Did we forget something?

As I reread this journal entry I see it was long on witness and short on the word. I promise at the end of the entry to tackle an interpretive issue in the next few days. Looking ahead in my journal I see that there is a gap before the next entry but I fail to engage in the issue. It will take me several days before I respond to the issue at hand. Never-the-less my Worship and Witness times are full and sometimes lengthy. Some may ask why the subject matter of my witness section usually is not about the present study in the Psalms. You observe that my Worship portion usually is, so why not the Witness portion? My answer is that I already do that in my WORD portion. I use the Witness portion to share something the Lord is teaching me that day. It may be something I observed that day or thought about that day or sometimes even as I am journaling. 

Journal entry for

November 24, 2015

Worship: Dwell in Your House by Hillsong

You set me apart
Gave me a new heart
Filled with compassion
To share Your great love

Show me Your ways
I want to know You
Guide me in truth
My hope is in You

That I may dwell in Your house forever
Lifting up Your name
Dwell in Your house forever more(2X)

I’ll hold on to You
My strength and my refuge
Whom shall I fear?
I know You are near

All of my days
I live for You, Lord
Establish my path
There’s one thing I ask

That I may dwell in Your house forever
Lifting up Your name
Dwell in Your house forever more(2X)

Holy Spirit, have Your way
Sweet anointing teach our hearts
Our lives, we pray

That I may dwell in Your house forever
Lifting up Your name
Dwell in Your house forever more (3X)

Lyrics: http://www.songlyrics.com/hillsong/dwell-in-your-house-lyrics/#fEj04rr3aiSQr7Xz.99

Video:  https://youtu.be/aSqU6iLgXbk

Witness:

After yesterday’s great time in the Word, I am in, as it were, a valley again. Sleep evaded me again and when I did get up, my plans for getting to my quiet time early never came to fruition. It’s my own fault. I spent too much time at the store, unlike most men, I like to look around the store and end up spending more time and money than I planned on. I spent too much time on the internet trying to find a good deal on a computer. I need a new one because this one is about to go.  It has served me well for almost 10 years, but it’s time for a new one.

I am not feeling well but need to go to work. I could take off, but that wouldn’t be financially responsible. I have sick pay but don’t want to take the hit in my quarterly and annual attendance bonus. So I go, fighting the temptation to give up and call out. That’s the way we approach the Christian Life sometimes. We are feeling low, perhaps facing temptation, feeling like we are being pounded by life’s circumstances and we think, “I am going to give in this one time, after all, I have “grace time” don’t I? Yet we fail to remember that the Lord provides the strength to make it through this circumstance or temptation.

Do we forget His promise?

1 Cor 10:13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

NIV

Do we forget His Power?

Eph 6:10-12

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

NIV

Do we forget His Presence?

Ps 23:4

Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me

NIV

Ps 23:6

Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life

NIV

Think of the loss in fellowship with the Lord (not that God turns His back on us - He is the Shepherd that pursues us till He rescues us - but when we turn our back on God and the joy of fellowship with Him). Think of the stubble you are laying on the foundation of Christ in your life and the loss you will receive when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:6-10). What does it say about your love for the Lord? Can you do this and say, “I am glorifying the Lord” (1 Cor. 10:31)”?

Those who fail in the immediate, do so because they have failed to see what the ramifications of their decisions are in the long run.

Finally, let us remember this Passage:

Gal 6:7-10

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 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.

NIV

Ps 23:5-6 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. NIV

Ps 23:5-6 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. KJV

There is debate over what David is saying here. Does it apply to the afterlife or his present life? Looking at it as it is translated here, the former seems the case. However, many translate the word “forever” as “length of days” or a “long time” and see the house of the Lord as the Temple or Tabernacle. My alarm just went off saying it’s time to get ready for work. I will attempt to sort this out over the next few days. In the meantime, meditate on what I have said above in the witness portion.

Immutability - the foundation of our confidence

The title appears nowhere in the content of this journal entry, but it sums up succinctly the message I wanted to convey in  this journal entry.

