37 The Lord brought his people out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold; and not one among the tribes of Israel even stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad when they were gone, for they feared them greatly.
39 The Lord spread a cloud above them as a covering and gave them a great fire to light the darkness.
40 They asked for meat, and he sent them quail; he satisfied their hunger with manna—bread from heaven.
41 He split open a rock, and water gushed out to form a river through the dry wasteland.
42 For he remembered his sacred promise to his servant Abraham.
43 So he brought his people out of Egypt with joy, his chosen ones with rejoicing.
44 He gave his people the lands of pagan nations, and they harvested crops that others had planted.
45 All this happened so they would follow his decrees and obey his instructions.
Praise the Lord!
When we read the account in Exodus it doesn't really seem like Egypt feared Israel. Egypt had enslaved Israel and had her under their thumb. Yet, by the time Israel marched out of Egypt we're told "Egypt was glad when they were gone, for they feared them greatly." Furthermore..."The Lord brought his people out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold; and not one among the tribes of Israel even stumbled."
Doesn't sound like an enslaved people to me.
Typology is a method commonly used to understand how God works today...by comparing it with how He worked in Old Testament times. In this case, the Church (Christians) is a "type" of Israel. We learn a lot about God today by observing his dealings with Israel.
Ever wonder why Christians are so maligned here in America? Could it be out of fear? Could it be the world (Egypt) has an intuitive awareness that the Church is very dangerous to their ungodly asperations? If that's the case...don't plan on things getting better for us.
And...when the Church is gone...the world will be relieved.
Even though we will take with us the greatest treasure known. Not gold and silver...the Holy Spirit. Even at that price the world will be relieved. They will regard it as a price well paid.
Why should we be held in such disregard? Why would a White House official, years back, claim that Christians "are not part of the solution...they are part of the problem?" Why would members of the media recently express disappointment that the Times Square bomber was a "Muslim?" Two reasons: First, if Paul was correct in Romans (and He was) that the knowledge of God has been created in the heart of every person...don't you think that our presence is a constant reminder to an unbeliever of his/her disobedience? Of course. And, that creates resentment.
Wouldn't it be much simpler to repent?
The second reason is that our presence inhibits pursuit of their unholy agenda. The Church constantly speaks up against laws and policies that are ungodly. The world doesn't want to hear it...because the world is not interested in the truth. This is self-evident. Michael Bloomberg had the audacity...when asked about the Times Square bomber...to speculate that it might be a homegrown american right-wing malcontent.
Seriously? Based on what?
So...America will celebrate every act of terrorism commited by a professed "Right-wing fundamentalist Christian. It will confirm their prejudice and will provide an excuse to enslave us all.
When we are gone...we won't be missed, or mourned. We are the whipping boy of 21st century america. So, what do we do? We don't react. We labor faithfully (as salt and light) until God calls us out. And He will. Be prepared. Gird yourself for the call...at an unnexpected time. Shed yourself of earthly attachments because we don't want to be of "two minds" when the call comes.
Why all this? "For he remembered his sacred promise to his servant Abraham." Remember. God will be faithful for "a thousand generations." He is allowing circumstances to unfold this way because He is "testing our character." We need to know that our faithfulness can withstand the realities of a hostile world...until we march out.
Are you ready?
Live boldly out there today...
November 6, 2010
November 5, 2010
Psalm 105:16-36
16 He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply.
17 Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar.
19 Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
20 Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
21 Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household; he became ruler over all the king’s possessions.
22 He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased and teach the king’s advisers.
23 Then Israel arrived in Egypt; Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
24 And the Lord multiplied the people of Israel until they became too mighty for their enemies. 25 Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites, and they plotted against the Lord’s servants.
26 But the Lord sent his servant Moses, along with Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed miraculous signs among the Egyptians, and wonders in the land of Ham.
28 The Lord blanketed Egypt in darkness, for they had defied his commands to let his people go. 29 He turned their water into blood, poisoning all the fish.
30 Then frogs overran the land and even invaded the king’s bedrooms.
31 When the Lord spoke, flies descended on the Egyptians, and gnats swarmed across Egypt.
32 He sent them hail instead of rain, and lightning flashed over the land.
33 He ruined their grapevines and fig trees and shattered all the trees.
34 He spoke, and hordes of locusts came— young locusts beyond number.
35 They ate up everything green in the land, destroying all the crops in their fields.
36 Then he killed the oldest son in each Egyptian home, the pride and joy of each family.
"Don't complain...it's a test of your character."
David offers a great perspective of Joseph being sold into slavery. "Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character." I find this very curious. don't you? First of all, until "whose" dreams were fulfilled? And...why did God test Joseph's character?
