whom should you speak within the next two weeks regarding the mercies of Jesus in their life?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 32 Complete Jewish Bible
32 (0) By David. A maskil:
(1) How blessed are those whose offense is forgiven, those whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed those to whom Adonai imputes no guilt, in whose spirit is no deceit!
3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away because of my groaning all day long; 4 day and night your hand was heavy on me; the sap in me dried up as in a summer drought. (Selah)
5 When I acknowledged my sin to you, when I stopped concealing my guilt, and said, “I will confess my offenses to Adonai”; then you, you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Selah)
6 This is what everyone faithful should pray at a time when you can be found. Then, when the floodwaters are raging, they will not reach to him.
7 You are a hiding-place for me, you will keep me from distress; you will surround me with songs of deliverance. (Selah)
8 “I will instruct and teach you in this way that you are to go; I will give you counsel; my eyes will be watching you.”
9 Don’t be like a horse or mule that has no understanding, that has to be curbed with bit and bridle, or else it won’t come near you.
10 Many are the torments of the wicked, but grace surrounds those who trust in Adonai. 11 Be glad in Adonai; rejoice, you righteous! Shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
118 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. 2 Oh let Israel say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 3 Oh let the house of Aaron say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 4 Oh let those who [a]fear the Lord say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
5 From my distress I called upon [b]the Lord; [c]The Lord answered me and set me in a large place. 6 The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? 7 The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in princes.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
“What can mere mortals do to me?”
Pushed to the wall, I called to God; from the wide open spaces, he answered. God’s now at my side and I’m not afraid; who would dare lay a hand on me? (Psalm 118:6 – 8 Message)
Lately, I am running into days that I feel; Am I the only one who balks at the question that the psalmist asks here—“What can mere mortals do to me?”
“What can mere mortals do to me that I have not already done to myself twice?”
I think we all know what the psalmist is getting at here, but people can be mean!
They can hurt us verbally, emotionally, psychologically, and physically. And my guess is that we’ve all experienced at least one of those hurts, if not all of them.
I don’t necessarily live in daily fear of their physical harm, but some people do—and that can be devastating. I am learning, relearning the limits of my heart.
However, I do live in an irrational fear of being hurt by other people’s words.
Every time I do stretch the limits of my surgically repaired heart, I find myself subconsciously feeling “watched and assessed and evaluated,” for limitations.
Limitations I want no part of, self assigned, self imposed limitations I struggle mightily against believing even exist, limitations I feel I am too young to have at my age, limitations I may just have to listen to others who’ll say: “accept it.”
That is not the sort, measure, of “acceptance” which I will surrender myself to.
Still, the psalmist knew all of that “acceptance” as well as we do. He was pursued, threatened with bodily and spiritual harm. But even in the midst of threats and dangers, he was able to give thanks to God, confess the Lord was with him, and be certain that mere mortals could not ultimately destroy him.
Even if the mere mortal was himself turning against himself, body, mind, spirit.
While people might be able to hurt our bodies or minds, they can’t hurt our souls. And while people can hurt us in this world, they can’t hurt us forever.
That is the message the psalmist wants us to hear.
We aren’t assured of health and safety on this earth.
But we don’t need to fear what anyone on this earth can do to us. They cannot control our destiny. With God, we can be certain that our destiny is in his hands.
A Stone Worth Accepting? A Savior Worth Following?
Psalm 118:17-29 The Message
17-20 I didn’t die. I lived! And now I’m telling the world what God did. God tested me, he pushed me hard, but he didn’t hand me over to Death. Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates! I’ll walk right through and thank God! This Temple Gate belongs to God, so the victors can enter and praise.
21-25 Thank you for responding to me; you’ve truly become my salvation! The stone the masons discarded as flawed is now the capstone! This is God’s work. We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it! This is the very day God acted— let’s celebrate and be festive! Salvation now, God. Salvation now! Oh yes, God—a free and full life!
26-29 Blessed are you who enter in God’s name— from God’s house we bless you! God is God, he has bathed us in light. Adorn the shrine with garlands, hang colored banners above the altar! You’re my God, and I thank you. O my God, I lift high your praise. Thank God—he’s so good. His love never quits!
“I didn’t die. I lived! And now I’m telling the world what God did. God tested me, he pushed me hard, but he didn’t hand me over to Death.”
