Journal for Christ: Three basic truths about the paths of the Lord

October 7, 2016

Worship: He Knows My Name by Francesca Battistelli

Spent today in a conversation
In the mirror face to face with
Somebody less than perfect
I wouldn't choose me first if
I was looking for a champion
In fact I'd understand if
You picked everyone before me
But that's just not my story
True to who You are
You saw my heart
And made
Something out of nothing

I don't need my name in lights
I'm famous in my Father's eyes
Make no mistake
He knows my name
I'm not living for applause
I'm already so adored
It's all His stage
He knows my name oh, oh,
He knows my name oh, oh

I'm not meant to just stay quiet
I'm meant to be a lion
I'll roar beyond a song
With every moment that I've got
True to who You are
You saw my heart
And made
Something out of nothing

He calls me chosen, free forgiven, wanted, child of the King,
His forever, held in treasure
I am loved

I don't need my name in lights
I'm famous in my Father's eyes

Songwriters
FIELDES, MIA / MOSLEY, SETH / BATTISTELLI, FRANCESCA

Published by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., MUSIC SERVICES, INC.

Video: https://youtu.be/haLkLDfLBok

Witness:

Wow! I did not realize how many days have passed by without making an entry in my journal. Life is helter-skelter for me in this fall season of 2016. Books to read, Lifegroups and Band of brother meetings to attend, a fundraiser for textbooks for a friend’s school. I’m worn out, harried, disorganized and sleep deprived. In the past when facing similar situations, the Lord has told me to press on and not grow weary. I will continue to take that advice. The song above reminds me that I am not perfect. I identify with the line “I wouldn’t choose me first if I was looking for a champion.” I am uncomfortable with the line “I’m not living for applause” because I know I am often guilty of this. I thank Him for the line “You saw my heart and made something out of nothing” for all that I have that is good in me comes from God Himself and not me. I am convicted by the lines “I’m not meant to just stay quiet…I'm meant to be a lion”. Slowly I am becoming more vocal beyond these words I type. I am awed by the fact that He “knows my name,” that is, He knows me intimately. Finally, I am blown away by the fact that “He calls me chosen, free forgiven, wanted, child of the King, His forever, held in treasure…I am loved”.

Ps 25:8-10

Good and upright is the LORD;

therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

9 He guides the humble in what is right

and teaches them his way.

10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful

for those who keep the demands of his covenant. NIV (1984)

Ps 25:8-10

8 The LORD is good and does what is right;

he shows the proper path to those who go astray.

9 He leads the humble in doing right,

teaching them his way.

10 The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness

all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.

Ps 25:8-10

8 Good and upright is the LORD therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

KJV

Ps 25:8-10

8 Good and upright is the LORD;

therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

9 He leads the humble in what is right,

and teaches the humble his way.

10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,

for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. ESV

I return to verse 10 for a final thought before moving onto the next section in this psalm. The word for “paths’ has been discussed before in Psalm 23 concerning the paths of righteousness. I believe verse 10 is a reference to those same paths. The “paths of the LORD” are the same as “the paths of righteousness.” The word denotes a well-worn path, one full of ruts left by those traveling. Ruts left by our merciful and faithful God who leads His people on these paths. Those who travel these paths find that God is indeed steadfastly loving and faithful. Who are the ones on these paths? They are described as those who keep “his covenant and his testimonies” (ESV). Let me say again that this is first and foremost descriptive and not prescriptive.

It conveys three basic truths to me. First, it describes to me the character of those who are redeemed. They are the ones who keep His covenant. The word “keep” is the word natsar in Hebrew. The BDB Abridged says this about the word:

natsar

to guard, to watch, to watch over, to keep (Qal)

1) to watch, to guard, to keep

2) to preserve, to guard from dangers

3) to keep, to observe, to guard with fidelity

4) to guard, to keep secret

5) to be kept close, to be blockaded

6) a watchman (participle)

(from The Online Bible Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright © 1993, Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for Creation Research.)

At its core meaning here, it has the idea of “to keep” or “observe.” However, I also see a sense of faithfulness and watchfulness and guardedness. The humble follower of God faithfully walks on the path God lays out for them with watchfulness to themselves lest they stumble on the way. They keep on the lookout out for the enemy who continually seeks to trip them up or tempt them to stray from the path. They guard themselves against error and walk in the truth (see Mt. 16:11, Acts 20:27-32). 1 Corinthians 16:13 has this admonition:

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” NIV 2011

(Bible Hub)

This is the habit of those are His covenant following people. The word Keep in Hebrew is a participle. It speaks of continuous, habitual action.

"It has a linear aspect and represents the continuous exercise or exhibition of the action or condition denoted by the verb.

