Daily Sightings

Proverbs 4:27 (KJV) Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

As we celebrate the 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed it does us good to develop the habit of a captain of a sailing ship of 1776.  They would take daily sightings to determine their exact location.  They would do it at high noon because the location of the sun directly overhead was important for accuracy.

We should do the same thing.  Have we as individuals drifted to the right or left?  We know the direction of the country and it is not promising.  Keep in mind that the nation is made up of individuals who either go with the flow or check their compass setting.  We cannot revive our country unless we revive ourselves.

So?  What a great time to make sure we are on target.  You can’t do it for me and I can’t do it for you but together we can do it for the nation.  

Always the Promise

Jeremiah 29:12-13 (KJV) 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

(Proverbs 28 also read)

This passage is buried in the heart of Jeremiah preaching a message of condemnation.  It is sent to the portion of Israel from the southern kingdom who ended up in captivity.  Exactly how it applies to us is debated in some theological traditions but I think the principle applies today.

God does not turn His back on His people.  For that matter, He is always willing to listen to the cry of repentance, even from the pagan.  The sad reality is that He does not hear it often enough.  The promise is that when we genuinely seek Him we will find Him.

So?  That can be either a simple reminder that encourages us or a breathtaking new idea that has the potential to transform our lives.  Apply as needed.  

Points of Peace

Psalm 122:6 (KJV) Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

(Proverbs 22 also read)

People like to quote this as a paraphrase by saying, “Pray for Israel.”  It’s a wonderful thought.  We should pray for Israel.  We should also pray for the United States.  We should pray for Europe.  There are lots of places that we should pray for.  Here specifically we are told to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  Wonderful.  Do it.

Notice also the second part of this.  There’s a promise of prosperity and God’s blessing but notice whom that promise is toward.  It is towards those that love Him.  Now when you pray for Israel, or Jerusalem, keep in mind that God is not in the business of blessing rebellious pagans.  I think it’s safe to say that the people controlling Israel are not people who love the Lord.  I’m sure there’s some there and those would be the targets of this prayer.  This is not a blanket endorsement of ever political activity that comes out of the Knesset.

So pray for Israel.  By all means call down God’s blessing.  And while you’re calling down God’s blessing, ask for His Holy Spirit to move in such a way that there is genuine revival within that nation because so much of the world focuses on Israel right now.  

Refined, Not Carved

Proverbs 25:4 (KJV) Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

The Bible has numerous spots where it talks about how we mature and grow spiritually.  One of the things that occurred to me about this recently was shown in this verse.  When God talks about molding our character or deepening our spiritual strength, He uses the illustration of smelting precious metals.  I don’t see any place where it talks about carving things or sanding things down.

In fact, when it talks about adjusting the outward looks, it usually is referring to man-made idols.  God works on the inside, which then is reflected on the outside.  The world tends to look at the outside and make it adjustments there and not worry about the core.

So?  This doesn’t mean that we don’t work on our discipline and our behavior but we need to be focused on allowing God to change our heart.  

Jailbreak

Psalms 142:7 (KJV) Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

(Proverbs 9 also read)

David has an interesting expression here, his soul is in prison.  Now I think we can assume he is still alive.  He is not traveling to Sheol.  He’s not in the grave.  He’s not locked up in some Philistine gaol.  This is a spiritual or emotional or psychological situation.  If we were just looking at the Bible and didn’t have our modern terminologies, I would simply say he’s having a bad day spiritually.

Have you ever had a bad day spiritually?  I assume that’s a rhetorical question.  Maybe you’re one of those rare individuals that never has had a down moment.  I accept that.  Most of us however, have had down days.  We should feel free to ask God to lift us out of that.

At the same time I can’t help but feel that perhaps David is getting the cart before the horse.  Or I could be just looking for some technique that brings renewal.  I will do just that.  I will suggest you take the second half of this verse and spend some time in praise about who God is and what He’s done for you.  Somehow, I think that will open up channels for His Spirit to refresh you.

So?  Don’t wallow in the pond of despair or whatever Pilgrim called It.  I enjoy the words of that chorus which went, “Reach out to Jesus, He’s reaching out to you.”  

