A Contemporary Lament

Psalm 55:10 (NLT) Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city.

We are in a time of great turmoil. One of the big questions of course is are things really worse or are we just better informed?  Are the ubiquitous cell phones and their cameras with access to the Internet simply reporting the way things have always been or is evil on the rampage?

I have a tendency to believe that it’s both.  That’s why this verse is so important for us to remember to take to heart.

Evil was on the rise.  Of course evil is always on the rise, or is trying to be on the rise.  In the word picture we have here there were forces theoretically trying to keep people at bay.  In reality, the real danger we face is within our culture, our cities, and ultimately within our own hearts.

So?  Voting is important.  Participation in our society is important.  Having said that we need to be always concerned about what’s going on within us.  Our society cannot fail, unless we surrender to evil.  That surrender starts in a rebellious heart.

World-Wide Gospel

Psalm 22:27 (BES) (21:28) All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before him.

(Proverbs 22 also read)

Here we have a reminder that the God of the Old Testament is not just the God of Israel.  Even here, in a Psalm of David, we have the reminder that the entire world will come to Him.  Notice that the name Lord is the Hebrew name Yahweh.  This is the God who is.

Israel was preparing the ground for the coming of the Messiah.  They were to be a blessing to the entire world through Jesus.

So?  Rejoice.  Not because you are a member of an excluding club but because you are part of a world wide movement of salvation.  

Put It in Your File

(Psa 130:1 KJV)  A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

(Proverbs 23 also read)

Not today, thankfully.  This morning I have had a great time with the Lord.  He has reminded me of His glory and how beyond comprehension He is.  At the same time He has given me glimpses of what I can’t understand.  It was glorious.

So?  Take this verse and store it away for the day when it is an echo of your soul.  We all have them.  It might help us to remember that even Bible writers have those moments.  Let that build your trust and your awareness that God will answer the cry.  

Stay Attached

(Pro 10:25 KJV)  As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

The Living Bible infers that this “whirlwind” touches both the “wicked” and the “righteous”.  That would conform to the observations of life.  It is the source of the book “Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People.”  God seems to allow His chosen ones to go through hard times.

But the results are different.

If you watch your trees during the high winds of spring you will notice two responses of the leaves.  At least I see this in the oaks in my yard.  The dead leaves are shaken loose and blown across the landscape to rot and become fertilizer.  The leaves that are still alive and well attached shake a bit but remain to provide life giving photosynthesis.  

So?  This is the picture given to us of our place in creation.  Hard times will come.  Israel was warned about the desolation coming.  In the midst of those predictions there was usually a word of hope for the faithful.  Be one of the faithful.  

Hope Day

(1Pe 3:15 KJV)  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

(Proverbs 3 also read)

This verse came to mind in the early hours focusing on the word “hope” (1680).  I think I was pondering the condition of the world and discussions I had listened to.  One question that came up in regard to the condition of society was, “Is there any hope?”  My instant response was, “Yes.”  Their instant response was, “No.”  

You may not have noticed but those are two different answers.  They would not understand that the different answers are based on a different reference point for our hope.  The talking heads were reflecting on the ability of us as individuals to bring about change in the system.  It was based on a knowledge of human nature and a lack of moral fiber.

We acknowledge those points but come from a different reference point.  Our hope is not based on a dependence on society and politicians but on our hearts and our God.  We can look at history, see the suffering and chaos and still realize that God has preserved His people.

So?  We have a hope.  By that we don’t mean a desire but an assurance.  We need to be ready to share that.  If we exhibit our hope people will wonder and if we have been a faithful witness they will want to know if we are crazy or know something they don’t.  

Depressing Reality

(Psa 81:12 KJV)  So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

(Proverbs 5 also read)

What a depressing verse.  After again going through all the times that God had demonstrated His love for them He again returns to the fact that they are not responding.  He finally gives up on them.  The depressing part is that God can give up on us.  

But don’t stop there.  Historically He gave up on this group but there are also the places where we are reminded that in the larger group there are always a few who make us the true Israel, the faithful remnant, in today’s terms the Body of Christ.  While God may write Icabod over the door of your church He never departs from those who are listening to His voice.

So?  Rejoice for His personal touch.  Mourn for those who have chosen to go their own way. 

