1 From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help.
2 Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer.
3 Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?
4 But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.
5 I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.
6 I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows.
8 He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin.
Yesterday he was melancholy. today our Psalmist is in the depths of despair...by his own admission.
Yet, in his despair, David writes one of the most encouraging Psalms we have ever read. It is the Psalm we should keep in our hip pocket so we can pull it out when we are in despair.
So...melancholy (yesterday) derives from the seeming constant trouble that comes our way. But despair? Despair comes from the realization of our own sinfulness. That is why Psalm 130 is so precious. Read what he says:
" Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you."
As a Christian for over 45 years I still struggle with sin. I'm way past the point of discouragement. I'm way past the point of guilt. I am to the point of despair. Why? Because if I was ever going to get this right, it would have already happened. I'm pathetic!
Mind you...my desire to live an obedient life derives not from fear of punishment, but from love and devotion to God for what He has done for me. This is why I despair: God deserves so much more from me. Why can't I offer it to Him?
The thought that God does not keep a record of my sin is a great relief. It encourages me to keep trying. But...there's more. The continual cycle of sin and forgiveness in our lives is permitted by God so that we might learn to fear (honor) Him.
We need to let God work through our human failures...our sins. If we refuse to hide from Him as Adam and Eve did, and ask Him to join us in our struggle, He promises to use our sin as a teaching point toward holiness. This is truly a new paradigm. Will it work?
I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.
Live boldly out there today...
December 11, 2010
December 10, 2010
Psalm 129
1 From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me. Let all Israel repeat this:
2 From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me, but they have never defeated me.
3 My back is covered with cuts, as if a farmer had plowed long furrows.
4 But the Lord is good; he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly.
5 May all who hate Jerusalem be turned back in shameful defeat.
6 May they be as useless as grass on a rooftop, turning yellow when only half grown,
7 ignored by the harvester, despised by the binder.
8 And may those who pass by refuse to give them this blessing:
“The Lord bless you; we bless you in the Lord’s name.”
"It is what it is..."
How many time have we heard that phrase? It's what I call a "blinding flash of the obvious". Like saying "red is red". But the subtext is really something different. It's often a melancholy statement...intended to reveal a begrudging acknowledgment of the dim realities around us.
This melancholy can understandably creep into our spiritual lives. Perhaps we've been waging a long battle with health issues. Maybe it's relationships. Possibly financial hardship. And of course, these are all troubles perpetrated by the evil one...to discourage us. These troubles are truly our enemies. We find ourselves saying "from the time I was a kid I've been struggling with this...it just won't let me go!" Not a complaint...simply a statement of fact.
So...what should we do in the face of a melancholy spirit? Our friends might say "just trust the Lord," of "get over it!" as though our trouble is an interloper in a life that is supposed to be free of such things. I don't see David saying he is done with trouble. On the contrary, trouble seems to be a statement of reality in his life. I see him proclaiming his enemies will never prevail because the Lord has "cut him free from the ropes of the ungodly". Try to get this picture: It is possible to be inflicted with trouble but not be bound by trouble. I see a big difference.
"But the Lord is good..."
You know why? Because whatever it is has not defeated us. And furthermore...whatever it is needs the blessings of God almighty to prevail. That will never happen.
"It is what it is..."
Live boldly out there today...
2 From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me, but they have never defeated me.
3 My back is covered with cuts, as if a farmer had plowed long furrows.
4 But the Lord is good; he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly.
5 May all who hate Jerusalem be turned back in shameful defeat.
6 May they be as useless as grass on a rooftop, turning yellow when only half grown,
7 ignored by the harvester, despised by the binder.
8 And may those who pass by refuse to give them this blessing:
“The Lord bless you; we bless you in the Lord’s name.”
"It is what it is..."
How many time have we heard that phrase? It's what I call a "blinding flash of the obvious". Like saying "red is red". But the subtext is really something different. It's often a melancholy statement...intended to reveal a begrudging acknowledgment of the dim realities around us.
This melancholy can understandably creep into our spiritual lives. Perhaps we've been waging a long battle with health issues. Maybe it's relationships. Possibly financial hardship. And of course, these are all troubles perpetrated by the evil one...to discourage us. These troubles are truly our enemies. We find ourselves saying "from the time I was a kid I've been struggling with this...it just won't let me go!" Not a complaint...simply a statement of fact.
It's often called "a desert experience" or "the dark night of the soul" Whatever we want to call it, its a time in our lives where we recognize life is very difficult...and can be for a long time. There is no shame in this. Trust me...it's common to all people.
