May the Lord answer . . .

Leviticus 17; Psalms 20–21; Proverbs 31; 1 Timothy 2

These days are filled with three main preoccupations. Besides the normal chores of household, I am praying lots, making quilts, and purging the non-essentials from our home. Yesterday afternoon I tackled my studio. It was messy, too full of projects and things that need to be put where they belong, never mind the stuff that sits there but is unused.

Most of the time when my space gets that way, I realize my life is also like that. Too much on my mind, too many plans and projects, cluttered ideas going through my brain. This is reflected in my home and cleaning up where I live makes a difference; it brings clarity of thought.

Since I live much of my days in my studio, it is time to get organized, yet this is a large space, about 18’ x 33’ and with too many components. As I looked around this morning, I felt overwhelmed — added to the overwhelmed feeling of living in a pandemic, not being able to spend time face-to-face with people, and concerns for family and friends. This is nothing like King David’s experiences, but the feelings are the same — and God uses David’s major distresses to bring comfort to my minor distresses . . .

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah. May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. O Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call. (Psalm 20:1–9)

This psalm reminds me that God hears and answers. He protects, even sends help as His people are continually calling to support and encourage. He remembers that I am His child, trusting in the sacrifice of His Son for my salvation. He knows the desires of my heart as I pray for others who do not know Him yet. He will answer my prayers.

Horses and chariots are literal for David who knows that his enemies trust in their armies and calvary. For me, they represent all the things I could trust, but do not. I cannot rely on my own strength or wisdom, only on the name of my Lord and God. All else will fail me. Only in Jesus can I stand firm.

APPLY: Call out to the Lord for wisdom and grace for all that He puts on my heart to do. it might be the homey stuff of cleaning up, or more significant calls to/from family and friends who all need encouragement and hope during these difficult days. Mostly it is prayers for His power and blessing on those believers out on the front lines of fighting this virus, and prayers for His saving grace on those who face death without any hope. David gives assurance: May God hear and answer me as I call.

PS. I’m too old to move furniture all day!

Whom do I serve? Whom do I trust?

Numbers 23:1–30, 1 Corinthians 6:12–7:16, Psalm 20:1–9

Balaam is still in these readings and in my thoughts. He was ordered to curse the Israelites, but he replied, “How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced? For from the top of the crags I see him, from the hills I behold him; behold, a people dwelling alone, and not counting itself among the nations! Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his!” (Numbers 23:8–10)

This sounds so good, but remember one thing – he willingly went with Balak to do what he was told and instead, God puts a blessing in his mouth. Then the king ordered him again to curse Israel. Balaam did not. This time he said, “Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it. He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. The Lord their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them. God brings them out of Egypt and is for them like the horns of the wild ox. For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What has God wrought!’” (Numbers 23:20–23)

Two times Balaam willingly goes with Balak to curse the people of God, and two times God puts a blessing in his mouth instead. Is this Balaam being obedient, one of the good guys? I don’t think so. He is too willing to do the cursing. If he was a righteous man, he would never have gone with the king in the first place. Even though the Lord overruled, this does not make Balaam a special person! He was making arrogant choices.

The title of this devotional guide is “Connect the Testaments.” Sometimes I cannot see a connection. This time, the NT reading is also about decision making, but Paul is a far cry from Balaam. He knew that in Christ, and because of the grace of God, he was a free man, but he didn’t act without considering what he was doing or the consequences. He said, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)

This does not mean that if Paul had been in Balaam’s shoes he would have thought it lawful to curse God’s people, but he would not have acted as if it was okay, or talked as if he was being obedient when he wasn’t. Christian freedom is not about mocking God or playing games. It is not about messing around with orders from the enemy, thinking I can do that and God will bail me out of trouble. I am not given freedom so I can say I trust Him and then rely on something else, either myself or some other source of wisdom or strength and do whatever pleases me.

“May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.” (Psalm 20:4–8)

My “chariots and horses” cannot answer my prayers, fulfill my plans, or save me from sin. Even if anything I trust besides God happens to ‘deliver’ me now and then, eventually they fail. Only the Lord can stand forever, and I stand only in His mercy in grace. This cannot be mocked or messed with but rejoiced in as my source of strength so as not to be like Balaam.