Celebrate the Day

1 Corinthians 15:13-14 (KJV) 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

(Proverbs 31 also read)

The formal date for Easter is past.  The celebration is an annual celebration of the resurrection.  I am not sure the early church focused on that yearly date.  I think they actually remembered the resurrection every Sunday.  I believe that every Sunday was Easter in the early church.  To my thinking that is why the church began to worship on Sunday rather than the Saturday Sabbath.  As the church became more Gentile it was a natural transition.

So as I enjoyed the sunrise on this Sunday my mind went to the resurrection.  It is possibly the most important understanding that we have.

So?  Rejoice in Him.  Start with His death on the cross but don’t stop there.  Go on to the next step where Jesus conquered death.  He is still risen.  

Unexpected Hope

Psalm 22:15 (KJV) My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

(Proverbs 23 also read)

When you read this verse, make sure you see that it is consistent with its context.  This Psalm tells us that David wrote it.  This is David’s testimony.  Most of this chapter has the same sense that this verse does.  David is not a happy camper.

What is startling to me is that this is the person talked about,

Acts 13:22 (KJV) And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

I guess what stands out to me is that David, one of God‘s special chosen people, anointed king, writer of scripture, ancestor of the Lord, could know this kind of desperation.

So?  If you’re having a bad day, just keep believing.  Remember David himself had these kinds of days and if you want to look for it, you can probably find Jesus struggling at times also. 

Insomnia

Psalm 132:4-5 (KJV) 4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, 5 Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.

(Proverbs 15 also read)

I must say David went a long time without sleeping if we take this literally.  People who do take this literally assume that David is talking about the building of the temple.  David himself may have been speaking of the temple, but was using hyperbole.  I would say that David himself knew that he was speaking figuratively and not literally .

Later, God will tell David that he is not going to be able to build the temple because he has shed blood.  He’s assured that his son will do so.  That’s enough for him to know that the job is going to be done.  At that time he probably forgot writing this psalm.

Of course, with the full scripture in front of us and contemplating everything it says about the temple, we began to realize that the church and believers will become the temple of God.  We read Revelation and see that there will be no temple in the New Jerusalem because God will be the temple there.

So?  Look for the promises and the joy in verses that use hyperbole and other forms of figurative language.  God is even more creative than we are.  I assume that extends to His ability to write

A Psalm for Today

Psalm 43:1 (NASB95) Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!

(Proverbs 13 also read)

As I read this first verse today, I thought, “This is me. This is now.”  Have you ever felt that way?  If you look at things statistically in any culture, any time in history, anywhere in the world the number of godly people has always been a minority.  So in a sense, it’s always appropriate to feel like the world is against you.  It is.  It is against you because you are a follower of Jesus Christ, attempting to live a righteous and upright life.

That is the situation.  But we are also given the word of hope.  If you continue reading you find that David understands which side of the bread his butter is on.

Psalm 43:3 (NASB95) O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your dwelling places.

We don’t base our confidence in the future on the statistics of people who are following the Lord.  Read the history of Israel.  There might’ve been a few times right after a big miracle when Moses or Gideon or David had a majority of the people willing to follow God, but it didn’t last long.

So?  Be grateful that God is patient. That He is your God and that you are His child.  Watch for His light and truth and let those lead you and not the latest Gallup poll.  

In Plain Sight

Proverbs 1:20 (KJV) Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

One of the things that Christians tend to forget because we are so aware of His existence is the presence of wisdom and truth that is readily available.  God does not hide in a corner and cover up what is right and ignore what is wrong.  He has been, and still is, very vocal.  You can’t even go to a cheap hotel without finding His word in the drawer. Thank you, Gideons.  Every radio in every car across the nation as they scan the dial will come across at least one station with someone preaching.

God is crying out.  The pagan world has plenty of opportunity to hear.  If you look through the rest of this chapter you’ll find that there is a deliberate rejection of the things of God.  God notices.  God is not amused.  There will be a literal hell to pay.

What we need to do is keep paying attention, listening, thinking and pray.  We need to be able to stand up and declare wisdom.  Part of the way in which God cries out is through us.

So?  What a time for hope.  You have Bible software free over the Internet that you can put on your phone and your computer.  It is available to anyone and can be accessed almost anywhere.  We have the written word.  We have the Holy Spirit.  Rejoice.  

