The Dangerous Dilemma of Doubting

This post is part 6 in the "Believe & Behave" series. 

Read: 1 Kings 13

A couple sat in our living room not long ago and told us about the events that led to a crisis in their marriage. The husband acknowledged that he had not given his wife the attention she deserved. The wife on the other hand, told us about how a man at work had been giving her lots of attention. It wasn’t long until they engaged in growing deception and eventually meeting at a secret rendezvous. When her affair was made public, she became surprisingly repentant. But her husband was skeptical. He couldn’t believe she would betray him the way she did. As time went on, he drifted into anger and indifference.

When we asked them if they wanted to keep the marriage together, the wife said that she did. But the husband wanted no part of it. We talked as a foursome for several weeks, until the husband announced that he was pursuing a divorce.

When I shared with him from Scripture that God wanted them to reconcile, the man became hardened. I shared Biblical truths about “forgiving one another, even as Christ has forgiven you.” I reminded him that there was a need to take the “log out of his own eye before removing specks in his wife’s eye.” (NOTE – this was not a statement that minimized her sin in any way. It was an invitation to look at his own sins and shortcomings.) He shook his head and eventually stopped meeting. Two months later the marriage was dissolved.

I don’t know God’s will for everyone, but I am very convinced that the Heavenly Father wanted this couple to reconcile. Yes, it would have been a long haul, but it was doable. The big barrier in the relationship was not that the husband had difficulty trusting his wife. He had a bigger problem in trusting God’s revealed will for him.

We have all been in the same place at one time or another. I don’t know about the specific nature of God’s will when it comes to specific purchases or vocational pursuits. But I do believe that God speaks. And I believe that God speaks to us primarily through His written word. Unfortunately many people hear God’s voice in the Scriptures, but they doubt what He is saying. And it isn’t long until doubt leads to outright disobedience. That is why we need to carefully ponder the teaching in 1 Kings 13.

There are several things you will want to observe in this passage.

• You will want to notice that God spoke to King Jeroboam and told him that if he obeyed God’s commandments, God would give him a lasting dynasty (cf. 1 Kings 11:38-39).  However, Jeroboam doubted God and disobeyed by establishing a false religion in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  He did so out of fear (cf. 1 Kings 12:25-30)!
• Later on, a prophet went to Bethel and prophesied that the altar would be split in two and desecrated.  Jeroboam tried to have the prophet arrested, but when he pointed in the direction of the man giving the prophecy, the king’s hand withered.  Jeroboam pleaded for mercy and asked for his hand to be restored, and it was (cf. 1 Kings 13:1-7).  You would think that after such dramatic events, that Jeroboam would return and obey God. But he didn’t. The chapter ends with the king returning to his idolatry and the certainty of ultimate destruction (cf. 1 Kings 13:33-34 & 2 Kings 23:12-17).
• You will want to make one other observation from 1 Kings 13. There is a story within the story.  The very prophet who announced condemnation on the king ended up being deceived as well.  At first it seemed like he was a victim of another man’s evil.  But we know from Deuteronomy 13:1-5 that God gave clear guidelines as to how to validate a prophecy.  The prophet from Judah should have known these guidelines. But he doubted, and his doubt led to disobeying the assignment God had given to him to carry out.  

So what's the point?

1 Kings 13 is more than an interesting story. It’s a WARNING. 

It is a warning to everyone who hears God’s Word preached and taught. It is a warning to everyone caught in the throws of temptation.  It is a warning for God’s people in every generation.

You can doubt and disobey, but God's Word always comes with consequences!

We can obey what God says and experience His blessing.  Or we can disobey God and experience His discipline.

What fears and temptations are you facing right now? 
What is God specifically telling you to believe?  

I don’t know God’s will for that career move you might be considering. And I don’t know if you should make or refuse to make a specific purchase. But there is one thing that I know for certain.

Whatever God says is ALWAYS…true! 

He has given you everything in the Scriptures that you need to live this side of heaven (cf. 2 Peter 1:3). So read and meditate on His Word.  And be sure to do whatever He asks.

How Long Does It Take to See Things Clearly? {A Personal Note From Harry}

Text – Mark 8:22-26

You have most likely noticed that I have not recorded any posts for the last month. I thought it might be helpful to give some explanation as to why this has occurred.

On August 1st, I had a surgical procedure on my left eye that will help to alleviate the damaging effects of glaucoma. I had a similar procedure done on my right eye last summer. One of the side effects of the procedure is that one’s vision can be blurry for up to one month. And that is exactly what happened to me. I found myself being able to see things from a distance, but things that were up close, like print on a page, was extremely difficult to decipher.

For the first two weeks it was discouraging. Then I called my doctor and asked if this condition of blurriness was going to be permanent. He reassured me that part of my problem was the medicine I was taking. He also said that my ability to read small print would return in the near future. As I write this post, my ability to read has greatly improved—thanks to the Great Physician and a very good eye doctor!

My recent experiences with limited vision reminded me of the account in Mark 8 that is cited above. 

The story seems to drop out of the sky into Mark’s Gospel without warning. It's a story of a blind man who was brought to Jesus, with the hope that the Messiah would heal him. Jesus did, but this is the only account of a miracle in the gospels that was not immediate and complete. It is also strange that Jesus took the man outside of the village, spit on the man’s eyes and then laid His hands on him. When Jesus asked what he saw, he said he saw people, but they looked like “trees walking.” Jesus then touched the man’s eyes a second time, and he could see clearly. What are we to make of this strange episode that seems to come out of nowhere?

Please go back and begin your reading now in verse 11.

Jesus had just finished the miraculous feeding of the 4000. The religious leaders then confronted Jesus and asked for a sign, apparently hoping that they could discredit His ministry in some way. Jesus would have none of it! He left with His disciples and traveled by boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Prior to leaving, the disciples forgot to take food with them. So when Jesus started talking about the “yeast of the Pharisees,” the disciples assumed He was rebuking them for their apparent neglect in not bringing food. 

In reality God was warning them to not develop hearts that were hardened to truths about God and His Kingdom.

Once the boat arrived on the other side, Jesus had the encounter with the blind man that is recorded in Mark 8:22-26. I would suggest that the miracle was not just for the blind man’s benefit.  It was also for the slow learning, spiritually impaired disciples.

All too frequently our spiritual insight is slow and hindered by our own self-interests. But God gives us spiritual insight through the ministry of His Holy Spirit.

While I was recovering from my recent surgery, this story found in Mark 8 kept coming to my mind. It was as if the Holy Spirit was saying, “You can have all kinds of knowledge, but that doesn’t mean you can make sense of it. You can have healthy eyesight, but that doesn’t mean you can clearly see the things of God."

You and I cannot rely on knowledge alone—whether it is our own knowledge or someone else’s. 

Yes, we need to be good students of the Bible.  But that’s just the starting place.

We need to call out daily for God to teach us. 

So read God's Word.
Meditate on what God is saying.
And ask the Spirit of God to help you see things as God sees them.

Wholly Devoted to a Holy Life

This post is part 6 in the "Believe & Behave" series. 

Read: Isaiah 6:1-7; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:13-16

Over the last several posts I have been writing under the premise that what we believe will ultimately impact how we behave. Even more importantly, I have been affirming in all the previous posts that what we believe about God has the potential of positively transforming EVERYTHING in our lives.

In this post I want to talk about “holiness." God’s holiness in particular!

When you hear the word holy, what comes to mind? Perhaps you conjure up images of people who are stand-offish. Or maybe you think of a specific kind of worship experience where people are doing wild and crazy things. We sometimes refer to such people as “holy-rollers.” But what does the word holy really mean?

Once again I want to encourage you to read the biblical texts cited above. Read them carefully, and several times if you can. As you do, you will see a progression of thought. You should be able to see

• something about God, 
• something wonderful that God has done, and
• something important that God wants us to do.

Something about God

Isaiah 6 is a famous text that emphasizes the character of God. Along with passages like Leviticus 11:44 we are reminded that Yahweh is “holy.” The word has the idea that God is unique beyond all other gods. In addition, Isaiah realized in his vision that God was 100% pure. There was no hint of sin or evil in His being. At the same time, the word “holy” has the idea of being “separate” and “devoted.”

God is always holy!

God is separate from sin and from people in the sense that He is not sinful like us. God is also devoted. He is devoted to the truthfulness and faithfulness of His own character. He will not stop being God. At no time will He ever have any imperfection. That is why He is also devoted to keeping the promises He makes.