The first answer isn't that simple. Historians and theologians disagree whether these dreams were the dreams Joseph interpreted for Pharaoh...or the dreams God had for Israel. I'm inclined to believe it's the former because we could hardly consider God's dreams for Israel were fulfilled through their slavery in Egypt. More likely, Israel's slavery in Egypt had more to do with testing Israel's character...just like He did with Joseph.
The second answer is intriguing. After all...why test Joesph's character? It's not like God didn't already know Joseph's character. So...the test had to be for Joseph's benefit. God knew that in order for Joseph to accomplish what was about to come, Joseph had to have unwavering confidence in his ability to affect the outcome.
I vividly remember getting a call from my friend Dan. I was at Goodfellow AFB and Dan was in Saudi Arabia for the kick off of Desert Storm. His call was one of desperation. He said "chaplain Thompson. I need you to pray for me. I'm flying my first combat mission tomorrow and I'm scared to death. I don't know if I can do it." I'd known Dan since he was in my youth group in Hawaii. You know I prayed as hard as I could. I left nothing on the table. I prayed until I couldn't think of anything else to say. Before we hung up I asked him to call me when he finished his mission.
Dan called the next day. No fear. No panic. "How did it go?" I asked? "Nothing to it!" he responded. "They shot three missiles at me and I juked all of them." He was an entirely different person.
Dan's character had been tested in the crucible of battle and he found out he could perform honorably and faithfully. I imagine he has not been the same since. It's what happens when our character is tested. When we pass the test we are changed forever. However, it wasn't just Dan's confidence in his own ability that was fortified. It was his confidence in God as well. I've seen his spiritual growth since 1991 and I will testify that his faith in God is unshakable.
But it didn't come without a test of his character.
So, when we read the amazing story of Joseph's rise to power and influence, we attribute it to the test...not to the man. The test gave Joseph the courage to obey God.
A couple questions and an observation come to my mind:
When did God test your character? What did you learn?
The observation: We will be far better off if we regard adversity as a test of our character, rather than the consequences of serving a whimsical God.
Live boldly out there today...
17 Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar.
19 Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
20 Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
21 Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household; he became ruler over all the king’s possessions.
22 He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased and teach the king’s advisers.
23 Then Israel arrived in Egypt; Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
24 And the Lord multiplied the people of Israel until they became too mighty for their enemies. 25 Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites, and they plotted against the Lord’s servants.
26 But the Lord sent his servant Moses, along with Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed miraculous signs among the Egyptians, and wonders in the land of Ham.
28 The Lord blanketed Egypt in darkness, for they had defied his commands to let his people go. 29 He turned their water into blood, poisoning all the fish.
30 Then frogs overran the land and even invaded the king’s bedrooms.
31 When the Lord spoke, flies descended on the Egyptians, and gnats swarmed across Egypt.
32 He sent them hail instead of rain, and lightning flashed over the land.
33 He ruined their grapevines and fig trees and shattered all the trees.
34 He spoke, and hordes of locusts came— young locusts beyond number.
35 They ate up everything green in the land, destroying all the crops in their fields.
36 Then he killed the oldest son in each Egyptian home, the pride and joy of each family.
"Don't complain...it's a test of your character."
David offers a great perspective of Joseph being sold into slavery. "Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character." I find this very curious. don't you? First of all, until "whose" dreams were fulfilled? And...why did God test Joseph's character?
The first answer isn't that simple. Historians and theologians disagree whether these dreams were the dreams Joseph interpreted for Pharaoh...or the dreams God had for Israel. I'm inclined to believe it's the former because we could hardly consider God's dreams for Israel were fulfilled through their slavery in Egypt. More likely, Israel's slavery in Egypt had more to do with testing Israel's character...just like He did with Joseph.
The second answer is intriguing. After all...why test Joesph's character? It's not like God didn't already know Joseph's character. So...the test had to be for Joseph's benefit. God knew that in order for Joseph to accomplish what was about to come, Joseph had to have unwavering confidence in his ability to affect the outcome.
I vividly remember getting a call from my friend Dan. I was at Goodfellow AFB and Dan was in Saudi Arabia for the kick off of Desert Storm. His call was one of desperation. He said "chaplain Thompson. I need you to pray for me. I'm flying my first combat mission tomorrow and I'm scared to death. I don't know if I can do it." I'd known Dan since he was in my youth group in Hawaii. You know I prayed as hard as I could. I left nothing on the table. I prayed until I couldn't think of anything else to say. Before we hung up I asked him to call me when he finished his mission.
Dan called the next day. No fear. No panic. "How did it go?" I asked? "Nothing to it!" he responded. "They shot three missiles at me and I juked all of them." He was an entirely different person.
Dan's character had been tested in the crucible of battle and he found out he could perform honorably and faithfully. I imagine he has not been the same since. It's what happens when our character is tested. When we pass the test we are changed forever. However, it wasn't just Dan's confidence in his own ability that was fortified. It was his confidence in God as well. I've seen his spiritual growth since 1991 and I will testify that his faith in God is unshakable.
