“Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” (Psalm 31:23-24 NIV).
“Love God, all you saints; God takes care of all who stay close to him, But he pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone. Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up. Expect God to get here soon.” (Psalm 31:23-24 MSG).
Strange that saints would have to be reminded to love the Lord isn’t it? Jeremiah reminds us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV). That is the heart that beats in everyone of Adam’s fallen race. It beats in my breast and it beats in yours. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 NKJV).
Every so often someone will come into my office devastated. They’ll sob, “I try so hard, but I just can’t do it! I’m unworthy of God’s forgiveness.” To which I’ll respond. “That’s right.” The shock is immediate (as it may have been for some of you who read those words). Then I’ll explain, “We are all unworthy, that’s why we need Christ and that’s why it’s called grace (unmerited favor). We’re all in that boat! I use to try to argue with the devil when he would fill my mind with such thoughts. I never won. Now, the minute that thought enters my mind, I simply say, ‘Yes, that’s right. That’s why I need Christ.’ And I promise you, that battle is over.”
All of that to remind those of us who are believers never to forget that we are who we are not because of who we are but because of who He is and what He did! Everyone of us is one step away from spiritual failure, that is why we have to be reminded over and over again to love the Lord. I make my living proclaiming His grace and glory, yet even I have to be reminded daily that I need to love the Lord personally; I need to love Him just as much in private as I do in public. That is a battle all believers face, and the minute we forget that, we are doomed for spiritual disaster. The minute we think we are something is the minute of our spiritual demise! “God takes care of all who stay close to him, But he pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone.”
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
When God Seems Absent
“In my alarm I said, ‘I am cut off from your sight!’ Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.” (Psalm 31:22 NIV).
Difficulties come, troubles arise, and even God’s most faithful saints succumb to fear and panic. You are not alone. In His darkest hour even the sinless Son of God cried out, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). So if you find yourself in a period of darkness and doubt, take heart, you are in good company!
Blameless and upright Job (Job 1:1) of whom even God said, “There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:8 NIV), even this man laments, “ Then Job replied: ‘Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! . . . But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.’” (Job 23:1-3; 8-9 NIV). I think at some time in our Christian lives, most of us are familiar with such feelings. Job however goes on to remind us of an important theological truth: “ But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10 NIV). We don’t have to always see where God is or understand how He is leading, but we do need to remember that even when we lose sight of Him, He never loses sight of us! He hears our cries and dispatches mercy!
What is it that you struggle with today? What fear? What insecurity? What problem? God knows all about it and you can be sure that He who rules the universe is at work both for your good and His glory. Trust Him. Surrender to Him.
Difficulties come, troubles arise, and even God’s most faithful saints succumb to fear and panic. You are not alone. In His darkest hour even the sinless Son of God cried out, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). So if you find yourself in a period of darkness and doubt, take heart, you are in good company!
Blameless and upright Job (Job 1:1) of whom even God said, “There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:8 NIV), even this man laments, “ Then Job replied: ‘Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! . . . But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.’” (Job 23:1-3; 8-9 NIV). I think at some time in our Christian lives, most of us are familiar with such feelings. Job however goes on to remind us of an important theological truth: “ But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10 NIV). We don’t have to always see where God is or understand how He is leading, but we do need to remember that even when we lose sight of Him, He never loses sight of us! He hears our cries and dispatches mercy!
What is it that you struggle with today? What fear? What insecurity? What problem? God knows all about it and you can be sure that He who rules the universe is at work both for your good and His glory. Trust Him. Surrender to Him.
Monday, June 14, 2010
God is Good--All the Time!
“How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. 20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.” (Psalm 31:19-20 NIV)
“What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, Ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world. 20 You hide them safely away from the opposition. As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces, you silence the poisonous gossip.” (Psalm 31:19-20 MSG).
In the early fall of 2004 the Gateway Praise Team and I ministered in Trinidad. We had a wonderful time. One of the things our host churches proclaimed over and over again was these words: (Pastor): “God is good!” (People responded): “All the time.”
Those words would never be more powerful or affect me in a greater way then when one of our team members, Kim Garvey, uttered them from her hospital bed. Kim almost did not come on the trip. She had been ill, fighting what she thought was a serious sinus infection. She came a day late, ministered powerfully and faithfully (although we knew she did not feel well), and at the end of our tour, she became very ill and had to be rushed to a local hospital.
Out of respect for her (I did seek permission for this thought) and HIPPA rules, I will not go into any of the details of her illness, but I will say that she was in serious medical trouble. After transferring from the public hospital to a private one near where we were staying, she looked up at us and said, “God is good.” Then she shared how her illness had given her opportunities to witness for Him.
God is good. Even in our difficulties God is good, and if we will run to Him we can experience that goodness. He is a wonderful shelter for those who seek refuge in Him.
“What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, Ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world. 20 You hide them safely away from the opposition. As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces, you silence the poisonous gossip.” (Psalm 31:19-20 MSG).
In the early fall of 2004 the Gateway Praise Team and I ministered in Trinidad. We had a wonderful time. One of the things our host churches proclaimed over and over again was these words: (Pastor): “God is good!” (People responded): “All the time.”
Those words would never be more powerful or affect me in a greater way then when one of our team members, Kim Garvey, uttered them from her hospital bed. Kim almost did not come on the trip. She had been ill, fighting what she thought was a serious sinus infection. She came a day late, ministered powerfully and faithfully (although we knew she did not feel well), and at the end of our tour, she became very ill and had to be rushed to a local hospital.
Out of respect for her (I did seek permission for this thought) and HIPPA rules, I will not go into any of the details of her illness, but I will say that she was in serious medical trouble. After transferring from the public hospital to a private one near where we were staying, she looked up at us and said, “God is good.” Then she shared how her illness had given her opportunities to witness for Him.
God is good. Even in our difficulties God is good, and if we will run to Him we can experience that goodness. He is a wonderful shelter for those who seek refuge in Him.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
When Lies are Told
“ I have heard many insults. Terror is all around me. They make plans against me and want to kill me. Lord, I trust you. I have said, ‘You are my God.’ My life is in your hands. Save me from my enemies and from those who are chasing me. Show your kindness to me, your servant. Save me because of your love. Lord, I called to you, so do not let me be disgraced. Let the wicked be disgraced and lie silent in the grave. With pride and hatred they speak against those who do right. So silence their lying lips.” (Psalm 31:13-18 NCV).
David is in trouble. But the trouble he is in does not appear to be military trouble but personal trouble–rumors are being spread about him, lies are being told, and, as you read this chapter you discover that those lies have separated him from friends and family. Slander will do that. People may not really believe what they hear, but well, let’s just say they have their questions; their doubts, and so they distance themselves just to stay above the fray. Never do they stop to realize the isolation--the horrible feeling of aloneness; abandonment–that the victim, their “friend” is undergoing. David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, marvelously catches and verbalizes what such experiences are like.