Heads Up

Proverbs 23:18 (KJV) For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

I first read this today in the NASB.  It said that there would surely be a “future".  When I looked at it a little deeper, it seemed that the word used meant latter days.  OK.  You can go with that.  And it’s still a two edge sword.

The literal concept is that eternity is taken care of.  As a follower of Jesus Christ, I know Whom I have believed in.  I know He is able.  I’m also aware that Proverbs was not specifically talking about Jesus, so relax.

Also involved in that is the fact that I can expect tomorrow to be immersed in the broth of hope.  There is a future.  I don’t know what that future is.  As I look at what’s happening politically I wonder how it will work out.  I wonder if I will be one of those who will go through persecution or will I be spared?  But either way I know that there is a future.

So?  Lift up your head look to the future know that it is in God’s hands.  Live in hope.  

Say Cheese

Proverbs 31:25 (KJV) Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

When you hear the news does it drive you to despair?  When you think of your children or grandchildren and what’s ahead of them, do you spend a lot of time in worry?  Will you have enough for retirement?  Will the tires last another six months?  Life is so full of things to worry about.

I sympathize.  I do my share of worrying.  I tell myself I shouldn’t, but I do it anyway.  What alleviates the concern ,though, is my trust in Almighty God.  I love the term Providence. It reminds me that God is in charge and it helps me to look back and focus on all the blessings that encompass my life.

So?  With that in mind, I can look to the future and I can rejoice.  Trust God.  Live with enthusiasm.  Rejoice.  

Basics

Proverbs 24:14 (KJV) So [shall] the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off. 

You can’t read far in Proverbs without coming across a mention of wisdom.  It is a goal.  It is a method.  It is a personality trait.  It is a necessity.  I was interested today with this final phrase where it talks about being cut off if we don’t have wisdom. 

That could mean different things.  It could have to do with eternal life.  It could mean just that you are looking forward as you go down the road of life.  That’s the part I want to think about today. 

The word “expectation” in King James is usually translated hope not only in this translation but in others.  We have certain ideas about the future that we want to achieve.  We call them hopes.  You might call them plans or expectations.  If you read down through this chapter or really any chapter in Proverbs, you’ll find many suggestions on how you should be living your life that are based in wisdom.  It talks about priorities.  It talks about attitudes.  All of these are involved in achieving the hopes we have in life. 

So?  Knowledge is attainable.  Wisdom is attainable.  They are avenues of achieving the hopes that we have in this life, and of course, eternity.  

Clues of Eternity

Proverbs 14:32 (KJV) The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

There are some scholars who like to claim that the Old Testament has no belief in the afterlife.  That’s obviously an opinion.  Even in the days of Jesus you have the Sadducees and Pharisees.  One believed in the afterlife, one didn’t.  So the discussion went on even then.

If you do not believe in an afterlife, if the Bible does not teach an afterlife, then what is this?  “Hope” is talked about here.  There is a hope in the face of death.  The word is usually translated “trust”.  The point for us is even when we face death we can trust.

I don’t know if your church has a time were you share prayer requests but one of the things that keeps coming up in our church are people who are facing medical issues moving towards death.  It is reality.  As human beings death is one of those things along with taxes that we can count on, assuming Jesus doesn’t return first.

So?  Live in hope.  Live in trust.  God will be there on the other side for us.

Me Too

Psalms 100:1 (KJV) [[A Psalm of praise.]] Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

(Proverbs 13 also read)

One of the principles of understanding scripture is to first ask yourself who is speaking, and then to whom that person is speaking.  This verse does not tell us who wrote it.  It doesn’t tell us it was David so we can’t assume that, but it is some person inspired by the Holy Spirit conveying what God wanted them to say.

To whom is he speaking?  Since this was written in ancient Israel, he was at the time, addressing Israel itself.  However, we have a qualifying word here, which means that it is to be applied beyond just Israel .  Notice the word in the KJV “lands”, and in the NASB “earth”.  Some people would like to say that applies just to Israel but that is really stretching your imagination.  I’m sure at times when the ego is involved, Israel would like to think they are the whole earth but that doesn’t quite work.

This is the same word that is used in Genesis 1:1 where it says that God created the heavens and the earth.  That doesn’t mean He just created Israel.  It means the entire globe.

