We WILL See The Goodness Of The LORD In The Land Of The Living

July 17, 2018

Worship: Be Still My Soul, Words: Katharina A. von Schlegel; translated to English by Jane L. Borthwick

Music: "Finlandia" by Jean Sibelius.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, be leaving, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

 Hymnal, PC Study Bible electronic database Copyright © 2003-2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.

Video: https://youtu.be/_s3S3E00rYA

Video: https://youtu.be/pwkPsKe-39Y

Witness:

I believe it has taken me over two hours to find a song to open up in worship. Within the first hour, I had decided on this song. It fit perfectly with the words of David in verse 13. Especially the second verse of the song. However, as typical with old hymns, no one sang all of the verses. They either skipped verse 2 or 3 and most skipped the last stanza. I was frustrated but determined to find one that would sing the complete song. With great tenacity, I forged on through version after version, but to no avail. What a sneaky rabbit I chased today. How much time was wasted when the words of the hymn are what I should have been focusing on. I was choosing toon over truth, and this old song packs a lot in it.

Each verse drips with hope amidst the painful path I trod these past few years. There is not one line that does not minister to me.

There is assurance – The Lord is on my side
There is perseverance – Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain
There is surrender – Leave to thy God to order and provide
There is stability – In every change, He faithful will remain
There is relationship – My best, my heavenly Friend
There is promise – Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end
There is action – God doth undertake
There is guidance – To guide my future as He has in the past
There is exhortation – My hope, my confidence let nothing shake
There is illumination – All now mysterious shall be bright at last
There is sovereignty – The wind and waves still know the voice of their ruler

When loved ones depart through death or desertion and sorrow overwhelms my soul it is then I will know even better the loving heart of my God who soothes my sadness and hurt. And then there are these amazing words full of

Power – Jesus can

Provision – Repay from His own fullness

And yes…

Providence – All He takes away

Time moves on to the day when all sorrow ceases, and we will be with the Lord eternally. A time when:

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

A time:

 when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

But in the meantime, let my praise begin now. Let my life be pleasing in His sight. Let me see and know He is there even when dark clouds seek to block His light.

Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divineThrough passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

When I was driving home from work the other day, I saw this phenomenon displayed before me. The rain clouds stretched across the sky, but in the midst of them was a space through which the sun shone through with blinding light.

God moves in a mysterious way 

His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea, 

and rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines 

of never-failing skill,

He treasures up His bright designs, 

and works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, 

the clouds ye so much dread, 

are big with mercy, and shall break 

In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, 

but trust Him for His grace; 

Behind a frowning providence, 

He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast, 

unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste, 

but sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err, a

nd scan his work in vain;

God is His own interpreter, 
and He will make it plain.

William Cowper 1774

https://albertmohler.com/2005/08/31/behind-a-frowning-providence-the-christians-confidence-in-the-face-of-sorrow/

WORD:

Ps 27:11-14 11 Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. * 13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. NIV (1984) * spouting malicious accusations                                      NIV (2011)

Ps 27:11-14 11 Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. 12 Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I've never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence. 13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. 14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

Ps 27:11-14 11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. KJV

Ps 27:11-28:1 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the Lord;  be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! ESV

There is a textual issue in verse 13. The Masoretic Text translated reads:

“unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

          (Interlinear Transliterated Bible. Copyright © 1994-2015 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved. [For more detail see the full copyright page.])

                                                    

The words “I had fainted” were added by the translators of the KJV (the ASV and NASB follow the same line of thinking) because they felt it made more sense and was implied by the context. However, because of the way the word “unless” is marked in Hebrew [ aç„lç„@Wlç„ – notice the tree dots atop and bottom of the word] many textual critics believe this indicated that the Masoretes questioned its authenticity. That is why many translations do not include it.

Commentators have come out on both sides of the issue.

Barnes says:

The words "I had fainted" are supplied by the translators, but they undoubtedly express the true sense of the passage.(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997-2014 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Clarke on the other hand says retains the “unless” but rejects the insertion:

The words in italics are supplied by our translators; but, far from being necessary, they injure the sense. Throw out the words I had fainted, and leave a break after the verse, and the elegant figure of the psalmist will be preserved: "Unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living"-What! what, alas! should have become of me!(from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Example: NET translation:

Where would I be if I did not believe I would experiencethe Lord's favor in the land of the living?
(from The NET Bible®, Copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C., Dallas, Texas, www.bible.org. All rights reserved. Used by permission.)