Pre-Christmas

Luke 1:18 (KJV) And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

(Proverbs 22 also read)

When I was young we used to have a Christmas pageant every year.  There was always great anticipation of who would get to be Joseph and who would get to be Mary.  The little kids were always sheep, or lambs.  There was a time when I was glad to take the position of the prophet Isaiah reading from the scroll forecasting the coming of John the Baptist and, through his preaching, the Messiah.

I’m not sure that Christmas pageants are as common as they used to be.  I think many churches skip over them and do other things.  One of the things that’s gone, that we have lost, in this change is the prophecy dealing with Zachariah and his wife in the birth of John the Baptist.  What is the miracle that we missed by skipping over?  The miracle of Elizabeth giving birth.  While Mary gives us the miracle of the virgin birth, Elizabeth gives us the miracle of someone who is past childbearing age bringing forth a baby.  We read about it with Sarah.  Now we have the same thing happening with Elizabeth.

The Christmas story can remind us of the possible miracles that can take place when God steps in.  God’s intervention is one of the things that we constantly pray for.  We just went through an election where we were praying fervently for God’s intervention.  We think He did so.  We continue praying that God’s hand will be upon the direction of the United States of America.  I personally pray as much for the church as a whole as I do for the country because I know that there will be no real permanent changes unless we have revival.  And revival involves the church becoming the church again.

So?  Will the church stand up?  There’s no way of knowing.  We know God would like it to stand up, but we don’t know if it will.  We don’t know how pastors and layman will respond to the spirit of God during this Christmas season.  If all they do is make sure that they check their list and bought gifts for everybody on it we will fail.  If they look to God as intervening in history, we may see dramatic changes.

Merry Christmas and hopefully many happy New Year’s to come. 

Consider the Source

Psalms 3:2 (KJV) Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

(Proverbs 3 also read)

Have other people given up on you?  Sometimes it is people who care deeply and have been pushed too far.  Other times it is people looking for an excuse.  Too often we allow ourselves to be influenced by what other people say and think about us.  I wonder if we do the same things to others around us.

If you look at the next verse, it has a whole different attitude, and that is the attitude we need to have.

(Psa 3:3 KJV)  But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

Yes, God sees our sin and demands confession and repentance.  In spite of the fact that He is aware of our failures, He still waits to be a “shield” (4043) and to life us up.  

So?  He is waiting.  If you need a pick me up don’t go to the medicine cabinet, go the Almighty God.  His cure is longer lasting and has no negative side effects. 

A Cosmic Bic

(Psa 18:28 KJV)  For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

(Proverbs 5 also read)

Notice that the NASB has “lamp” (5216) and the KJV has “candle”.  The NASB is probably more accurate but the KJV is more poetic.  Candles were historically expensive.  They would have been used in the palace of King James.  They might have had some use by David, but lamps were much more inexpensive to use.  They were powered by olive oil while candles needed bee’s wax.

Today I was stirred by the picture of God lighting my candle.  If you follow on the picture becomes even more uplifting.  I don’t know about you but I often need my candle lit.  That is why I have, in my old age, developed a routine that sets aside the morning for greeting the sun and the Son.

So?  God wants to “light up your life” as the popular song goes.  He has more than romance in mind.  He wants to make you a light that is not hid under a bushel.  Because of the drafty times we live in that means constantly relighting.  Think of Him as a Cosmic Bic. 

Don’t Forget

(Psa 9:17 KJV)  The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

(Proverbs 26 also read)

The KJV has an interesting difference from the NASB.  I am not referring to the obvious different words “Sheol” (7585) (NASB) and “hell” (KJV).  The modern translation simply does a transliteration of the Hebrew.  I am looking at the different translations of the preposition.  The NASB has “to” and the KJV has “into”.  Since the prepositions seem to be included in the verb it becomes “return to” (7725) in the NASB and “turned into” in the KJV.

The point is that evil behavior has results and the results are not pretty.  For our situation it comes down to whether we as a nation “forgot” (7913) God or not.  It would seem that if we have not entered into a memory lapse we are very close.

So?  Continue to broadcast the hope that is in you.  Do it in your life style and daily decisions.  Do it in your conversations.  The Bible is full of examples of people who have experienced revival and the deliverance that comes with it. 

Cycle of Deliverance

(Psa 107:6 KJV)  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

(Proverbs 23 also read)

I didn’t notice it the first time through but this verse is repeated four times in this chapter.  I would go so far as to say it is the theme of the chapter.  I tried to place the events being described and could not but the theme is one that applies to all of Israel’s history and every day of our lives.