Most of my life, I’ve known the facts of the Christian faith: God made the world, Jesus came into the world, Jesus died for the sins of the world, and Jesus came back to life. If I believe in Him, I get to be with Him forever. But I ignored truth.
But as I got older, I met people who questioned the truth of what I believed, of what truth I ignored at unexpected moments, doubts crept through my mind:
Is any of it really true?
What have I been ignoring?
What have I not been purposely paying attention to?
Confusingly, some people told me it didn’t matter who or what I believed in.
“As long as you believe in something, that’s what counts,” one told me. “Believe in yourself because you are the only one you know you can count on.”
“Nothing really matters, all roads either lead to heaven, or to hell.” another said. so it is easier to say You believe what you want, and I’ll believe my way.”
And I wondered more. Would I reach the end of life and find out none of what I believed or purposely ignored about Jesus was true? Was I wrong for thinking or believing there was only one way to reach God? Why would Jesus ever say that no one could come to God except through Him (John 14:6)? That’s allot of Ego!
When others came to me and challenged my beliefs, face to face, challenged my faith, I realized what I longed for was a clear example of why only Jesus saves.
I found my answer in the form of a rock.
Someone then showed me a very large rock, close to being a boulder, which had clearly been stuck in the ground for a very long time – and that someone dared, challenged me, to try and move it even one inch from its present firm position.
That someone taught me, in that moment, that rock was part of an illustration which Jesus Himself gave to show that even the weight and measure of our day to day burdens, our earthly lives contain problems that have only one solution.
According to Matthew 21:38-46, in the last week of His life, Jesus used the fitting image of a cornerstone to describe His unique purpose and identity, quoting a prophecy about Himself in Psalm 118:22: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”Asking those people around them if they had ever seriously bothered to even read and study and share the Scriptures?
In ancient buildings and walls, certain unique stones, different from typical, rectangular building stones, were used at pivotal points in the structure.
For example, a cornerstone could set a foundation or anchor a wall.
Just as a stone different from all the rest is the only one that will fit the need to hold up a wall or establish a firm foundation, only Jesus can restore our world to what God wants it to be.
Jesus may not fit the mold of what people are looking for in a Savior, but as the the only authentic Cornerstone, He has a specific, essential purpose: to save the world from sin, to provide those who accept Him, believe, the gift of eternal life.
When we encounter others who insist that all belief systems are equal, it is hard to stand apart as having a different view.
We may be accused of being insensitive, narrow-minded and unaccepting.
We may suffer socially, spiritually, or even physically, for believing there’s only one way, one truth, one life, to salvation. But I’m so very thankful Jesus lovingly invites all people to accept Him and trust in Him, and teach He has given us an everyday example to clarify how He is, and must be, the only way to get to God.
Lord, thank You for Your patience in showing me, teaching, why Your Son is the essential piece I need to draw near to You. Give me courage to share that beautiful message even with those who’ll challenge my confidence in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 91 The Message
91 1-13 You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!” That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses. Yes, because God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door. He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
14-16 “If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God, “I’ll get you out of any trouble. I’ll give you the best of care if you’ll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party. I’ll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
32 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
3 When I kept silent about my sin, my [b]body wasted away Through my [c]groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My [d]vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. [e]Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; And You forgave the [f]guilt of my sin. Selah. 6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You [g]in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with [h]songs of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. 9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
In Fyodor Dostoevsky’s book The Brothers Karamazov, one of the characters gives another this advice: “Above all, do not lie to yourself. A man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point where he does not discern any truth either in himself or anywhere around him, and thus falls into disrespect towards himself and others.”[1]
1 Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov: A Novel in Four Parts with Epilogue, trans. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (1990; reprinted Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2002), p 44.
Nearly three millennia before, David also described the potential effects of self-deceit about what we are really like.
3 When I kept silent about my sin, my [b]body wasted away Through my [c]groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My [d]vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. [e]Selah.
Honesty with self is vital to the discovery of happiness. Joyful, contented people do not lie to themselves or to anybody else. We cannot deceive ourselves and enjoy genuine happiness too; deceit and happiness don’t sleep in the same bed.
The Bible calls us to be as honest about ourselves as it is repentance. (Psalm 51)
It directs a great searchlight straight onto our hearts and minds, revealing the hardcore truth of the seriousness our impossibly sinful human predicament.
We are told that we live in iniquity, which results in an internal bias towards wrongdoing and a nature corrupted by sin.