So...what should we do in the face of a melancholy spirit? Our friends might say "just trust the Lord," of "get over it!" as though our trouble is an interloper in a life that is supposed to be free of such things. I don't see David saying he is done with trouble. On the contrary, trouble seems to be a statement of reality in his life. I see him proclaiming his enemies will never prevail because the Lord has "cut him free from the ropes of the ungodly". Try to get this picture: It is possible to be inflicted with trouble but not be bound by trouble. I see a big difference.
"But the Lord is good..."
You know why? Because whatever it is has not defeated us. And furthermore...whatever it is needs the blessings of God almighty to prevail. That will never happen.
"It is what it is..."
Live boldly out there today...
December 9, 2010
Psalm 128
1 How joyful are those who fear the Lord—all who follow his ways!
2 You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.
4 That is the Lord’s blessing for those who fear him.
5 May the Lord continually bless you from Zion. May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.
6 May you live to enjoy your grandchildren. May Israel have peace!
So, yesterday our Psalmist said "unless the Lord build our house, we labor in vain."
Today, he says there are blessings for "those who fear the Lord."
These psalms are like opposite sides of the same coin. Look at the promises if we truly follow God's desires for our life:
1. We will enjoy the fruits of our labor...we will be prosperous.
2. Our family will be vigorous and fruitful...for generations.
"Well", we say "God hasn't taken a close look at my life lately..."
A lot is said these days around the subject of "when bad things happen to good people." And of course...our friend Job is the textbook (Biblical) example. We're quick to point out the reality that fearing the Lord is no guarantee of a troublefree life..
So...are we making God a liar?
Well, maybe we're confusing issues. In fact...in another Psalm...we are told "the righteous will have many troubles, but the Lord will help them through all of them." So, apparantly we're not supposed to confuse "prosperity and fruitfulness" with "trouble free." To do so only leads to disappointment.
Remember Job? His friends said "curse God and die!" (some great friends, huh?) Yet Job said "though He slay me, yet will I trust him."
Prosperity and fruitfulness cannot be measured in time and space like wealth or health. It's very important that we avoid taking a short view...looking at current trouble...and wonder if God is trustworthy. The long view...that God always takes...restored Job to greater fruitfulness and prosperity than he ever dreamed.
Live boldly out there today...
2 You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.
4 That is the Lord’s blessing for those who fear him.
5 May the Lord continually bless you from Zion. May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.
6 May you live to enjoy your grandchildren. May Israel have peace!
So, yesterday our Psalmist said "unless the Lord build our house, we labor in vain."
Today, he says there are blessings for "those who fear the Lord."
These psalms are like opposite sides of the same coin. Look at the promises if we truly follow God's desires for our life:
1. We will enjoy the fruits of our labor...we will be prosperous.
2. Our family will be vigorous and fruitful...for generations.
"Well", we say "God hasn't taken a close look at my life lately..."
A lot is said these days around the subject of "when bad things happen to good people." And of course...our friend Job is the textbook (Biblical) example. We're quick to point out the reality that fearing the Lord is no guarantee of a troublefree life..
So...are we making God a liar?
Well, maybe we're confusing issues. In fact...in another Psalm...we are told "the righteous will have many troubles, but the Lord will help them through all of them." So, apparantly we're not supposed to confuse "prosperity and fruitfulness" with "trouble free." To do so only leads to disappointment.
Remember Job? His friends said "curse God and die!" (some great friends, huh?) Yet Job said "though He slay me, yet will I trust him."
Prosperity and fruitfulness cannot be measured in time and space like wealth or health. It's very important that we avoid taking a short view...looking at current trouble...and wonder if God is trustworthy. The long view...that God always takes...restored Job to greater fruitfulness and prosperity than he ever dreamed.
Live boldly out there today...
December 8, 2010
Psalm 127
1 Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.
2 It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.
3 Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.
4 Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
5 How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.
What are you building?
Most folks my age would say "I'm building for retirement."
We spend a lifetime building a family...building a reputation...building a profession...building "the good life." But, of course, "Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted".
Furthermore, once we have our lives built exactly the way we like it, the harsh reality remains..."unless the Lord protects (it), guarding it with sentries will do no good".
Ouch!
What are you busy building today? What are you fiercely protecting? Relax...if God didn't build it, it doesn't matter. If God did build it, he will protect it.
Of course, that's not necessarily a word of encouragement. It causes me to look around at what I've acquired and ask myself..."did I build this? or did God?"
It's never too late to remodel...call your Divine contractor.
Live boldly out there today...
2 It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.
3 Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.
4 Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
5 How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.
What are you building?
Most folks my age would say "I'm building for retirement."
