A New Beginning!


Welcome to Psalms!

No book has the power to encourage, motivate, challenge or uplift as does Psalms. As I read and study passages from Psalms each day, golden nuggets of truth and inspiration bless me deeply. The purpose of this blog is to have a means of sharing those insights with you...so you too can be blessed...and encouraged, motivated, challenged and lifted high!

So dive in...and be blessed!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Passionate Thanks, Promised Blessing

Psalm 50:7-23

As in Psalm 50, so too in Isaiah 1, God presents a case against Israel.  Though they continue to offer the ritual sacrifices outwardly, their hearts have rebelled against Him.  And God has had enough!

Listen, My people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel…I will not accept a bull from your household or male goats from your pens…Do I eat the flesh of bulls of drink the blood of goats? (Psalm 50:7a,9,13)

“What are all your sacrifices to Me?” ask the Lord.  I have had enough…Stop bringing useless offerings…They have become a burden to Me; I am tired of putting up with [them]. (Isaiah 1:11a,13a,14b)

What are the people to do?  The sacrifices were God’s idea; He established them and commanded they be done regularly.  And now, He says, “Stop! I’ve had enough!

The problem was a heart issue.  Their hearts were not in the worship they were performing.  Certainly you have been to a concert and heard someone play with good skill, but you somehow sensed their heart wasn’t into the moment.  They were only “performing,” not expressing a true part of themselves.  Likely, you also have been to a concert than was much more than a performance; one where the musician/artist played with passion as well as with great skill.  A good performance moves us to clap; a presentation with passion moves us to tears.

Maybe God feels the same way.

He desires for us to be passionate in our devotion and service to Him.  He wants us to serve Him because we love Him, not just out of a sense of duty.  Offerings of love are acceptable and desired by Him, not offerings of habit or ritual.

He plainly says so in Psalm 50:

Sacrifice a thank offering to God…Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors Me…I will show him the salvation of God. (vs. 14a,23)

The Thank Offering symbolized for the Israelites their fellowship with God.  Because He had blessed them so much, they would offer sacrifices of thanks to Him.  Obviously, thanks is only appropriately offered when it is truly felt.  If you are not really thankful, why say “thank you?  You, and probably the person you are saying it to, both know you don’t really mean it.  Certainly, God knows!

It really is a simple choice.  Honor God by thanking Him for His many blessings in your life; and receive even more.  Or, just come before Him out of habit and/or duty; and hear Him say to you: “Enough!  Stop!  Your useless efforts are a burden to Me!

The promise is this: when you feel thanks in your heart and express your thanks to God, He will hear and respond.  Doing so, you honor Him and He blesses you.

Heart Service

Psalm 50:1-7

A recent court case in our state received international attention.  It went on for several weeks, included much drama and concluded with a surprise ending.  The whole event played out like a Hollywood script…complete with “extras.”

Extras are those non-professional actors who appear in the background of scenes.  People walking on the sidewalk, the crowd in the stands at a game…these are extras.  Our recent court case had extras, too: the crowds that sat in the courtroom each day observing the trial.

People stood in line for hours hoping to get tickets.  If they got a ticket, then on their appointed day they were allowed to sit in the gallery to see and hear first-hand the proceedings.  They were the extras; eye-witnesses to the events in the courtroom.

The Bible makes clear that God is a judge.  He has a courtroom.  There is a case to be tried; the witness will testify and the extras will observe.  We see this several places in Scripture, one of them being Psalm 50.

God the Lord God speaks; He summons the earth from east to west…On high, He summons heaven and earth in order to judge His people…“Listen, My people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel.” (vs. 1,4,7a)

God is the Judge.  He is the One who summons all to the courtroom.  Those called to come observe the proceedings are “heaven and earth.”  Creation will watch as God presents the case He has against Israel, His own people.

This scene is repeated by the prophet Isaiah:  Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth, for the Lord has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me” (Isaiah 1:2).

Think about this for a moment.  Creation – the heavens and the earth – will see and hear God’s evidence against His people.  This is only fair since it was man’s actions that subjected creation to the suffering of sin.  The Bible makes it clear that creation is waiting to be released from the burden of sin, just as we are.