We’re perpetual transgressors, going where we shouldn’t go. We’re sinners, failing to live up to our own standards, let alone the standard God has set.
I believe that the surprise of this verse is that David starts off with the word “blessed” or “happy,” but then immediately introduces such hard realities as our iniquity and our impossible capacity for lying to ourselves and God about it.
But the reason he can do that is because the predicament(s) he faces is more than outmatched by the cure God offers.
32 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
Notice that David doesn’t say, Blessed is the individual whose iniquity the Lord does not count.
He says, “Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity.”
Because God is holy, He must count sin—but He counts it against someone else.
He counts it against His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
We find in David’s words the amazing doctrine of justification by faith, which we first see in God’s relationship with Abraham, who “believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).
Genesis 15:4-7 New American Standard Bible 1995
4 Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own [a]body, he shall be your heir.” 5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your [b] descendants be.” 6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. 7 And He said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to [c]possess it.”
The moment we honestly truly believe that our sins have been counted against our Savior, Psalm 32 says we’ll be blessed; we will be happier than ever before.
So the path to blessing starts with honesty.
We are not good people who make the odd mistake.
We are not wonderful individuals with a few flaws that can be blamed on our upbringing, our environment, or our lack of sleep last night.
We are sinners with impossibly deceitful hearts, who fall far short of God’s glorious standards and by nature stand to inherit only wrath (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-3).
We are trying to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ, better imitators of the life lessons Jesus revealed in, throughout, His Gospel Narratives and we are failing.
Social Media wreaks severest havoc on what is said is truth and is to be the truth according to “fact checkers” who are themselves being fact checked against all that someone else with a secretive financial and politically motivated agenda.
That someone with “authority” declares the lie “The truth is what I say it is!”
Then Social Media flies in every which direction imaginable to “make it so.”
Then it becomes a jumbled mass of every kind of confusion and chaos possible.
Then who is going to be the “believable one” to dig in both heals and sort it out?
That is the significantly complex, deeply conflicted situation in which we each find our hearts and souls in right now and who is going to show us the path out?
Who do we send shipwrecked people to if we ourselves are just as shipwrecked?
Psalm 51 New American Standard Bible 1995
A Contrite Sinner’s Prayer for Pardon.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when [a]Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
51 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For [b]I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You [c]are justified [d]when You speak And [e]blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the [f]innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. 7 [g]Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; [h]Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 [i]Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create [j]in me a clean heart, O God, And renew [k]a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will [l]be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, [m]open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise. 16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
18 By Your favor do good to Zion; [n]Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then You will delight in [o]righteous sacrifices, In burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then [p]young bulls will be offered on Your altar.
Be honest about who you are. Be specific about how you have sinned against the Lord. Then you will be ready to embrace the most joyful news in the world: that each day, though the magnitude of our sins they are much, His mercy is more.
Finding True Honest Happiness in What We Do
Psalm 119:89-112 New American Standard Bible 1995
Lamedh.
89 Forever, O Lord, Your word [a]is settled in heaven. 90 Your faithfulness continues [b]throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands. 91 They stand this day according to Your ordinances, For all things are Your servants. 92 If Your law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction. 93 I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have [c]revived me. 94 I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your precepts. 95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me; I shall diligently consider Your testimonies. 96 I have seen [d]a limit to all perfection; Your commandment is exceedingly broad.
Mem.
97 O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever [e]mine. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Your precepts. 101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. 102 I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, For You Yourself have taught me. 103 How sweet are Your [f]words to my [g]taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
Nun.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. 106 I have sworn and I will confirm it, That I will keep Your righteous ordinances. 107 I am exceedingly afflicted; [h]Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word. 108 O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, And teach me Your ordinances. 109 My [i]life is continually [j]in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts. 111 I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart. 112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, even to the end.
True, Honest Happiness is not just about avoiding the way of wickedness and folly. And it’s definitely not about staying away from people. The life of the monk, the hermit is not the ideal of the Christian faith, as some early Christians believed. Christianity is distinguished by a lifestyle in tune with the will of God.
How can we know what God’s will is for our lives?
Psalm 1:1-2 answers, “Blessed is the one . . . whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”
The Word of God is our source of joy and happiness.
We are encouraged to meditate on it daily. We must fill our minds with God’s truth. We must feed our hearts with the promises that come from the Word of God. His Word is infinitely better than all refined gold and sweeter than honey.