We don’t know the circumstances of this particular Psalm. Experience leads me to believe that there was some kernel of truth in the cornfield of lies. That’s the way it usually is. I feel for David. As a pastor I know what it is to suffer when someone gets upset and begins to spread lies. The desire to defend myself is there, but the knowledge that to do so would require me to divulge confidential information prevents it. Over my years of ministry I am convinced that those who spread the lies count on such integrity.
I recall one such incident where I was in deep trouble because of the lies of one individual. I called a meeting of my leaders to deal with the problem, and this individual proceeded to attack me in front of them all. The scary thing for me is that I could tell they believed the individual!
Now I had dealt with the craftiness and deceit of this particular individual before and been harmed by it. This particular time I asked my source if I could use her name if it became necessary. She graciously granted her permission. After a tirade of thirty minutes or so when it was obvious that the individual had succeeded in swaying my leaders to their side, the individual smugly smirked, “If what you were saying were true, you’d be able to give me the name of your source.” The thrill of victory was evident on the individual’s face. I was done for. There was no way I could break such a confidence and undermine this individual’s story.
However, with the sources permission, I simply gave her name. The thrill of victory look quickly gave way to an agony of defeat expression, not only on the face of the individual but also on the faces of my leaders. The individual stammered, “She wasn’t suppose to tell you.”
That was an unusual occurrence. Normally I have to accept the criticism in silence because of confidentiality. I know that there have been times when my reputation and ministry has been damaged because of this. I identify with David. I am grateful that at such times I can run to God. He knows all the facts and there is tremendous comfort knowing that “my life is in (His) hands.” (v. 15a).
Do you have that confidence today? Perhaps you are stinging from the hateful stories of jealous co-workers or former friends. The stories have you jumpy; uneasy–anxious. Take it to the Lord. He understands, He cares and He has your life in His almighty hands.
Some of the best advice I’ve ever received comes from an unknown source who wrote, “When men speak ill of thee, live so no one will believe them.”
David is in trouble. But the trouble he is in does not appear to be military trouble but personal trouble–rumors are being spread about him, lies are being told, and, as you read this chapter you discover that those lies have separated him from friends and family. Slander will do that. People may not really believe what they hear, but well, let’s just say they have their questions; their doubts, and so they distance themselves just to stay above the fray. Never do they stop to realize the isolation--the horrible feeling of aloneness; abandonment–that the victim, their “friend” is undergoing. David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, marvelously catches and verbalizes what such experiences are like.
We don’t know the circumstances of this particular Psalm. Experience leads me to believe that there was some kernel of truth in the cornfield of lies. That’s the way it usually is. I feel for David. As a pastor I know what it is to suffer when someone gets upset and begins to spread lies. The desire to defend myself is there, but the knowledge that to do so would require me to divulge confidential information prevents it. Over my years of ministry I am convinced that those who spread the lies count on such integrity.
I recall one such incident where I was in deep trouble because of the lies of one individual. I called a meeting of my leaders to deal with the problem, and this individual proceeded to attack me in front of them all. The scary thing for me is that I could tell they believed the individual!
Now I had dealt with the craftiness and deceit of this particular individual before and been harmed by it. This particular time I asked my source if I could use her name if it became necessary. She graciously granted her permission. After a tirade of thirty minutes or so when it was obvious that the individual had succeeded in swaying my leaders to their side, the individual smugly smirked, “If what you were saying were true, you’d be able to give me the name of your source.” The thrill of victory was evident on the individual’s face. I was done for. There was no way I could break such a confidence and undermine this individual’s story.
However, with the sources permission, I simply gave her name. The thrill of victory look quickly gave way to an agony of defeat expression, not only on the face of the individual but also on the faces of my leaders. The individual stammered, “She wasn’t suppose to tell you.”
That was an unusual occurrence. Normally I have to accept the criticism in silence because of confidentiality. I know that there have been times when my reputation and ministry has been damaged because of this. I identify with David. I am grateful that at such times I can run to God. He knows all the facts and there is tremendous comfort knowing that “my life is in (His) hands.” (v. 15a).
Do you have that confidence today? Perhaps you are stinging from the hateful stories of jealous co-workers or former friends. The stories have you jumpy; uneasy–anxious. Take it to the Lord. He understands, He cares and He has your life in His almighty hands.
Some of the best advice I’ve ever received comes from an unknown source who wrote, “When men speak ill of thee, live so no one will believe them.”
Saturday, June 12, 2010
God's Mercy vs. Men's Demands
“O Lord, have mercy on me in my anguish. My eyes are red from weeping; my health is broken from sorrow. I am pining away with grief; my years are shortened, drained away because of sadness. My sins have sapped my strength; I stoop with sorrow and with shame. I am scorned by all my enemies and even more by my neighbors and friends. They dread meeting me and look the other way when I go by. I am forgotten like a dead man, like a broken and discarded pot. I heard the lies about me, the slanders of my enemies. Everywhere I looked I was afraid, for they were plotting against my life.” (Psalm 31:9-13 TLB).
We stated at the beginning of our study in this particular Psalm that the thing that makes this Psalm interesting is David’s plea for deliverance here is not from the foxhole but from the palace; the enemies he fears are not military generals but malicious gossips. How do we know that? Look again at verse 13, “I heard the lies about me, the slanders of my enemies. Everywhere I looked I was afraid, for they were plotting against my life.”
Experience tells me that physical wounds are far easier to heal than the emotional wounds caused by thoughtless words or the character assassination of unscrupulous gossips. It is much easier to defend ourselves against physical attacks than it is to protect ourselves against the character attacks of those unscrupulous people who spread rumors and lies. Look at the description David gives, “My eyes are red from weeping; my health is broken from sorrow. I am pining away with grief; my years are shortened, drained away because of sadness . . . I stoop with sorrow and with shame. 11I am scorned by all my enemies and even more by my neighbors and friends. They dread meeting me and look the other way when I go by. I am forgotten like a dead man, like a broken and discarded pot.” Sound familiar? When lies are spread, even close friends can be affected.
Did you notice the omission of the middle part of verse 10? That was on purpose. Let me give you those words now: “My sins have sapped my strength.” David was not totally innocent. There was truth to the rumors, and although David had dealt with his sin and found the forgiveness of God, the forgiveness of men is another thing! How sinfully proud it is of men to retain an accusing memory of another’s past failures and demand a ‘pound of flesh’ before we will be ‘satisfied’ that our brother or sister is ‘truly repentant.’ What a double standard we have when we demand mercy for ourselves but dispense ‘justice’ to others!
Perhaps you find yourself in a position like David. I urge you like David to cry, “O Lord, have mercy on me in my anguish.” Here’s is what you will find: “. . . you make your mercy new everyday. You change my life in so many ways You cradle me in your sweet grace, You fill me, yeah. Yesterday, today, forever more, there’s one thing I know for sure; fresh as the morning dew, You make your mercy new, every morning.” (From Philipps, Craig & Dean: New Mercy).