E. W. Bullinger commenting on this issue, says:

"I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."The words, "I had fainted," both in the A.V. and R.V., are an arbitrary addition in order to make sense.The difficulty arises from disregarding the fact that the word "unless" is dotted in the printed text and should be cancelled in reading. It is cancelled in the LXX. Syriac and Vulgate, and the clause should be rendered:"I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."

Figures of Speech Used in the Bible. PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2013 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.

        

Example: ESV (notice they cover the emphatic force of the sentence by adding and exclamation point:  

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lordin the land of the living!

The USB OT Handbook says:

The first word in the Masoretic text of verse 13 usually means "unless." That it was difficult to understand is shown by the dots which mark it in the Masoretic text, indicating doubts as to its genuineness; it is omitted by five Hebrew manuscripts and by the Septuagint. It is probably best understood as a way of saying "I would give up hope unless (I believed)"; so FRCL; and NJV similarly, "Had I not had the assurance that I would enjoy the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living...." RSV, TEV, TOB, and NEB omit the word.(from UBS Old Testament Handbook Series. Copyright © 1978-2004 by United Bible Societies. All rights reserved.)

With or without “unless” the sentence translated literally into English would be awkward. However, in light of verse 12, it is not difficult to see that David is turning his eyes away from his troubles and looking to His Lord. He is confident that he will “see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” David is perhaps choked up and cannot utter what he is feeling. “I would have fainted” then could be a possibility. “I would have lost hope” or “despaired” another.

JFB says:

Psalms 27:13-14 His heart is too full of confidence in God actually to utter the language of despair, "I had fainted:" he therefore leaves it to be understood.(from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1997-2014 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Gill taking his cues from Jewish interpreters may have it correctly:

  

This clause is not in the original text, but is a supplement of our translators; and it is generally agreed there is a defect of expression, which must be supplied in some way or other: the Jewish interpreters generally refer it to the preceding words; one supplies thus, those false witnesses would have rose up against me, and consumed me; another after this manner, mine enemies had almost got the dominion over me; a third, I had almost perished at their sayings: and a fourth, and they would have destroyed me. Perhaps it may be as well supplied from Ps 119:92; I should then have perished in mine afflictionGill's Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.

“I believe,” what a loaded phrase this is. For in it is contained all that David had declared positively in all the preceding verses.

I believe!

•  The LORD is my light and my salvation
•  The LORD is the stronghold of my life
•  When evil men advance… when my enemies and my   foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
•  In the day of trouble, He will keep me safe in His   dwelling
•  My head will be exalted above the enemies who   surround me
•  At His tabernacle I will sacrifice with shouts of joy
•  I will sing and make music to the LORD
•  You HAVE been my helper
•  God [is] my Savior
•  Though my father and mother forsake me, the   LORD will receive me.

                 

Therefore, I WILL see the GOODNESS of the Lord in the land of the living and I will surely:

•  DWELL in the house of the LORD all the days of my   life
•  GAZE upon the beauty of the LORD
•  SEEK Him in his temple

The believer walks in the now and not yet. The present life and the next. We understand there is “an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” (2 Cor. 4:17 ESV) We know experientially that we will experience “momentary affliction.” [ibid] But amidst the soreness and suffering and shortcomings, the clouds will break apart and the light of His glory will shine through, and showers of blessings will fall.

Ours is not just a “pie in the sky by and by” religion. We know we “will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” (v. 13) We will travel the wilderness and also rest in verdant fields of green and waters serene. We will traverse valleys dark, gloomy, and stark and also relax at tables of plenty though surrounded by enmity. And in all this, we will be pursued by God’s goodness and mercy. (Psalm 23:2-6)

Goodness, which protects us from the enemy who seeks our ill.
Mercy, when the winds of sorrow and pain bring a chill.
Goodness not bought by money nor healed  by a pillMercy that was displayed and wrought on Calvary’s Hill

 

 

http://tracystella.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Beyond-the-Shadow-of-a-Doubt-MODIFIED-e1405637666117.jpg

Devine Providence Does Not Preclude Prayer

July 12, 2018

Worship: Jesus, I My Cross

 Lyrics written by Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847) whose father abandoned him at an early age and never let his son call him “father;” the song is a testament to the power of the gospel to address even situations where the rot of sin has spread into family relationships.

Get the chord chart, PPT lyrics, and more at
http://hymnbook.igracemusic.com/hymns/jesus-i-my-cross-have-taken

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRXmNIuTwsYucRfu7cN3y8e4F_zz4CB7XW_7BTUu1o-JuA59vM6tw

1. Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee;
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my All shalt be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought or hoped or known;
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.