Something wonderful that God has done

The idea in Ephesians 1:4 is that God has saved some people from His wrath and righteous judgment. He did this through the finished work of Christ, so that we might be “holy and blameless in His sight.” Imagine the grandeur of that statement.

No matter what sins you have committed, God sees you as holy.  

[Did I just hear you say, “AMEN”? Me too!]  GOD…HAS…MADE…CHRISTIANS…HOLY!

Something important that God wants us to do

According to 1 Peter 1:13-16, this very same God who is holy and who makes us holy, calls us to live holy lives.

Does that mean we will now be perfect in all we do? No, that’s not what Peter and the other Biblical writers are suggesting. The command to “be holy” means that we are to be devoted to God. We are to live for His fame and to do His will as the number one priority in our lives. So what are the ramifications of holiness?

Since God is holy, He calls His people to live a holy life.

Three Things You Can Do To Practice Holiness

So how does one go about living up to this calling to be holy? Keep in mind that holiness on a human level means that Christ-followers are to be DEVOTED to God. So what would it look like if we were pursuing holiness? There are a lot of answers to that question, but here are three things you can start to practice today.

WORSHIP

Start your day as a worshiper. Tell the Heavenly Father how grateful you are for all the blessings He has placed in your life. If you think you don’t have any, read Ephesians 1:1-14 to get started. Then give thanks to God for your family, your job, the food you eat, and anything else that the Holy Spirit brings to mind.

REFLECT

Devotion will be reflected in your desire to get to know the Triune God better. Adjust your daily schedule so that you have time to read and reflect on God’s Word. Start with a book of the Bible like Ephesians or Philippians. Read it again and again. The more you do, the more you will discover ways you can be devoted to our Holy God.

PROCLAIM

Every day you have hundreds of opportunities to speak with others. Some of those individuals are close friends and others are new acquaintances. The more you build relationships with people, the more you will have opportunity to tell others how God has changed your life. When you choose to be devoted to God, the more you will want to tell others how great He really is.

God is holy! He has made us holy through faith in Jesus Christ. The God who is holy calls us to be holy in all we do. 

I can’t make you believe all that is recorded above. But if you choose to believe it...

God’s holiness will transform every action and every relationship for both time and eternity!

How to Overcome The Overwhelming Circumstances of Life

This post is part 5 in the "Believe & Behave" series. 

Read: Isaiah 14:24-27

Not long ago I was preaching in a church not far from our home. The congregation is small, and so it functions very much like a family. The services are somewhat informal, where the congregants are allowed to give updates on their lives and circumstances. I was pleasantly surprised when the pastor asked for prayer requests. A lady sitting in the back row raised her hand and started to tell her story. Her prayer request was occasionally interrupted with tears, but she finally got her story out. She unashamedly acknowledged that her former spouse was taking her to court. She said she had no money to hire a lawyer. Her children were young and very much needed her care. All she wanted was the congregation to pray for her. And that’s exactly what the pastor did.

I have heard similar stories expressed multiple times during my years of pastoral ministry. Not all of them were as public as the woman just described.

• A man once reported to his family that his doctor was suggesting surgery within the week. He agreed that the advice seemed sound; yet he felt weak and powerless by the very thought of “going under the knife.”
• A woman once stated that she was putting in more and more hours at her job. Her supervisor refused to hire more help. That meant that increasing demands from a small work force were falling on her. She acknowledged that most days she felt overwhelmed and powerless.

Surely you know the feeling. You’ve probably been there on numerous occasions yourself. Those days, weeks and months when you feel overwhelmed, exhausted and barely able to think clearly. You feel helpless, lost, like there are no answers to your situation and your world is spinning out of control.

You are not alone.

So what can we do when our strength seems to be exhausted? What can we do when life circumstances overwhelm us? When everything seems out of control?

For starters, take time to read our text for the week from Isaiah 14:24-27 and notice a couple of important facts.

• God has a plan that cannot be upended by human will. (cf. ISA 14:24 & 27a)
• God is so powerful that He rules over every nation and every circumstance in life. (cf. ISA 14:25 & 26b; EPH 1:11)

Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 14 is one of several references to what theologians identify as the "omnipotence of God." Omnipotence means that God has the supreme power to do anything He desires within the context of His will.

There are some things that God simply can’t do! He can’t lie, He cannot engage in evil acts. To do so would be contrary to His holiness, His perfection and His will. In addition, God’s omnipotence does not work in isolation. Any time the Bible refers to God’s supreme power, it is also assuming that God acts powerfully in accordance with his perfect goodness and redemptive plans.

So how does the omnipotence of God relate to your overwhelming circumstances? The next time you feel overwhelmed by health related issues or challenges in your job, remember this:

Even though you sometimes feel powerless, you always have access to God's great power!

You can gain access to God's supreme power as you engage in three daily, moment-by-moment action steps. 

1. REPENT.  Acknowledge any behavior where you rely on human strength as your primary source of rescue. Although the word “repentance” is not used in Isaiah 14:24-27, it is implied by the very use of the prophet’s oracle. He was calling his readers to repentance.
2. TRUST. Express faith in the power and goodness of God in your life. In fact, in the privacy of your own home or while driving to work praise God out loud for His omnipotence. Tell the Heavenly Father that you are trusting in His power to work through you.
3. ASK.  Request God's wisdom, insight, and SUPERNATURAL POWER to get you through your overwhelming circumstances. 

In the middle of your overwhelming circumstances, you can be certain that God is working to make you more and more like Jesus, your Savior and King! (cf. ROM 8:28-29)

Trusting in God’s power does not mean that all of your problems will be whisked away! Remember that this God who is all-powerful also has a plan for your life that you may not see at this moment of time. Yet He is always good, no matter what your outcomes may be. Trust in Him.

Inviting God Into Your Decision Making

This post is part 4 in the "Believe & Behave" series. 

Text: Romans 11:33-34; James 1:5

Every day you make hundreds of decisions. Most of them are easy to resolve. But occasionally you come up against a decision that can be the source of both fear and confusion.

Take my friend, Adam, for instance. Adam and his wife live in a comfortable home in a Midwestern community. Recently a close friend introduced them to a couple about to retire, who also has a house to sell. The home would put them in closer contact with some very good friends and good community resources. Adam and his wife have been given a tour of the house and they like the layout very much. But it is smaller than where they currently live. On top of the “opportunity” to move, an employment recruiter has approached Adam to offer him a potential new job. Like the house, the decision to switch jobs is not an easy one. How should Adam go about making these decisions?

Before you answer, I want to suggest you do two things.  

1. Change the question. After all, it is not about “how.” It’s about “who,” who does Adam need to know in making His decision? 
2. Read our texts for the week very carefully. In fact, it would be wise to read these texts several times before continuing further along in this post.

Romans 11:33-34 comes at the end of a long discussion about Israel’s future as the people of God. Paul concludes chapter 11 by telling his readers that Israel would go through a period of rejection, but then in God’s great grace, the elect people of the Old Testament would receive all the blessings God has promised to them. The overwhelming power of grace in chapter 11 takes one’s breath away. That is why Paul concludes this section with a hymn, a hymn of praise about God’s greatness and His knowledge.

Someone might question God’s strategy of grafting in Gentiles to God’s plan while temporarily excluding Jews. But such speculation is futile, since God…KNOWS…EVERYTHING! He not only knows everything, but what He knows and chooses to do with what He knows is good and perfect.

Theologians describe God’s good and perfect knowledge as omnisapience. He not only knows everything (omniscience), but He also knows what is best for His people. Paul gives us some of the details of this perfect knowledge in Romans 11:34-35. Notice three things:

God’s knowledge is vast and beyond measurement. 

The apostle uses terms like “deep,” “unsearchable” and “untraceable” to describe what God knows. These descriptors tell us that God knows everything, and He knows everything completely.  He also knows what is best for us, and what will accomplish His perfect will in our lives (cf. ROM 8:29).

God’s knowledge is supreme. 

That is, no human being has knowledge that comes close to what God knows. God does not need feedback from humans in making decisions about life. That is why Paul asks in Romans 11:34, “Who has been His counselor?” The intended answer is NO ONE!

God’s knowledge is accessible to human beings.

That is the point of James 1:5. We often don’t know what to do in the midst of trials and complex decision-making. Yet God is always available to reveal His knowledge with us. That is why decision-making is not about how to decide on something. It is about “WHO” has the information we need.

Ponder the implications the doctrine of “omnisapience” has for you. 