We stated at the beginning of our study in this particular Psalm that the thing that makes this Psalm interesting is David’s plea for deliverance here is not from the foxhole but from the palace; the enemies he fears are not military generals but malicious gossips. How do we know that? Look again at verse 13, “I heard the lies about me, the slanders of my enemies. Everywhere I looked I was afraid, for they were plotting against my life.”
Experience tells me that physical wounds are far easier to heal than the emotional wounds caused by thoughtless words or the character assassination of unscrupulous gossips. It is much easier to defend ourselves against physical attacks than it is to protect ourselves against the character attacks of those unscrupulous people who spread rumors and lies. Look at the description David gives, “My eyes are red from weeping; my health is broken from sorrow. I am pining away with grief; my years are shortened, drained away because of sadness . . . I stoop with sorrow and with shame. 11I am scorned by all my enemies and even more by my neighbors and friends. They dread meeting me and look the other way when I go by. I am forgotten like a dead man, like a broken and discarded pot.” Sound familiar? When lies are spread, even close friends can be affected.
Did you notice the omission of the middle part of verse 10? That was on purpose. Let me give you those words now: “My sins have sapped my strength.” David was not totally innocent. There was truth to the rumors, and although David had dealt with his sin and found the forgiveness of God, the forgiveness of men is another thing! How sinfully proud it is of men to retain an accusing memory of another’s past failures and demand a ‘pound of flesh’ before we will be ‘satisfied’ that our brother or sister is ‘truly repentant.’ What a double standard we have when we demand mercy for ourselves but dispense ‘justice’ to others!
Perhaps you find yourself in a position like David. I urge you like David to cry, “O Lord, have mercy on me in my anguish.” Here’s is what you will find: “. . . you make your mercy new everyday. You change my life in so many ways You cradle me in your sweet grace, You fill me, yeah. Yesterday, today, forever more, there’s one thing I know for sure; fresh as the morning dew, You make your mercy new, every morning.” (From Philipps, Craig & Dean: New Mercy).
Friday, June 11, 2010
When Grieving
“Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me. Help me, O Lord. You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!” (Psalm 30:10-12 NLT).
Grief. We all face it eventually. Death is total in every generation,* and this fact assures us of grief. Jacob grieved over the (supposed) loss of Joseph for over 20 years. From the time Joseph was sold into slavery until he got word of him being alive and well in Egypt (Genesis 45:27). Even Jesus wept at the tomb of a friend (John 11:35). And Paul reminds us that Christians can grieve, but in our grief we should always recall the blessed hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
David was grieving. 70,000 men had died because of his sin. I am sure this tender-hearted king grieved not only over their loss but also for the plight of the 70,000 families that were left without husbands and fathers. In his grief he cried to the Lord for mercy and help. From our text, it is obvious that help came. “11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.”
Perhaps you are struggling with grief today. No human can help you. There are those who might be able to offer words of comfort, insights which may bring encouragement, but when all is said and done, the only one who can turn “mourning into joyful dancing” is God Himself. He is the God who can do the impossible! I link that “impossible” with the exchange of mourning for joy because that exchange is humanly impossible. We are not talking keeping a “stiff upper lip” here, we are talking about a real change, from grieving to gladness; from sorrow to real joy. Only Christ can produce such a change and He will if you will let Him.
*There is one exception to this statement. The generation of believers that experiences Christ’s glorious return will have the privilege of being transformed by God’s power without passing through the shadow of death. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-52).
Grief. We all face it eventually. Death is total in every generation,* and this fact assures us of grief. Jacob grieved over the (supposed) loss of Joseph for over 20 years. From the time Joseph was sold into slavery until he got word of him being alive and well in Egypt (Genesis 45:27). Even Jesus wept at the tomb of a friend (John 11:35). And Paul reminds us that Christians can grieve, but in our grief we should always recall the blessed hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
David was grieving. 70,000 men had died because of his sin. I am sure this tender-hearted king grieved not only over their loss but also for the plight of the 70,000 families that were left without husbands and fathers. In his grief he cried to the Lord for mercy and help. From our text, it is obvious that help came. “11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.”
Perhaps you are struggling with grief today. No human can help you. There are those who might be able to offer words of comfort, insights which may bring encouragement, but when all is said and done, the only one who can turn “mourning into joyful dancing” is God Himself. He is the God who can do the impossible! I link that “impossible” with the exchange of mourning for joy because that exchange is humanly impossible. We are not talking keeping a “stiff upper lip” here, we are talking about a real change, from grieving to gladness; from sorrow to real joy. Only Christ can produce such a change and He will if you will let Him.
*There is one exception to this statement. The generation of believers that experiences Christ’s glorious return will have the privilege of being transformed by God’s power without passing through the shadow of death. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-52).
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Are You Cutting a Swath of Destruction
“ When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” O Lord, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.” (Psalm 30:6-7 NIV).
“When I was prosperous I said, “Nothing can stop me now!” Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.” (Psalm 30:6-7 NLT).
The setting of this passage is found in 1 Chronicles 21. God has blessed David with victory after victory. At this point of his life, David’s focus shifted from God to what he thought were his accomplishments (pride can slip so quickly into our hearts if we are not careful). “When I was prosperous I said, ‘Nothing can stop me now!’”(Psalm 30:6 NLT).
How often are we like this. We pray and pray and ask God for some coveted thing, and when it comes, suddenly we forget God and begin to congratulate ourselves for our accomplishments instead of thanking Him for His answers. That was David’s sin. God quickly gains his attention: “Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.” (Psalm 30:7 NLT).
70,000 die in a few days because of David’s pride. I want to drive this point home. No sin is private and no sin is innocent. Sin is lethal–always. In this particular case, David himself escapes the death penalty, but his actions result in the death of 70,000 men.
Sometimes we manage to blunder through life oblivious to the destructive path we are leaving behind. David was at least sensitive enough to realize his responsibility and face it squarely. I think of the Christian woman who was having a feud with her non-Christian neighbor. I don’t know who might have been in the right or wrong in that situation, but the Christian was clearly in the wrong in demonstrating a bitter, vindictive attitude toward this neighbor. So hostile was the situation that the neighbor simply moved; left without a word.
Later, the Christian woman came under conviction. Recognizing her culpability, she asked God to forgive her and give her a chance to make things right, even though she had no idea where her neighbor had gone. God answered her prayer and in a chance meeting in a grocery store, she came face to face with her former neighbor. The tension was palpable, until the Christian asked forgiveness for her sinful behavior. The neighbor stood silent for a minute and then began to weep. Recently she had learned she had terminal cancer. She told of wanting to find some hope, but reasoning that Christianity was not an option based upon her experience with this former Christian neighbor. To make a long story short, had this Christian lady been unwilling to change, chances are that lady would have died without Christ. As it turned out, the Christian neighbor was able to lead her former neighbor to faith once the barrier had been removed.