Journal entry from:

November 23, 2015

Worship:

“Call It Grace”

It’s the light that pierces through you
To the darkest hidden place
It knows your deepest secrets
But it never looks away
It’s the gentle hand that pulls you
From the judgement of the crowd
When you stand before them guilty
And you got no way out

Some may call it foolish and impossible
But for every heart it rescues, it’s a miracle
It’s nothing less than scandalous
This love that took our place
Just call it what it is, call it grace
Call it grace

It’s the breath that’s breathing new life
Into what we thought was dead
It’s the favor that takes orphans
Placing crowns upon their heads
It’s the hope for our tomorrows
The rock on which we stand
It’s a strong and mighty fortress
Even Hell can’t stand against

Some may call it foolish and impossible
But for every heart it rescues, it’s a miracle
It’s nothing less than scandalous
This love that took our place
Just call it what it is, call it grace
Call it grace
Call it grace

Amazing, unshaking
This is grace, this is grace
Unchanging, unfailing
This is grace, this is grace

Some may call it foolish and impossible
But for every heart it rescues, it’s a miracle
It’s nothing less than scandalous
That Jesus took our place
Oh call it what it is, just call it what it is
Call it grace

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A-Z Lyrics UNSPOKEN Lyrics “Unspoken” (2014)

Video:  https://youtu.be/AAMU68NTVQw

“Good Good Father”

Oh, I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think you’re like
But I’ve heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night
And you tell me that you’re pleased
And that I’m never alone

You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

Oh, and I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we’re all searching
For answers only you provide
Cause you know just what we need
Before we say a word

You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

Cause you are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us

You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us

Oh, it’s love so undeniable
I, I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable
I, I can hardly think

As you call me deeper still [x3]
Into love, love, love

[x3:]
You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

You’re a Good, Good Father
(You are perfect in all of your ways)
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
(You are perfect in all of your ways)
It’s who I am, it’s who I am it’s who I am

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A-Z Lyrics CHRIS TOMLIN Lyrics

Video: https://youtu.be/GjzmITQhhYI

Witness:

It’s late. In fact, it’s actually Tuesday as I write. It has been a long day. I finally have a blog site. Someone I met at Church said they could help me create one. He came over today and helped me get started. I have spent most of the day working on my introduction and purpose for my blog. I almost didn’t go to my mom’s for dinner as is my custom since I returned home from staying with here for the first few months after my wife left me. She finally called me when I hadn’t called or showed up. Upon returning from dinner, I continued working on it till late into the night. I have not actually launched it yet. I need to do a few more things to tweak it and I want another’s opinion on what I have said in my intro. The irony is that if you are reading this now, it will mark the day my blog was about to launch, but you will not be reading it until a few months later. If you are reading this then that is good news for me, because that means that you stuck with me on the journey. That is my hope and that is my prayer. Soli Deo Gloria!

WORD:

Ps 23:5-6 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. NIV

Ps 23:5-6 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. KJV

 It’s late and I have one more thought to say about the first half of verse 6.  

I am looking specifically at the phrase “all the days of my life”. David could say with confidence that this was true in the past, but what makes him so sure of the future?

Barnes says of this verse:

[All the days of my life] Through all its changes; in every variety of situation; until I reach its close. Life indeed would end, and he does not venture to conjecture when that would be; but as long as life should continue, he felt confidently assured that everything needful for him would be bestowed upon him. The language is the utterance of a heart overflowing with joy and gratitude in the recollection of the past, and full of glad anticipation (as derived from the experience of the past) in regard to the future.

(from Barnes’ Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Pulpit Commentary says:

Verse 6. – Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. The past is an earnest of the future, As God’s “goodness and mercy” have always followed him hitherto, David has no doubt that they will continue to cling to him while his life continues.

(from The Pulpit Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Spurgeon quotes William Perkins in his classic book on the Psalms:

Ver. 6. Mark David’s resolute persuasion, and consider how he came unto it, namely, by experience of God’s favour at sundry times, and after sundry manners. For before he set down this resolution, he numbered up divers benefits received of the Lord; that he fed him in green pastures, and led him by the refreshing waters of God’s word; that he restores him and leads him in the paths of righteousness; that he strengthened him in great dangers, even of death, and preserveth him; that in despite of his enemies, he enriches him with many benefits. By means of all the mercies of God bestowed on him, he came to be persuaded of the continuance of the favour of God towards him. — William Perkins.

(from The Treasury of David, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

I think they are correct in what they are saying, but it goes deeper than experience. Experience, in this case, is the outward evidence of an inward immutable truth. What do I mean? It goes back to what God say’s about Himself in Exodus and in the Prophets and what is even declared of the Son of God.