But it didn't come without a test of his character.
So, when we read the amazing story of Joseph's rise to power and influence, we attribute it to the test...not to the man. The test gave Joseph the courage to obey God.
A couple questions and an observation come to my mind:
When did God test your character? What did you learn?
The observation: We will be far better off if we regard adversity as a test of our character, rather than the consequences of serving a whimsical God.
Live boldly out there today...
November 4, 2010
Psalm 105:1-15
1 Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.
2 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
3 Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord.
4 Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.
5 Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
6 you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.
7 He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land.
8 He always stands by his covenant— the commitment he made to a thousand generations.
9 This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac.
10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant:
11 “I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession.”
12 He said this when they were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.
13 They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
14 Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf:
15 “Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets.”
"A thousand generations..."
Yup...that's what David says about God. " He always stands by his covenant— the commitment he made to a thousand generations.This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant." The first fifteen verses of This psalm were penned by David, and sung at the time when the ark was brought from the house of Obededom to the place which David had prepared for it. We could suggest that David's ecstatic joy led him to hyperbole..
Hmmm. Possibly a figure of speech, but at least a very long time. We are told By Matthew and Luke there were 14 generations between Abraham and King David...and somewhere between 33 and 43 generations between David and Jesus (depending on who we include). So, we have 50-55 generations covering a span of 2,000 years.
Let's say somewhere around 40 years per generation on average. Fortunately we don't have to count Methuselah (969 years). That throws everything off. At that rate, a thousand generations is over 40,000 years. We've used up about 4,000 years so we can figure God will be faithful for another 36,000 years. I can live with that.
OK, let's be conservative. Since Jesus, generations have averaged closer to 2o years. So, we've used up about 100 generations since Jesus. 850 generations to go...gives us around another 17,000 years we can count on God's faithfulness. Even that's longer than I need.
Of course, you can see how silly it seems to reduce God's Word to simple math. However, it should not escape our attention that God has promised to be faithful to His people for far longer than they will need it.
I see a very important lesson in this. When we sterilize God's word by making it about the words on the page...we do two things. First, we don't allow God to be anything greater than what the words say. Second, we get focused on the the meanings of the words and don't pay attention to what they say.
In this case...what do the words say? "Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets.” I need to ask you this question. What gives you the most peace? The knowledge that God's going to hang in there another 17,000 years? Or the assurance that nobody can touch you without incurring the wrath of God?
The first option is a problem. The moment things get difficult we have to wonder if we counted wrong. The second option is more to my liking. When somebody abuses me I don't lose my confidence. I simply remind myself "somebody is gonna pay for this!"
I know what keeps Israel going...
I am not suggesting we shouldn't understand God's word as literally as possible. I work hard at being faithful to the text. I am, however, encouraging us to be careful...or we'll miss the beautiful forest in front of us because we got distracted by the trees.
Live boldly out there today...
2 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
3 Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord.
4 Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.
5 Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
6 you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.
7 He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land.
8 He always stands by his covenant— the commitment he made to a thousand generations.
9 This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac.
10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant:
11 “I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession.”
12 He said this when they were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.
13 They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
14 Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf:
15 “Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets.”
"A thousand generations..."
Yup...that's what David says about God. " He always stands by his covenant— the commitment he made to a thousand generations.This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant." The first fifteen verses of This psalm were penned by David, and sung at the time when the ark was brought from the house of Obededom to the place which David had prepared for it. We could suggest that David's ecstatic joy led him to hyperbole..
Hmmm. Possibly a figure of speech, but at least a very long time. We are told By Matthew and Luke there were 14 generations between Abraham and King David...and somewhere between 33 and 43 generations between David and Jesus (depending on who we include). So, we have 50-55 generations covering a span of 2,000 years.
Let's say somewhere around 40 years per generation on average. Fortunately we don't have to count Methuselah (969 years). That throws everything off. At that rate, a thousand generations is over 40,000 years. We've used up about 4,000 years so we can figure God will be faithful for another 36,000 years. I can live with that.
OK, let's be conservative. Since Jesus, generations have averaged closer to 2o years. So, we've used up about 100 generations since Jesus. 850 generations to go...gives us around another 17,000 years we can count on God's faithfulness. Even that's longer than I need.
Of course, you can see how silly it seems to reduce God's Word to simple math. However, it should not escape our attention that God has promised to be faithful to His people for far longer than they will need it.
I see a very important lesson in this. When we sterilize God's word by making it about the words on the page...we do two things. First, we don't allow God to be anything greater than what the words say. Second, we get focused on the the meanings of the words and don't pay attention to what they say.