I wonder how many of us are cutting swaths of destruction and going blissfully on our own way satisfied that we are in the right and everyone else must be wrong? Eternity is at stake. Like David’s situation our sin may not directly seem to effect us, but it devastates others. It might be pride. It might be a critical spirit. It might be vindictiveness or cruel unthinking reactions to others. We excuse it as “personality” but it is killing others. Perhaps it is time for a change.
David recognized his culpability immediately after the census was taken, but it was too late. Forgiveness was offered (because God is a loving and forgiving God) but, in order for David to learn the horribleness of even secret sin, the penalty was severe. Too many people sin banking on seeking forgiveness later but forgetting that no sin anywhere goes unpunished. Isn’t that why Christ went through His agony? How short-sighted, selfish and sinful it is when any professed believer assumes that he or she can sin because they know the penalty has already been paid for by another. Lest you think I am preaching to you, let me assure you with shame, I’ve acted that way as well! I picture myself at the foot of the cross saying, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!” For that is what we do when we willfully sin.
“When I was prosperous I said, “Nothing can stop me now!” Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.” (Psalm 30:6-7 NLT).
The setting of this passage is found in 1 Chronicles 21. God has blessed David with victory after victory. At this point of his life, David’s focus shifted from God to what he thought were his accomplishments (pride can slip so quickly into our hearts if we are not careful). “When I was prosperous I said, ‘Nothing can stop me now!’”(Psalm 30:6 NLT).
How often are we like this. We pray and pray and ask God for some coveted thing, and when it comes, suddenly we forget God and begin to congratulate ourselves for our accomplishments instead of thanking Him for His answers. That was David’s sin. God quickly gains his attention: “Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.” (Psalm 30:7 NLT).
70,000 die in a few days because of David’s pride. I want to drive this point home. No sin is private and no sin is innocent. Sin is lethal–always. In this particular case, David himself escapes the death penalty, but his actions result in the death of 70,000 men.
Sometimes we manage to blunder through life oblivious to the destructive path we are leaving behind. David was at least sensitive enough to realize his responsibility and face it squarely. I think of the Christian woman who was having a feud with her non-Christian neighbor. I don’t know who might have been in the right or wrong in that situation, but the Christian was clearly in the wrong in demonstrating a bitter, vindictive attitude toward this neighbor. So hostile was the situation that the neighbor simply moved; left without a word.
Later, the Christian woman came under conviction. Recognizing her culpability, she asked God to forgive her and give her a chance to make things right, even though she had no idea where her neighbor had gone. God answered her prayer and in a chance meeting in a grocery store, she came face to face with her former neighbor. The tension was palpable, until the Christian asked forgiveness for her sinful behavior. The neighbor stood silent for a minute and then began to weep. Recently she had learned she had terminal cancer. She told of wanting to find some hope, but reasoning that Christianity was not an option based upon her experience with this former Christian neighbor. To make a long story short, had this Christian lady been unwilling to change, chances are that lady would have died without Christ. As it turned out, the Christian neighbor was able to lead her former neighbor to faith once the barrier had been removed.
I wonder how many of us are cutting swaths of destruction and going blissfully on our own way satisfied that we are in the right and everyone else must be wrong? Eternity is at stake. Like David’s situation our sin may not directly seem to effect us, but it devastates others. It might be pride. It might be a critical spirit. It might be vindictiveness or cruel unthinking reactions to others. We excuse it as “personality” but it is killing others. Perhaps it is time for a change.
David recognized his culpability immediately after the census was taken, but it was too late. Forgiveness was offered (because God is a loving and forgiving God) but, in order for David to learn the horribleness of even secret sin, the penalty was severe. Too many people sin banking on seeking forgiveness later but forgetting that no sin anywhere goes unpunished. Isn’t that why Christ went through His agony? How short-sighted, selfish and sinful it is when any professed believer assumes that he or she can sin because they know the penalty has already been paid for by another. Lest you think I am preaching to you, let me assure you with shame, I’ve acted that way as well! I picture myself at the foot of the cross saying, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!” For that is what we do when we willfully sin.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
From Mourning to Joy
“Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me. Help me, O Lord. You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!” (Psalm 30:10-12 NLT).
Grief. We all face it eventually. Death is total in every generation,* and this fact assures us of grief. Jacob grieved over the (supposed) loss of Joseph for over 20 years. From the time Joseph was sold into slavery until he got word of him being alive and well in Egypt (Genesis 45:27). Even Jesus wept at the tomb of a friend (John 11:35). And Paul reminds us that Christians can grieve, but in our grief we should always recall the blessed hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
David was grieving. 70,000 men had died because of his sin. I am sure this tender-hearted king grieved not only over their loss but also for the plight of the 70,000 families that were left without husbands and fathers. In his grief he cried to the Lord for mercy and help. From our text, it is obvious that help came. “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.”
Perhaps you are struggling with grief today. No human can help you. There are those who might be able to offer words of comfort, insights which may bring encouragement, but when all is said and done, the only one who can turn “mourning into joyful dancing” is God Himself. He is the God who can do the impossible! I link that “impossible” with the exchange of mourning for joy because that exchange is humanly impossible. We are not talking keeping a “stiff upper lip” here, we are talking about a real change, from grieving to gladness; from sorrow to real joy. Only Christ can produce such a change and He will if you will let Him.
*There is one exception to this statement. The generation of believers that experiences Christ’s glorious return will have the privilege of being transformed by God’s power without passing through the shadow of death. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-52).
Grief. We all face it eventually. Death is total in every generation,* and this fact assures us of grief. Jacob grieved over the (supposed) loss of Joseph for over 20 years. From the time Joseph was sold into slavery until he got word of him being alive and well in Egypt (Genesis 45:27). Even Jesus wept at the tomb of a friend (John 11:35). And Paul reminds us that Christians can grieve, but in our grief we should always recall the blessed hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
David was grieving. 70,000 men had died because of his sin. I am sure this tender-hearted king grieved not only over their loss but also for the plight of the 70,000 families that were left without husbands and fathers. In his grief he cried to the Lord for mercy and help. From our text, it is obvious that help came. “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.”
Perhaps you are struggling with grief today. No human can help you. There are those who might be able to offer words of comfort, insights which may bring encouragement, but when all is said and done, the only one who can turn “mourning into joyful dancing” is God Himself. He is the God who can do the impossible! I link that “impossible” with the exchange of mourning for joy because that exchange is humanly impossible. We are not talking keeping a “stiff upper lip” here, we are talking about a real change, from grieving to gladness; from sorrow to real joy. Only Christ can produce such a change and He will if you will let Him.
*There is one exception to this statement. The generation of believers that experiences Christ’s glorious return will have the privilege of being transformed by God’s power without passing through the shadow of death. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-52).
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Tears will give way to Joy.
"Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:4-5 NKJV).
The trouble I have with Scripture is that I have far too many “favorite” verses! Verse 5 being one of them!
I don’t know what troubles you may face today, but on the authority of God’s Holy Word I tell you, “take heart!” There is light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not the train! "Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” You have God’s Word on it!