Often we think of God’s judgment being that final time the lost will stand before Him, be condemned and sent into eternal Hell.  As we picture the scene, if we picture ourselves in it at all, it is as observers.  We, His children, perhaps will watch as judgment is announced then we will get to enter Heaven.  The Bible paints a different picture.

All of us who are believers – God’s children – also will be judged.  We are not the extras watching, we are on trial.  Our case will not teeter on guilt or innocence (in Christ we are made righteous: completely innocent of sin).  Rather, the question for us will be: were we faithful and obedient as His children?

Did we serve Him well?  Were we faithful and obedient to all He called us to do, even if at times it did not make sense?  Did we accomplish His will?  Did we walk faithfully?  Many more questions could be asked, but they seem to all boil down to one thing.

Was my heart in it?  Did I serve the Lord – did I walk in faithfulness and obedience – out of duty, or out of love?

Great question that (pardon the pun) gets right to the heart of the matter.  Do we serve Him because He loves us and we love Him?  Or only out of a sense of “I have to,” not an “I want to?”

God makes it clear in the Psalm and Isaiah passages that it is worship and service from our hearts that He appreciates and responds to favorably.  Walking faithfully and obediently each day because we love Him and desire to please and serve Him, results in blessings here and rewards hereafter.  Empty worship and service – that in which our hearts are not involved – are drudgery to Him and He says, “I’m sick of it…STOP!

When creation gathers to watch you and me stand before our Judge, what will the heavens and earth learn about our hearts?  Will it be said of you: “good and faithful servant? Or will they learn that you were one who never had your heart in it? 

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Surprising Source of Happiness

Psalm 41:1-3

Happy people always stand out in a crowd.  Why is this true?  Because there are so few of them!

Very few people genuinely are happy.  Even among Christians it’s hard to find those who are happy; those with big grins, easy laughs, sparkling eyes and truly jovial hearts.  Maybe the reason so few are happy is because so few do what the Bible says to receive happiness.  One example is found in this passage:

Happy is one who cares for the poor…” (Psalm 41:1a)

Caring for the poor?  What does that have to do with happiness?  Well, perhaps nothing, from our human perspective.  But God promises happiness to those who do care for the poor.  In fact, He promises six reasons they will be happy.

The one who cares for the poor will be…

1. Safe – “the Lord will save him in a day of adversity” (vs. 1b).

Each of us, at some time in our lives, will have “a day of adversity.”  For some of us, it seems such days come around fairly often!  Wouldn’t it be nice, and wouldn’t it be a source of great peace, to know that when adversity comes God Himself will save us?

This is exactly what God promises…to those who “care for the poor.”  This is how God often works: we serve others - with no thought for ourselves - and He takes care of us.  We focus on the needs of the poor and He provides for our needs, particularly on our “day of adversity.”  This should make us happy!

The one who cares for the poor will be…

2. Secure – “The Lord will keep him and preserve him” (vs. 2a).

God’s keeping means He will see that we stay the course and are delivered to Heaven as promised.  He also will preserve us; He will protect His followers each day of this life.  He promises to keep and protect ALL believers who are doing one thing: “caring for the poor.”

The one who cares for the poor will be…

3. Successful – “he will be blessed in the land” (vs. 2b).

Being successful in your vocational endeavors – being successful in your life – is tied to your efforts on behalf of the poor!  God's promise is to bless you, as you bless others; particularly, the poor.  You never realized the poor would be so important to you, did you?

The one who cares for the poor will be…

4. Strong – “You will not give him over to the desire of his enemies” (vs. 2c).

One translation says we will be able to stand against our enemies.  Either wording means the same thing: God promises strength in the face of confrontation.  Attempt anything for the Kingdom of God, try to live the Christian life faithfully and obediently, and you will encounter enemies.  Sometimes they appear at work; in our circle of acquaintances; and even in your family!  Where you encounter them may surprise you, but that’s not the important issue.  What is most important is this: wherever they confront you, God promises you the strength to overcome; if you are caring for the poor.

The one who cares for the poor will be…

5. Sustained – “The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed” (vs. 3a).

When you are sick and suffering; when the battle for the Kingdom overwhelms you to the point of illness, maybe even death…at that very moment God will intercede.  And what He brings is endurance for the moment. 

Sometimes (maybe even often) the enemy appears to be winning.  We can get discouraged, down and disappointed.  Some have even gotten sick.  Isn’t it good to know when this happens, God will be there to sustain us?  The enemy will not win; we will not be beat.

