What the Word of God does…

Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. (Psalm 119:97–104)

These few verses are a bit like a book review. The psalmist describes what happens in his life when he reads Scripture, but not just reading it — for one thing, he thinks about what he has read.

The books we read do have an effect on us. If I spent all my spare time in the newspaper, my emotions would change. If my reading were romance novels, or mystery, or only war stories, my thoughts would not be the same as reading children’s books, and if I read only cookbooks, that could affect my waistline.

However, as the psalmist says, the Bible has an effect on more than thoughts and emotions. Right away, he makes clear that thinking about what he is reading is important. I know that is true. I have a touch of attention deficit. That tends to mess with keeping my mind on what needs attention and leading to ignoring it. Not that what I read is unimportant, just that distraction interferes with application.

No excuse. Meditation is vital. As the psalmist says, God’s Word imparts wisdom — if it is taken to heart, considered thoughtfully. It can make the reader wiser than any opposition, even give that reader understanding beyond mentors and teachers, even those older (although there are not many of those left in my list of friends). 

Yet I note that this wisdom comes from obeying what I read. It is not for information alone but for transformation. 

Add to meditation and application is avoiding anything contrary to what God says. When He tells me to be kind to my enemies, I will not gain wisdom or be transformed if I gossip about them or am unkind in other ways. Not only that, the more I read and do what God says, the more His ways make sense to me and the better I am at seeing what is not good and what to avoid.

Jesus, how amazing that You are called the Word of God. Not only is all of God's goodness and wisdom written for us in Your Book, it is present in a living Person. You are God's example for me to follow, and my enablement to actually do it. Your Book is no ordinary book for it speaks to me. It is Your voice written so I can hear it and do Your will. I am with the writer of those words who says “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” How wonderful that You use written words to tell me how to live and then enable me to do what You say!!

The Adventure of Aging…

I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!” Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 116:1–9)

Every day brings a new test. At the same time, the Lord is merciful. Yesterday at a sewing retreat, each story brought out the goodness of the Lord. One woman had tests that put away her fears that she had experienced a medical episode. She was so joyful that I hardly recognized her! While she did not quote this psalm, she express gratitude to be alive and healthy. 

Most of the people in our little community are over 70, yet many of them are healthy and alert, busy doing things and enjoying their latter years. It is an encouraging place to be, even with the tests to my faith. Most of them involve: Will I trust Jesus with this or will I bail out in annoyance, anger, self-pity, or complaining?

The Holy Spirit often reminds me that doctors told my parents I would not live beyond sixteen years. God said otherwise. I’m eighty-five, can still see to thread a needle first try, cook a decent meal, make quilts, stand on one leg more than 10 seconds, and keep my house clean. 

Because of You, Jesus, I can return my soul to that precious rest. You are utterly generous, and have put me where You want me. Then You enable me to see what’s next and how much I need You to confess and repent of old bad habits. Some say old age is scary or lonely, but for me, it is never boring!

 

C-O-W does not spell God

They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a metal image. They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. Therefore he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them. Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise. They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the Lord. Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall in the wilderness, and would make their offspring fall among the nations, scattering them among the lands. Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead; they provoked the Lord to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them. Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed. And that was counted to him as righteousness from generation to generation forever. (Psalm 106:19–31)

Cattle are considered sacred in the religions of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, as well as in some Chinese folk religion and in traditional African religions. Cattle played other major roles in many religions, including those of ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, ancient Israel and ancient Rome.

As for Israel, cattle were sacrificed for sin pointing to the need declared in God’s law:

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. (Leviticus 17:11)

The NT says the same:

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (Hebrews 9:22) 

However, this sacrifice of a calf or a lamb does not mean God's people were supposed to worship the animal being sacrificed, or decide it was special and not slay it, or make images of it and worship the images.

Instead of such idolatry, or even scorning it as total ignorance, like Moses and Phinehas, I am supposed to intervene in prayer that God would not only spare them but transform them to know Him and know the truth. Those who are in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ are told to abandon idolatry and worship only God. We are also told to pray for others who are not there yet.

Jesus, for me consistent formal prayer is a challenge. Instead it is easier to converse with You as needs come to my attention, especially because You so often make me aware of Your presence in ordinary life. And because You make me aware of how much other people need to know You too.

Resting in the Lord

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.” Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest.” (Psalm 95:6–11)

There are two kinds of spiritual rest hinted here, the rest of being eternally with Jesus in heaven and the rest that He describes in the NT. 

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

Biblically, the word ‘rest’ can mean a physical rest, but also spiritual. Compared to this OT verse, it refers to resting from my own labors, and in both passages, it means just that — working in the strength of the Holy Spirit and not doing my own thing.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

In plain words, the Lord wants me to do His will which will be marked by the fruit of His Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If that fruit is missing, then I am not resting in Christ and as long as I insist on doing things my way, I cannot enter His rest.