2. Let the world despise and leave me,
They have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou art not, like them, untrue.
And while Thou shalt smile upon me,
God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate and friends may shun me;
Show Thy face, and all is bright.

3. Go, then, earthly fame and treasure!
Come, disaster, scorn, and pain!
In Thy service, pain is pleasure;
With Thy favor, loss is gain.
I have called Thee Abba, Father!
I have stayed my heart on Thee.
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather,
All must work for good to me.

4. Man may trouble and distress me,
‘Twill but drive me to Thy breast;
Life with trials hard may press me,
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, 'tis not in grief to harm me
While Thy love is left to me;
Oh, 'twere not in joy to charm me
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

5. Take, my soul, thy full salvation;
Rise o'er sin and fear and care;
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
What a Father’s smile is thine,
What a Savior died to win thee;
Child of heaven, shouldst thou repine?

6. Haste, then, on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith and winged by prayer;
Heaven’s eternal day’s before thee,
God’s own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close the earthly mission,
Swift shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope soon change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

Lyrics: http://globalworship.tumblr.com/post/113656470370/jesus-i-my-cross-have-taken-indelible-grace

Video: https://youtu.be/cnjkGH4kk-A

      https://78.media.tumblr.com/7e8e8d9a8be7b592ae5ccc964f0033b2/tumblr_inline_nl8hmtnGE81qkqzlv.jpg

 Witness:

Time has again got the best of me. Stewardship of my waking hours before work is not my forté. I can turn a short trip to the store into a 2-hour excursion and come home with one or two items. When trying to clear out my emails, I often get enticed into opening and reading them. I believe I have spoken about this weakness I have in previous entries. The latest devotional series I am reading online at YouVersion is about rest. The key text is taken from that episode with Mary, Martha, Our Lord, and a meal. 

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
 ⁴¹ "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away fromLuke 10:38-42 NIV

Here we have Mary sitting at the feet of the Lord and Martha busy trying to get things prepared for her guests. The contrast is between the focused Mary (“at the Lor’s feet”) and the “distracted” Martha. Here the “many things” and the “only one thing is needed” are contrasted. Distractions are a thief that robs us of precious time with the Lord, whether they be needful things like shopping or wasteful things like TV or video games. Distractions cause unneedful stress to accomplish something and guilt that we spent too much time on them rather time with the Lord. Distractions seem to be never-ending but have only temporary results and rewards, instead of the lasting ones found in being a “one thing” person.  

Obviously, Jesus is not teaching us to become recluses and lock ourselves up in room or cave and only study Scripture. His life did not follow that prescription nor did the Apostles. As usual, our Lord was speaking in strong terms to emphasize the focus He desired in our lives. This is seen in many things He said.

 Mark 8:34-36³⁴ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
NIV Matt 19:12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it."ESV John 6:53-59⁵³ Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. ⁵⁷ Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."  ⁵⁹ He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
NIV Luke 14:26-27²⁶ "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life — he cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
NIV Matt 5:29-30²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
NIV

This is sufficient to illustrate my point. None of these verses are to be taken with wooden literalness. Some believers have, to their misfortune, and have suffered the loss of life, limb, family, or friends. So when our Lord is speaking to Martha, He is not telling her that life consists only of sitting at His feet. We know this is true, for how could we fulfill the great commission if we locked ourselves away in our rooms? Or spent our day only listening to the Word read or preached.  James said,

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 1:22 NIV

I do not have to belabor the point with other scripture and reasoning. You get the point I’m making. The fact is, we learn not only by studying and listening, but by doing as well.

But I do not want to digress anymore from my original thought. The fact that I allow myself to be easily distracted. Jesus speaks powerfully to my predicament. If I fail to keep focused and come aside to rest and sit at His feet to learn of and from Him, I will be of no good service to Him. I will become weak or misled or disheartened. Like coal set apart from the glowing embers, I will soon crow cool, and the fire in me will go out. May it never be!

Let my heart like Mary,

At Your feet oft tarry.

To listen and to learn

And lesser things to spurn.

To set my life afire

Within Your Holy pyre.

The Church set aflame

To proclaim Your Holy Name!

- Amen

WORD:

Ps 27:11-14 11 Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. * 13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. NIV (1984) * spouting malicious accusations                                      NIV (2011)

Ps 27:11-14 11 Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. 12 Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I've never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence. 13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. 14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

Ps 27:11-14 11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. KJV

Ps 27:11-28:1 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the Lord;  be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! ESV

I spoke of the experiential aspect In my previous study. I pointed out that all who seek to live for God will experience slander and falsehoods against them. Worse, some may face threats of bodily harm and even death. Many a martyr have paid the ultimate price for their faithfulness.