And finally, the one who cares for the poor will be…

6. Saved – “You will heal him on the bed where he lies” (vs. 3b).

Not only will God sustain you through the battle, He will heal you from all wounds!  This is His promise; so why not fight?  Why not join in the battle for the Lord’s Kingdom?  He promises to take you through successfully, deliver you to the prize, and make you whole after the struggle!

All you have to do – to receive all these promises and thus be happy – is to care for the poor.

Did you ever realize the poor were going to be such an important part of your happiness?  If you care for them, then God will do so much more for you.  Why is this true?

Simply this: when we care for the poor, we are demonstrating the love and compassion of God to the lost, hurting and dying world around us!  God desires for all people to know Him.  We help them learn something of God when we, as Christians, care for those who need help most.

Sort of changes the way you view poor people, doesn’t it?  Not as nuisances; but as channels for blessings and genuine happiness to enter your life.  So now go, and...

...care for the poor!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

An Oracle of the Wicked

Psalm 36:1-4

How is it possible that some people are so bad?  Some humans are absolutely wicked, and do such horribly bad things.  How does this happen?  Even more frightening, have you noticed that even regular people do bad from time to time?  Why do you think this happens?

The psalmist must have seen the same thing.  He must have seen bad people doing bad things and wondered how such was possible.  And as he was contemplating this part of human life, God answered his question by giving the psalmist an oracle – a vision that helped him understand.

1 An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no dread of God before his eyes, 2 for in his own eyes he flatters himself [too much] to discover and hate his sin. 3 The words of his mouth are malicious and deceptive; he has stopped acting wisely and doing good. 4 Even on his bed he makes malicious plans.  He sets himself on a path that is not good and does not reject evil. (Psalm 36:1-4)

How can some be so wicked?  Simple: they have “no dread of God.”

The Bible instructs us over and over to fear God.  Used this way, fear means to have a healthy respect for God; to be in awe of Him; in reverence before Him.  One clear example is found in Deuteronomy 6:13a: “Fear the Lord your God, worship Him…”

Having an appropriate, healthy fear of God provides benefits for us.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7a).  And, “His delight will be in the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:3a).  Knowledge, delight…both of these and so much more are available to those who fear God as the Bible commands.

The wicked though, do not fear the Lord.  This lack of a “dread of God” is replaced by something sinister: pride.  The psalmist said it this way: “for in his own eyes he flatters himself…” (vs. 2a).  The wicked flatters himself so that he is unable to “discover” his own sin and evil ways.  He cannot search out, recognize and acknowledge his sin for he thinks too highly of himself to admit the possibility of sin being present in the first place.

Not being able to discover his sin, the wicked then does not “hate” his sin.  He thinks he has no sin present to hate.  Hating sin is an important second step.

The Bible is clear that God hates sin – all sin.  As His children we are to hate what He hates, so we are to hate sin.  When you don’t hate sin, four terrible results usually occur in one’s life.

1. You lie: “The words of his mouth are malicious and deceptive” (v. 3a).  Without a healthy fear of God, and with the presence of pride, it is astounding how quickly a person slips into deception.  And not just little lies we produce, but malicious ones – that means harmful lies.

2. You act foolish: “…he has stopped acting wisely” (vs. 3b).  The opposite of acting wisely is, of course, acting foolishly.  To be wise, live wise and act wise, you must be willing to acknowledge, find and root-out all sin present in you.  To not do so, is to begin down the path of foolishness.

3. You are mean: “Even on his bed he makes malicious plans” (vs. 4a).  Your thoughts as you recline through the night – a time supposedly of peace and rest – concern how you can cheat, steal, best, destroy, or somehow harm an enemy, competitor, co-worker or even a friend.  Notice, these are not just plans for your own good, but plans intended to harm someone else.  That’s just mean.

4. You become self-destructive: “He sets himself on a path that is not good and does not reject evil” (vs. 4b).  Perhaps it started unintentionally, your journey into sin.  But now, you set yourself on this path; you purposefully walk this route, knowing what you are doing.  You even get to the point where you no longer reject evil, in yourself nor in others.  The Bible speaks about people who went down this path: sinning more and more, and encouraging others to join them.