In the worst sense people drift into sin and rebellion and are only brought back by being backhanded by God.  That wakes them up, sometimes.  In the best sense we begin to drift on autopilot and end up hitting some kind of wall that gets us back on track.  The key is being reminded that we are dependent on God and need to keep calling out the Him.

So?  This is good thinking for today.  We feel like society is falling apart around us.  The bad news is, it is.  The good news is, people have always felt that way.  The even better news is that God continues to deliver both in our spirits and our physical world. 

Hydrate III

(Joh 4:14 KJV)  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

(Proverbs 15 also read)

We are told we need to spiritually hydrate.  We are told that God is the source of that refreshing.  Here Jesus tells us that this “water” (5204) is to be sourced from within, not without.  

Too often we rely on outside sources for renewal.  That is not bad in itself.  Corporate worship, sharing with friends, good books, going to camp or on a retreat are all potentially great experiences.  Go for it and enjoy but don’t forget that God has sent His Holy Spirit to reside in you.  You don’t need to go anywhere to find hydration.  

So?  Look within, not to find your New Age inner self, but to make contact with the living God who is eternal and today.  I think the big words are immanent and transcendent.  The little word is Emmanuel, God with us. 

Hydrate II

(Jer 2:13 KJV)  For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

(Proverbs 14 also read)

Yesterday I wrote about the way we dry out if we do not keep in touch with the Lord.  I found my mind returning to that and other scriptures came to mind.  Jeremiah is criticizing the Jewish people for the way they have tried to build a substitute for God.  The promise we are reminded of is that God is a constant source of refreshment.  He is the “living” (2416a) “water” (4325).

In addition to the fact that the “cisterns” (877) were empty, the water they had would have been dead, stagnant.  It might have kept you alive if any was left but there was no joy in it.  When I listen to people talking about how to brew coffee they talk about fresh water.  The same is true of our spiritual walk.

So?  If we keep up a constant contact with God our lives are much more resilient and we recover from the travails of life with alacrity.  Seek Him daily.  Keep it living.

Hydrate

(Psa 32:4 KJV)  For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

(Proverbs 13 also read)

This verse is much bettter in the KJV because it is more literal.

(PSA 32:4 NASB) For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away {as} with the fever heat of summer. Selah.

While “vitality” (3955) may be lost it is more a matter of evaporation and not being replenished than being “drained” (2015).  I don’t know if you have ever worked out in the hot sun or taken a long walk without any water.  Hydration is important.  I can remember how refreshing the tepid water was coming fresh out of the hose.  It was great because it was needed so much.

So?  In the same way we need to keep spiritually hydrated.  A lack of Holy Spirit infusion can cause our spirits to get foggy and unresponsive.  The drought is self inflicted and has a ready remedy. 

The Deceitful Path

(Pro 11:18 KJV)  The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

Who is fooled by the results of wicked behavior?  I would like to claim it is only the “wicked” (7563) but I am afraid that even the faithful fall into the trap.  Haven’t you ever wondered why it seems like evil people are running everything?  There seems to be a pattern in all organizations whether it be government, business or the church.  Take Walmart.  It started as a business run by a Christian and delivered a valuable service.  Then the founder died, the children took the money and ran to the dark side.  Look at the Methodist church, based on the teaching of John Wesley.  It is now ordaining homosexuals.  

How do we keep off of that track for ourselves and our families?  We all know believers who have had their children seduced by evil.  I don’t have an easy answer but it is not compromise.  We need to be constantly seeking personal revival and living what we believe.

So?  Walk in righteousness and trust that God is in control.  At the same time we must make allowance for free will.  Each person must make their own decisions.  That goes for us on a daily basis. 

Again

(Pro 21:1 KJV)  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

I wrote on this verse last month.  I need to remind myself again.  I need to focus like a laser from 10,000 miles on the leaders of the world.  You need to join me.  I may not understand how prayer works.  I may know that God works His way and is not blocked by any man.  At the same time we are told to pray for our leaders.  Here it mentions the king.  For us that would definitely be the president.  It would also include anyone in an executive position that can influence us.

We keep wondering what we can do about the problems our country faces.  Our weakness is that we come to prayer last instead of first.  We don’t need revolution we need revival.  Our issues won’t be solved by violence but by virtue.  