In this case...what do the words say? "Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets.” I need to ask you this question. What gives you the most peace? The knowledge that God's going to hang in there another 17,000 years? Or the assurance that nobody can touch you without incurring the wrath of God?
The first option is a problem. The moment things get difficult we have to wonder if we counted wrong. The second option is more to my liking. When somebody abuses me I don't lose my confidence. I simply remind myself "somebody is gonna pay for this!"
I know what keeps Israel going...
I am not suggesting we shouldn't understand God's word as literally as possible. I work hard at being faithful to the text. I am, however, encouraging us to be careful...or we'll miss the beautiful forest in front of us because we got distracted by the trees.
Live boldly out there today...
November 3, 2010
Psalm 104: 24-35
24 O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.
25 Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small.
26 See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea.
27 They all depend on you to give them food as they need it.
28 When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied.
29 But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust.
30 When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth.
31 May the glory of the Lord continue forever! The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!
32 The earth trembles at his glance; the mountains smoke at his touch.
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath!
34 May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
35 Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth; let the wicked disappear forever.
Let all that I am praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
"Wisdom" is the ability to know what is true (or right) and couple it with appropriate judgment, discernment, or insight. It's not just smart...it's knowing what to do with all those smarts.
As we finish Psalm 104 today we continue to examine the awesomeness of Creator God. The first portion of the psalm outlined, in great technical detail, the wonders of creation. It was almost a physics lesson as we read the litany of God's creative ventures.
- The heavens
- The rain clouds
- The winds
- The water
- The Mountains
- The grass
- The trees
- The moon to mark the seasons, and the sun
Today David brings another perspective when he says of God "In wisdom you have made (it) all." In short, David is saying not only did God create our world "just right," but He also understood how to make it operate perfectly once it was created. That's wisdom.
I was an art major for a while at the University of Minnesota. I was sitting in a sculpture class and my classmate showed me something he had created. I couldn't figure it out.
"What is it?" I asked
"I don't know" he said
"What does it do?" I asked
"I don't know" he said.
That's not wisdom...
And, what was so "wise" about the way God's created all this? "It all depends on Him."
David makes that very clear when he says "when you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied. But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust. When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth."
If we had any sense we would consult God before we did anything with his creation. Since we don't have that much sense we just barge ahead with our plans and programs. Usually we have to retrace our steps to clean up the mess we made. Look at the mess we've created in the Gulf of Mexico. There's not a lot of wisdom in poking a hole in the surface of the earth if you don't have a plan to plug the hole.
We seem to think we can improve on God. I landscape my property. I plant grass, trees and flowers. Not exactly God's handiwork, but I like it. And, of course, in the process I use more than the expected allotment of water. But...I don't get anymore water unless God makes it rain. My beautiful property will whither and die unless God supports me.
Of course, it might not be my lawn...It could be my marriage plans. It could be my education plans...my job plans. Every time I make a change I need God to sustain that change...whatever it is.
Only you know what grand schemes you have going today. Oh, and God knows too. Do you figure God's going to water those plans and make them grow? You might want to ask...
Live boldly out there today...
25 Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small.
26 See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea.
27 They all depend on you to give them food as they need it.
28 When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied.
29 But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust.
30 When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth.
31 May the glory of the Lord continue forever! The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!
32 The earth trembles at his glance; the mountains smoke at his touch.
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath!
34 May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
35 Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth; let the wicked disappear forever.
Let all that I am praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
"Wisdom" is the ability to know what is true (or right) and couple it with appropriate judgment, discernment, or insight. It's not just smart...it's knowing what to do with all those smarts.
As we finish Psalm 104 today we continue to examine the awesomeness of Creator God. The first portion of the psalm outlined, in great technical detail, the wonders of creation. It was almost a physics lesson as we read the litany of God's creative ventures.
- The heavens
- The rain clouds
- The winds
- The water
- The Mountains
- The grass
- The trees
- The moon to mark the seasons, and the sun
Today David brings another perspective when he says of God "In wisdom you have made (it) all." In short, David is saying not only did God create our world "just right," but He also understood how to make it operate perfectly once it was created. That's wisdom.
I was an art major for a while at the University of Minnesota. I was sitting in a sculpture class and my classmate showed me something he had created. I couldn't figure it out.
"What is it?" I asked
"I don't know" he said
"What does it do?" I asked
"I don't know" he said.
That's not wisdom...
And, what was so "wise" about the way God's created all this? "It all depends on Him."
David makes that very clear when he says "when you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied. But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust. When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth."
If we had any sense we would consult God before we did anything with his creation. Since we don't have that much sense we just barge ahead with our plans and programs. Usually we have to retrace our steps to clean up the mess we made. Look at the mess we've created in the Gulf of Mexico. There's not a lot of wisdom in poking a hole in the surface of the earth if you don't have a plan to plug the hole.