Do you have a decision to make that seems overwhelming?  If so, keep this in mind:

God's perfect and unlimited knowledge is our best resource for making good decisions. 

How do we ask God for wisdom?

Since God’s knowledge is both good and unlimited, we must do what James commands us to do. If you lack wisdom regarding the issues that are before you, “Ask God, who gives (wisdom) to all in generous portions without finding fault (James 1:5).” And don’t just ask once or twice. The grammar of James 1:5 teaches us to continually ask God for wisdom again and again.

What happens when we feel He doesn't hear us?

But what if you decide on a path to take, assuming that God has revealed that path to you, and things don’t go smoothly?

God never said that doing His will would come without challenges. 

The same God who reveals information to make good decisions is the same God who is present to keep on guiding us in every endeavor of life. So keep asking Him for wisdom. And keep trusting Him in all you decide to do.  

How God’s Presence Protects You!

Read: Psalm 139:7-10 & Hebrews 4:13

Americans place a high premium on our “right to privacy.” Law enforcement agencies cannot place surveillance cameras in your home because you have the “right to privacy.” The Supreme Court has often ruled against the life of the unborn on the basis of a woman’s “right to privacy.” And a person can use the Internet to watch whatever one wants in the privacy of one’s own home, based on our “right to privacy.”

It seems that “privacy” allows us to get away with whatever we want to do, as long as we are not harming anyone else in the process. However, those who wave the “privacy flag” most likely have not read our two Biblical texts for the week.

• Psalm 139:7-10 affirms that God is everywhere, and sees absolutely everything we do. 
• Hebrews 4:13 adds to the concept of God’s presence with the additional idea that we must also give an account for the things we do, whether what we do is public or in private.  

Theologians sometimes use a term to describe what the Biblical writers are talking about in these two texts. The term is “omnipresence.” It means that the Triune God is fully present everywhere. When the Biblical writers describe God as omnipresent, they are revealing a truth about God that is designed to positively impact our behavior.

Knowledge of God's constant presence is a safeguard for your spiritual health!

How is it a safeguard? Consider the following two applications from our texts.

The constant presence of God in our lives can keep us from doing evil.

I want to emphasize the word “can.” It’s possible for us to dismiss the omnipresence of God, but that would be foolish to do so. However, if we take the truth of Psalm 139 and Hebrews 4:13 to heart, this truth can actually be a safeguard for us.

Notice in Psalm 139:7-9 how the psalmist realizes that he cannot escape the reality of God’s presence. If he were to travel vertically (PSS 139:8), God would be there. If he were to move horizontally to the most distant point in the east or the west, God would be there (PSS 139:9). Knowing that he could not escape the presence of God was a check on the psalmist’s behavior. How in the world could he do evil when God saw everything?

The constant presence of God in our lives can give us peace in a world surrounded by evil.

In such circumstances we often ask, “What should I do?  Who will protect me?” Psalm 139:10 answers both questions. God will “lead” us in times of danger, especially when we call upon Him (139:10a). Not only that, God will “hold on” to us in the midst of the evil that surrounds us. It is not a guarantee that there will be no harm done to us at all. But it does mean that God will be present to watch over the well being of His people.

To keep the omnipresence of God before you, I want to encourage you to memorize Hebrews 4:13 this week. 

• Recite the verse when you awaken every day. 
• Recite it when you get in your car to carry out daily tasks.
• Recite it at the end of every day.

Memorize the truth of God’s omnipresence so you can remember that God's constant presence is a safeguard for your spiritual health.

Review the ways you see God’s presence and protection in your life every day. Share these experiences with your spouse and children. Remind yourself again that God has never been far from you. Your experiences will be an encouragement to those who listen.

Knowing theology is a good thing. In fact, what you believe about God should ultimately impact your behavior. So live in the constant presence of God, both to know and do His will. 

The Comforting Power Of God's Greatness

Text: Isaiah 46:9-10 & 1 John 1:5
This post is part of the "Believe & Behave" series.

There may have been a time in your life when you thought you could do just about anything. You could work long hours without feeling the side effects of little or no sleep. There may have been a time when you could run or walk a long distance and feel no pain in your muscles the next morning. Then you got older and your seemingly boundless energy started to wane. It is part of being human, and being human over the long haul can actually get us discouraged—even depressed.

We don’t have to live as depressed people, especially if we personally know the God of the Bible.

In fact, there is a truth about God that can positively influence your perspective on your own earthly limitations.  It is called the “infinity of God.”

When we say that God is “infinite,” we are saying that He is free of any limitations in being God. He doesn’t grow old. He doesn’t become less able to do the things He says He will do. He doesn’t face challenges that will be impossible for Him to overcome. Yet, we humans are limited in so many ways. Therefore…

In spite of our limitations, God's infinity can comfort us. 

Comfort? Is that really possible?  Consider what the Scriptures teach us about God.

1. God is infinite with respect to space.

As a human being you can only be in one place at a time. But this is not true with God. Psalm 139:7-12 reveals a God who is not limited by distance or the darkness of night. God sees our location, and He is present wherever we are. A soldier can be far from home, but he is never away from God. A daughter can go off to the university and away from a parent’s care. But she is never away from God. God is infinite with respect to space.

2. God is infinite with respect to time.  

You and I are limited in terms of our earthly existence. We are born; we live a certain number of years; and then we die. But this is not the case with God. Moses stated in Psalm 90:1-2 that God was the Creator of the material world. Yet before the earth came into existence and the mountains and seas were formed, God existed! Moses says, “From eternity to eternity, You are God.”  A student looks at a syllabus and worries as to how he will get all of the required papers written before the semester ends. He assumes that he doesn’t have enough time. Yet he can call on the Lord of time to empower and direct his efforts. After all, God is infinite with respect to time.

3. God is infinite with respect to His perfections. 

That is, there are no imperfections in God at all. Yet, we humans are limited by our sinful nature. As much as we might try, we become impatient. We may set a standard to always tell the truth, but at various times and under certain circumstances we might mislead people. This is never the case with the Almighty One. The Apostle John describes God as having “absolutely no darkness residing within Him” (1 John 1:5). Therefore, you can trust Him no matter how many times people have lied to you or mistreated you in the past. God is infinite with respect to His perfections.

Talk show hosts like to pontificate about God’s presence and power when bad things happen. A natural disaster can become the fodder for philosophical discussions regarding God’s goodness and love. A tragic shooting can bring forth dialogue about how God can be loving and still allow such wickedness to happen.

What we fail to consider is that our world is infected with sin through and through.  As a result, bad things will happen. And yet, it is in the context of these unwanted tragedies that we can call upon a God who is not limited by time, space, or imperfections.

Have you called upon Him recently? If not, start by praising Him for being the God who is infinite. Then ask Him to enter your “limiting circumstances.” He will. He knows all you are facing. He longs to be present in all you do.

Belief & Behavior: What Difference Does It Make? (Part 1)

Read: Acts 17:22-31

Over the course of the next several weeks I want to invite you to reflect with me on a new series called "Believe & Behave" which will explore the relationship between our belief and behavior. It seems almost intuitive that our beliefs influence our behavior in many different ways, doesn't it? For instance, if you believe you will get a paycheck at the end of the week for performing certain tasks, you will behave by going to work tomorrow morning. And if you believe that wet pavement is a cause for auto accidents, you will behave by driving slower in rainy weather.

If belief influences behavior, then what good is belief about God? What good is listening to biblical sermons and Bible-based thoughts about God? What good is it to participate in a weekly Bible study? 

All of these things impact your life more than you might initially have thought. Unfortunately, many people (even Christians) assume things about God that aren’t true. Then when difficulties enter their lives, they wonder where God has gone. They wonder if He really cares.

It is critical that we spend time accurately thinking about God as we care for our individual souls.

Let’s start with a biblical “belief,' a doctrine, that is very seldom discussed. It is the doctrine of the “aseity of God.”  (That’s not a misspelling! It’s a real word!)

God’s “aseity” refers to His self-sufficiency - His absolute independence! It is the very thing the Apostle Paul talked about in today’s text, Acts 17:22-24. Notice in verses 24 & 25 that Paul says the Living God “made the world and everything in it,” yet “neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything.”  

Why did Paul need to say this? According to Acts 17:16 the Apostle came to Athens and was shocked at the sight of widespread idolatry. Verse 18 refers to Epicurean philosophers who started to argue with Paul. We don’t hear much about Epicurean ideas these days, except perhaps in a freshman philosophy class. Epicureanism taught that God or “the gods” had vacated earthly interaction with human beings and resided in some other end of the universe. They believed that God or “gods” existed, but they were not involved with human beings. As a result, the people in Athens embraced a lot of religious talk and even made up ideas about their “self-defined gods.”