So?  Put the president at the head of your prayer list.  Well, maybe after your family and church, but definitely near the top.  Let’s make a difference. 

A Retreat That Charges

(Psa 55:7 KJV)  Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

(Proverbs 24 also read)

Have you ever felt like you need a vacation?  Sometimes it is enough to get a quiet evening at home.  I have had several spots that I felt like I could reconnect.  David is expressing that desire in these verses.  It also seems to imply that he did not get what he wished.

We need to find ways to be renewed without leaving the zip code.  If we concentrate on worship we can find Sunday morning a time of refreshing.  I find that getting up early helps to renew my mind and spirit.  

So?  There are ways to “wander far away” without leaving the house.  It takes focus and a bit of practice but it can be done.  Start by pondering the holiness of God.  Try to comprehend what it means to be eternal.  Look for evidence of the image of God in your life.  Be refreshed. 

The Rubber Man

(Pro 24:16 KJV)  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

At a recent zoom meeting the general consensus was that all the news was bad.  We are in a “wars and rumors of wars” time.  In addition to that we have a ruling government class that thinks the cure for inflation is to print more money.  It boggles the mind.  It is very easy to be overcome by the bad news and forget the promises of God.  It is also a tendency to interpret things as if we were the center of the universe and if we “fall” (5307) it is the end of the world.

Take a deep breath and a step back.  Notice the comparison in this verse.  The “just” (righteous NASB) (6662) get to fall seven times.  The “wicked” (7563) only gets to “fall into” (stumble NASB) (3782) once.  The point is that those who are under God’s care will bounce back.  It isn’t that they don’t run into a wall but that they keep going.  God makes us the long lasting batteries, not the cheap ones that often come with the toy.

So?  Have courage.  Be optimistic.  Take the long view.  We are not one time paper napkins but the finest linen which can be wash, folded, ironed and put back on the table.  The difference is in what we are made of and who made us. 

Twist Maker

(Pro 11:20 KJV)  They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

What a condition to be in.  The NASB has “perverse” (6141) and the KJK calls it a “froward heart”.  I am currently on a pace-maker.  It is a device that gives my heart a wake up call if the beats go too low.  Imagine if you had a devil approved gizmo in you heart that kept it twisted and crooked.  I don’t know that anyone has accused the devil of being stupid so he must program the device to only give enough twist to move the person toward his total control.  

If you are good with having a twisted heart then be happy while you can.  If you are concerned about it then keep comparing your inner pace-maker with the word of God.  If you feel the twist then it is time to repent and allow God to get it straight again.

So?  The problem with slight deviations is that over time they become major.  Stay on top of it.

Default Settings

(Pro 28:9 KJV)  He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

If this were written in Greek I think the action of “listening” (8085) would be in the present tense rather than the aorist.  The present tense in Greek carries the idea of continued action.  There is a value in returning repeatedly to basic ideas.  We tend to forget.  We fudge.  We rationalize.  We have all kinds of ways to adjust unchanging truth to fit our special situation.  If we make it a habit of going back and paying attention, we are returned back to the default setting.

Every time I get a new computer I have to learn new ways to do things.  Usually that means finding the basic commands on the new system.  When I update my word processing software I always am forced to consider the default settings and how to adjust them for the way I do business.  We can fall into that norm in our spiritual life.  What we need to do is go back and see how we were programmed at the start.

So?  Keep checking.  If you see something that doesn’t match up, it isn’t the Bible that has changed. 

Choice Fools

(Pro 26:1 KJV)  As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

We are warned about calling someone a “fool” (3685).  

(Mat 5:22 KJV)  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

At the same time we are here being warned against fools.  Maybe the warning is about going public with someone being a fool because of the possible backlash.  Proverbs makes a big deal about fools.  If you read on in this chapter you can see it is a theme.  

We are giving repeated warnings about trusting fools, arguing with fools, hiring fools.  What we need to remember is that in Proverbs fools are defined as people who have rejected the wisdom of God.  

So?  When you vote for or support anyone for a position you are expected to take a look at their spiritual life.  Often it will make no difference because all choices are fools.  In that case look for the one that is the least foolish.  If we want revival in our land we need to begin to take stands and make decisions based on God’s standards.