David was facing such a time in his life. His enemies were “bearing false witness” against him. Not only that but “violent” threats as well. He speaks of this of being the “will” or “desire” of his enemies. The word used here is nephesh which is often translated as soul.

  a soul, self, life, a creature, a person, an appetite, a mind, a living being, a desire, an emotion, a passion 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.

When God created man, He breathed His breath of life in them, and they became “a living soul.”(Gen. 2:7) Then he fell and now some nephesh – some sons of Adam – are taking their depravity to the limit and desire for David’s demise. The “breathed into” are now “breathing out violence.” David prayed for deliverance from these foes. Some would say the believer need not pray such a prayer since he knows of the promises of protection for the believer. However, David did as well, and yet he still prayed. God’s protection and deliverance do not rule out the divine providence accomplished through petition. Note what one commentator has said:

Psalms 27:7-14 Once more we hear the cry in distress. The present trouble which is upon them comes into view. They plead, “leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation”—a prayer which no true Christian believer needs to pray.(from The Annotated Bible, by Arno C. Gaebelein. Biblesoft Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2015 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.) 

Contra to this is Calvin’s comments on verse 12. I will go with him on this and will end with this rather lengthy quote from Calvin which will sum up verse 12. Tomorrow, Lord willing, I will begin on the last two verses in this psalm.

Psalms 27:12 12. Give me not up to the desire of mine oppressors. The Hebrew noun ?pn, nephesh, signifies lust, will, or desire; and the language of David implies, Deliver me not up to the pleasure or lust of mine enemies, and thus he intimates, that they greedily gaped for his destruction. God delivers his people in two ways; either by appeasing the cruelty of the wicked, and rendering them meek; or, if he permits them to burn with fury, by restraining their power and violence, so that they desire and endeavor in vain to do mischief. The Psalmist afterward adds, that he is persecuted both with slanders and false accusations, and also by open violence; for when he says, that they bring forth violence,  he means that they speak of nothing but of war and slaughter. We thus see that the holy man was miserably oppressed on every side. Even his integrity, which we know to have been singular, could not free him from bitter and deadly calumnies, and he was at the same time overwhelmed by the violence and force of his enemies. If the ungodly, therefore, should at any time rise against us, not only with menaces and cruel violence, but to give the semblance of justice to their enmity, should slander us with lies, let us remember the example of David, who was assaulted in both ways; nay, let us recall to mind that Christ the Son of God suffered no less injury from lying tongues than from violence.  Moreover, this prayer was dictated for our comfort, to intimate that God can maintain our innocence, and oppose the shield of his protection to the cruelty of our enemies.
(from Calvin's Commentaries, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2005-2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

       https://i.pinimg.com/originals/48/ef/65/48ef6539fb988af400571f384b032659.jpg

In This World You WILL Have Trouble

I have actually completed another journal entry in one day. This one reminds us that God is working in us for His glory but that does not exempt us from trials, opposition, and falsehoods said about us. Even as I say this, there is a thought that has flashed before my mind. I wonder when I will be tested on what I have written this morning?

 July 10, 2018

Worship:  For Your Splendor by Christy Nockels

I am so concerned with what I look like from the outside
And will I blossom into what You hope I'll be?
Yet You are so patient just to help me see

The blooms come from a deeper seed that You planted in me.

Sometimes it's hard to grow when everybody is watching.
To have your heart pruned by the One who knows best
And though I am bare and cold, I know my season's coming
And I will spring up in Your endless faithfulness.

Chorus:
With my roots deep in You
I will grow the branch that bears the fruit
And though I'm small, I still will be standing in the storm.
Cause I am planted by the river
By Your streams of living water
And I will grow up strong and beautiful all for Your splendor Lord.

So with my arms stretched out I am swaying to Your heartbeat.
I am growing with the sound of Your voice calling
You are bringing out the beauty that You had put in me
For Your joy and for Your glory falling.

With my roots deep in You
I grow the branch that bears the fruit
And though I am small, I still will be standing in the storm.
Cause I am planted by the river
By Your streams of living water
And I will grow up strong and beautiful all for Your splendor Lord.

Ohhhhh... You raise me in Your love, love, love,
You raise me in Your love
You raise me in Your power.
Thank You, Lord.