We spend a lifetime building a family...building a reputation...building a profession...building "the good life." But, of course, "Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted".
Furthermore, once we have our lives built exactly the way we like it, the harsh reality remains..."unless the Lord protects (it), guarding it with sentries will do no good".
Ouch!
What are you busy building today? What are you fiercely protecting? Relax...if God didn't build it, it doesn't matter. If God did build it, he will protect it.
Of course, that's not necessarily a word of encouragement. It causes me to look around at what I've acquired and ask myself..."did I build this? or did God?"
It's never too late to remodel...call your Divine contractor.
Live boldly out there today...
December 7, 2010
Psalm 126
1 When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!
2 We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
3 Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!
4 Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert.
5 Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.
6 They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.
Memories are generally good for us. Memories of God are of profound benefit.
When we spend our daily time with God we should consider spending some moments contemplating what God has done in our past...the blessings, the miracles, the corrections and the directions.
I suspect it will fill our hearts with thanksgiving and joy. After all, if we take the time to consider how far God has brought us...how could we be anything but grateful? In fact our Psalmist says "we were filled with laughter and our hearts were filled with joy!...what amazing things the Lord has done!"
We are reminded that even those difficult times in our lives...when tears and fears prevailed...will result in joy and thanksgiving when followed through to their Divine conclusion. "Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy!"
When was the last time you were so overwhelmed with God's faithfulness that you were reduced to laughter? Laughter does not leave much room for fear.
Be bold out there today...
2 We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
3 Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!
4 Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert.
5 Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.
6 They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.
Memories are generally good for us. Memories of God are of profound benefit.
When we spend our daily time with God we should consider spending some moments contemplating what God has done in our past...the blessings, the miracles, the corrections and the directions.
I suspect it will fill our hearts with thanksgiving and joy. After all, if we take the time to consider how far God has brought us...how could we be anything but grateful? In fact our Psalmist says "we were filled with laughter and our hearts were filled with joy!...what amazing things the Lord has done!"
We are reminded that even those difficult times in our lives...when tears and fears prevailed...will result in joy and thanksgiving when followed through to their Divine conclusion. "Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy!"
When was the last time you were so overwhelmed with God's faithfulness that you were reduced to laughter? Laughter does not leave much room for fear.
Be bold out there today...
December 6, 2010
Psalm 125
1 Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever.
2 Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.
3 The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong.
4 O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you.
5 But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord. Take them away with those who do evil. May Israel have peace!
When I lived in Colorado Springs I could stand on my deck and admire Pike's Peak. That was 1985. I've moved on but Pike's Peak is still there. I know that, because Mali was in the Springs recently and she saw it. I imagine it will be there for many, many more years.
It's no "Mount Zion." but it is a formidable testament to durability and dependability. There is comfort in that kind of permanence. A house built on Pike's Peak could stand forever. In fact, if built on the proper side, the mountain will even protect that house from the weather. If I was not the neighborly kind, Pike's Peak will even protect me from intruders...because access to mountain homes is very limited.
So...when our Psalmist uses a mountain as a metaphor for the security we have in our faith...that metaphor will stand the test of time. Just like the mountain. "Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion!"
That line was written over 3,000 years ago and the mountain is still there. I'll bet we cannot name a single "wicked ruler" from David's time that is still carrying on today. Sure...there are a few wicked rulers around today...new ones...but they will go the way of those who came before them.
And of course...we will go the way of the faithful who came before us. Only the mountain stands.
I'm not one bit afraid of Nebuchadnezzar, or Nero, or Ghengis Khan, or Stalin, or Ahmadinejad, or any other bush league bully...alive or dead...because the mountain upon which I stand is firm and everlasting.
Live boldly out there today.
2 Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.
3 The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong.
4 O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you.
5 But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord. Take them away with those who do evil. May Israel have peace!
When I lived in Colorado Springs I could stand on my deck and admire Pike's Peak. That was 1985. I've moved on but Pike's Peak is still there. I know that, because Mali was in the Springs recently and she saw it. I imagine it will be there for many, many more years.
It's no "Mount Zion." but it is a formidable testament to durability and dependability. There is comfort in that kind of permanence. A house built on Pike's Peak could stand forever. In fact, if built on the proper side, the mountain will even protect that house from the weather. If I was not the neighborly kind, Pike's Peak will even protect me from intruders...because access to mountain homes is very limited.
So...when our Psalmist uses a mountain as a metaphor for the security we have in our faith...that metaphor will stand the test of time. Just like the mountain. "Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion!"