A life of lies and foolishness, meanness and self-destructive behavior…sound like something you would enjoy?  For most of us, probably not the life we would choose.  And yet, if we do not have and exercise a healthy fear of the Lord, this is the life we will have.

We all start out the same.  What makes some become so wicked?  There is no dread of God before [their] eyes.”

How about you?  Do you have a healthy respect for God?  If so, you will be faithful and obedient to all He calls you to do.  You will search out and destroy sin in your life.  You will worship Him in reverence and awe. 

I Have Treasured Your Word

Psalm 119:11,25-32

To treasure something is to place a high value upon it; to enjoy it; to spend time with it or thinking about it.  Our treasures have importance in our lives.  What do you treasure?  Do you treasure God’s Word?  Does the Bible have importance in your life; is it something you enjoy spending time with and thinking about?

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and it is all about the wonders and benefits of God’s Word.  One verse though seems to summarize the writer’s feelings about God’s Word and why he feels as he does:

I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11)

The psalm writer treasures the Bible.  It is of great importance to him.  As you read the psalm, you discover that he spends time in the Word multiple times each day; that he meditates upon it, thinks about what he has read and lives his life based upon what God had instructed in His Word.  This psalm writer is the epitome of one who treasures God’s Word.

But, why?  Why does he do so?

The answer to this question he gives in the same verse: “so that I may not sin against You.”  God’s Word is the key to experiencing the fullness of what Christ offers…the abundance that is the Christian life.  Therefore, all believers should treasure the Bible.

Here are five specific reasons why all believers should treasure the Bible…5 things God’s Word gives me:

1. Life

My life is down in the dust; give me life through Your word.” (vs. 25)

Life itself is received from the Word of God – the Living and written Word.  Still being under the penalty of sin, a person’s life is “in the dust,” as if they already were dead and decayed.  God’s Word changes this.  From Scripture we learn the path to real and lasting Life.

2. Understanding

Help me understand the meaning of Your precepts so that I can meditate on Your wonders…I pursue the way of Your commands, for You broaden my understanding.” (vs. 27,32)

Understanding (which is knowledge perceived and applied) comes and is broadened by spending time treasuring God’s Word.  As a pastor, many times I have heard someone say: “I just want to understand!  My response is to ask a question: “Do you really…do you really want to understand; and are you willing to do what is required to understand?

Almost always their answer is, “Yes!  So I direct them to these verses and ask them to simply spend time in the Bible.  Understanding comes and is broadened as we treasure God’s Word.

3. Strength

I am weary from grief; strengthen me through Your word.” (vs. 28)

God’s Word provides strength to those who treasure it.  Through tough times, confusing times, even times when we are “weary from grief,” we can be strengthened.  You and I can receive an infusion of incredible strength – if we are spending time with the Bible.

Psalm 23 (perhaps the best known psalm; often heard at funerals) says this: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff – they comfort me” (vs. 4).  What exactly is God’s “rod and staff?”  What does He use to guide us, nudge us, rescue us when we need it, and to give us strength?  The answer is: His Word.

4. Clarity/Discernment

Keep me from the way of deceit, and graciously give me Your instruction.  I have chosen the way of truth; I have set Your ordinances [before me].” (vs. 29-30)

By treasuring God’s Word we can better see and recognize deceit.  The lies and traps others might set are effective against those without clear vision.  But for the one who treasures Scripture, they are clearly seen because the Bible gives us clarity.

Likewise, treasuring God’s Word gives us the ability to discern untruth, whereever we might find it.  We can better detect untruth because we are becoming so familiar with the Truth!

Do you want to fall into the traps of deceit and untruths?  I presume not.  Therefore, to have clarity and discernment, treasure God’s Word.

5. Security

I cling to Your decrees; Lord, do not put me to shame.” (vs. 31)

By treasuring the Bible – clinging to His decrees – I have confidence that I will not be ashamed in the end.  I will not be among those cast out of His presence for eternity.  I will be secure!

Every Christian has this confidence – as did the psalm writer – not because of any goodness or wisdom in us, but because of God’s promises.  How do we learn about those promises and come to know with confidence that we will not be shamed at the final judgment?  By now, the answer should be obvious: by treasuring God’s Word.