Recall if you will what we said the likely setting for this Psalm was. David, in pride, had sinned. His confidence had turned from what God had done for Israel to what he had the power to do. He repented. God forgave, but to remind David of the seriousness of his sin, God gave him his choice of three possible punishments–three years of famine, three months of military losses, or three days facing His wrath. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place!
David chose three days of Divine punishment stating, “Let me fall into the hands of the Lord for His mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.” (1 Chronicles 21:13 NIV). In our text David repeats that sentiment stating that “[God’s] anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life . . . .”
Israel experienced God’s anger because of David’s sin. Plague hit the land and 70,000 men died. Let us never forget that sin, no matter how small it may seem, is never a private affair. (David’s sin was a sin of the heart that exhibited itself in a census. How bad could that have been? Answer, 70,000 men paid for this secret sin of David’s heart). Unfair? Never! God is never unfair! Therefore, learn this lesson: your sin will always impact others–sometimes in ways in which you least expect. “I’m not hurting anybody,” is nothing but a hopeful (and naive) lie.
I think David was right in trusting himself to God. 70,000 deaths in a few days, as horrible as it is, is probably much smaller than the loss and pain that would have occurred had David chosen one of the other two options.
All that aside, think of the agony it must have been on this kings heart to know that these 70,000 men–some who obviously left families behind–had died because of his sin. Consider it this way: our country is still reeling from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Accusations as to who and why it should have been prevented abound. Thousands lost their lives in that attack (though no where near 70,000), and we’re still seeking to place some blame not on the enemy, but on some leader or some agency.
Now, let’s suppose for a minute, you somehow had the crucial information that could have prevented it all. You had prior knowledge, but you didn’t think what you “knew” could possibly be true. But then, like the rest of us, you sat in horror as you watched planes slam into the Twin Towers; you listened in horror as you heard of the attack on the Pentagon, and learned of the bravery of some of our citizens as they prevented a third attack, sacrificing their lives to save others. Can you imagine the guilt you would feel? That guilt of course would only be imagined; David’s guilt was real! Like Peter he wept bitter tears. I doubt he slept much, if at all, during this time.
With this perspective, read again the second half of verse 5: “Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” Please remember this: the joy he refers to in this passage did not reverse the effects of the previous days. That joy came in the shadow of the reality of the horrible plague that killed 70,000 men. The darkness of death itself gave way to the light of the joy that only the Lord can bring.
You may be going through a time of sorrow now, but trust the Lord on this: joy will come in the morning.
The trouble I have with Scripture is that I have far too many “favorite” verses! Verse 5 being one of them!
I don’t know what troubles you may face today, but on the authority of God’s Holy Word I tell you, “take heart!” There is light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not the train! "Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” You have God’s Word on it!
Recall if you will what we said the likely setting for this Psalm was. David, in pride, had sinned. His confidence had turned from what God had done for Israel to what he had the power to do. He repented. God forgave, but to remind David of the seriousness of his sin, God gave him his choice of three possible punishments–three years of famine, three months of military losses, or three days facing His wrath. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place!
David chose three days of Divine punishment stating, “Let me fall into the hands of the Lord for His mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.” (1 Chronicles 21:13 NIV). In our text David repeats that sentiment stating that “[God’s] anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life . . . .”
Israel experienced God’s anger because of David’s sin. Plague hit the land and 70,000 men died. Let us never forget that sin, no matter how small it may seem, is never a private affair. (David’s sin was a sin of the heart that exhibited itself in a census. How bad could that have been? Answer, 70,000 men paid for this secret sin of David’s heart). Unfair? Never! God is never unfair! Therefore, learn this lesson: your sin will always impact others–sometimes in ways in which you least expect. “I’m not hurting anybody,” is nothing but a hopeful (and naive) lie.
I think David was right in trusting himself to God. 70,000 deaths in a few days, as horrible as it is, is probably much smaller than the loss and pain that would have occurred had David chosen one of the other two options.
All that aside, think of the agony it must have been on this kings heart to know that these 70,000 men–some who obviously left families behind–had died because of his sin. Consider it this way: our country is still reeling from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Accusations as to who and why it should have been prevented abound. Thousands lost their lives in that attack (though no where near 70,000), and we’re still seeking to place some blame not on the enemy, but on some leader or some agency.
Now, let’s suppose for a minute, you somehow had the crucial information that could have prevented it all. You had prior knowledge, but you didn’t think what you “knew” could possibly be true. But then, like the rest of us, you sat in horror as you watched planes slam into the Twin Towers; you listened in horror as you heard of the attack on the Pentagon, and learned of the bravery of some of our citizens as they prevented a third attack, sacrificing their lives to save others. Can you imagine the guilt you would feel? That guilt of course would only be imagined; David’s guilt was real! Like Peter he wept bitter tears. I doubt he slept much, if at all, during this time.
With this perspective, read again the second half of verse 5: “Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” Please remember this: the joy he refers to in this passage did not reverse the effects of the previous days. That joy came in the shadow of the reality of the horrible plague that killed 70,000 men. The darkness of death itself gave way to the light of the joy that only the Lord can bring.
You may be going through a time of sorrow now, but trust the Lord on this: joy will come in the morning.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Where do You Turn when things get hot?
“Lord, I trust in you alone. Don’t let my enemies defeat me. Rescue me because you are the God who always does what is right.” (Psalm 31:1 TLB).
Interesting petition. David, once again, is calling upon the Lord for deliverance. He does that a lot. Certainly such reiterated pleas are common for this man of war. Someone once observed, “There are no atheists in foxholes.” When the heat of battle is hot, people turn to God–even people who normally ignore God.
In our Country this can be seen whenever some tragedy strikes. As a nation we insist that God leave us alone. We want freedom from all reminders of Him (particular from reminders that speak of moral standards such as the 10 Commandments). But turn up the heat, and we find ourselves crying, “Why would God allow such a thing?” We want God to go away, but then when things get tough, we want to blame Him for not being there! Solomon was right, “A man may ruin his chances by his own foolishness, and then blames it on the Lord!” (Proverbs 19:3 TLB).
David was not this way. His faith, his total trust was in God. The thing that makes this Psalm interesting is it appears that David’s plea for deliverance here is not from the foxhole but from the palace and the enemies he fears are not military generals but malicious gossips (see verse 13).
Truth be told, it is much easier to defend ourselves against physical attacks than it is to protect ourselves against those who spread slanders and lies about us. Experience tells me that physical wounds are far easier to heal than the emotional wounds caused by thoughtless words or the character assassination of unscrupulous gossips.
Regardless of the type of attack one may face, God has the ability to deliver those who will put their total faith in Him.
Interesting petition. David, once again, is calling upon the Lord for deliverance. He does that a lot. Certainly such reiterated pleas are common for this man of war. Someone once observed, “There are no atheists in foxholes.” When the heat of battle is hot, people turn to God–even people who normally ignore God.