That line was written over 3,000 years ago and the mountain is still there. I'll bet we cannot name a single "wicked ruler" from David's time that is still carrying on today. Sure...there are a few wicked rulers around today...new ones...but they will go the way of those who came before them.
And of course...we will go the way of the faithful who came before us. Only the mountain stands.
I'm not one bit afraid of Nebuchadnezzar, or Nero, or Ghengis Khan, or Stalin, or Ahmadinejad, or any other bush league bully...alive or dead...because the mountain upon which I stand is firm and everlasting.
Live boldly out there today.
December 5, 2010
Psalm 124
1 What if the Lord had not been on our side? Let all Israel repeat:
2 What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us?
3 They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger.
4 The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us.
5 Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives.
6 Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart!
7 We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free!
8 Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Challenges are not metaphors for life....although life is a challenge.
It's an important distinction...and my coach was wrong.
Life is a contest and we've been raised to believe we make our own success in life. If we work hard, study hard, live honest lives, we will become a success. Why else do we have a valedictorian? A Superbowl champion? And...if we have not been fortunate enough to be either of those...the message is simple: try harder. We can determine the outcome of our lives by the sheer power of our will. As though it all means something...
What if life isn't that at all? What if life isn't "the survival of the fittest?" After all, Jesus said "what does it profit a person if he gains the world, but loses his soul?" What if life is more like our solar system? If the earth gets too close to the sun...we die. If the sun burns out...we die. What do you suppose we can do to influence any of it? You're right, we're just along for the ride...to eventual oblivion.
The one who dies with the most toys does not win...
In reality, our successful efforts in overcoming every challenge life offers is nothing more than something we do to occupy time while we are living...like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Will it actually make a difference? Life is not a football game. Life is not a career path. Life is not "a spouse, two children and an SUV." Life is the total sum of moments that God has given each of us to enjoy His creation and honor Him. And granted, it can be difficult.
In fact, life so difficult that we are powerless to affect the outcome. Sin has insideously crept into our lives and infected us with a fatal disease...before we were even born. We are born dead... spiritually. Without outside intervention we die alone...without God.
Now, listen to our Psalmist..."what if the Lord had not been on our side?"
I'm comforted to believe that our God holds the sun and it's planets in balance...because I cannot. I'm comforted to believe that my eternal welfare does not depend upon how successfully I navigated the daily snares. I'm comforted to believe that "if God is for me, nothing can be against me."
And the great proof God is "for" us? We'll see it in the manger this Christmas. When Jesus moves out of the manger...and into our lives...his presence innoculates us from the deadly effects of sin. Our eternal welfare is settled...if we never defeat a single enemy in our life.
Live boldly out there today...
2 What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us?
3 They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger.
4 The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us.
5 Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives.
6 Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart!
7 We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free!
8 Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Challenges are not metaphors for life....although life is a challenge.
It's an important distinction...and my coach was wrong.
Life is a contest and we've been raised to believe we make our own success in life. If we work hard, study hard, live honest lives, we will become a success. Why else do we have a valedictorian? A Superbowl champion? And...if we have not been fortunate enough to be either of those...the message is simple: try harder. We can determine the outcome of our lives by the sheer power of our will. As though it all means something...
What if life isn't that at all? What if life isn't "the survival of the fittest?" After all, Jesus said "what does it profit a person if he gains the world, but loses his soul?" What if life is more like our solar system? If the earth gets too close to the sun...we die. If the sun burns out...we die. What do you suppose we can do to influence any of it? You're right, we're just along for the ride...to eventual oblivion.
The one who dies with the most toys does not win...
In reality, our successful efforts in overcoming every challenge life offers is nothing more than something we do to occupy time while we are living...like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Will it actually make a difference? Life is not a football game. Life is not a career path. Life is not "a spouse, two children and an SUV." Life is the total sum of moments that God has given each of us to enjoy His creation and honor Him. And granted, it can be difficult.
In fact, life so difficult that we are powerless to affect the outcome. Sin has insideously crept into our lives and infected us with a fatal disease...before we were even born. We are born dead... spiritually. Without outside intervention we die alone...without God.
Now, listen to our Psalmist..."what if the Lord had not been on our side?"
I'm comforted to believe that our God holds the sun and it's planets in balance...because I cannot. I'm comforted to believe that my eternal welfare does not depend upon how successfully I navigated the daily snares. I'm comforted to believe that "if God is for me, nothing can be against me."
And the great proof God is "for" us? We'll see it in the manger this Christmas. When Jesus moves out of the manger...and into our lives...his presence innoculates us from the deadly effects of sin. Our eternal welfare is settled...if we never defeat a single enemy in our life.
Live boldly out there today...
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