I love God’s Word and I desire to treasure it more and more.  As time goes by this becomes ever truer, for many reasons.  But certainly among those reasons, perhaps at the top of the list, are these five we have listed: life, understanding, strength, clarity/discernment and security.  All of these are found in one place…in one source: God’s Word!

Love it.  Treasure it.  Hide it in your heart…and be blessed!

Monday, July 18, 2011

A Wind that Passes

Psalm 78:39b

Often we think too highly of ourselves.  Pride creeps into our countenance, or flippantly gallops through our being.  The result is the same: we think too highly of ourselves.

Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of how God sees us.  After all, His view is the only one that really matters.  And how He sees you and me is recorded by the psalmist:

“…a wind that passes and does not return…” (Psalm 78:39b)

Contemplate this and you will be humbled.  Quickly you see there is no place for pride in one’s thoughts, attitudes or actions.  No matter the position I hold nor the number of years I live, I have all the substance and staying-power of…wind!  And not even a powerful, gale-like, constant wind.  But rather, a wind that passes quickly and is never felt again.  The same is true of you; of all individuals.  Truly, there is no place for pride in any of us.

This passage really impacted me recently…to the point I could not stop thinking about it.  I was profoundly struck by the brevity of life, the nothingness of life.  What do I have that is of any real importance?  What do I do that really matters?  Like the wind, I may blow for a moment but then I am gone and will never return.

The longer I contemplated this passage, the more my depression gave way to inquiry.  I don’t think God included this thought in Scripture just to knock us down; but rather, to challenge us. 

Two things, it seems to me, become increasingly important as one contemplates how like the wind we are.  First, we must serve faithfully.  With whatever number of days we have, we must use them – each and every one – faithfully serving God, being obedient to His plan and desire for our lives.  Obedience and faithfulness are commanded of Christians, and rewards for such are promised.  What else is there of importance, other than to serve faithfully He who saves you, loves you, and guarantees your eventual entrance into Heaven?

Second thing we must do is finish well.  As does the wind, one day I will pass away and be no more.  Nothing I can do about that.  But until then, there is a lot I can do.  I can run the race to win!  I can strive each day to accomplish something of value for the Kingdom.  I can fight the enemy and encourage the family.  And I can keep doing so until the day of my departure.

Dear friend, I will not be here long.  But for as long as I am here, let me serve faithfully each day He who loves me so.  Let me impact a life, build the Kingdom and touch eternity…and let me do so until the day I leave.

I may blow only for a moment; then disappear.  But I am resolved to blow faithfully and to blow well…for as long as I have breath.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Victory Promised

Psalm 60:6-8

In this passage, David rejoices in the military/political victory God has given.  The amazing aspect is this…war was still raging.  The battle was ongoing.  The outcome was still unsettled, from a human perspective.  So why does David rejoice?

David had heard from God; and what God gave was His word.  God made a promise to David.  He promised “by His holy nature” – this is what’s meant by “God has spoken in His sanctuary” (vs. 6).  God made a promise based on His character/nature.  There was no way – and David knew this – for this promise to go unfulfilled.  God had stated it…it would be.

As the battle rages around you, do you have such faith?  I think God intends for us to know Him so well, to trust Him so deeply, that we too can have such confident faith.  In fact, to not have such faith in God is to fundamentally not trust Him.  This is sin.

The promise was from God, but it was for David.  So when verses 6b-8 are in quotations, it is God speaking words that David could claim.  It’s as if God put the words in David’s mouth for him to say out loud.  Let’s see what he said.

6 “I will triumph!  I will divide up Shechem.  I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.  7 Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine, and Ephraim is My helmet; Judah is My scepter.  8 Moab is My washbasin; on Edom I throw My sandal.  Over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

David rejoices for God has promised two important things.

First, the battle in his own kingdom would be successfully completed (vs. 6b-7).  I will triumph,” David said.  Shechem he would possess, as he would the Valley of Succoth, and do as he pleased with both – dividing and apportioning them as he desired.

Shechem was a pleasant city in Mount Ephraim; in the center of the region on David’s side of the Jordan River.  This ancient city appeared in Scripture several times.  Abram camped near it (Gen. 12:6).  Jacob bought ground there (Gen. 33:18,19).  The Hivites lived there (Gen. 34:2), but were slaughtered by Simeon and Levi (Gen. 34:25-29).  Shechem became a city of refuge for the Israelites (Joshua 20:7).  Joseph was buried there (Joshua 24:32); and it was where Joshua’s farewell address occurred (Joshua 24:1,25).  In the time of the Judges, Shechem had become a center of idol worship (Judges 9:1,4-7), and was destroyed (Judges 9:23,45).