Here is where the “self-sufficiency of God” is so critical. On one hand God is totally independent. But on the other hand, this great and glorious God that Paul proclaimed was very much involved with people.  In fact,

God is totally independent from human beings, but human beings are totally dependent on God! 

“Why are we dependent on God?”  

Here is where belief will impact our behavior and emotions. Look at what our Biblical text affirms.

• STEWARDSHIP - Read verse 25. God created life, so we should see ourselves as stewards of creation. We are to care for His world.
• PROCLAMATION - Read verse 26. God ordains the trajectory of our lives and our ultimate residences, so we should live in those places proclaiming Him.  (Cf. 1 Peter 2:9)
• KNOWLEDGE - Read verses 28-29. God is totally different from human beings, so we should seek to know Him and worship Him properly. His Word becomes the primary source of our most basic forms of knowledge.  
• OBEDIENCE - Read verses 30-31.  God is holy, just, and gracious, so we should repent and obey Him in all that we do.

How does this relate to our everyday life and behavior?

Here's an example of belief and behavior in action between a grandma and her granddaughter.

A little girl spends the day with her grandmother. The grandmother has committed to baking a cake for a neighbor’s birthday celebration. The granddaughter pulls a chair up to the counter and asks her grandmother if she can help. Grandma agrees, but quite frankly the little girl’s help is not really needed. The grandmother is the one who provides all the ingredients and the knowledge of baking. At the end of the project a task is complete, a birthday cake is ready to be served. But even better, a little girl feels valued and loved by being in her Grandmother’s presence.

And so it is with the “self-sufficiency of God.”

God is totally independent from us, but we are totally dependent on Him! We should delight to be in His presence, even though He is not dependent on us for anything! 

When you think about “God’s aseity,” it will make a difference in how you eventually live.

Living Out Who You Are!

Text: Psalm 134

Ravinia is a concert venue that takes place in one of the northern suburbs of Chicago every summer. Carol and I have had opportunities to attend some of the concerts over the years. Artists come from all over the world to present music from a variety of genres.

One of our most memorable evenings was a performance by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the nation of Israel. As we sat on our lawn chairs not far from the main stage, the musicians gave expression to the history and emotions of the Jewish nation. People around us danced, sang and wept. The finale was breathtaking. Everyone in attendance stood up, clapping and cheering the celebration of a glorious nation. And then we all went our separate ways.

I sometimes wonder if the ancient pilgrimages to Jerusalem were something like our evening at Ravinia. People sang and prayed, but eventually they returned to their homes. Some biblical scholars wonder if Psalm 134 was the type of “song” that closed each one of the Jewish festivals. We don’t know for sure, but we do know it focuses on who we are and what we are to do as the redeemed people of God.

Before you read Psalm 134 one more time, it would be wise to read two other texts: Exodus 19:6 and 1 Peter 2:9. Both passages identify who Israel and who Christ-followers are supposed to be.

We are believer-priests! Outside of Christ we were not a people, but now in Him we exist to proclaim His greatness to the ends of the earth. Take note of this!

Christ made us priests, so that we might live out our days as worshipers.

So what exactly do worshipers do?  

Read Psalm 134 again and notice three implications of our priesthood.

1. Believer-priests worship continually. In verse 1 the psalmist moves from the general to the specific. He starts with Jewish people in general (“all you servants”), and then alludes to those “who stand in the Lord’s house at night.” The last phrase in verse 1 most likely refers to the Levites who stood guard in the temple, making sure that no one would bring harm to the holy objects within the Temple. Some of these Levites would do the same thing during the daylight hours. So the focus was upon continual service to God. And that’s what Christians are to do as well. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “Whatever we do in word or deed, we are to do in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (COL 3:17).”
2. Believer-priests worship reverently. In verse 2 the ancient Jewish pilgrims were called upon to lift up their hands in praise.  But notice that they were to do so “in the holy place.”  Obviously the psalmist was referring to the Temple and its surroundings.  But Christians are to realize that because they are always in Christ’s presence, they are always on holy ground. Therefore, we are to speak, act, and live in a manner that is fitting for a people who are always in God’s presence.  
3. Believer-priests worship the Creator, not created things. It is interesting that Psalm 134 makes reference to the LORD, as the Maker of heaven and earth. As the Creator, God not only fashioned everything that exists, but He also “owns” everything that exists—including you and me.  Therefore, we must be on guard to be sure that we are not drawn away to make too much of created things. Created things exist for our benefit, but we exist to worship the Creator.  

May I encourage you to do something that may be out of character and a little strange at first?

When you awaken tomorrow, put your feet on the floor, raise your hands in the air and say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.  And all that is within me, bless Your holy Name!” Get your mind in gear to live up to who your really are, a believer-priest called to proclaim the greatness of God’s name!

The Key To Ministry Effectiveness

Text: Psalm 133

I recently received a copy of one of my favorite magazines in the mail. When it arrives in our mailbox, I often put life on hold for several minutes to scan the magazine’s content. I noticed in the most recent addition that a lot of conferences for pastors and lay leaders were being advertised. Almost all of those ads were promising the participants greater ministry effectiveness. But then I noticed that something was obviously missing. Psalm 133 talks about the missing element.

This week’s psalm of ascent is “short and sweet,” as we say. But don’t let its brevity fool you. It would be wise to notice the terms and structure that David employs in this psalm.  Read the psalm carefully, because the structure has a cumulative effect.

• Notice that verses 1 and 3 serve as bookends for the psalm. In verse 1 the word “good” was a synonym for “blessing.” In this case it was the blessing of Jewish brothers living in unity in the land given to them by God. In verse 3 the “blessing” was something commanded by the LORD. So the bookends are referring to the blessings of God. But how does one receive these blessings? Keep reading...
• Notice that after introducing brotherly unity in verse 1, the psalmist goes on to describe this unity with two vivid metaphor. The first is found in verse 2 where David makes reference to the “precious oil on the head.” The verse refers to this oil as the oil of consecration that was poured over Israel’s priests at the time of their ordination to service. This oil was so special that the priests used it exclusively. Jewish pilgrims singing this psalm on their way to Jerusalem would be reminding one another that they too were all priests before God (cf. EX 19:6).  Israel was to be a kingdom of priests. That was their calling!
• The second metaphor is found in verse 3a, where David makes reference to the “dew of Hermon.” Mount Hermon had snow caps almost all year round. Its moisture probably didn’t come all the way south to Jerusalem, but it watered the lowlands nearby. It brought prosperity to the fields, thus making some Israelites prosperous for yet another season. But every Jew knew that this prosperity wasn’t a natural phenomenon alone. It was God’s blessing given for the obedience of His people (cf. DEUT 28:1-6). Psalm 133 reminded every Jewish Christian that obedience produced blessing!
• Finally, notice the last two words of verse 3, “life forevermore.” You might be inclined to think of “eternal life” when you read those words. Yes, it is true that Christ-followers have already inherited eternal life through the finished work of Jesus. But this phrase is most likely referring to “long life!" It is a reference to a life lived effectively before God, doing His will in every way. 

OK, but what’s the point? If Israel was to have “life forevermore,” that is life-long ministry effectiveness, they had to be unified. And the same is true for the members of the Body of Christ, the Church.

Long-term ministry effectiveness is a by-product of living in spiritual unity. 

When we talk about “unity” we are not talking about rallying around a political candidate. And it certainly is not uniting around a specific kind of music or worship format. “Spiritual unity” refers to the union we have with Christ and with other believers. “Spiritual unity” is when Christians join together in declaring that Jesus is Lord, and that we are His people.

How do we practice spiritual unity?

Here are four action steps that may be helpful.

1. WALK IN THE SPIRIT. Every Christian needs to “walk in the Spirit” (cf. ROM 8:4). This will be a choice we make, whereby we choose to let the Spirit guide our lives through His Word and His daily promptings. We walk with the Spirit instead of trying to control the circumstances around us.
2. ACKNOWLEDGE GIFTS. Every believer needs to realize that there is diversity in the Church. We all need one another. We all have different gifts and skills. One is not necessarily more important than another. We need one another, and we need to respect one another (cf. 1 COR 12:12-14). 
3. FORGIVE. Our sinful propensities make us susceptible to pride and hurt. A bitter, vengeful attitude will destroy our ministry effectiveness very quickly. Therefore, we need to choose to forgive people, so that our ministries might have a long-term, positive impact.
4. SERVE OTHERS. Every believer will want to be open to serving others in the name of Jesus. As we walk by faith, the Spirit will show us needs that others have, needs that we will most likely be prepared to meet.  