We seem to think we can improve on God. I landscape my property. I plant grass, trees and flowers. Not exactly God's handiwork, but I like it. And, of course, in the process I use more than the expected allotment of water. But...I don't get anymore water unless God makes it rain. My beautiful property will whither and die unless God supports me.
Of course, it might not be my lawn...It could be my marriage plans. It could be my education plans...my job plans. Every time I make a change I need God to sustain that change...whatever it is.
Only you know what grand schemes you have going today. Oh, and God knows too. Do you figure God's going to water those plans and make them grow? You might want to ask...
Live boldly out there today...
November 2, 2010
Psalm 104:1-23
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord. O Lord my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty.
2 You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
3 you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds. You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind.
4 The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants.
5 You placed the world on its foundation so it would never be moved.
6 You clothed the earth with floods of water, water that covered even the mountains.
7 At your command, the water fled; at the sound of your thunder, it hurried away.
8 Mountains rose and valleys sank to the levels you decreed.
9 Then you set a firm boundary for the seas, so they would never again cover the earth.
10 You make springs pour water into the ravines, so streams gush down from the mountains.
11 They provide water for all the animals, and the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds nest beside the streams and sing among the branches of the trees.
13 You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home, and you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor.
14 You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use. You allow them to produce food from the earth—
15 wine to make them glad, olive oil to soothe their skin, and bread to give them strength.
16 The trees of the Lord are well cared for— the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 There the birds make their nests, and the storks make their homes in the cypresses.
18 High in the mountains live the wild goats, and the rocks form a refuge for the hyraxes.
19 You made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set.
20 You send the darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about.
21 Then the young lions roar for their prey, stalking the food provided by God.
22 At dawn they slink back into their dens to rest.
23 Then people go off to their work, where they labor until evening.
I remember speaking with a surgeon at my first Air Force assignment. As we discussed his profession he said "Lee, I can sew a person up but I cannot make the incision grow back together. Only God can do that." Well said...a lot of humility for a surgeon.
In fact, I'm of the persuasion that, the more we know about life...the more awed we become at God's power. Today psalm seems to confirm this.
Although we have no title for this psalm, historians believe it was penned by David after accompanying his priests on a visit to the Ark of the Covenant. As he stood in the presence of God...David could hardly contain his sense of awe. In humility he says "Let all that I am praise the Lord. O Lord my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty."
Seems like a good start...
And, if you read the psalm line by line you will see that David attributes all the activity of creation to God's hand.
- You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
- You lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds.
-You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind.
- The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants.
- You placed the world on its foundation so it would never be moved.
- You clothed the earth with floods of water, water that covered even the mountains.
- At your command, the water fled; at the sound of your thunder, it hurried away.
- Mountains rose and valleys sank to the levels you decreed.
- Then you set a firm boundary for the seas, so they would never again cover the earth.
- You make springs pour water into the ravines, so streams gush down from the mountains.
- You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home, and
- You fill the earth with the fruit of your labor.
- You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use.
- You allow them to produce food from the earth—
- The trees of the Lord are well cared for— the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
- You made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set.
- You send the darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about.
- Then the young lions roar for their prey, stalking the food provided by God.
That pretty much covers the waterfront. God has orchestrated all of it. I enjoy watching the National Geographic channel...particularly the episodes where wild beasts stalk their prey (I know, my wife says that too). My mind rarely considers...as the lion stalks the antelope...that God is providing his food. The violence is something we prefer to leave God out of.
But we cannot.
This psalm tells us God is intimately involved in all the dimensions of our lives...how fast our heart beats...whether it beats at all. Our blood pressure. Our relationships...our jobs. What a magnificent thing.
And, of course, we use this as justification to blame God for our difficulties.
I'm pretty sure this is not the response God intended. More to the point, I'm pretty certain that if we take this attitude we likely have never truly stood before God.
Where are you standing today?
Live boldly out there today...
2 You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
3 you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds. You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind.
4 The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants.
5 You placed the world on its foundation so it would never be moved.
6 You clothed the earth with floods of water, water that covered even the mountains.
7 At your command, the water fled; at the sound of your thunder, it hurried away.
8 Mountains rose and valleys sank to the levels you decreed.
9 Then you set a firm boundary for the seas, so they would never again cover the earth.
10 You make springs pour water into the ravines, so streams gush down from the mountains.
11 They provide water for all the animals, and the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds nest beside the streams and sing among the branches of the trees.
13 You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home, and you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor.
14 You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use. You allow them to produce food from the earth—
15 wine to make them glad, olive oil to soothe their skin, and bread to give them strength.