The Valley of Succoth was in the heart of the region on the other side of the Jordan River.  Jacob once resided there (Gen. 33:17); and it was the site of Israel’s first camp (Ex. 12:37).  The valley belonged to the tribe of Gad. 

Gilead and Manassah are mentioned next in God’s promise.  These two comprised an area east of the Jordan River; a tableland between the Arnon and Jabbok rivers assigned to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh.  Of many things that happened in the area, some of the more notable include David taking refuge there (2 Samuel 17:26,27), and it being the birthplace of Elijah (1 Kings 17:1).
Shechem and the Valley of Succoth, along with Gilead and Manasseh, meant that conquest and  victory on both sides of the Jordan were being promised to David.  His kingdom would possess all these lands, and he would be able to do with them as he desired.

As his kingdom expanded and become victorious, David was promised military and political strength.  Ephraim is My helmet” meant these people would furnish him with soldiers for his lifeguards and his standing forces.  Ephraim was the most numerous and powerful of all the tribes.  Judah is My scepter” shows that Judah would furnish David with able judges for his courts of justice.

With the kingdom’s success and stability inwardly promised, God gives His second promise: the battle against enemies outside the kingdom also would be victorious.

Moab would become David’s washbasin…they would be enslaved and given the lowest drudgery.  In ancient Persia, a royal attendant carried the washbasin for the king both when in battle and when on a journey.  Moab, God promises, will not only carry David’s washbasin, but serve as the washbasin attendant – signifying total subjection of the Moabites to David’s kingdom.  The fulfillment of God’s promise is recorded in 2 Samuel 8:2.

Next God deals with Edom: “on Edom I throw My sandal.”  The Edomites were crafty and malicious; but David would utterly defeat them.  In ancient times, this act of throwing one’s sandal on or over something or someone was a sign of subjugating them.  Abyssinian kings cast a shoe on something as a sign of forcible possession.  Thus, David would do to Edom, God promised.

And finally, God promised victory over the Philistines.  The people of Goliath, they were a constant irritant to the Israelites for most of their history.  David bested them many times (2 Samuel 5:17-25).  But they were not ultimately defeated until their destruction by Pharaoh (Jeremiah 47:1-7).

David was in a battle…war was raging.  In the midst of these circumstances God made a promise, and David believed Him.  Remember the first words in this section:

I will triumph!

Such faith and confidence in God always results in His miraculous activity on your behalf.  Don’t fear the enemy.  Don’t run from the battle.  If you are serving the Lord as He has directed, then know this one thing for sure: “The battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47)…there is no way you can lose!


Interesting Note:

This passage from Psalm 60:6-8 is repeated verbatim in Psalm 108:7-9.  The first six verses of Psalm 108 are quoted from Psalm 57:7-11.  Psalm 108 has the heading, A Davidic psalm; but only because it is compiled out of two earlier psalms he did pen.  It is very unlikely he took pieces of earlier psalms and wed them together.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Good Affliction

Psalm 119:67,71

afflicted - distressed so severely as to cause persistent suffering or anguish.

Nobody likes to be afflicted.  It is not pleasant, fun or enjoyable…there is nothing about affliction that would make one say, “Oh boy, I hope to be afflicted today!  No sane person desires to be “distressed…severely,” to experience “persistent suffering or anguish.”  It is something we avoid at all costs, if at all possible.

But that’s the point.  Affliction cannot always be avoided.  Sometimes it’s necessary.  And sometimes, it is a tool God uses for our good.  Read these verses from Psalm 119:

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.
71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn Your statutes.

Psalm 119 expresses the psalmist’s delight in God’s Word…it is a psalm of praise and adoration for the Bible.  But in this section of the psalm, the subject turns to affliction.

The writer admits he experienced a wilder time in his life.  At some point he “went astray.”  Many probably have done similar.  Thank God that He doesn’t quit, or turn His back on us, when we do!  Instead, He loves us through it…sometimes using affliction.