I am at a point in my life where I realize I have fewer years to serve King Jesus than ever before. I want to be effective. I want my ministry to have long-term, positive influence. I trust you want the same. If so, make it a priority to live in unity with your Christian brothers and sisters everywhere!

Unity is an absolute essential for long-term ministry effectiveness.

Where Will YOU Worship?

Text: Psalm 132

This past Sunday was a day that many of us refer to as a “day of worship.” For Carol and me it was a delightful day. We enjoyed the music, and the sermon directed our thoughts to the reality that we are Christ’s servants for the rest of the week.  I needed to hear that, and my soul needed to worship!

What would happen if our “places of worship” no longer existed?  

Perhaps you would feel like the psalmist who wrote Psalm 132. It is another one of those psalms of ascent, sung almost exclusively by Jewish pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem during one of Israel’s feast days. Some commentators suggest that this psalm was written during the time of the Jewish Exile, when access to Jerusalem and the Temple was non-existent. We have no way of knowing if this was the setting, but we do know that the writer longs to worship. How will this longing be fulfilled?

Notice how Psalm 132 is structured. It can be viewed from the perspective of time.

1. PAST - Verses 1-12 deal with the past. The psalmist looks back to the days of David when he desired to bring the ark to Jerusalem. This was such a great passion for him that he could not sleep at night until the ark had a resting place (vv. 1-5). Then there was the time when David, at great risk, recaptured the ark from the Philistines and actually brought it to Jerusalem (vv. 6-10). So the psalmist asks God to bless David’s risks in bringing the ark to Jerusalem.
2. PRESENT - Between verse 12 and 13 there is an unwritten allusion to the present. After reciting the promise of the Davidic Covenant in verse 12, many readers would acknowledge that David’s offspring did NOT keep the covenant. As a result, Jerusalem fell, the Temple was destroyed, and the people went into captivity. As far as the present is concerned, Jews still cannot go to the Temple to worship. And neither does God currently reside in a Jewish Temple.
3. FUTURE - Verses 13-18 express a longing for a blessed future. Yes, the Lord has chosen Zion (v. 13). People long to rejoice in the abundant blessings only God can provide (vv. 15-18).  But it is still a longing—a prayer—not a reality! Psalm 132 seems to point to a future time of glorious worship.

In many ways Psalm 132 also points to a coming relative of David’s who will reign in Jerusalem and over all the earth. This is the allusion spoken of in verse 17, where the author refers to a “horn” and a “lamp.” I believe this is a reference to Jesus, the risen Savior and promised King.

What will we do if our PLACES of worship are taken away? 

We don’t want that to happen, but even if it did, there is still hope.

We can worship any time and in any place. Since King Jesus is always present to be worshiped! 

But how do we know He is present? There are many references in the New Testament to Christ’s victory over sin and death, but I’ll cite just two. In Matthew 28:17-18, we are told that when the disciples first saw the resurrected Savior they worshiped! Jesus also told His followers that all authority in heaven and earth had been granted to Him. In addition, prior to His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus promised His followers that He would send the Holy Spirit to live within every believer. That promised was fulfilled in Acts 2. Therefore, Jesus would always be with followers! That means they could also worship Him at any time or any place!

How will we worship in those “any time/any place” moments of worship? 

There are lots of ways, but here are three you will want to consider.

1. We can worship Him in our work. Yes, your place of employment as well as your daily activities can be carried out to glorify Jesus. So worship Him in your work (COL 3:17). 
2. We can worship Him in our families. Parents have a wonderful opportunity to call their children to worship Jesus at mealtime and throughout the day (EPH 6:4).
3. We can worship Him in our blessings. Every time something good comes into our lives. Whether it is a beautiful, sunny day or some unexpected blessing, we can give thanks to the One who has sent the blessing (1 THESS 5:18; JS 1:17).

I pray that we will have actual places of worship for years to come. But if they should cease for one reason or another, that does not mean an end to your worship.

Jesus is King! Jesus is present! You can worship Him…ANYWHERE!

Spiritual Rest For The Weary Soul

Read: Psalm 131

The difference between anxiety and fear is probably only a matter of degrees.  They are sisters often working together within the confines of our daily thoughts.  Behind every anxious feeling is the delusional idea that we are in charge of our own fate. We live as though we have to take charge and make things happen. And if we don’t, life will be intolerable—at least that is what we have come to think!

Will it surprise you if I tell you that I have been “anxious” about Psalm 131?  It’s true!  It is the twelfth of fifteen psalms designated as a psalm of ascent. It was one of the pilgrim songs sung by Hebrew worshipers as they made their way to Jerusalem for one of the annual feasts. We have no background as to what prompted the writing of this song.  All we know is that King David was the original author. And David was writing these words “after-the-fact.” According to verse 2 he had learned an important lesson about contentment.  In fact, he had learned that contentment was the best cure for an anxious life.

The centerpiece of Psalm 131 is the metaphor David uses in verse 2. He likens himself to a “weaned child.” The picture seems to be a contrast between a crying infant (who wants to be fed immediately) and a child who has learned to wait. There may be delays and interruptions, but the “weaned child” knows that the mother will certainly meet the needs at hand. Therein lies a truth that every anxious heart needs to embrace:

Instead of being anxious about life, learn to rest in the supremacy of God.

Two questions come to mind as we ponder what David is saying...

What is the supremacy of God?  

God’s supremacy is related to His providential working in every single detail of life. His supremacy refers to the reality that everything was created by God, exists for God, and relates to His good purposes (cf. REV 4:11). Therefore, the wise Christ-follower will surrender to the supremacy of God with delight, knowing that whatever He allows to come into our lives is ultimately for our good.

How do we come to rest in God’s supremacy?

Psalm 131 “hints” at three things we can do.

1. Rest in God’s supreme knowledge. Notice in verse 1 that David says, “LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty.” For some reason he came to realize that he had no right to look down on others. He had no basis for assuming that he was the master of his own fate. David was not saying that he had given up any pursuit of the intellectual dimensions of life. When he says, “I do not get involved with things too great or too difficult for me,” he realizes that his most intricate knowledge pales in comparison to knowing God. He took delight in the knowledge of God, and we must do the same!
2. Rest in God’s supreme love. Once again the metaphor of verse 2 implies an intimate understanding of the caregiver. Just as a child learns over time to trust the mother’s love, so too had David learned to take delight in God’s love. The Heavenly Father had protected him, guided him, rescued him, and eventually guided him to be King of Israel. And God’s love will guide and protect you as well! So rest in His supreme love. 
3. Rest in God’s perfect plan. Notice in verse 3 that David says, “Israel, put your hope in the LORD, both now and forever.” The word “hope” does not refer to wishful thinking. In biblical terminology “hope” has to do with an inward confidence that what God says He will do is true. We may not see it at this point in time, but we can trust God’s perfect plan.

Rest in God’s perfect and good plan for you, whether it makes sense right now or not!

Trouble might be biting at your heals even as you read this post. But don’t focus on the trouble that may or may not hang around for long. Instead, set your mind on the supremacy of God.

He knows all about you. 
He loves you beyond what you will ever fully know.
His plan for you is right on schedule.

So trust Him! Trust Him today and forever!

Faith In An Upside-Down World

Text: Psalm 130

A “disciple” is someone who learns the ways of a master. Disciples follow their masters through life as pilgrims on the way to a richer and fuller life. Those who sung the Old Testament psalms of ascent where “disciples of Yahweh.” They made regular journeys to Jerusalem to worship their LORD for His majesty and grace.

In similar ways, Christians are “pilgrim-disciples.”

One might think that following Jesus would lead to a life with little or no problems. But nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, the New Testament is filled with stories of Christians who suffered for their faith in Jesus (cf. Hebrews 11:32-40). Their lives were turned upside down because of what they believed and how they lived.

Some disciples reading this blog know the reality of a faith that is interrupted with pain. Maybe you are going through the sorrow of divorce, job loss, the betrayal of a one-time friend, or the horrible diagnosis of a terminal disease.

If your world is in turmoil, then you desperately need Psalm 130 in your life. 

We know this is a psalm about personal turmoil because of the words recorded in verse 1: "Out of the depths I call to you, Yahweh." The word “depths” refers to a life that has made a sudden turn in the direction of pain and confinement. It is a term that emerges out of doubt and fear—the fear that maybe God has forgotten us and we are all alone.