The second thing I see is the character of the paths upon which the faithful walk. They are described as “steadfast love and faithfulness.” These words have been discussed before in this psalm and others. They describe the character of our God and how He speaks to and acts towards His people. As such those who follow in these paths take on more and more of the likeness of the One they follow! But note the comprehensive nature of the character of these paths.

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness

Not just some but ALL! What does this say to me? It says that when the path gets rough, darkness fills the sky, and rain begins to fall. And when the wind blows hard and whips the rain against my face making it hard to see ahead of me, and I look for shelter from the storm. Instead of listening to the enemy who is calling me to get off the narrow way and come join him on the broad path. The path that he promises will lead to pleasure, but in the end, leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13) – I will look to my Lord and hide in the shadow of His wings.

I will cry out:

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,

for in you my soul takes refuge.

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings

until the disaster has passed.

Ps 57:1 NIV

I will sing:

Because you are my help,

I sing in the shadow of your wings.

My soul clings to you;

your right hand upholds me.

Ps 63:7-8 NIV

I will find rest and declare my trust:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge

and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust."

Ps 91:1-2 NIV (84)

The mature saint of God understands that the steadfast love of the Lord and His faithfulness do not mean continual blue skies, sunny days, and the wind always at our back. This may make for a good “blessing,” but it is far from reality as seen in the lives of the saints in all ages (remember the dark valley of Psalm 23). Yet they know that the storm is only temporary and is part of Gods plan in preparing us for the glory that is to follow.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Cor 4:16-18 NIV (84)

John Piper in a sermon on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 has this to say:

And then comes what is perhaps the most amazing “because” of all. We do not lose heart because every single moment of our affliction in the path of obedience — whether from sickness or slander — fallen nature or fallen people — all of it is meaningful ...

It is doing something. Causing something. Bringing about something glorious. You can’t see this. The world can’t see this. They think, and you are tempted to think, this suffering is meaningless. It’s not doing anything good. I can’t see any good coming out of this. That’s what you feel if you focus on the seen.

To which Paul responds, look to the things that are unseen. The promise of God. Nothing in your pain is meaningless. It is all preparing. Working something. Producing something — a weight of glory, a special glory for you. Just for you because of that pain.

http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/do-not-lose-heart

Spurgeon commenting on this verse says:

This is a rule without exception. God is good to those that be good. Mercy and faithfulness shall abound towards those who through mercy are made faithful. Whatever outward appearances may threaten we should settle it steadfastly in our minds that while grace enables us to obey the Lord's will we need not fear that Providence will cause us any real loss. There shall be mercy in every unsavoury morsel, and faithfulness in every bitter drop; let not our hearts be troubled, but let us rest by faith in the immutable covenant of Jehovah, which is ordered in all things and sure.

The final thing I want to point out is the exclusivity of this path. Only pilgrims who are aliens and strangers here in this world (1 Peter 2:11) are on it. Those who are not people of the covenant will not experience the steadfast love and faithfulness of God, only the echoes of it found in His common grace shown to all (Matthew 5:45)

Spurgeon observes:

Psalms 25:10

Yet this is not a general truth to be trampled upon by swine, it is a pearl for a child's neck. Gracious souls, by faith resting upon the finished work of the Lord Jesus, keep the covenant of the Lord, and, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit, they walk in his testimonies; these will find all things working together for their good, but to the sinner there is no such promise. Keepers of the covenant shall be kept by the covenant; those who follow the Lord's commandments shall find the Lord's mercy following them.

Calvin says:

David is not here speaking of the character in which God acts towards mankind in general, but what his own children find him to be. We have already seen in Ps 18:26, that he is stern and severe towards the obstinate and rebellious; and even though he acts with kindness towards them, in mercifully exercising forbearance towards them notwithstanding their iniquity, yet we find, that so far from seeking their full enjoyment in him, and trusting to his promises, they have no sense of his goodness. Nay, as soon as any adversity befalls them, they either become passionate and fretful, accuse God of acting cruelly towards them, or else complain that he is deaf to their prayers; and when they enjoy prosperity, they despise and neglect him, and as much as they are able flee from his presence. David, therefore, in speaking of the mercy and faithfulness of God, justly describes them as a treasure peculiar to the godly; as if he had said, “We have no reason to be afraid that God will deceive us if we persevere in his covenant.”

Therefore, to myself and all who may read this who are my brothers and sisters in Christ let me share this exhortation:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Gal 6:9-10 NIV

To anyone who doubts or is an unbeliever consider this:

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

2 Peter 3:9-10 NIV

Therefore, God says:

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Rom 10:9-13 NIV

Journal for Christ

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Three basic truths about the paths of the Lord

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