Honestly, all of God’s Word restores the soul and gives wisdom to the simple.
2 Timothy 3:10-17 New American Standard Bible 1995
10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, [a] perseverance, 11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is [b]inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for [c] training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
In this time when so much garbage circulates in local and national news, on the internet and other media, the Word of God is bread that nourishes, water that purifies. Through it we keep our hearts pure, and we triumph over the enemy.
Today, every day, remember to feed honesty with the truth God’s Word and to enjoy the nourishment that sustains us, heart and soul, on the way to full life.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Luke 8:14-15 New American Standard Bible 1995
14 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with [a]perseverance.
Psalm 139:23-24 New American Standard Bible 1995
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any [a]hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
73 1-5 No doubt about it! God is good— good to good people, good to the good-hearted. But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. I was looking the other way, looking up to the people At the top, envying the wicked who have it made, Who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole wide world.
6-10 Pretentious with arrogance, they wear the latest fashions in violence, Pampered and overfed, decked out in silk bows of silliness. They jeer, using words to kill; they bully their way with words. They’re full of hot air, loudmouths disturbing the peace. People actually listen to them—can you believe it? Like thirsty puppies, they lap up their words.
11-14 What’s going on here? Is God out to lunch? Nobody’s tending the store. The wicked get by with everything; they have it made, piling up riches. I’ve been stupid to play by the rules; what has it gotten me? A long run of bad luck, that’s what— a slap in the face every time I walk out the door.
15-20 If I’d have given in and talked like this, I would have betrayed your dear children. Still, when I tried to figure it out, all I got was a splitting headache . . . Until I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I saw the whole picture: The slippery road you’ve put them on, with a final crash in a ditch of delusions. In the blink of an eye, disaster! A blind curve in the dark, and—nightmare! We wake up and rub our eyes. . . . Nothing. There’s nothing to them. And there never was.
21-24 When I was beleaguered and bitter, totally consumed by envy, I was totally ignorant, a dumb ox in your very presence. I’m still in your presence, but you’ve taken my hand. You wisely and tenderly lead me, and then you bless me.
25-28 You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth! When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful. Look! Those who left you are falling apart! Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again. But I’m in the very presence of God— oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made Lord God my home. God, I’m telling the world what you do!
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Is God out to Lunch or Taking a Long Vacation?
Psalm 73:10-14 New American Standard Bible 1995
10 Therefore [a]his people return to this place, And waters of abundance are [b]drunk by them. 11 They say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge [c]with the Most High?” 12 Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth. 13 Surely in vain I have [d]kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence; 14 For I have been stricken all day long And [e]chastened every morning.
Verse 11 … They say, “How does God know? And is their knowledge with the Most High?” Verse 13 … Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence; verse 14 For I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning …”
This is indeed, quite the lament of a heart and soul that is securely padlocked into doubt – One might believe this heart and soul is confined to a solitary cell.
Alone, and deep into its own thoughts by something hardcore, whatever it is.
Something is drawing someone’s faith into a state of doubt, deep questioning.
Someone’s faith journey is taking a whole bunch of body blows to their guts.
Someone’s faith seems to be on a heavily greased descent into someplace it definitely does not want to be. Its descent seems to be growing unstoppable.
Is this somewhere we ourselves find ourselves slipping and sliding into? Is our faith unable to gain any traction of any kind that we might stop its fast descent?
Are we asking ourselves, shouting to ourselves at the very top of our lungs to God for answers to questions which are going through our souls at warp speed?
Except that the slipping and sliding is only getting much faster by the moment?
11-14 What’s going on here? Is God out to lunch? Nobody’s tending the store. The wicked get by with everything; they have it made, piling up riches. I’ve been stupid to play by the rules; what has it gotten me? A long run of bad luck, that’s what— a slap in the face every time I walk out the door.
Psalm 73: Psalm for a Slippery, Sliding Faith
Doubt is guaranteed. We will doubt.
Psalm 73 begins by affirming a core teaching: “Surely God is good to Israel.”
Then doubt comes in tidal waves. The psalmist faith is slipping. He’s trying to keep faith, but he’s tottering on a miles deep precipice. He has a bad case of vertigo, that dizziness some people feel when they look down from a high place.
The psalmist thought God was good to Israel, but something he saw made his head start spinning.
We’ve seen things like that too.
The baseball team with the most respectable players doesn’t necessarily win the World Series.