Exodus 3:14 says:

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” NIV

Again I refer back to my seminary days where my OT professor says this can be translated, “I shall be what I have always been”.

 I believe this verse speaks first to God's self-existence, and secondarily, but importantly to His immutability or unchangeableness. Therefore He is faithful and can be trusted.

The Bible knowledge commentary says:

God told Moses to tell them, I am who I am (‘ehyeh ‘ašer ‘ehyeh, 3:14; cf. “I will be,” ‘ehyeh, v.12) and I AM (‘ehyeh) has sent me to you (v. 14). This One said He would be with His people in their time of trouble and need. ‘Ehyeh is probably a wordplay on Yahweh (LORD) in verse 15. Thus, the name Yahweh, related to the verb “to be,” probably speaks of God’s self-existence, but it means more than that. It usually speaks of His relationship to His people. For example, as Lord, He redeemed them (6:6), was faithful to them (34:5-7), and made a covenant with them (Gen 15:18).

(from Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries; Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries. All rights reserved.)

In Malachi the LORD (Yahweh) declares:

“I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.

Mal 3:6 NIV

James the brother of our Lord says:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17-18 NIV

The author of Hebrews declares this of Jesus our Lord:

Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?”

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Heb 13:1-8 NIV

Notice in all these passages there is the immutability of God and the correlating faithfulness that stems from it.

Therefore, going back to the question I posed at the beginning, “David could say with confidence that this was true in the past, but what makes him so sure of the future?” I believe and will state again, “Experience, in this case, is the outward evidence of an inward immutable truth.” That immutable truth is the unchangeableness of God. That He is immutable.

Louis Berkhof defines this attribute of God in his classic book on Systematic Theology:

It is that perfection of God by which He is devoid of all change, not only in His Being, but also in His perfections, and in His purposes and promises. In virtue of this attribute He is exalted above all becoming, and is free from all accession [i.e. addition] or diminution [i.e. reduction] and from all growth or decay in His Being or perfections. His knowledge and plans, His moral principles and volitions remain forever the same. Even reason teaches us that no change is possible in God, since a change is either for better or for worse. But in God, as the absolute Perfection, improvement and deterioration are both equally impossible.

ISBE puts it succinctly this way:

IMMUTABILITY

It is the perfection of Yahweh that He changes not in character, will, purpose, aim (Mal 3:6; so of Christ, Heb 13:8). See FAITHFULNESS ; UNCHANGEABLE .

(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Notice “Faithfulness” is used as a cross reference!

Let us, therefore, declare with the psalmist:

Pursued all the days of my life?

This is a rather long journal entry. Lately, I have not been able to attain to such length and meditation on things going on in my life or the WORD itself. Various distractions and weariness have taken toll on my physical ability to sit down and write for long periods of time. 
On a different front, I just received news of my older brothers latest health challenge. Having beat cancer, by God's answer to prayers lifted up and the best of medical science, he now faces the other deadly foe - heart disease. He has 3 blockages in his heart and has to decide on bypass surgery or stents as possible solutions. Deeper than that I am praying for his spiritual heart to be healed by receiving Christ as his Lord and Savior. Pray with me for physical and spiritual healing. Thank you! 

My journal entry for:

November 22, 2015

Worship: Surely Goodness and Mercy by John W. Peterson and Alfred Smith

I could not finish up on this phrase without singing this song from my youth.

SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY

A pilgrim was I, and a wandering,

In the cold night of sin, I did roam,

When Jesus the kind Shepherd found me,

And now I am on my way home.

Chorus:

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days, all the days of my life;

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days, all the days of my life.

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever,

And I shall feast at the table spread for me;

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days, all the days of my life.

Verse 2:

He restoreth my soul when I’m weary,

He giveth me strength day by day;

He leads me beside the still waters,

He guards me each step of the way.

Verse 3:

When I walk through the dark lonesome valley,

My savior will walk with me there;

And safely His great hand will lead me

To the mansions, He’s gone to prepare.