So what should we do in these painful circumstances?  Psalm 130 is making an unusual appeal:

When life turns upside down, God wants us to practice redemptive waiting.

WHAT IS REDEMPTIVE WAITING?

It is the practice of one who believes intellectually that God is at work, but there is little evidence that He is currently working in our lives. As a result, we have to WAIT for God to act and to rescue us.

HOW DO WE PRACTICE REDEMPTIVE WAITING?

1. WE MUST WAIT & PRAY.  Stop right there! The psalmist is not talking about some polite, well-phrased prayer. No, it is a prayer of “crying out” to God about the pain we are facing. Notice in verses 1 and 2 that the writer “calls from the depths” to a God he expects will listen with attentive ears.  Yes, that is the kind of God we have in Christ Jesus. So while you are waiting, pray with intensity to the God who hears you.
2. WE MUST WAIT & WORSHIP. Notice that in verses 3 and 4 that the psalmist realizes something majestic about Yahweh, the God or redemption. He doesn’t hold on to our sins, considering how terrible they are. He doesn’t keep throwing our past sins in our faces. This psalm tells us that our God is a God of forgiveness who is to be “revered.” So while you are waiting, be sure to worship Jesus, who has forgiven all your sins—past, present, and future.
3. WE MUST WAIT & WATCH. According to verses 5 and 6 we are to make the most of our waiting. We are to be like ancient “watchman” who spent the night on constant alert to make sure no enemies would breech the city’s security. In the same way, we are to watch and anticipate that God cares and that He will act on our behalf.
4. WE MUST WAIT & PROCLAIM. According to verses 7 and 8 the psalmist called the entire nation of Israel to put their hope in God. He was calling for his fellow pilgrims to speak truth to one another as they traveled to and from Jerusalem. He knew that life is best lived in community where we share our faith with others. When some are emotionally discouraged, others will be there to remind them of God’s love and power. So with the psalmist of old we are to wait and tell others that God will eventually come to our rescue.

WHAT DOES REDEMPTIVE WAITING LOOK LIKE?

So if we practice redemptive waiting, does that mean that every broken relationship will be healed and every problem resolved in this life? No, that may not be the outcome. God may very well deliver us from the problems we are currently facing. But ultimate redemption will come when Jesus returns, and we enter into His presence forever! So with His promise of rescue before us, we have good reason to WAIT!

3 Ways To Handle Spiritual Attacks

Text: Psalm 129

As I write this post, most news outlets are giving moment-by-moment updates on a terrorist attack in Brussels, Belgium. So far over 30 people have been killed and over 100 have been seriously injured. Like other terrorist attacks, the free nations of the world are on high alert, wondering what responses should be taken to prevent further enemy assaults. As you can imagine, massive damage and death often make citizens bitter. They not only want protection; they want REVENGE!

Most people who read this blog have not been the victims of terrorism. But that does not mean we are exempt from danger, especially SPIRITUAL DANGER. The Bible is clear that Christians will be subject to various kinds of assaults while living on this side of eternity. For instance…

• Godly people will be subject to persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)
• Unbelievers are enemies of the cross, and ultimately our enemies as well. (Philippians 3:18)
• And of course, the devil is constantly hurling spiritual attacks against the people of God. (Ephesians 6:11-12)

The ultimate question is, “What do we do when we are the victims of spiritual assault?” 

Here is where Psalm 129 can be helpful. Keep in mind that this psalm, like the others we have been meditating on in recent weeks, is a psalm of ascent. That is, it was most likely sung by pilgrims who made their way to one of Israel’s annual feasts in Jerusalem. In any gathering of people, especially those who might be traveling together over a number of days, conversations can become very personal. People might even open up about the pains and sorrows they have faced individually and corporately. If that happened, it was most likely that an astute leader might recite Psalm 129 as a psalm of comfort and instruction.

So back to our question: What do we do when we are victims of spiritual assault of any kind? The answer is embedded in the words of Psalm 129.

When spiritual attacks occur, God wants us to maintain a prayerful perspective.

Look carefully at this pilgrim song and you will see three ways we can maintain a prayerful perspective during time of spiritual attack.

1. ACKNOWLEDGE THE REALITY OF AFFLICTION

In verses 1 through 3 the psalmist repeats the refrain “greatly have they afflicted me from my youth.” In fact, the psalmist goes into great detail as to the kinds of painful affliction the nation had endured from many different enemies. Notice that Israel’s past was not buried or suppressed. Hebrew citizens were to acknowledge that their enemies had inflicted great harm. Christians would be wise to do the same, remembering that on this side of eternity trouble will never be absent from our lives.

2. AFFIRM GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS

The first line of verse 4 declares what is always true about God. He is never the cause of evil in this world, and his responses are always right in every way. The second line of the verse indicates what God has done, “he has cut the cords of the wicked.” It may not feel that way at times, but in Christ Jesus the power of Satan and his agents have no permanent control in our lives.

3. ASK GOD TO INTERVENE

This is a crucial step, especially when our pain often fosters an attitude of bitterness. In verses 5 through 8 the psalmist pens what is often referred to as an imprecatory psalm. Imprecation is the action of people who have been unjustly treated, who turn their perceived right to revenge over to God to act. They express in highly emotive language what they would like to see happen to their enemies. However, they never take the expressed action into their own hands. The psalmist was asking God to act against his enemies. And that is what we must do as well.

But what good is it to simply pray when we have been unjustly treated?

First, it is an acknowledgement that God has all power and all knowledge regarding how people should be treated. We do not! Second, asking God to intervene instead of getting justice on our own keeps us from a lifetime of regret. We can conjure up ways we might get even with someone, but in the end we can become just as evil as the people who harmed us.

I do not want you to read this psalm as if we have no recourse when wicked people do evil things to us. We do! God has called us to live life with a prayerful perspective. You don’t have to keep harboring ways to get even.

Let God alone deal with unjust people who have harmed you. His ways will always be just and right!

Discovering God's Favor

Text: Psalm 128

If you have ever been to a weekend marriage or parenting conference, you know there is a lot of information to digest. At the end of the conference the speaker might say, “We have been talking about a lot of things you can do to grow your marriage. But let me summarize what we have been talking about.” The conference leader will then give a list of important things to remember. They are what I like to call “going home lists.” 

Psalm 128 is possibly one of those “going home lists.” Most likely the psalm was sung both “going up” to Jerusalem for one of the annual feasts, and again when the Jewish pilgrims returned home. It was a psalm about the blessing of God in one’s life once a traveler returned to their towns and vocations. Yes, just like modern thinkers, the Jews in the ancient world wanted to know how they could personally gain the favor of God. The answer is embedded in the word “bless” (vv. 1, 2, 4, & 5), and in the phrase “fear the Lord” (vv. 1 & 4).

Lean into Psalm 128 and this is what you will most likely hear:

God's favor will fall on those who fear Him!

There it is: plain, simple, concise, and hopefully easy to recall. That is what the psalms of ascent were intended to do - to foster worship and remembrance. But this psalm poses two important questions that must be answered.

What would we be doing if we were actually living in the fear the LORD?

• Verse 1b says that the one who fears the LORD “walks in his ways.” That is, we feed on the truth of God and then are intentional about obeying whatever He says. 
• Be careful here! The “fear of the Lord” is not cowering out of concern that God might strike us dead at any moment. Instead, to fear God is to know what He says, to believe what He says, and then to do whatever He asks of us. 

Let me state that again:

To fear God is to know what He says, to believe what He says, and then do whatever He asks of us. 

How will God favor me if I actually follow through and live in the fear of the Lord? 

• Before you jump to interpreting this psalm too literally, read the text from the mindset of an ancient Hebrew. Verse 2 states that God will bless the “God-fearer” with the “fruit of one’s labor.” This is most likely a reference to an abundant grape harvest. Verses 3-5 make reference to the blessing of children (using the metaphor of a “fruitful vine” in verse 3).  
• What about couples who cannot have children for a variety of reasons? Does this mean God is not blessing them? Of course not! Parents in ancient Israel not only loved their children, but they viewed them as necessary resources that kept the agricultural economy moving.

 

What then are the blessings God will give those who fear him?

• He will give them success in their vocational lives. 128:2
• He will give them the resources needed to continue making progress in life. 128:3-4
• He will give them a long and healthy life. 128:5-6

Psalm 128 is a wisdom psalm. That means it is generally true about life, but there will always be exceptions to the principle presented. You must above all keep in mind that this psalm is for you! Bring it to mind as often as you can.