In our Country this can be seen whenever some tragedy strikes. As a nation we insist that God leave us alone. We want freedom from all reminders of Him (particular from reminders that speak of moral standards such as the 10 Commandments). But turn up the heat, and we find ourselves crying, “Why would God allow such a thing?” We want God to go away, but then when things get tough, we want to blame Him for not being there! Solomon was right, “A man may ruin his chances by his own foolishness, and then blames it on the Lord!” (Proverbs 19:3 TLB).
David was not this way. His faith, his total trust was in God. The thing that makes this Psalm interesting is it appears that David’s plea for deliverance here is not from the foxhole but from the palace and the enemies he fears are not military generals but malicious gossips (see verse 13).
Truth be told, it is much easier to defend ourselves against physical attacks than it is to protect ourselves against those who spread slanders and lies about us. Experience tells me that physical wounds are far easier to heal than the emotional wounds caused by thoughtless words or the character assassination of unscrupulous gossips.
Regardless of the type of attack one may face, God has the ability to deliver those who will put their total faith in Him.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
When People Speak Against You
“Lord, I trust in you alone. Don’t let my enemies defeat me. Rescue me because you are the God who always does what is right. Answer quickly when I cry to you; bend low and hear my whispered plea. Be for me a great Rock of safety from my foes. Yes, you are my Rock and my fortress; honor your name by leading me out of this peril. Pull me from the trap my enemies have set for me. For you alone are strong enough. Into your hand I commit my spirit.” (Psalm 31:1-6 TLB).
David it in trouble. The exact nature of this trouble is unknown. From later verses it appears that it is not primarily physical danger that the Psalmist is facing but social/emotional danger. My guess is that he is the victim of character assassination. Why do I say that? Look for a minute at verses 11-13 then 17-18: "I am scorned by all my enemies and even more by my neighbors and friends. They dread meeting me and look the other way when I go by. I am forgotten like a dead man, like a broken and discarded pot. I heard the lies about me, the slanders of my enemies. Everywhere I looked I was afraid, for they were plotting against my life. . . But let the wicked be shamed by what they trust in; let them lie silently in their graves, their lying lips quieted at last—the lips of these arrogant men who are accusing honest men of evil deeds.” (Emphasis mine.)
Unfortunately, some of you reading this thought have shared David’s experience (I certainly have). Lies are told, rumors spread and friends, neighbors, co-workers see you coming and heads go together. Whispers are exchanged. You might have leprosy for the way they part when you walk by. Close friends become cool and hold you at a distance. Others are not so kind. You know something is wrong, but you can’t figure out what. People avoid you. Like David you begin to feel, “I am forgotten like a dead man, like a broken and discarded pot.”
The hardest part of such plots is no matter what you do, you lose. If you try to explain yourself, there are those who think “thou protest too loudly” and assume that you must have something to hide. If you say nothing, there are those who think, “Ah, he doesn’t respond. The allegations must be true.” The beauty of a lie is all it has to do is plant the seed of doubt. Some won’t even believe what they hear, but the doubt will always be there. They begin to critically scrutinize everything you do or say. They are unconsciously building a case against you. It is amazing how fast houses of lies can be built.
What can be done? Run to Jesus! God and God alone has the power to set things right. When we go to him we find Him to be a rock and a fortress and the only One who can safely lead us out of the peril.
David it in trouble. The exact nature of this trouble is unknown. From later verses it appears that it is not primarily physical danger that the Psalmist is facing but social/emotional danger. My guess is that he is the victim of character assassination. Why do I say that? Look for a minute at verses 11-13 then 17-18: "I am scorned by all my enemies and even more by my neighbors and friends. They dread meeting me and look the other way when I go by. I am forgotten like a dead man, like a broken and discarded pot. I heard the lies about me, the slanders of my enemies. Everywhere I looked I was afraid, for they were plotting against my life. . . But let the wicked be shamed by what they trust in; let them lie silently in their graves, their lying lips quieted at last—the lips of these arrogant men who are accusing honest men of evil deeds.” (Emphasis mine.)
Unfortunately, some of you reading this thought have shared David’s experience (I certainly have). Lies are told, rumors spread and friends, neighbors, co-workers see you coming and heads go together. Whispers are exchanged. You might have leprosy for the way they part when you walk by. Close friends become cool and hold you at a distance. Others are not so kind. You know something is wrong, but you can’t figure out what. People avoid you. Like David you begin to feel, “I am forgotten like a dead man, like a broken and discarded pot.”
The hardest part of such plots is no matter what you do, you lose. If you try to explain yourself, there are those who think “thou protest too loudly” and assume that you must have something to hide. If you say nothing, there are those who think, “Ah, he doesn’t respond. The allegations must be true.” The beauty of a lie is all it has to do is plant the seed of doubt. Some won’t even believe what they hear, but the doubt will always be there. They begin to critically scrutinize everything you do or say. They are unconsciously building a case against you. It is amazing how fast houses of lies can be built.
What can be done? Run to Jesus! God and God alone has the power to set things right. When we go to him we find Him to be a rock and a fortress and the only One who can safely lead us out of the peril.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Where is Your Focus?
“I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O Lord, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit.” (Psalm 30:1-3 NIV).
Scholars tell us the setting for this particular Psalm is found in 1 Chronicles 21. David had experienced many victories. He was enjoying a time of peace. In this time, Satan rises up against Israel and tempts David to take a census of his military assets. The sin appears to be pride and a shifting of confidence from God to his human resources. Though Joab counsels David against this act, David in arrogance goes ahead with the count.
When the count was completed, somehow David becomes aware of God’s displeasure with his act, confesses his sin to God and pleads for forgiveness. God sends Gad to David offering him three options: three years of famine, three months of military defeats, or three days facing the Lord’s wrath. David chooses the three days stating, “Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.” (1 Chronicles 21:13 NIV).
The plague begins. 70,000 men died in Israel and now God turns his attention to Jerusalem. Let me pause here and remind you that as unfair as we may think this is, 70,000 dying for one man’s sin, this is a graphic reminder to us that there is no such thing as private sin. Sin has a domino effect. Once sin is committed even if we are forgiven, a series of consequences still follow. Sin may be forgiven, but the scars of sin remain. Never take any sin lightly.
Back to our text. Psalm 30 is probably written at the end of the plague. It is a Psalm of praise for God’s deliverance. Oh that more of us would learn to focus on the deliverance instead of the discipline! All the time I find bitter believers who are angry with God because God has not spared them of the consequences of their sin. Instead of rejoicing over what God is doing in their lives at the moment, they are groveling in the dirt of the past. Instead of exalting the Lord for lifting them out of their depths, they are complaining to Him about having been there!
Maybe you are one of those bitter believers. May I suggest a change of focus? Instead of complaining about what you’ve suffered, why not rejoice in what you’ve been spared from?
Scholars tell us the setting for this particular Psalm is found in 1 Chronicles 21. David had experienced many victories. He was enjoying a time of peace. In this time, Satan rises up against Israel and tempts David to take a census of his military assets. The sin appears to be pride and a shifting of confidence from God to his human resources. Though Joab counsels David against this act, David in arrogance goes ahead with the count.