With my roots deep in you
I will grow the branch that bears the fruit
And though I'm small, I still will be standing in the storm.
Cause I am planted by the river
By your streams of living water
And I will grow up strong and beautiful all for Your splendor Lord.
Oh Your splendor, Lord.

Lyrics: https://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/christy_nockels/for_your_splendor.html (some corrections made)

Video: https://youtu.be/DC_QCKCuAM8?list=RDDC_QCKCuAM8

Witness:

I came across this song the same day I heard the other one I used in my last journal entry. I see the heart of the psalmist in the lyrics to this song. Confessing, on the one hand, their weakness, frailty, impatience, and concern for the external. And on the other hand, they profess their trust in the God who plants, prunes, protects and provides the nourishment to grow in the midst of all this world throws at them. Out of all this, something beautiful grows. This is done all because God loves us, but the love God wants us to experience is not a self-focused love – “hey look at what God did for me, I am beautiful!” That would be too small a love. It would be idolatry on our part and God’s as well. No, His aim is higher than that by reason that He is the Most High God. Therefore, He is sowing, watering, fertilizing, and pruning so –

I will grow up strong and beautiful all for Your splendor Lord.

How much higher and more excellent and loving is the beauty, God brings out of our lives. An attractiveness which exhibits His glory and not ours.

Lord, keep me from the pride

That seeks the glory from others

But let Your seed in me abide

And flower into splendorous colors

That display Your love and grace

Amidst a stark and barren land

A hollow and vacuous place

In hues bold and grand!

Our Lord and the Apostle Peter use different motifs to declare this same truth.

¹⁴ "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matt 5:14-16 NIV

  

¹⁰ Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV

WORD:

Ps 27:11-14 11 Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. * 13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. NIV (1984) * spouting malicious accusations                                      NIV (2011)

Ps 27:11-14 11 Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. 12 Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I've never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence. 13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. 14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

Ps 27:11-14 11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. KJV

Ps 27:11-28:1 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the Lord;  be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! ESV

I have considered the vertical aspect of David’s plea. That his prayer was to exalt God and glorify Him by following His way. I have also looked at the ethical dimension of his entreaty. In a previous journal entry, I said,

He didn’t want to lower himself to the depraved level of his enemies. Instead, he sought to rise above them in his manner of conduct and character. (see my blog from 7/2/2018)

But there is an experiential reality that prompted this petition. I discovered this dimension in my reading of various commentaries on verses 11-12. The godly will always have their enemies. Falsehoods and lies will follow the devoutest of believers. Verse 12 could just as easily be applied to the only One who was entirely innocent of all sin. Our Lord was mocked and slandered in His trial. False witnesses gave phony testimonies concerning the Lord. David was experiencing this as well. I owe my observations on this truth mainly to Spurgeon in a work called, Spurgeon’s Expository Notes. I will end with several excerpts from that work. They contain other nuggets of truth besides the one I am expounding on. Remember that we can avail ourselves of the promises and provisions in this Psalm because of what Christ did for us in His life and His death on the cross and His resurrection.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

John 16:33 NIV

Psalms 27:12

David found enemies, and as will you, and the holier you are, the more shall you have of them. Birds pick the ripest fruit; the highest towers cast the longest shadows; and so is it that the highest holiness is generally the object of the most cruel attacks. Well, what are they to do who are passing through this trial? Do? Why go to their God about that as well as about everything else.

(from Spurgeon's Expository Notes. Biblesoft Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2014 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Psalms 27:12

It is their delight to be cruel, to say unkind, unjust, untruthful things which lacerate the heart; and the more some people can tear good men’s reputations to pieces, the more pleased they are. I must say that it is hardly less than a miracle, that any true servant of God should for any length of time escape even from the vilest slander, so base is the tongue of men.

(from Spurgeon's Expository Notes. Biblesoft Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2014 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Psalms 27:12

Am I addressing anyone who is being slandered? Has somebody borne false witness against you? Well, be very thankful that it is false. I do not quite understand why it is so often said, “You see, it is such a downright falsehood, and that is what grieves me so.” But, dear friend, it is much better that it should be false than true. If anyone brings an accusation against me, I shall be glad to find that it is false. Let not that be the sting of the trouble which really is the sweetness of it; be glad that they cannot say anything against you unless they speak falsely. However, if you expect to go to heaven without being slandered, you expect what you are not likely to get; for God himself was slandered in Paradise; our Lord Jesus, in whom was no fault, was slandered when he was upon the earth; his apostles and followers in all ages have had the same treatment; sad here is David saying, “False witnesses are risen up against me.”

(from Spurgeon's Expository Notes. Biblesoft Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2014 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)