Wednesday, June 21, 2017

David's solution to his dilemma

January 1, 2017

Worship:

You spoke and made the sunrise, to light up the very first day
You breathed across the water, and started the very first wave
It was You
You introduced Your glory, to every living creature on earth
And they started singing, the first song to ever be heard
They sang for You

You make all things new
You make all things new

Then the world was broken, fallen and battered and scarred
You took the hopeless, the life, wasted, ruined and marred
And made it new

You make all things new
You make all things new
You redeem and You transform
You renew and You restore
You make all things new
You make all things new
And forever we will watch and worship You

You turn winter into spring
You take every living thing
And You breathe Your breath of life into it over and over again

You make the sunrise, day after day after day
But there's a morning coming, when old things will all pass away
And everyone will see

You make all things new
You make all things new
Come redeem and come transform
Come renew and come restore
You make all things new
You make all things new
And forever we will watch and worship You

Now and forever You are making all things new
You're making all things new

Hallelujah

Written by Steven Curtis Chapman • Copyright © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Capitol Christian Music Group


Witness:

It’s 11:36 PM right now. Almost 24 hours ago, the clock struck 12 midnight, the ball dropped, and a new year was ushered in. Millions celebrated. This was repeated over a 24 hour period as each new time zone crossed over the timeline. Resolutions were made, and some are already broken. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” so it has been said. People who suffered trials in 2016 look forward in hope to better days in 2017. And those who declare it was a great year hope that 2017 will only be better than the last. In all actuality, we never know what will come. “The future is not ours to see,” says the song. So, many turn a fatalistic eye towards the future – “Que será, será, what will be will be” is their mantra. Now there is some truth in the saying but devoid of the Divine hand that controls it we slip into a frantic fear of the future or an Invictus attitude of self-control. The former will tend to pull in, to hide, to bury the gifts and talents they have. They may know they are God-given, but the fear of uncertainty and the fear of failure keeps them from accomplishing anything (cf. Matthew 25:14-40). The other neither fears the future nor trusts in a sovereign God who is in control of everything. This is the belief of the Atheist. This is a belief prevalent in the Church today as well. God doesn’t know the future, and we must live our lives in such a way that God’s desired goal can be accomplished. The future is wide open, and hopefully, God’s plans will be achieved, but it all depends on us in the end. Their god is not the God of the Bible.

So, without a negative view of the future nor a positive view devoid of God or a diminished God, I enter this new year.

I am committed to focusing on what God desires me to focus on:

            -  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be                  given to you as well Matt 6:33 NIV

This is a daily exercise:

            Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.             Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt 6:34 NIV

For one purpose:

            So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
            1 Cor 10:31 NIV

With one attitude:

            Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
            Prov 3:5 NIV

To one end:

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Phil 3:10-14Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved. 





WORD: 

Ps 25:16-21

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.
18 Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
19 See how my enemies have increased
and how fiercely they hate me!
20 Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope is in you.
NIV
Ps 25:16-21

16 Turn to me and have mercy,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
17 My problems go from bad to worse.
Oh, save me from them all!
18 Feel my pain and see my trouble.
Forgive all my sins.
19 See how many enemies I have
and how viciously they hate me!
20 Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
21 May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved..
Ps 25:16-21

16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.

18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
KJV
Ps 25:16-21

16  Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
18  Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
 Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
ESV

Corresponding to the sense of a lack of God’s presence is the feeling of being alone. But it goes further than this. As the internal strife arises in my life, I can start to feel alone in my own little world. I may have friends, family, and coworkers I see on a daily basis. I may attend a worship service or a LifeGroup each week. However, these only serve to heighten my sense of loneliness, especially when friend or family have left or when the service or fellowship comes to an end and I am by myself again. The stillness and quietness which others may yearn for become a source of anxiety rather than an asylum.

Out of this sense of lack and loneliness, our inner turmoil may increase. When we meditate on our misery the tension within is exacerbated. The Psalmist says, “The troubles of my heart have multiplied” (v. 17 NIV) The temptation is to escape through a bottle or a drug or sexual immorality. Some will turn legitimate things into excesses. Work will turn into workaholism, Leisure time into laziness and neglect, and some wanting to get out among people may turn from shopper to shopaholic. Some will want to toon out and just sleep. After all, when you sleep the pain and misery go away as you slip into unconsciousness.  All these things are just futile efforts to medicate ourselves and escape the pain and anxiety that accompany lack and loneliness.