When the count was completed, somehow David becomes aware of God’s displeasure with his act, confesses his sin to God and pleads for forgiveness. God sends Gad to David offering him three options: three years of famine, three months of military defeats, or three days facing the Lord’s wrath. David chooses the three days stating, “Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.” (1 Chronicles 21:13 NIV).
The plague begins. 70,000 men died in Israel and now God turns his attention to Jerusalem. Let me pause here and remind you that as unfair as we may think this is, 70,000 dying for one man’s sin, this is a graphic reminder to us that there is no such thing as private sin. Sin has a domino effect. Once sin is committed even if we are forgiven, a series of consequences still follow. Sin may be forgiven, but the scars of sin remain. Never take any sin lightly.
Back to our text. Psalm 30 is probably written at the end of the plague. It is a Psalm of praise for God’s deliverance. Oh that more of us would learn to focus on the deliverance instead of the discipline! All the time I find bitter believers who are angry with God because God has not spared them of the consequences of their sin. Instead of rejoicing over what God is doing in their lives at the moment, they are groveling in the dirt of the past. Instead of exalting the Lord for lifting them out of their depths, they are complaining to Him about having been there!
Maybe you are one of those bitter believers. May I suggest a change of focus? Instead of complaining about what you’ve suffered, why not rejoice in what you’ve been spared from?
Friday, June 4, 2010
Rest in Life's Storms
“1 Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. 3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!” 10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. 11 The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” (Ps 29 NIV).
Oh, the awesome power of God! In this Psalm David catches a glimpse of this power in the storm. “ The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.” These were huge trees, growing over 120 feet high and 30 feet in circumference, yet one word from God and they were shattered!
David seems to be describing here the destructive force of a storm. It appears, as we read the descriptions given in this Psalm that these storms resulted in floods, multiple lightening strikes, thunder so loud it made the earth shake, and high winds (perhaps a tornado v.9). In all of this, David hears the voice of God. He doesn’t run away in fear, He stands in awe and then shouts “Glory.”
Perhaps today you find yourself in one of life’s storms. You are wondering where to go for shelter. Flee to God. Even when the storms are raging on the outside, in God’s presence there is peace, shelter and strength (v. 11).
One more thought. What is the worst recorded storm in history? Noah’s Flood. In that storm, all human life (with the exception of Noah and his family) perished. All living creatures, birds and land dwelling animals died (with the exception of those that found safety in the Ark). Verse 10 in our text is a reference to this perfect storm. The Living Bible puts it this way: “At the Flood, the Lord showed His control of all creation. Now He continues to unveil His power.”
The Power that controls all creation, controls you. He loves you. He gave His precious Son for you. If you find yourself in life’s storms and you feel that you are about to be swept away by a flood of problems, run to Christ! Find safety in the Ark of Safety.
Oh, the awesome power of God! In this Psalm David catches a glimpse of this power in the storm. “ The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.” These were huge trees, growing over 120 feet high and 30 feet in circumference, yet one word from God and they were shattered!
David seems to be describing here the destructive force of a storm. It appears, as we read the descriptions given in this Psalm that these storms resulted in floods, multiple lightening strikes, thunder so loud it made the earth shake, and high winds (perhaps a tornado v.9). In all of this, David hears the voice of God. He doesn’t run away in fear, He stands in awe and then shouts “Glory.”
Perhaps today you find yourself in one of life’s storms. You are wondering where to go for shelter. Flee to God. Even when the storms are raging on the outside, in God’s presence there is peace, shelter and strength (v. 11).
One more thought. What is the worst recorded storm in history? Noah’s Flood. In that storm, all human life (with the exception of Noah and his family) perished. All living creatures, birds and land dwelling animals died (with the exception of those that found safety in the Ark). Verse 10 in our text is a reference to this perfect storm. The Living Bible puts it this way: “At the Flood, the Lord showed His control of all creation. Now He continues to unveil His power.”
The Power that controls all creation, controls you. He loves you. He gave His precious Son for you. If you find yourself in life’s storms and you feel that you are about to be swept away by a flood of problems, run to Christ! Find safety in the Ark of Safety.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
True Worship and its outworking
“Give honor to the Lord, you angels; give honor to the Lord for his glory and strength. Give honor to the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” (Psalm 29:1-2 NLT).
What a privilege it is for us to worship the Lord and give to Him the honor He so richly deserves!
Notice if you will that the Psalmist’s concept of why we should worship, why we should ascribe worth to God, is totally different than most people’s reasons today. Ask someone why they worship God and they may say, “Because of what He has done for me.” That is a valid reason of course, but it is not a sufficient reason. What do I mean by that? Experience tells me that most people whose concept of worship is nothing more than a response to their blessings, when they hit difficult times (and we all do), they switch from praising God to cursing Him. Like the people of Jesus’ day it is nothing for them to honor Him when they think He is going to give them what they want and then call for His crucifixion when He refuses what they want. Praising God for blessings is good and proper, but if it stops there, it is insufficient.
Ask the average person today what God is like, and the overwhelming majority answer “God is love.” That is certainly true (See 1 John 4:16). Unfortunately most who view God as love do so from the weak view of love of the world and not the true view of love. Those who say, “God is love,” generally hold that view to promote a lascivious life-style–they want a God who will overlook anything they happen to like doing.
David didn’t view God this way. First, he viewed God from the proper perspective, “Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” The primary attribute of God given in Scripture is not love, mercy, or grace, it is holiness! The Bible says, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14 NIV).
When the Bible speaks of human holiness, it is not talking about imputed righteousness but our visible response to Christ’s imputed righteousness. The holy person is the one who is set aside for God’s use. Holiness in this sense is the practical outworking of the inner reality. We live different because we are different.
Second, notice that because David views God in the proper perspective, his praise is based upon who God is more-so then what God does. We honor God because He deserves it by virtue of His own character. From there we can thank Him for what He has done, but never let us do the foolish thing and begin to define God in terms of what we consider His blessings.
What a privilege it is for us to worship the Lord and give to Him the honor He so richly deserves!
Notice if you will that the Psalmist’s concept of why we should worship, why we should ascribe worth to God, is totally different than most people’s reasons today. Ask someone why they worship God and they may say, “Because of what He has done for me.” That is a valid reason of course, but it is not a sufficient reason. What do I mean by that? Experience tells me that most people whose concept of worship is nothing more than a response to their blessings, when they hit difficult times (and we all do), they switch from praising God to cursing Him. Like the people of Jesus’ day it is nothing for them to honor Him when they think He is going to give them what they want and then call for His crucifixion when He refuses what they want. Praising God for blessings is good and proper, but if it stops there, it is insufficient.
Ask the average person today what God is like, and the overwhelming majority answer “God is love.” That is certainly true (See 1 John 4:16). Unfortunately most who view God as love do so from the weak view of love of the world and not the true view of love. Those who say, “God is love,” generally hold that view to promote a lascivious life-style–they want a God who will overlook anything they happen to like doing.