Do you have access to an audio recording of the Bible? If so, find your way to Psalm 128 and play it on your way to work for the rest of the week. Then play it again on your way home. Every time you listen to the words of this glorious song, remember this:

God's favor will fall on those who fear Him!

Invite God Into Your Day

Text: Psalm 127

I grew up on a farm in Western Pennsylvania. Although I didn’t appreciate farm life as a young boy, I look back with appreciation on the life and blessings I was given. The primary blessing had to do with “hard work.” That is, I learned what it meant to get up early, work the land with my father and go to bed late at night. As a result, I carried those lessons into adulthood. 

I am the first to admit that there is a subtle “dark side” to the principle of hard work.

• It's the idea that we can make things happen.
• We think we can accomplish our goals if we just work hard enough.
• We assume we can go as far in life as we want to go, as long as we are willing to put in long hours. 

However, these assumptions are deceptive. Psalm 127 gives us a very different perspective on life. This “wisdom psalm,” sung by Jewish pilgrims on their way to Israel’s annual feasts, reminds us that everyday life needs to start with an invitation.

Notice that the author of Psalm 127 employs two words that are critical to interpreting the psalm. The first word is “unless” (v. 1). It's a word that introduces a warning. The psalmist seems to be saying, “Unless God is in the picture, there may be no “true success.”

The other word used by the psalmist is the word “vain” (vv. 1 & 2). It can be translated as “futile” or “worthless.” In the context of Psalm 127, Solomon was saying that if God were left out of the picture, the end result would most likely be “futility.” 

And that is where the “invitation” comes into our reading.

We must invite God into every activity of our lives, since every accomplishment is God's doing.

 

How is God the source behind everything we accomplish?  

• According to verse 1a, God provides us with “wisdom.” I know the word “wisdom” does not appear in the text. But when the writer says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain,” he is not suggesting that construction work be literally turned over to God. Solomon was speaking metaphorically. So what does a house builder need? That person needs “wisdom” to carry out the task. And God is the source of that wisdom.
• According to verse 1b, God also provides us with national security.  The “city” was representative of the nation.  And a nation could have a strong system of defense against foreign and domestic enemies. But unless the LORD did the protecting, the best system of defense would fail.  God is the source of our national security.
• According to verse 2, the LORD provides us with sleep.  We take this resource for granted, but sleep is absolutely essential to restoring the body and mind for each new day of activity.  God is the source of rest and renewal.
• In verses 3 through 5, the psalmist says that the LORD provides us with personal protection. Yes, God guards over our national security (cf. v. 1b), but He also makes personal protection available to every Christ-follower on a daily basis. In ancient Israel the social safety net was not a government fund or even private insurance. People found protection through family care. Parents cared for their children when they were small. And when the parents entered their senior adult years, the children took care of them. Whatever the equivalent resource might be in our modern context, God is always the supplier. God provides us with personal protection.

The essential truth of Psalm 127 is simply that we must invite God into every endeavor, since every accomplishment is God's doing.    

 

How do we actually invite God to “resource us” with the things that will lead to daily success? 

We must simply ask Him! 

• Ask Him to come to your aid as you begin your day. 
• Ask Him to reign supreme over every task you undertake.  
• Ask Him to reveal and work His will over your own agenda.  
• And by all means, when you accomplish each task, be sure to offer up praise to the God who has absolute reign over your life!

Have you made that important invitation yet today? If not, pause and read Psalm 127 one more time. Now invite the LORD of life into all that you say and do. You won't regret it.

A Song For "Second Helpings"

Text: Psalm 126

Carol and I had a delightful meal with some dear friends last week. Every time we get together there are ample portions of laughter and a regular recycling of memories. While we were enjoying good food and good company, the host of the evening stood up from her chair and went to the kitchen. She returned with a second plate of ham and potatoes. She said, “Harry, how about some more food?”

In my mind I had rehearsed all the reasons why I needed to forego another portion of meat and vegetables. I also reminded myself that dessert would be offered shortly and I would have to refuse that as well. And so with firmness in my voice I said, “Sure, this is a great meal. I’ll be glad to try a second-helping!” I’ll be quick to note that the dessert was also extraordinary!

Good meals are often accompanied with “second helpings.” We don’t always ask for more. Gracious hosts simply ask us if we want more and we respond accordingly.

God provides us with "second helpings." Second helpings of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and hope. And it is worth singing about when it happens! That is why God has given us Psalm 126.

Psalm 126 is another one of the fifteen psalms of ascent. This particular piece of poetry has no specific historical setting. However, it does point to a time in the past when the LORD “restored the fortunes of Zion (v. 1).” It could have been a reference to Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage. Some bible students think it is a reference to the end of the nation’s seventy-year captivity. In fact, the psalm could have been written against the backdrop of any military oppression. What is significant is that the psalmist affirms that the Lord restored his people in unspecified ways in the past (vv. 2-3).

However, it is important to notice that past deliverance (vv. 1-2) led to a present reality (v. 3b), followed by a request for future deliverance (vv. 4-6). The centerpiece of the psalm is found in v. 4, “Restore our fortunes, O LORD.” What the psalmist wants us to know is simply this:

Since God is a deliverance God, you can keep asking Him for a second-helping of deliverance. 

You might protest and say that your failures are too great or your problem is too overwhelming. But the writer of this song invites ancient and modern spiritual pilgrims to come back to the table. He wants us to have a “second helping of deliverance.” 

• WHY IS THIS POSSIBLE? The LORD who is mentioned in verses 1 & 4 is a God who pours out abundant grace on His people. He did it numerous times in the nation’s wilderness wonderings (cf. Numbers 21:4-9), and He does it in the lives of Christians as well (cf. JN 1:16).   
• WHEN SHOULD YOU ASK FOR HIS DELIVERANCE? All the time! Unfortunately our self-imposed agendas often lead us into deceptive self-sufficiency. And then trouble strikes. It might be a scary diagnosis, a concern about our jobs or our children. But those are the contexts in which God holds out His grace for us to partake. So whatever the circumstance, ask Him for a “second helping of deliverance.”
• WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN HE ACTUALLY DELIVERS? The Apostle Paul phrases it so very well. “Rejoice. I will say it again, Rejoice!” (PHIL 4:4)  Or in the words of our text for the week, “We are glad.”  Tell the One who has delivered you how grateful you are for His presence in your life.

What are the challenges you are facing this week? Take a moment to look back and recall how the Lord was there for you in the past. Then ask him for His “second helping of deliverance.”

Stay Put!

Text: Psalm 125

This past Sunday I had the privilege of preaching at a church not far from our home. After the second service the auditorium emptied—all but for a handful of people. There was a group of four individuals sitting in the second row—two men, a woman, and a young teenager. I started to move toward them, when I noticed that the woman was crying. My first thought was, “Surely the sermon wasn’t that bad!” [No editorial comments, please!] Then the woman was the first to speak. She said, “Thank you for that message.  I wasn’t sure I was going to come this morning. In fact, I was ready to give up on God, until I listened to what He was saying through you.” 

I don’t get encouraging words like that after every sermon, but the woman’s words made my day! She went on to tell me her story. Her job was being phased out. Her oldest daughter won’t speak to her, and she doesn’t know why. Life hasn’t been very good for her in the last couple of months. I listened and then encouraged her from the Scripture that I had expounded earlier in the service. As we were leaving, I said, “You are going through a difficult time. But don’t walk away from your faith. Stay put!” She smiled and assured me she would do just that!

If I were to see her again, I would tell her to read Psalm 125. This is a psalm for people who are disillusioned with life and about to walk away from God and everything He represents. However, the psalmist has a better way for spiritual pilgrims to think and live. Please notice that this psalm is extremely God-focused from start to finish.

• In verse 2 the writer says that the Lord surrounds those who trust in Him. He is like the mountains around Jerusalem that provide a natural protective wall that can protect Yahweh’s worshipers. 
• In verse 3 we are told that Yahweh specifically protects His people from being oppressed long-term by wicked rulers. He does this so that the people of God will not give up and take on the ways of their captors. 
• In verse 5 the psalmist expands on the theme of verse 3 and tells us that God cleanses His followers from evil influences. He bestows good things on the upright (cf. v. 4), but righteous judgment on the wicked. 

Psalm 125 is a song that calls us to “stay put” rather than quitting on God.  After all, the Lord’s protective love surrounds those who keep trusting Him. 