David resorts to none of these solutions to his dilemma. He does not turn to potion or program but to prayer. He begins his prayer with a general plea, “O bring thou me out of my distresses”
(v 17b KJV). However, he does not keep it general but digs down to the root causes of his pain and affliction. As touched on before (see Dec. 27, 2016 WORD entry), one comes from within and one from without. He starts with himself and cries out for forgiveness for his sins. How often do we look for the cause of our problems first in some other person, place or thing? The problem, more often than not, is homegrown and David recognizes this as a significant source and the primary reason for his pain and affliction.
But David’s problems externally are real and not imagined. He feared for his life.

See how my enemies have increased
and how fiercely they hate me! (v. 19 NIV)

So, he prayed for protection and deliverance from his enemies.

Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you. (v. 20 NIV)

And here we come full circle in this Psalm. Compare these verses with the beginning of this Psalm.

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.
Ps 25:1-3 NIV

Commenting on these verses, I said,

When I pray, I often cry out and pray for something I know God has promised to do or not to do. It is a human thing to do, but in the back of my mind is always the trust I have in God that He will act according to His nature and promises. That is what David does, by grounding his petition in verse 2 with his reliance on the promise in verse 3. Essentially, we are asking God to keep our hope alive and that we will not be disappointed nor lose our hope, which is an unbearable thought to us. We also are expressing our concern that God’s name may not be put to derision. (from March 15, 2016)

I will stop here and pick up with verse 21 later today, Lord willing. It is an astounding verse because it does not ask for the usual things one asks when facing an enemy.


Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

What happens when sin and trials afflict us?

December 29, 2016:

Worship: We Sing, Emmanuel, Thy Praise by Paul Gerhardt

1 Immanuel, we sing Thy praise,
Thou Prince of Life, Thou Fount of Grace,
With all Thy saints, Thee, Lord, we sing;
Praise, honor, thanks, to Thee we bring
2 E’er since the world began to be,
How many a heart hath longed for Thee!
And Thou, O long expected Guest,
Hast come at last to make us blest!
3 Now art Thou here: we know Thee now:
In lowly manger liest Thou:
A Child, yet makest all things great;
Poor, yet the earth Thy robe of state.
4 Now fearlessly I come to Thee:
From sin and grief O set me free!
Turn wrath away, dread death destroy,
And turn my sorrow into joy.
5 Thou art my Head, my Lord divine:
I am Thy member, wholly Thine;
And by Thy Spirit’s strength gracious power
Will seek to serve Thee evermore.
Amen.
Lyrics: http://hymnary.org/text/emmanuel_we_sing_thy_praise
Witness:

In just a few days 2016 will be history with all its ups and downs around the world, the USA, and in my life as well. In some ways, I have grown, yet in many respects, I feel I have peaked, and my devotional life has grown rather stale. I still pray and I still journal, but the presence of the Lord seems far away many times, and I feel like I am going through the motions without the old fire and earnestness I once had. I realize the Christian life is a journey and as we travel it, we go through different seasons. Therefore, I will not lose heart as I travel this path of righteousness. There are many seasons that I am going to experience along the way, and each is ordained by my Heavenly Father and led by my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. I can choose to experience the joy and satisfaction in the journey when I am filled with the Holy Spirit or in darkness and depression when I let the things mention above affect my walk on the way. Winter is here, and so is it so in my walk at the moment. It is no coincidence that the Saviors birth is celebrated when things are at its darkest. Into the darkness, the everlasting light shone. And He still shines, and we rejoice.

Oh, come Light of the world and shine into my heart.
Satisfy my soul and Your grace to me impart.
May joy divine rise up in me and cast away
The shadows of depression that seek to lead me astray.
̶ Amen

WORD: 

Ps 25:16-21

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.
18 Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
19 See how my enemies have increased
and how fiercely they hate me!
20 Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope is in you.
NIV
Ps 25:16-21

16 Turn to me and have mercy,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
17 My problems go from bad to worse.
Oh, save me from them all!
18 Feel my pain and see my trouble.
Forgive all my sins.
19 See how many enemies I have
and how viciously they hate me!
20 Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
21 May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved..
Ps 25:16-21

16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.