Obviously, the affliction the psalmist endured brought good into the his life.  Affliction turned him around…brought him back to God’s Word.  So the end result of the severe distress that caused “persistent suffering or anguish,” was, in his own words: “good for me.”

How could affliction possibly be good?

For the psalmist, it caused him to pause on the path he was traveling.  If affliction stops us in our tracks; if it turns us back to God; if it encourages us to pick up His Word, to read it and apply it in our life…then affliction indeed has done a good and powerful work.

Are you experiencing affliction?

Look at your life carefully.  Might there be something amiss; might God be using this experience to draw you back to Him?  If there is something wrong, repent.  Pick up His Word again.  Read it; study it; let it speak to you.  Pray.  Spend time with the Lord.

May your testimony in the future be, as it was for the psalmist: “I went astray…but God allowed affliction to get my attention.  Because of that severely distressing time I no longer go astray, and I know and follow the Bible better than ever before.  So yes, for me affliction was good!

Friday, July 8, 2011

8 Things God Does

Psalm 146:6-10

The first part of this psalm tells us how to be happy – that true and lasting happiness comes to those who trust in, and walk with, God.  But how?  What does God do to really help me be happy (or blessed; for often in Psalms happy and blessed are synonymous).

In verses 6-10, the psalmist lists 8 things God does or provides for those who trust Him.  This is not an exhaustive list, obviously; but does give some good reasons for trusting God and finding our happiness in Him.

1.    God executes justice for the righteous (vs. 7a).  He makes sure that in the end all debts are paid; all rewards are distributed.  God will make all things right… sometimes in this life, but certainly in the final judgment.  The last phrase of verse 9 tells what God does for the unrighteous: “He frustrates the ways of the wicked.”  Walk with Him and receive justice.  Walk in wickedness and receive frustration!

2.    God gives food to the hungry (vs. 7b).  Jesus told the disciples that God fed the birds of the fields and that He knows our daily needs as well; so we should not worry.  Trust God, walk with Him, and be fed – abundantly, with overflowing proportions.

3.    God frees the prisoners (vs. 7c).  I’ve never even been in jail!” you might be thinking.  You are still a prisoner – either a prisoner to sin, which leads to death; or of righteousness, which leads to eternal life.  Again, walk with God and you receive blessings and happiness.  Decide to walk without Him and you will remain in jail!

4.    God opens the eyes of the blind (vs. 8a).  Spiritually speaking, God gives us the ability to see and understand His truths.  Walk with Him, trust Him, place your hope in Him and your knowledge of God and His ways, expectations, benefits, etc., will deepen.  As it does, your walk becomes more of a blessing – providing even more happiness.

5.    God raises up the oppressed (vs. 8b).  Sin, frustration, sometimes just life…all have a way of causing us to live oppressed.  We stumble under the weight of guilt, remorse, failures and shortcomings.  What can we do about it?  Nothing.  What can God do about it?  Take it away!  With those weights gone, we can rise up.  Jesus is the One – the only One – who can take away those burdens.

6.    God loves the righteous (vs. 8c).  God is love.  His love is available to all who seek it.  And having His love – His true, pure, everlasting love – is certainly a blessing we are unworthy of; yet one He wants to bestow.  Perhaps the Bible’s most famous verse, John 3:16 tells us: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believed in Him would not perish, but have eternal life.  God’s love, freely given…that really should make us happy!

7.    God protects foreigners (vs. 9a).  Foreigners, in this verse, means those the in-crowd may consider outcasts.  Remember high school?  Were you part of the in’s or the out’s?  If you were an in, do you remember how your group felt about the out’s and how they were treated – ridiculed, or at best just ignored?  If you were an out you probably don’t think about high school very often – not a pleasant memory.  Now that you are an adult, are you an out?  Do you know who cares for you – really cares?  God.  He is on your side, if you walk with Him.  Talk about the ultimate in crowd!

8.    God helps the fatherless and the widows (vs. 9b).  The fatherless and the widows were the down-and-outs; the lower, unprotected class, with no rights or representation in society.  Well, except that God decided He would be their champion – He would take up their cause!  And He offers you and me the same provision.  Why walk alone.

Live for God.  Walk with Him in faith and obedience.  Experience these eight benefits, and so many more, that He offers us each day.

And experience happiness…real, true and lasting happiness.