The quarterback with the best moral character doesn’t always start on the college team.
The stock market takes a sudden nose dive taking someone’s education fund.
Someone’s spouse suddenly walks out without any notice, taking the children and the bank accounts are suddenly empty and the spouse in not taking calls.
Upheaval at the 2019/2024 General Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Disarray …. Disarray …. Disarray …. Every measure of it is flung off the charts!
Oddly, seems some arrogant, ungodly people often prosper with the greatest of ease and have no troubles or suffering. But then people who love God and try to serve him seem to get nowhere, slapped, face all kinds of trouble and suffering.
Whole bunch of people are severely questioning: “Is God taking a lunch break?”
Asaph, the writer of this psalm saw this. So do we.
A common reaction to unhappiness is to wonder, “does God even know what’s happening?”
When He doesn’t intervene as we’d prefer, our habit is to question His goodness and His power.
According to the writer Asaph, those who abandon faith (Psalm 73:10) tend to soon follow the prosperous wicked (Psalm 73:1–3) also will tend to rationalize their decision to follow the wicked, question God’s knowledge of the situation.
In one sense, this means questioning whether God is aware of their pain. In another, it’s an expression of arrogance: that God isn’t going to notice their sin.
The truth is … God notices everything …
Psalm 139:1-12 New American Standard Bible 1995
God’s Omnipresence and Omniscience.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
139 O Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know [a]when I sit down and [b]when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. 3 You [c]scrutinize my [d]path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4 [e]Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. 5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in [f]Sheol, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will [g]overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” 12 Even the darkness is not dark [h]to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.
Even today, those who find themselves undergoing times, seasons of great pains of doubt, may question whether God knows or cares what is happening.
That’s an understandable reaction, but it’s deeply flawed.
This verse Psalm 73:11 is purposefully ironic.
It’s self-defeating to address God as “the Most High” while also questioning His knowledge. God not only knows what happens to His people, He also cares.
James 5:1-12 New American Standard Bible 1995
Misuse of Riches
5 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of [a]Sabaoth. 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have [b]fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and [c] put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.
Exhortation
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until [d]it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Do not [e]complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing [f]right at the [g]door. 10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the [h] endurance of Job and have seen the [i]outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.
12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but [j]your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
James addressed the rich, wicked farmers who abused their Christian workers; he told them, “the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts” (James 5:4).
1Peter 5:6-9 urges us to cast all our anxieties on the God because He cares for us.
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 [a]But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your [b]brethren who are in the world.
The end of the wicked (be very careful about who you call or refer to as being “wicked” Matthew 7:1-3) is ruin.
Matthew 7:1-3 New American Standard Bible 1995
Judging Others
7 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and [a]by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
And while God doesn’t promise to make his people wealthier or healthier, he does promise he is always working for the heart and restoration for the soul.
John 5:14-17 New American Standard Bible 1995
14 Afterward Jesus *found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” 15 The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
In Father, Son, Spirit’s presence and care, we have everything we truly need.
We are under God’s constant continuous observation … Psalm 23, Psalm 121
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 23 The Message
23 1-3 God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.
Psalm 121The Message
121 1-2 I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
3-4 He won’t let you stumble, your Guardian God won’t fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep.
5-6 God’s your Guardian, right at your side to protect you— Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke.
7-8 God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
14 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. 3 They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.
4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call on the Lord? 5 There they are in great fear, For God is with the generation of the righteous. 6 You shame the counsel of the poor, But the Lord is his refuge.
7 Oh,[a] that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord brings back [b]the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
High and Low, Is there Not Even One to be found?
So, do we reflect on incentives God gives us for seeking him?
Can we see that the rewards for engaging in such a search are priceless?
Are we even minimally prepared, they are what we all, deep down, really crave?
The problem is that we often look for the right things in the wrong places.
And, worse, as we endeavor to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ, learn from heaven’s point of view, not even one of us is willing to look in the right place?
We are completely stuck on trying to do things our own way, not God’s way?
So when God looks down from heaven (Psalms 27, 139, 2 Chronicles 16:8-9) searching to and fro for even one person searching for him, he finds no one.
8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.”
A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.
A Psalm of David.
27 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the [a]defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? 2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I [b]shall be confident.