Examples of my way: resenting people, wanting always to win, worry, thinking unkind thoughts, withholding when some is in a need that I could help, not keeping my promises, harshly rebuking others, no self-control at the dinner table, boasting, taking credit that belongs to God… need I go on?

A larger description of His rest starts in Hebrews 4:

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” (Hebrews 4:1–5)

For unbelievers, this is about no faith in Christ at all, but Christians can wobble in and out of trusting the Lord, in and out of walking in the Spirit, in and out of rest. I see it often when trust says “God can do it…” and the response beings with, “Yea, but…”

I have problems at times with His timing, and even His methods. I’m thinking “right now” or “this way” instead of trusting His timing and letting Him surprise me. Like a child, I want my way and right now. This is not faith.

Jesus, children are not noted for their ability to wait, but even a child knows who is trustworthy. They also understand the logic of trust for those who have proved themselves. I’m humbled when You tell me to grow up, yet blessed when Your grace enables the wonder of resting in You. Life is full of outer events and inner attitudes that test to see if I will trust You or if You will need to say “grow up” to me again.

God’s Commitment to His people…

In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light. He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers. Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. . . . Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power. Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them, and he killed the strongest of them and laid low the young men of Israel. In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror. When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer. But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again. (Psalm 78:12–39)

This OT passage says it all. We are sinners and if it were not for the wonder of God's compassion, not one person would live. He atoned (pardoned by sacrifice) for our iniquity and did not destroy us. This is repeated in the next psalm:

Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake! (Psalm 79:8–9)

And again in the NT, the final and full forever pardon: 

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:8-10)

While the death sin deserves is illustrated often in OT history, so is the life that is not earned or deserved, yet given by our merciful God.

Jesus, I am justified by Your death and alive because of Your life. You live in me, giving me eternal life and the ability to obey You, not by my doing, but by the power of Your life. Amazing joy. Amazing redeemer. 

 

Genuine Prosperity

Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. (Psalm 73:1–17)

The news is on. Two ‘experts’ discuss the events of these days and despair at the prosperity of the wicked. Some watch their presentation with great concern on their faces. These have no faith in God, yet even many who profess faith are often troubled by seeing evil people in palaces and good health, rolling in dough and using their wealth to gain more wealth.

This seems related to a person’s value system. God has blessed us with prosperity, but also with the realization that our joy does not come from money or anything it can buy. Jesus grants the sense of His amazing grace and mercy to the degree that I have learned to rejoice in Him. Yes, the answers to prayer and other kindnesses are pleasures, yet joy is ours because of Him, not His gifts.

The psalmist learned this too. Even as he felt envy, he also saw the truth. Sometimes the life of an evil person ends suddenly, such as Saul, Jezebel, Athaliah, Herod Agrippa, likewise Nero, Galerius, Julian and the first and second Napoleonic empires. Can we say that of today’s despots? Not yet, but God was able to bring down quickly the successes of all past Hitlers, Stalins and Maos. Not only that, no one can boast of their evil deeds when they stand before their Maker in judgment.

The psalmist gave his observations more thought and then realized the eternal picture. He wrote:

Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. (Psalm 73:23–28)

This portion contains a verse I have pasted on my desk and magnetized to my refrigerator. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Out of context, it speaks to my thoughts about my literal heart issues (I have a pacemaker) and reminds me where my strength comes from, certainly not from political power, or wealth, or even money and prosperity.

Lord Jesus, You are my hiding place, my song of deliverance when thoughts of any kind of envy or fears and insecurities try to rob me of the wonder of being loved and blessed by You, my Almighty God. The joy of thanking and praising You is far beyond any success that an evil person might have. 

Be still. . . .

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah (Psalm 46:1–3, 10–11)

As I read this, the upstairs television features a podcast with a few people discussing world events with strong opinions of what is happening and how to fix it. They are anxious and worried. 

Downstairs my Bible features a song of faith that initially fixes the fear then gives solutions such as: “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.” (Vs. 4–5)
He can do this because He is “the Lord of hosts” and “with us” and “our fortress.” “He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.” (Vs. 9)

On a Sunday morning, the sun is shining, trees leaf out, birds sing. They know nothing of the wars and struggles or the major problems that plague the human mind. The cosmos, even the sparrows and trees thrive in the care of their Maker. They know how to be still in the knowledge of God. And we humans are supposed to be made in His image and rated as the highest in His creation?

What fools we are to create strife and problems because of our own selfishness and then argue and even scream at each other trying to fix it, still with our own selfish ideas and goals. Instead of being still and trusting God.

Lord Jesus, we need a revival of renewed faith, of awareness and conviction of such sinfulness, of repentance that is deeply serious and able to be still and know You, the One who can make all things right and at peace. Visit us and be exalted in this twisted up place called earth.