18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
KJV
Ps 25:16-21

16  Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
18  Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
 Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
ESV

As I read these verses, I can surely relate to them. What happens when sin and trials afflict us? An internal whirlwind develops and several things begin to swirl up within us that threaten to destroy our joy and sense of well-being. The first thing we will experience if we have a heart after God is a loss of the sense of His presence in our life. The Psalmist cries, “turn to me” because he feels the LORD has turned His back on him. There are two reasons why we may feel this way. One is real, and one is imagined.

First, we may feel the loss of His presence because of sin in our lives whether actively committed or from neglect. This loss of presence is real in the sense that God removes His favorable presence from our life to make us aware of His displeasure and His desire for our holiness (Is. 59:2; 1 Thess. 4:7-8). It is done in love with the aim of a father who loves his children and disciplines them for their good (Heb. 12:5-13 – notice the goal of holiness is seen here as well).

And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.NIV

The second reason we may feel the loss of His presence in our lives is because of the trials that we are experiencing. This sense is more imagined than real in most cases unless the trial is as a result of sin in our lives. Consider the famous poem called “Footprints in the Sand” as an example of the imagined sense of the lack of God’s presence in our lives.

One night I dreamed a dream.As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,One belonging to me and one to my Lord.After the last scene of my life flashed before me,I looked back at the footprints in the sand.I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,especially at the very lowest and saddest times,there was only one set of footprints.This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it."Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,You'd walk with me all the way.But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,there was only one set of footprints.I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave youNever, ever, during your trials and testings.When you saw only one set of footprints,It was then that I carried you."https://www.onlythebible.com/Poems/Footprints-in-the-Sand-Poem.html

We know the promises in Scripture that He will never leave us nor forsake us, but in our flesh, we fail and forget this precious promise. When this lack of the sense of His presence floods our soul, we cry out like David here in this Psalm. Yet we must not stay here. We must examine ourselves, or rather ask the Lord to search us to see if there is sin present in our lives and confess them.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting.Ps 139:23-24 NIV

And we must believe and confess with David:

Even though I walkthrough the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,for you are with me;your rod and your staff,they comfort me.
Ps 23:4 NIV

And trust our Saviors promise:

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matt 28:20 NIV

I will continue tomorrow in the new year with my thoughts on this internal turmoil and the fallout from it.


https://www.onlythebible.com/media/2016/08/12/x960/Footprints-in-the-Sand-Poem.jpg
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, June 19, 2017

A humble trust


Worship:  Come thou long Expected Jesus by Charles Wesley – verse 1 & 4, Verses 2 & 3 are by Mark Hunt and included in 1990 ed. Of the Trinity Hymnal (Great Commission Publications)

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel’s strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear desire of ev’ry nation
Joy of ev’ry longing heart

Joy to those who long to see Thee
Dayspring from on high appear
Come, Thou promised Rod of Jesse
Of Thy birth we long to hear
O’er the hills the angels singing
“News – glad tidings of a birth!
Go to Him, your praises bringing!
Christ the Lord has come to earth!”

Come to earth to taste our sadness
Thou whose glories knew no end
By Thine life, You bring us gladness
Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend
Leaving riches without number
Born within a cattle’s stall
This the everlasting wonder
Christ was born the Lord of all!

Born, Thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a King
Born to reign in us forever
Now Thy gracious Kingdom bring
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne



Witness:

Christmas has come and gone, but I am still singing Christmas songs. I could sing them all year long. I am also not one to take down the tree the day after Christmas. I will keep it up, decorated and lit for a week or two (or more). I cannot say that I experienced Christmas as I hope to. I have still to give my time to help others as I wish to though I did provide gifts for one young man of 12 through the James Fund, a local charity that ministers to orphans, widows, foster and displaced families. However, I could have done so much more. I did listen to many messages on Christmas, read Advent devotionals, and read about the history of some of the Christmas Carols we sing (the one I sang and included in worship today Was the latest one I read about). This song was actually inspired by his reading Haggai 2:7.