Lyrics (some commentary on this song is included on this website)  http://hymnoftheweek.net/?p=1564

Video:  https://youtu.be/tuY4SKOVy2g

Witness:

As I was driving home from the store tonight I heard an “older” song playing on the radio. One of the local Christian radio stations plays classic Contemporary Christian Songs from the past. The song playing was “Lead Me On” by Amt Grant. I was thinking as the song played, “O if only she had listened to these lyrics better, she never would have had gone through the things she eventually experienced – scandal, divorce, years on the outside of the Christian music scene, songs pulled from playing on many Christian radio stations and albums pulled from Christian stores. I still have the album this song was on. Even her album covers were controversial back then, as some complained they were a little too sensual. As I continued to think about this, I began to think about how I was feeling about this line of thinking. I began to look back on my life and asked myself if I had the right to be so judgmental. Was my life one of victory and perfection? Certainly not! I then began to think why we as Christians like to do this? Perhaps, I thought, it is because it makes us feel better about ourselves. We may feel bad about our walk, “but look what that person is doing” and bam! we instantly feel better about ourselves. Our thinking goes something like this, “Yes, we are not where we should be, but at least we aren’t doing what THEY are doing.” Instead of judging others we must follow what our Lord commands us to do.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matt 7:3-5 NIV

Notice, it doesn’t say we can’t help other brothers and sisters in Christ only that we must first examine ourselves and deal with our issue(s) before we decide to help someone else. It should be done with humility (Phil. 2:3-4, Col. 3:12-13, patience (1 Thes. 5:14, 2 Tim 4:2), with love (1 Cor. 16:14, Eph. 4:2), with mercy (Jude 22,23) and with prayer (1 John 5:16).

WORD:

Ps 23:5-6 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. NIV

Ps 23:5-6 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. KJV

Come on David… “all the days of my life”?  I know about your life. It wasn’t all fields of green and tranquil waters. So what does David mean here? Is he overstating? Is he using hyperbole? Neither of these makes sense, so what is meant here. Perhaps one of the problems is our definition of goodness and mercy. I think it is because we have it in our minds that they do describe only fields of green and tranquil waters. Yet have we forgotten verse four already? I’m sure David hadn’t. Sometimes the most good and merciful thing is to allow one to go through rough times, dark times, times of testing. Laura Story’s song “Blessings” attests to this truth:

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It’s not our home

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

James 1:2-4, to which Laura Story makes reference to in relationship with this song, says:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-5 NIV

The Apostle Paul says:

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Rom 5:1-5 NIV

All three of these people are not speaking theoretically. Laura’s ongoing dealing with a husband battling a brain tumor; James faced the opposition of the Jewish leaders and died a martyr’s death by stoning and Paul could say concerning his life:

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.   Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 2 Cor 11:24-27 NIV

I will conclude this portion of my Journal with comments by quoting excerpts from two commentators:

Spurgeon:

all the days of his life — the black days as well as the bright days, the days of fasting as well as the days of feasting, the dreary days of winter as well as the bright days of summer. Goodness supplies our needs, and mercy blots out our sins.

(from The Treasury of David, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

           

Calvin:

           

Surely goodness and mercy. Having recounted the blessings which God had bestowed upon him, he now expresses his undoubted persuasion of the continuance of them to the end of his life. But whence proceeded this confidence, by which he assures himself that the beneficence and mercy of God will accompany him forever, if it did not arise from the promise by which God is accustomed to season the blessings which he bestows upon true believers, that they may not inconsiderately devour them without having any taste or relish for them? When he said to himself before, that even amidst the darkness of death he would keep his eyes fixed in beholding the providence of God, he sufficiently testified that he did not depend upon outward things, nor measured the grace of God according to the judgment of the flesh, but that even when assistance from every earthly quarter failed him, his faith continued shut up in the word of God. Although, therefore, experience led him to hope well, yet it was principally on the promise by which God confirms his people with respect to the future that he depended. If it is objected that it is presumption for a man to promise himself a continued course of prosperity in this uncertain and changing world, I answer, that David did not speak in this manner with the view of imposing on God a law; but he hoped for such exercise of God’s beneficence towards him as the condition of this world permits, with which he would be contented. He does not say, My cup shall be always full, or, My head shall be always perfumed with oil; but in general he entertains the hope that as the goodness of God never fails, he will be favorable towards him even to the end.

(from Calvin’s Commentaries, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2005-2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Pursued by God's goodness and mercy

November 20, 2015

Worship: Thy Mercy, My God, Is the Theme of My Song by John Stocker

TEXT:

John Stocker

MUSIC:

Sandra McCracken

Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song,
The joy of my heart. and the boast of my tongue;
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,
Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast.

Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here;
Sin would reduce me to utter despair;
But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive,
And He that first made me still keeps me alive.

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart;
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground,
And weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found.

Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own,
And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son;
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine. 

All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.

©2001 Same Old Dress Music (ASCAP).

Lyrics and reflections on the lyrics by Sarah McCracken:  http://hymnbook.igracemusic.com/hymns/thy-mercy-my-god

Video:  https://youtu.be/vUEgqGNFiMs

Witness: Thy mercy, my God is the theme of my song. These words arrested my attention. I was searching for a song to worship tonight according to the theme of Psalm 23:6. I first came across a video by someone who said they weren’t sure who was singing this song they used for their video. They thought it was Sarah McCracken. I listened to the words and thought, “these words are deep and theologically rich. They don’t sound like they were written by someone writing songs today.” With a little searching, I found a video with Sarah McCracken singing this song. I then looked up the lyrics and found the link referenced above, which said that the words were originally penned by John Stocker in 1776, and it all made sense. Sarah shares how she discovered the song and created a new tune for it. She also shares some reflection on the song as well.

The hymns of that era were rich and deep theologically. I am not saying that there are not some theologically rich songs sung today, nor am I demeaning songs written today as if they are inferior (that can be said of some new as well as some old ones). I am saying that we need to revisit the hymns and learn from them. Recast them with a new tune if necessary, we will be the richer spiritually for it. However, our taste in music style should not keep us from singing the old hymns. I recently read something written online saying they liked hip-hop, but couldn’t find any Christian music today singing in that style (maybe because that genre in Christian music retired when DC Talk disbandedJ). I thought, this person is really limiting themselves by getting stuck in the rut of style over substance. Let us worship with the view of listening to what we are singing rather than the mode in which it is delivered. After all, if the style of music was that important to God, I believe He would have included the music score to each Psalm, yet He left us only the words, He left the music to which they may be sung up to his people (within of course the parameters of decency).

WORD:

Ps 23:5-6 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. NIV

Ps 23:5-6 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. KJV

How do God’s goodness and mercy pursue us? My thoughts are racing with the implications of this. Certainly, it refers to, as the Expositor’s Bible Commentary puts it:

The psalmist expresses deep confidence in God’s loyalty. Instead of being pursued by enemies who seek His destruction, God’s ‘goodness and love’ follow Him. He need not fear, because God’s care will always manifest itself in His provisions, abundance, and protection. His loving care follows him throughout life. 

http://www.biblestudymanuals.net/psalm23.htm

Clarke says:

God never leaves his true followers; providential mercies, gracious influences, and miraculous interferences, shall never be wanting when they are necessary.

(from Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

In terms of protection “goodness and Mercy” have my back. In terms of provision they provide wisely what I need. I also believe there is an inkling of the thought of correction here as well. In pursuing us through life we are bound to fall down. God’s goodness and mercy are there to pick us up and show us the right path to take. Notice it says, “all the days of my life”. David cannot think of a time when God did not pursue him. From birth to grave, God in His mercy and grace pursues the good of those He foreknew from eternity. Wiersbe points out that the phrase “goodness and mercy” is the Old Testament version of Romans 8:28:

In spite of his sins and failures, he had been followed by goodness and mercy, which is the Old Testament equivalent of Rom 8:28.

(from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 by Warren W. Wiersbe. All rights reserved.)

I would suggest that this verse is the equivalent not only of Romans 8: 28 but of 29 - 39

Rom 8:28-39

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

NIV

Goodness and Mercy have a Name

I encourage you to click the link to the video for the song of worship. Shane & Shane include an excerpt from a sermon by John Piper on suffering that is very powerful and edifying.

Journal Entry from

November 18, 2015

Worship: Psalm 23 (Surely Goodness & Mercy) by Shane & Shane

Psalms 23 (The Lord is my Sheppard)

Verse: 

The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want 

In green pastures He makes me lie down

He restores my soul and leads me on for His Name

For His Great Name

Chorus:

Surely goodness surely mercy

Right beside me all my days

And I will dwell in Your house forever

And bless Your Holy Name 

Verse:

You prepare a table right before me

In the presence of my enemies 

Though the arrow flies and the terror of night is at my door

I'll trust you Lord 

(Chorus)

Surely goodness surely mercy

Right beside me all my days

And I will dwell in Your house forever

And bless Your Holy Name 

Bridge:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death 

I will fear no evil 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death 

You are on my side (2X)

(Chorus)

Surely goodness surely mercy

Right beside me all my days

And I will dwell in Your house forever

And bless Your Holy Name 

Lyrics: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/s/shane_shane/psalm_23_crd.htm

video:  https://youtu.be/gxLlpViTcic

Witness:

I sat and sat trying to think of something to say. That’s when the song “Forever” by Keri Jobe started playing. Near the end of the song, a poem is recited by its author Isaac Wimberly. I decided that I would share it with you. I hope it blesses and lifts your spirit to praise our Awesome God with words, though way too inadequate, are acceptable to God from those whose hearts are humble and sincere.