16 The trees of the Lord are well cared for— the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 There the birds make their nests, and the storks make their homes in the cypresses.
18 High in the mountains live the wild goats, and the rocks form a refuge for the hyraxes.
19 You made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set.
20 You send the darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about.
21 Then the young lions roar for their prey, stalking the food provided by God.
22 At dawn they slink back into their dens to rest.
23 Then people go off to their work, where they labor until evening.
I remember speaking with a surgeon at my first Air Force assignment. As we discussed his profession he said "Lee, I can sew a person up but I cannot make the incision grow back together. Only God can do that." Well said...a lot of humility for a surgeon.
In fact, I'm of the persuasion that, the more we know about life...the more awed we become at God's power. Today psalm seems to confirm this.
Although we have no title for this psalm, historians believe it was penned by David after accompanying his priests on a visit to the Ark of the Covenant. As he stood in the presence of God...David could hardly contain his sense of awe. In humility he says "Let all that I am praise the Lord. O Lord my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty."
Seems like a good start...
And, if you read the psalm line by line you will see that David attributes all the activity of creation to God's hand.
- You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
- You lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds.
-You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind.
- The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants.
- You placed the world on its foundation so it would never be moved.
- You clothed the earth with floods of water, water that covered even the mountains.
- At your command, the water fled; at the sound of your thunder, it hurried away.
- Mountains rose and valleys sank to the levels you decreed.
- Then you set a firm boundary for the seas, so they would never again cover the earth.
- You make springs pour water into the ravines, so streams gush down from the mountains.
- You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home, and
- You fill the earth with the fruit of your labor.
- You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use.
- You allow them to produce food from the earth—
- The trees of the Lord are well cared for— the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
- You made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set.
- You send the darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about.
- Then the young lions roar for their prey, stalking the food provided by God.
That pretty much covers the waterfront. God has orchestrated all of it. I enjoy watching the National Geographic channel...particularly the episodes where wild beasts stalk their prey (I know, my wife says that too). My mind rarely considers...as the lion stalks the antelope...that God is providing his food. The violence is something we prefer to leave God out of.
But we cannot.
This psalm tells us God is intimately involved in all the dimensions of our lives...how fast our heart beats...whether it beats at all. Our blood pressure. Our relationships...our jobs. What a magnificent thing.
And, of course, we use this as justification to blame God for our difficulties.
I'm pretty sure this is not the response God intended. More to the point, I'm pretty certain that if we take this attitude we likely have never truly stood before God.
Where are you standing today?
Live boldly out there today...
November 1, 2010
Psalm 103
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
6 The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
7 He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.
10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.
15 Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
16 The wind blows, and we are gone—as though we had never been here.
17 But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children
18 of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!
19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.
20 Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands.
21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will!
22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord.
The circumference of the earth is 24901.55 miles around the equator. That's a longs way. So...when King David tells us God "has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west"...I'm going to say it's at least that far.
I understand its a metaphor to help us understand the God has made our sins irretrievable, but a graphic illustration sometimes helps. Its interesting God didn't say "as far as the north is from the south." That would be a finite distance. If we travel south from the North Pole we can only continue south until we get to the South Pole. At that point, any step we take will be heading back north.
However, if we begin travel east we would never stop. The same is true if we travel west. So the distance between the two is infinite. We simply can't get there from here.
Which, of course is why David says "let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies."
I can't think of a better way to express it.
I understand we don't always feel that way. Casting Crowns wrote wrote a beautiful song taken from this verse:
Here I am, Lord, and I'm drowning in your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don't want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight
I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned
But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way
It's the "human factor.' It's impossible for us to be as forgetful as God. But the Chorus brings us around...
Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west
'cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other.
"From one scarred hand to the other." That's beautiful...and it's a long way.
This is a distance that God, himself, created. It is a bridge that cannot be bridged by human endeavor. No matter how we feel today...about the struggles in our life...the work of Christ cannot be overcome by our humanity.
Which brought David around to this proclamation: "The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love...He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve...The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust."
So the real question is this: Do you want to take responsibility for you sin...or would you like God to do it for you? Take courage. Not in your worthiness, but in the worth of Christ's work on Calvary..."hand to hand." That work is the basis upon which God is able to forgive us.
Live boldly out there today...
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
6 The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
7 He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.
10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.
15 Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
16 The wind blows, and we are gone—as though we had never been here.
17 But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children
18 of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!
19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.
20 Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands.
21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will!
22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord.
The circumference of the earth is 24901.55 miles around the equator. That's a longs way. So...when King David tells us God "has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west"...I'm going to say it's at least that far.
I understand its a metaphor to help us understand the God has made our sins irretrievable, but a graphic illustration sometimes helps. Its interesting God didn't say "as far as the north is from the south." That would be a finite distance. If we travel south from the North Pole we can only continue south until we get to the South Pole. At that point, any step we take will be heading back north.