4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the [c]beauty of the Lord And to [d]meditate in His temple. 5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His [e]tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. 6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, And I will offer in His tent sacrifices [f]with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice, And be gracious to me and answer me. 8 When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.” 9 Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! 10 [g]For my father and my mother have forsaken me, But the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a level path Because of [h]my foes. 12 Do not deliver me over to the [i]desire of my adversaries, For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. 13 [j]I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.
“GOD FINDS NO ONE?!”
That’s beyond astounding, that is so far beyond comprehension, isn’t it?
Or does it come as no surprise to anyone discerning, observant enough?
There is so much spirituality these days—and, in fact, there always has been.
We will rigorously, vigorously, defend the claim we are “incurably religious” “incurably spiritual.”
The world is full of cathedrals, temples, mosques, shrines, churches, and synagogues. Songs, liturgies, dramas, art—all are laced with appeals to God.
But when God looks down on all this “god–seeking religion and spirituality” he announces to all of us he really does not see any true god–seeking in any of it.
What people are looking for is a god to serve them, automatically affirm all of their whims, all of their so called “God seeking” and politicalized agendas.
And, truly, God is a great help to us all. He is our only help and strength.
But God is seeking people who are authentically looking for the God they can trust with their whole life and future, rather than simply a god they can use for their own personal self centered, finite temporary temporal illogical purposes.
Sadly, none of us surrenders on our own.
It takes God’s grace to lower our knees.
God Does Not, Has, Will, Never, Accept Any Bribes
Isaiah 1:13-20 New American Standard Bible 1995
13 “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. 14 “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are [a]covered with blood.
16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, [b]Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.
“Let Us Reason”
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. 19 “If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land; 20 “But if you refuse and rebel, You will be devoured by the sword.” Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
The sins of Judah were beginning to resemble those of Sodom and Gomorrah.
God’s people didn’t understand the holy will of their God.
Injustice against the weak and vulnerable was becoming rampant.
God’s people thought they could make up for their sinful actions and appease God’s holiness by sacrificing animals, doing other self serving religious rituals.
But they continued in their evil ways of injustice and oppression against weak and vulnerable people.
The society had become dominated by rich powerbrokers who thought nothing of accumulating wealth and gaining more clout over the poor and powerless.
In addition, the judges and religious leaders did not condemn them but instead enjoyed their generous bribes and elaborate parties, manipulated their people.
But those who are being manipulated, trampled under the heel of oppression of the self serving creators of their own “about God” agendas have God on their side. God doesn’t accept bribes, doesn’t run a revolving court open to bribery.
And God expects nothing less of his people in return. Addressing the leaders of Judah, the prophet Isaiah demanded, “Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widows and orphans.”
That is our calling still today.
Beyond supporting those who only want to hear their own voices, who’ll only want to hear, listen to and be told how right they always are, no disagreements only unconditional support for their own brand of ideologies and theologies, preach, teach from their own interpretations, representations of God’s truth.
Where opposition is suppressed, underrepresented, cancelled out, minimized.
Where rational, logical reasoning like God expects from us, is shouted down.
Our practice of compassion and justice anticipates the coming day when the Lord himself will come in person to “give decisions for the poor of the earth” (Isaiah 11:4).
Isaiah 11:1-9 New American Standard Bible 1995
Righteous Reign of the Branch
11 Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear; 4 But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. 5 Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, And faithfulness the belt about His waist.
6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion [a]and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. 7 Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.
Kingdom Agenda: A World Where God Is Known
Isaiah 11:6-9New American Standard Bible 1995
6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion [a]and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. 7 Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah likens the Messiah’s kingdom to the sea.
He says peace will be the order of the day because “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”
In the righteous kingdom of God, life is at full tide.
Buoyed by currents of the knowledge of the Lord, life will be full and colorful.
In that day, no one will need to “teach his neighbor … saying, ?Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me,” says God (Jeremiah 31:33-34).
33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
Imagine a world in which everyone knows the riches of God’s wisdom and each person has tasted God’s grace and understands how to give it. (Psalm 34:8-10)
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! 9 O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. 10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.
Isaiah’s imagery also suggests something about our mission in a world that is not yet full of God’s glory. We who have this knowledge must make God known by our words, actions, until the day God’s glorious kingdom vision is realized.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Let us Pray,
Psalm 34 New King James Version
The Happiness of Those Who Trust in God
A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
34 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The [a]angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! 9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no [b]want to those who fear Him. 10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, To [c]cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as [d]have a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. 20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be [e]condemned. 22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 