“The Word”

If there are words for Him, then I don’t have them

You see, my brain has not yet reached a point
Where it could form a thought
That could adequately describe the greatness of my God

And my lungs have not yet developed the ability
To release a breath with enough agility
To breathe out the greatness of His love

And my voice, my voice is so inhibited
Restrained by human limits
That it’s hard to even send a praise up

If there are words for Him, then I don’t have them

My God

His grace is remarkable
Mercies are innumerable
Strength is impenetrable

He is honorable, accountable, and favorable
Unsearchable yet knowable
Indefinable yet approachable
Indescribable yet personal

He is beyond comprehension
Further than imagination
Constant through generations
King of every nation

But
If there are words for Him then I don’t have them

You see my words are few
And to try and capture the one TRUE God
Using my vocabulary will never do

But I use my words as an expression
An expression of worship to a Savior
A Savior who is both worthy and deserving of my praise

So I use words

My heart extols the Lord
Blesses His name forever
He has won my heart, captured my mind
And has bound them both together

He has defeated me in my rebellion
Conquered me in my sin
He has welcomed me into His presence
Completely invited me in

He has made Himself the object of my sight
Flooding me with mercies in the morning
Drowning me with grace in the night

But
If there are words for Him, then I don’t have them

But what I do have… Is Good News
For my God knew that man-made words would never do
For words are just tools that we use
To point to the Truth
So He sent his son Jesus Christ as THE WORD
Living proof

He is the image of the invisible God
The firstborn of all creation
For by Him all things were created
Giving nothingness formation

And by His word He sustains, in the power of His name
For He is before all things and over all things He reigns
HOLY IS HIS NAME!!

Praise Him for His life
The way He persevered in strife
The humble Son of God becoming the perfect sacrifice

Praise Him for His death
That He willingly stood in our place
That He lovingly endured the grave
That He battled our enemy
And on the third day rose in victory

Praise Him because He rose!!
Hallelujah, He rose!!
He is everything that was promised

Praise Him as the risen King
Lift your voice and sing
For one day He will return for us and we will finally be
United with our Savior for eternity

So it’s not just words that I proclaim
For my words point to the WORD
And the WORD has a name
Hope has a name
Joy as a name
Peace has a name
Love has a name
And that name is Jesus Christ
Praise His name FOREVER!

WORD:

Ps 23:5-6 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. NIV

Ps 23:5-6 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. KJV

Hope has a name. Joy has a name. Peace has a name. Love has a name. May I suggest that “goodness” has a name. “Mercy” has a name. A name… the name above all names… JESUS!

I will praise His name forever because I will dwell in His house forever.

Notice the word “follow”. These attributes of God - fully displayed in our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ(John 1:18; 1`4:9) - are personified and viewed as following the psalmist and all of God’s saints. What does this word mean? One resource declares confidently:

The verb translated follow means “to accompany,” “to go with”; it should not be given the meaning of “to pursue, to run after.”

(from UBS Old Testament Handbook Series. Copyright © 1978-2004 by United Bible Societies. All rights reserved.)

However, another resource says:

Goodness and mercy will not simply follow, but will pursue him. The verb used here (Heb radap) is used elsewhere in a predominantly hostile sense. That it is given a benevolent sense here makes its usage even more striking

Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 1012). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

To pursue or not to pursue. That is the question. Strongs says this about this word:

OT:7291

OT:7291   radaph (raw-daf’); a primitive root; to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by):

KJV – chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute (-ion, -or), pursue (-r).

(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.)

Vines says:

            PURSUE  radap OT:7291, “to pursue, follow after, pass away, persecute.”

(from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

Another Hebrew resource says similar things about this word. Thus, I must conclude that there is a sense of, not only accompaniment but literally, of pursuit. But what does that mean? In what way do these pursue us? I will finish this line of thought tomorrow.