Someone might ask, “What does it mean to trust God?” For the ancient people of Israel “trust” was not simply an intellectual activity. It was an intentional act of choosing to come under the rule and reign of God. The person of faith says, “I don’t understand all that is going on right now, but I will trust you, Lord!  I will love you and obey whatever you ask me to do.” 

Ok, but can we REALLY trust God to protect us? Verse 2 states that “the Lord surrounds His people both NOW and FOREVER.” Think of it this way:

People who trust the Lord are people who have a faith that is “test-worthy.” God sometimes allows challenges to come into our lives not to destroy us but to “test” us. Through a variety of experiences God gives us the opportunity to see the current status of our faith. 

So what will happen if we “stay put” instead of walking away from God? Look at verse 5. It ends with the words, “Peace be with Israel!” Eugene Peterson says that this phrase simply means, “RELAX!”  Or to put it another way, “Just relax and keep trusting in the God whose love is so extensive that He never stops protecting you.”  
 
Life might be hard for you right now, but it will not always be this way. So just relax in Jesus…and STAY PUT!

Near Misses

Text: Psalm 124

Have you had any “near misses” lately?  I am thinking about those times when you might have caught the handrail just prior to falling down the stairs. Or what about the time when you slammed on the brakes to keep you from hitting another vehicle speeding through an intersection? How do we explain those near catastrophic events? Many times people will wipe their brow and say, “Boy that was close.  I sure was lucky!” 

But was it luck or was it something else? The author of Psalm 124 has a very different perspective on the matter of “near misses.” In this fifth psalm of ascent, we are presented with a very clear picture of how our lives are protected from danger, and what God wants us to do in response. In fact, it has nothing to do with “luck” at all. Your escape isn’t even the result of “agility” or “quick thinking.”

Please notice four things about the way the psalmist arranges his material. It is a highly emotive piece of poetry that builds into a solemn shout of praise right up to the last verse.

• In verses 1-5 the psalmist recounts an unidentified event in Israel’s past.  Vicious enemies had apparently attacked the nation, enemies who were likened to hungry animals about to devour their prey.  Death was near at hand.
• In verses 6-7 the psalmist gives praise to God for an unexpected escape.  He likens Israel to a bird that has escaped a hunter’s trap.  Somehow the net had been torn and the bird was able to fly away.  It was close, but a surprising escape occurred.
• In verse 8 the psalmist affirms that the reason for escaping this “near miss” was the fact that God had intervened.  If God had not been in the picture, the outcome would have been altogether different (cf. v.1).
• The most significant thing in the psalm is the fact that the writer moves from the past tense in verses 1-7 to the present tense in verse 8.  He is essentially saying, “God has delivered” AND “God is a Deliverer!”  That is, what is true of past events is just as true for present and future events in our lives.

So why is this progression of thought so important? Because there is no such thing as “luck” in the Christian life. When a catastrophe is deflected, God is the source of our deliverance.  

Yesterday’s "near misses" are the result of God’s providential care in your life. 

The more I meditate on this psalm I realize that what is expressed is not so much an account of human experience. Rather Psalm 124 is ultimately about God.

• GOD is powerful. He is the “Maker of heaven and earth.” He created everything and he owns everything, including you (cf. 1 COR 7:23).  
• GOD is present. When the psalmist says in verse 8, “Our help is in the name of Yahweh,” he is most likely thinking of Deuteronomy 12:11. Moses reminded the people of Israel that there was coming a day when the Lord would cause “HIS NAME” to dwell among them. And when Yahweh’s glory finally came to dwell in the Temple it was a reminder that He was present with His people (cf. 1 Kings 8:10-19). Today the Lord dwells within every Christian every day, and in every circumstance we face (cf. John 14:16)!
• GOD is worthy of our praise. In verse 6 the psalmist exhorts his fellow pilgrims to “praise the Lord.” And the very fact that the pilgrims singing this psalm of ascent were on their way to Jerusalem meant that they were pursuing God. They not only went to praise Him but to discover more deeply the character of the God of Israel. This should be our intention as well. 

I know that someone could say, “But what about loved ones and believers who don’t escape the dangers of this life?” Yes, this is a common question we ask in our grief and confusion. But if those same individuals are Christ-followers, THEY DO ESCAPE! They pass from this life into the one that the Savior has planned for all His children.

Please take some time to think about what God has done in delivering you from those “near misses” in your life. He protected you in the past, and He will do it again. After all, “Our help is in the name of Yahweh, the Maker of heaven and earth.” 

Keep Singing, Even When The Crowd Is Against You!

Text: Psalm 123

My wife and I just returned from a trip to Pennsylvania, where we spent three days with my ninety-five-year-old mother.  Every time we make the trip we rehearse fond memories and often experience new relationships.  However, some of those “new relationships” are not as affirming as we might expect.  I’m thinking of the hostess who met us at a local restaurant.  She didn’t smile; she didn’t even say “hello.”  Her only words were, “Follow me,” as we were promptly directed to a corner booth.  There was the gas station attendant who seemed indifferent to my question about the location of an air pump.  (I needed to know so that I could inflate a slowly deflating tire on our automobile.)  Don’t misunderstand!  There were lots of friendly people who made us feel welcome.  However, there were some individuals who didn’t really want to engage in conversation (at least that was my “first impression”). Our Pennsylvania journey reminds me a lot about our spiritual journey. 

In your walk with Christ you will have a number of people who encourage you and nurture you in the faith.  But there are other individuals who don’t want to hear about the Lord Jesus. They may even level charges at how foolish you are to believe in the supernatural.  

So how does God want us to respond to the spiritual antagonists who disrupt our faith?

Psalm 123 is a lament psalm.  It is also identified in the superscription as a Song of Ascents.  That means it was one of fifteen songs that Jewish pilgrims sang on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate Israel’s annual feasts.  Some of these “pilgrim songs” were songs of joy and invitation (cf. Psalm 122).  Others were songs asking for God’s protection in the journey to Jerusalem (cf. Psalm 121).  Psalm 123 is a lament regarding people who seem to be spiritual bullies and indifferent to religion of any kind. (cf. PS 123:3-4)  It is also a psalm with two parts: a picture of subservience (vv. 1-2), and a prayer for God to show mercy (vv. 3-4).  But within this song of lament there is a principle that every disciple needs to remember:

When your faith is maligned, ask God for the mercy you need.

Three questions come to mind as I ponder this important truth.

1. Who are the antagonists in your life?  It could be anyone.  It could be a family member who is hostile to your enthusiasm about spiritual things.  It could be a colleague or even an individual you once considered a friend.  But I am thinking of someone more sinister, namely, the enemy of your soul, the devil.  In Revelation 12:10 he is described as an "accuser."  He interrupts our thoughts with lies, telling us that we are incompetent, insignificant, and of no use to God.  His attacks can be so fierce that we have no other alternative except to CRY OUT TO GOD FOR THE MERCY WE DESPERATELY NEED.
2. Why must we ask for mercy from God when spiritual bullies attack?  Notice that Psalm 123 actually unveils three important spiritual realities. A) there is the reality of who God is. Verse 1 describes him as the “one who is enthroned in the heavens.”  He is the King, the Emperor of the entire universe.  He rules over everyone and everything! B) there is the reality of who we are.  Notice that in verse 2 there is a picture of a servant and a maidservant. These were individuals in the ancient world who had absolutely no rights, but were at the mercy of their “owners.”  In a similar way, a Christ-follower is a slave of Christ, not an equal! C) there is the reality of our helplessness.  Two times in verse 3 the psalmist cries out for mercy.  Why?  On their way to Jerusalem these pilgrims could not easily defend themselves against the taunts of their spiritual antagonists.  Most of them were unarmed.  So what could they do?  They could ask the King of the Universe to be merciful and do for them what they could not do for themselves.   
3. What will happen when we cry out for mercy?  The psalmist does not say specifically, but we know that there is confidence in his intercession.  Look at the last phrase in verse 2: “Our eyes look to the Lord our God, TILL he has mercy on us.”  He must have realized what New Testament saints know as well, namely that, “God rewards those who diligently seek him (HEB 11:6).” We don’t know when it will happen, but God WILL extend mercy to his people.

On your life journey through joys and sorrows, you will eventually meet up with a spiritual bully. 

Don’t try to take things into your own hands.  Don’t try to get even! When your faith is maligned, ask God for the merciful help you need! When your faith is maligned, ask God for the merciful help you need. Keep singing this song of lament, even when people seem to be against you.