However, if we begin travel east we would never stop. The same is true if we travel west. So the distance between the two is infinite. We simply can't get there from here.
Which, of course is why David says "let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies."
I can't think of a better way to express it.
I understand we don't always feel that way. Casting Crowns wrote wrote a beautiful song taken from this verse:
Here I am, Lord, and I'm drowning in your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don't want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight
I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned
But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way
It's the "human factor.' It's impossible for us to be as forgetful as God. But the Chorus brings us around...
Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west
'cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other.
"From one scarred hand to the other." That's beautiful...and it's a long way.
This is a distance that God, himself, created. It is a bridge that cannot be bridged by human endeavor. No matter how we feel today...about the struggles in our life...the work of Christ cannot be overcome by our humanity.
Which brought David around to this proclamation: "The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love...He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve...The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust."
So the real question is this: Do you want to take responsibility for you sin...or would you like God to do it for you? Take courage. Not in your worthiness, but in the worth of Christ's work on Calvary..."hand to hand." That work is the basis upon which God is able to forgive us.
Live boldly out there today...
October 31, 2010
Psalm 102
1 Lord, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea!
2 Don’t turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you.
3 For my days disappear like smoke, and my bones burn like red-hot coals.
4 My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite.
5 Because of my groaning, I am reduced to skin and bones.
6 I am like an owl in the desert, like a little owl in a far-off wilderness.
7 I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.
8 My enemies taunt me day after day. They mock and curse me.
9 I eat ashes for food. My tears run down into my drink
10 because of your anger and wrath. For you have picked me up and thrown me out.
11 My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass.
12 But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.
13 You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem— and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help.
14 For your people love every stone in her walls and cherish even the dust in her streets.
15 Then the nations will tremble before the Lord. The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory.
16 For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem. He will appear in his glory.
17 He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.
18 Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord.
19 Tell them the Lord looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked down to earth from heaven
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die.
21 And so the Lord’s fame will be celebrated in Zion, his praises in Jerusalem,
22 when multitudes gather together and kingdoms come to worship the Lord.
23 He broke my strength in midlife, cutting short my days.
24 But I cried to him, “O my God, who lives forever, don’t take my life while I am so young!
25 Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.
26 They will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them.
27 But you are always the same; you will live forever.
28 The children of your people will live in security. Their children’s children will thrive in your presence.”
"Seeing is believing."
Its a popular notion, but one that can lead to disaster. Unfortunately most of us cling religiously to it. Our view of life...and the world is restricted to what we see in front of us.
Listen to what he says about God. "For you have picked me up and thrown me out."
There's really no way to see this as a happy thought. But...it reveals an important dimension in King David's faith. David had the ability to recognize the difficulties in his life, the role God played in those troubled times, without blaming God.
Listen to him..."For my days disappear like smoke, and my bones burn like red-hot coals. My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite. Because of my groaning, I am reduced to skin and bones." He continues..."My enemies taunt me day after day. They mock and curse me. I eat ashes for food. My tears run down into my drink because of your anger and wrath. My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass."
We live in a culture where, at the first sign of trouble, people blame God. I have difficulty understanding this on a couple of levels. First...on a rational level...what it our basis for ever saying "it's God's fault?" I've never successfully connected those dots. Yet, I see it every day in the hospital where I work. A gentleman is dying of cancer and his wife is shaking her fist at God. I'll talk to another patient who hasn't been in church...or prayed...for 30 years because God disappointed him. The first question that comes to my mind is "how is that God's fault?"
The next question is..."who pays the highest price for that fractured relationship?"
The logic escapes me.
I also have difficulty with the practical value of blaming God. When we walk away from God we disconnect ourselves from the very power that may be able to influence the outcome of our troubled life. While we certainly have the right to make such a decision, it's counter intuitive. Years ago I had a friend with financial problems. His job paid minimum wage and he could barely make ends meet. He decided the job was the problem so he quit. The boss didn't miss a beat. He hired somebody else and life moved on. Of course, my friend now couldn't pay the rent, etc and his life went from bad to worse. He spent months looking for another job. meanwhile all his friends had to chip in to help him.
Was it worth it?
This is why David what such a spiritual giant...and why God was so gracious with him: In the midst of trouble David had a single response. "Lord, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea! Don’t turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you." Of course, he probably wouldn't have done this if he thought his problems were God's fault to begin with.
He goes even further. He speaks about God's faithfulness with a confidence that would surprise most of us. By the time we've prayed for something a few times, we quit asking. We figure either God's not listening or he doesn't care. Either way...it's his fault. Not David.. He says "the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem. He will appear in his glory. He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas. Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord. Tell them the Lord looked down from his heavenly sanctuary to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die. And so the Lord’s fame will be celebrated in Zion, his praises in Jerusalem."