I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty.NIV

How does the background to this song speak to my longing to “do Christmas better?” Perhaps a little more information concerning this carol will make that clear. Let me share a portion from a resource I discovered online concerning this song. I will also share a link to where this article’s source for the information. It will provide further insight. Unfortunately, the source to which it refers to cannot be copied and pasted.
 In 1744, Charles Wesley considered Haggai 2:7 and looked at the situation of orphans in the areas around him. He also looked at the class divide in Great
Britain.[7] Through this train of thought, he wrote "Come, Thou long expected Jesus" based upon Haggai 2:7 and a published prayer at the time which had the words: 
"Born Your people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now Your gracious kingdom bring. By Your own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone; by Your all sufficient merit, raise us to Your glorious throne. Amen."[8]
Wesley adapted this prayer into a hymn in 1744 and published it in his "Hymns for the Nativity of our Lord" hymnal. Wesley wrote "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus" with the intent for people to remember Advent and Christmas as commemorating the Nativity of Jesus and preparing for the Second Coming. [9] [10]
7 Collins, Ace (2006). "13: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus." More Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas. Zondervan. ISBN 0-310-26314-X.
8 David Baker (2014-10-03). "Reflection: Good news in a bad news world." Christian Today. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
9 "Come, Thou long expected Jesus"Hymnary.org. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
10 Mulder, John M.; Roberts, F. Morgan (2015). 28 Carols to Sing at Christmas. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 28. ISBN 1-4982-0682-4.

Things have not changed since Wesley wrote these words. It’s my prayer that as I see the need and according to the ability and opportunity the Lord gives me I will help others. I am already doing that in the life of another in Uganda. I am also trying to minister close to home in the lives of my 3 grandchildren who live next door. I also want to have a greater influence on my 6 children and my 10 other grandchildren. And so, I too will pray a prayer, though it probably will never be set to a tune J.
Lord open my eyes to see the needs
And bless others with words and deeds
Grant to me a heart full of Compassion
And Thy strength to me do not ration
Open doors for me to serve people
In all places, not just under a steeple
In Christ’s Name. Amen!

 WORD:
Ps 25:16-21

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.
18 Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
19 See how my enemies have increased
and how fiercely they hate me!
20 Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope is in you.
NIV
Ps 25:16-21

16 Turn to me and have mercy,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
17 My problems go from bad to worse.
Oh, save me from them all!
18 Feel my pain and see my trouble.
Forgive all my sins.
19 See how many enemies I have
and how viciously they hate me!
20 Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
21 May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved..
Ps 25:16-21

16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.

18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
KJV
Ps 25:16-21

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
 Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
ESV

Up until now, David has been expressing his faith in the Faithful one. He begins the Psalm in prayer followed by praise and proclamation. However, an unusual thing takes place here. Up until now the tone of the psalm has been rather positive. Here, as if holding back until now, he lets loose a series of pleas revealing his troubled soul in light of his present predicament. We find David battling with two enemies. The first is internal – his own struggle with sin. And the second is external and concerns his enemies. All this leaves David in a state of depression. He does not feel the Lord’s presence (“turn to me”) and feels this is as a result of his sins, so he asks the Lord to be “gracious” or to have “mercy” on him. It is interesting that the word used here is not the word “hesed” as we might expect. He uses words of humility. It is a word others may have used when coming before him as king, for it refers to a superior in standing coming to the aid of an inferior.

Strong’s says:

OT:2603chanan (khaw-nan'); a primitive root [compare OT:2583]; properly, to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition):(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)


Vine’s says:

GRACIOUS chanan OT:2603, "to be gracious, considerate; to show favor." …
 The word occurs around 80 times in the Hebrew Old Testament, the first time in Gen 33:5: "The children which God hath graciously given thy servant." Generally, this word implies the extending of "favor," often when it is neither expected nor deserved…
 God's "favor" is especially seen in His deliverance from one's enemies or surrounding evils Ps 77:9; Amos 5:15. However, God extends His "graciousness" in His own sovereign way and will, to whomever He chooses Ex 33:19. In many ways, chanan combines the meaning of the Greek Haris (with the general classical Greek sense of "charm" or "graciousness") and the New Testament sense of "undeserved favor" or "mercy."(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)



In humble trust, David cries out to the One in whom he trusts (vs. 2).  In whom he hopes (vs. 5). And in whom he looks to continually (vs. 15). 
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)