David didn’t view God this way. First, he viewed God from the proper perspective, “Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” The primary attribute of God given in Scripture is not love, mercy, or grace, it is holiness! The Bible says, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14 NIV).
When the Bible speaks of human holiness, it is not talking about imputed righteousness but our visible response to Christ’s imputed righteousness. The holy person is the one who is set aside for God’s use. Holiness in this sense is the practical outworking of the inner reality. We live different because we are different.
Second, notice that because David views God in the proper perspective, his praise is based upon who God is more-so then what God does. We honor God because He deserves it by virtue of His own character. From there we can thank Him for what He has done, but never let us do the foolish thing and begin to define God in terms of what we consider His blessings.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The Potent Power of Prayer
“Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” (Psalm 28:6-7 NIV).
Christian’s enjoy the most potent power in the universe–prayer. God invites us to “. . . approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV emphasis mine). Sadly, however, most of us neglect this invitation until times are desperate; until there is nothing left we can do but pray. Yet, even this God accepts. The song-writer was correct when he penned, “Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear! All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”
As we read through the Psalms, we are impressed with David’s quickness to go to God in prayer. The result? “Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”
Did you catch it? I didn’t want to help you. When we cry to the Lord, we can be absolutely certain that He hears. The Bible says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14 NIV). Now, just for the what it’s worth department, the way to know God’s will is to read His Word. God has revealed His will to us and it is found in the Word (the Bible). God’s will will never go against God’s Word–count on it! God hears our prayers.
Second, since God hears we can count on His help. It may not always be in the way we expected it, but you can be absolutely certain that His help will be exactly what we need when we need it. No, that last sentence is not a contradictory statement. Sometimes when I pray it must be with the understanding that God’s answer may take a totally different form than I expected. In fact, sometimes God’s answers may appear to be a “no” answer or we may mistake them as no answer. Don’t be too quick on that. If God doesn’t do what we think, we can be sure that what He is doing is far greater than we could have imagined!
Third, when our hearts trusts in Him, the response of that heart is joy and song. God is good all the time! Count on it!
Christian’s enjoy the most potent power in the universe–prayer. God invites us to “. . . approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV emphasis mine). Sadly, however, most of us neglect this invitation until times are desperate; until there is nothing left we can do but pray. Yet, even this God accepts. The song-writer was correct when he penned, “Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear! All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”
As we read through the Psalms, we are impressed with David’s quickness to go to God in prayer. The result? “Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”
Did you catch it? I didn’t want to help you. When we cry to the Lord, we can be absolutely certain that He hears. The Bible says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14 NIV). Now, just for the what it’s worth department, the way to know God’s will is to read His Word. God has revealed His will to us and it is found in the Word (the Bible). God’s will will never go against God’s Word–count on it! God hears our prayers.
Second, since God hears we can count on His help. It may not always be in the way we expected it, but you can be absolutely certain that His help will be exactly what we need when we need it. No, that last sentence is not a contradictory statement. Sometimes when I pray it must be with the understanding that God’s answer may take a totally different form than I expected. In fact, sometimes God’s answers may appear to be a “no” answer or we may mistake them as no answer. Don’t be too quick on that. If God doesn’t do what we think, we can be sure that what He is doing is far greater than we could have imagined!
Third, when our hearts trusts in Him, the response of that heart is joy and song. God is good all the time! Count on it!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
How to handle ill treatment
Don’t drag me away with the wicked— with those who do evil— those who speak friendly words to their neighbors while planning evil in their hearts. Give them the punishment they so richly deserve! Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness. Pay them back for all their evil deeds! Give them a taste of what they have done to others. They care nothing for what the Lord has done or for what his hands have made. So he will tear them down like old buildings, and they will never be rebuilt!” (Psalm 28:3-5 NLT).
Recently we showed the Film Flywheel at our church. If you haven’t seen this film, it’s worth seeing. One of the funniest scenes turns out to also be a critical turning point in the plot. Used car dealer, Jay Austin, sales the pastor of his church a used car at an inflated price, all the time telling the reverend that “he’s giving him a great deal.”
Accepting the “deal,” the pastor then asks Jay if he can pray for him. “Certainly,” is the reply. But as the pastor prays, he concludes with these words, “Lord, I pray that you will treat Jay the same way he’s treated me today.” Jay’s eyes pop open, and his uncomfortableness is clearly evident. Flywheel is a powerful movie.
David’s prayer in the middle portion of Psalm 28 reminded me of that pastor’s prayer. Even in the church it is not uncommon to find “those who speak friendly words to their neighbors while planning evil in their hearts.” David handles the situation in the only way it can be handled. He doesn’t try to determine their motives, he simply gives them over to God: “Give them a taste of what they have done to others.”
Jesus reminded us, “For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged.” (Matthew 7:2 NLT). Despite what some mistakenly believe, Jesus never told us not to judge others. What He taught us was to judge with a right and righteous judgment. That is what we see David doing in this Psalm. He knows He’s been wronged, but instead of getting even, He turns them over to God.
The philosophy “I don’t get mad, I get even,” has caused more heartache and pain in this fallen world than perhaps any other philosophy. Here’s what I know: in this life there will be those who hurt you, those who lie about you, and those who deceive you. Responding to such people would be a full time job. Let it go. Give it over to God. He can handle it better than you anyway.
Recently we showed the Film Flywheel at our church. If you haven’t seen this film, it’s worth seeing. One of the funniest scenes turns out to also be a critical turning point in the plot. Used car dealer, Jay Austin, sales the pastor of his church a used car at an inflated price, all the time telling the reverend that “he’s giving him a great deal.”
Accepting the “deal,” the pastor then asks Jay if he can pray for him. “Certainly,” is the reply. But as the pastor prays, he concludes with these words, “Lord, I pray that you will treat Jay the same way he’s treated me today.” Jay’s eyes pop open, and his uncomfortableness is clearly evident. Flywheel is a powerful movie.
David’s prayer in the middle portion of Psalm 28 reminded me of that pastor’s prayer. Even in the church it is not uncommon to find “those who speak friendly words to their neighbors while planning evil in their hearts.” David handles the situation in the only way it can be handled. He doesn’t try to determine their motives, he simply gives them over to God: “Give them a taste of what they have done to others.”
Jesus reminded us, “For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged.” (Matthew 7:2 NLT). Despite what some mistakenly believe, Jesus never told us not to judge others. What He taught us was to judge with a right and righteous judgment. That is what we see David doing in this Psalm. He knows He’s been wronged, but instead of getting even, He turns them over to God.
The philosophy “I don’t get mad, I get even,” has caused more heartache and pain in this fallen world than perhaps any other philosophy. Here’s what I know: in this life there will be those who hurt you, those who lie about you, and those who deceive you. Responding to such people would be a full time job. Let it go. Give it over to God. He can handle it better than you anyway.
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