Talk about faith. Hebrews 11:1-2 says "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." Do you think David is one of those "ancients?" I'll bet.
The point is...faith accepts God for who He is...not what He does...even when we can't see any evidence of the activity we hope for.
And it is faith that engages God. It is faith that ultimately saves us.
Finally, David says to God "you are always the same; you will live forever. The children of your people will live in security. Their children’s children will thrive in your presence.”
The same God that I praised in better times...
Do I really have to see it to believe it?
Live boldly out there today...
2 Don’t turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you.
3 For my days disappear like smoke, and my bones burn like red-hot coals.
4 My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite.
5 Because of my groaning, I am reduced to skin and bones.
6 I am like an owl in the desert, like a little owl in a far-off wilderness.
7 I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.
8 My enemies taunt me day after day. They mock and curse me.
9 I eat ashes for food. My tears run down into my drink
10 because of your anger and wrath. For you have picked me up and thrown me out.
11 My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass.
12 But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.
13 You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem— and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help.
14 For your people love every stone in her walls and cherish even the dust in her streets.
15 Then the nations will tremble before the Lord. The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory.
16 For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem. He will appear in his glory.
17 He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.
18 Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord.
19 Tell them the Lord looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked down to earth from heaven
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die.
21 And so the Lord’s fame will be celebrated in Zion, his praises in Jerusalem,
22 when multitudes gather together and kingdoms come to worship the Lord.
23 He broke my strength in midlife, cutting short my days.
24 But I cried to him, “O my God, who lives forever, don’t take my life while I am so young!
25 Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.
26 They will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them.
27 But you are always the same; you will live forever.
28 The children of your people will live in security. Their children’s children will thrive in your presence.”
"Seeing is believing."
Its a popular notion, but one that can lead to disaster. Unfortunately most of us cling religiously to it. Our view of life...and the world is restricted to what we see in front of us.
Listen to what he says about God. "For you have picked me up and thrown me out."
There's really no way to see this as a happy thought. But...it reveals an important dimension in King David's faith. David had the ability to recognize the difficulties in his life, the role God played in those troubled times, without blaming God.
Listen to him..."For my days disappear like smoke, and my bones burn like red-hot coals. My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite. Because of my groaning, I am reduced to skin and bones." He continues..."My enemies taunt me day after day. They mock and curse me. I eat ashes for food. My tears run down into my drink because of your anger and wrath. My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass."
We live in a culture where, at the first sign of trouble, people blame God. I have difficulty understanding this on a couple of levels. First...on a rational level...what it our basis for ever saying "it's God's fault?" I've never successfully connected those dots. Yet, I see it every day in the hospital where I work. A gentleman is dying of cancer and his wife is shaking her fist at God. I'll talk to another patient who hasn't been in church...or prayed...for 30 years because God disappointed him. The first question that comes to my mind is "how is that God's fault?"
The next question is..."who pays the highest price for that fractured relationship?"
The logic escapes me.
I also have difficulty with the practical value of blaming God. When we walk away from God we disconnect ourselves from the very power that may be able to influence the outcome of our troubled life. While we certainly have the right to make such a decision, it's counter intuitive. Years ago I had a friend with financial problems. His job paid minimum wage and he could barely make ends meet. He decided the job was the problem so he quit. The boss didn't miss a beat. He hired somebody else and life moved on. Of course, my friend now couldn't pay the rent, etc and his life went from bad to worse. He spent months looking for another job. meanwhile all his friends had to chip in to help him.
Was it worth it?
This is why David what such a spiritual giant...and why God was so gracious with him: In the midst of trouble David had a single response. "Lord, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea! Don’t turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you." Of course, he probably wouldn't have done this if he thought his problems were God's fault to begin with.
He goes even further. He speaks about God's faithfulness with a confidence that would surprise most of us. By the time we've prayed for something a few times, we quit asking. We figure either God's not listening or he doesn't care. Either way...it's his fault. Not David.. He says "the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem. He will appear in his glory. He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas. Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord. Tell them the Lord looked down from his heavenly sanctuary to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die. And so the Lord’s fame will be celebrated in Zion, his praises in Jerusalem."
Talk about faith. Hebrews 11:1-2 says "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." Do you think David is one of those "ancients?" I'll bet.
The point is...faith accepts God for who He is...not what He does...even when we can't see any evidence of the activity we hope for.
And it is faith that engages God. It is faith that ultimately saves us.
Finally, David says to God "you are always the same; you will live forever. The children of your people will live in security. Their children’s children will thrive in your presence.”
The same God that I praised in better times...
Do I really have to see it to believe it?
Live boldly out there today...
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