So?  God reached out to mankind through the genealogy that you find in Matthew and Luke.  That focuses on the coming of the Messiah, the death on the cross, the resurrection from the grave, the ascension.  But think about it as a big X where everything comes down to the crossing point, and then widens out to infinity.  This is written to you.  Make a joyful noise. 

Of Little Concern

Matthew 6:33 (KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

(Proverbs 17 also read)

As I worship God in the dark of the morning on my front porch I have visions of what some people think of as worship.  I think of people crawling on their bellies.  I think of people taking whips and flagellating themselves.  I think of people crying out in terror.  I wonder what God they are worshiping.

I think all of those things that people are trying to achieve by that type of worship were taken care of by Jesus on the cross.  Not only did He pay for my sins, but He suffered all of the things that I should have suffered.  He became the curse.  He became sin on my behalf.  Because of Him I can approach the throne boldly.  Because I know Him and see Him revealed in scripture I know God the Father.  What would be a terrifying experience becomes a great joy.

And so I seek first His kingdom.  I seek His righteousness.  And I’m not sure about all the things that are going to be added onto me.  What else could I ask?  As far as salvation goes, Jesus supplies the answers.  As far as the temporal world goes, what more could I ask?

So?  It’s a great promise.  I’m glad that we can expect all these things to be added, but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and don’t worry about what comes next. 

Overflow

(Psa 23:5 KJV)  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

(Proverbs 23 also read)

I finally broke down and went to get a haircut.  I hate haircuts.  It goes back to my childhood, but we won’t go into that now.  As the barber and I talked, we got off onto the state of the union.  My barber was really not too optimistic about where things were going in the country.  She felt like everything was going to come apart and us common folk are going to pretty much get ground up in the results.

I was a bit more optimistic.  I’m not a dreamer when it comes to political issues, but at the same time I have a certain confidence in the American people and even more in Almighty God.  The question always is,  “Are there enough loyal Americans to make a difference and will they stand up when the time comes?”  Of course, we don’t know what standing up means yet.  She accused me of being “positive” and “optimistic.”  I don’t get accused of that very often.  But this led me to a chance to share why I felt optimistic.  The optimism was not based on our political leaders or our political choices.  My optimism is based on the fact that God is on the throne, and that He will take care of His own.

I believe I live at a time when my cup definitely runs over with blessings.  I attribute that to God preparing the table for me.  And I extend that to His table preparation when I’m sitting surrounded by my enemies.

So?  That translates into optimism.  Not optimism for the country, necessarily, but optimism for believers.  We have this win-win situation.  If things go into the handbasket, then we know that God is carrying the basket.  If things work out with more blessings, we know God is in charge of that to make your cup run over.  Not only in blessings but in trust. 

Keep Reading

(Psa 15:1-2 KJV)  A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

(Proverbs 15 also read)

In mid-week Bible study we were discussing the favorite topics of grace, faith, salvation and so forth.  What generally happens in these situations is that you get the eternal security people who believe that no matter what you do, you cannot lose your salvation, and they start talking about grace alone, faith alone, and so forth.

Part of this thinking is how none of us can ever live righteously.  We are doomed to be sinners.  And they talk about how we are all sinners.  OK.  There is some truth to that because the Bible tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but it doesn’t stop there.

If you have been reading Psalm 14 and are feeling down in the dumps about the potential in your life to live above sin then what you need to do is keep reading because chapter 15 tells a different story.  It talks about how we can walk uprightly and work righteousness.

So?  Keep reading.  Put it all together.  The message of the Bible is one of hope not of desperation.

Fools hope

Proverbs 8:5 (KJV) O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

As I read this chapter, I noticed that it seem to offer a bit of hope for people that are branded as fools.  Many places in Proverbs it seems to imply that fools cannot learn.  This seems to imply that it is more a case of will not learn, rather than cannot learn.  That means that there is a bit of hope for people classified as fools.

I don’t know that I think of myself as a fool.  I would almost assume that you usually don’t consider yourself a fool.  If there is hope for a fool, then there’s hope for us.

So?  Never give in to despair or frustration.  If the problem is lack of understanding, or inability, to understand, God can reach you.  Usually it’s just a momentary lapse or lack of maturity.  The Holy Spirit continues to work on us.