Sunflowers or Cockroaches

(Psa 112:4 KJV)  Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

(Proverbs 21 also read)

“Light” (216) and “darkness” (2822).  Is this talking about our situation or an inner sense?  The cure for darkness is light.  The relief for darkness in our soul is the source of all light, God Himself.  John tells us the God is light.  There are very few things that can grow or prosper in darkness.  We are no different.

We take light for granted.  Light can kill germs and speed healing.  Light is a key element in photosynthesis.  Light is necessary for us to see.  

This is a promise for the “upright” (3477).  It is a promise that only the upright would be interested in.  The rest are like the cockroaches that scramble for the shadows when you turn on the lights.  This is a promise for those who chose to follow in God’s ways.

So?  Be like a sunflower that turns to the light rather than a bug that runs from it. 

Repetition

(Pro 20:13 KJV)  Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

There is a reason this verse jumps out at me every month when I read Proverbs 20.  It is because I need to be constantly reminded, and, I would assume I am not the only one like that.  If you read Proverbs in a perpetual cycle then you begin to notice some of the themes that keep coming up.  One of my goals is to keep my mind turned on so that I don’t go into neutral mode when I read them.  

So?  Do I really need a nap?  Don’t answer that.  I can deal with that myself.  There are going to be days when that is a voice I really need to hear.  I trust I am paying attention. 

Call the Pinch Hitter

(Psa 131:1 KJV)  A Song of degrees of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.

(Proverbs 19 also read)

This is another place where we can implement proof-texting and totally miss the point.  It would be easy to read this and think that we are to become simpletons with no responsibility to make decisions on the hard issues of life.  That would play right into Marx’s statement about religion being the opiate of the people.  

A couple of key words here.  One is the issue of the “proud” (1361b) “heart” (3820) [leb].  The other is how you understand what is too “difficult” (6381) for us.  I would suggest that one of the lessons we need to get from this is that there is a point where we let go.  Life is full of challenges.  Many demand that we step up to the plate and take our best swing.  Others are a time to bring in a pinch hitter.  

So?  Only you can know which is which.  I assume that I will make these moments of prayer that are preceded by a pattern of prayer.  When I know to back away I can do so with no guilt.  Last time I checked, God was still in charge. 

Worship Bold

(Psa 138:3 KJV)  In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

(Proverbs 18, also read)

The KJV misses it here.  Compare it with the NASB,

(Psa 138:3 NAS77) On the day I called Thou didst answer me; Thou didst make me bold (7292) with strength in my soul.

The “strengthenedst” (7292) is much better translated as “make me bold”.  The Hebrew word suggests a bit of boisterous enthusiasm.  Isaiah 3:5 uses it to portray how youth tends to defy the elders in the crowd.

(Isa 3:5 KJV)  And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly (7292) against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

I imagine all of us have experienced this kind of enthusiasm.  Often it will hit you during a worship service of some kind.  It might be a result of a good morning of praise to the Lord.  It is the way that God goes about strengthening us to do the hard things.  It motivates us to get through the routine.

So?  Notice that David is in the midst of worship in the first two verses.  Don’t expect God to come out of nowhere and make your day.  It does happen but it is not His common pattern.  Worship.  Praise.  Achieve boldness. 

Pleasing God

(Psa 147:11 KJV)  The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

(Proverbs 17 also read)

God “taketh pleasure” (favors NASB) (7521) those who “fear” (3372a) Him, those who admit their need.  When I read this in the NASB I thought about Noah but this is not the word used of Noah finding favor with God.  At the same time it does tell us that God is favorably disposed towards those who are obedient.  

When we talk about grace, we are referring to many aspects of how God works among us.  One of the key questions that some people don’t want to deal with is, “What is the basis for God’s choices in extending grace.”  Some believe it is God’s business, not ours.  To me that makes God capricious and doing things on a divine whim.  It is clear that He does not award salvation to those who earn enough brownie points.  It is also clear from verses like this that God responds to hearts and lives that are yearning for him, fearing Him.

So?  Jesus did not die on the cross to see how many He could condemn to Hell.  Believe that God is aware of the yearning of your heart.  Be aware of the yearning of God’s heart also. 

Drum Roll

(Psa 150:3 KJV)  Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

(Proverb 16 also read)

There is at least one denomination that refuses to allow musical instruments in worship.  I have heard them sing and it is an awesome experience.  They can lift the worshipers into the heights.  If that is a matter of choice, it is well rewarded.  If it is a matter of doctrine it seems to run against this series of verses.  In this verse we see trumpets, harps and the lyre.  In following verses we see enough variety to evolve into a modern orchestra.  I would think this is a word of encouragement to the “no instrument” crowd as well as those churches that will allow nothing but piano and organs.

I notice that drums are not on this list.  Pardon me while I do a search on drums............I can find nothing for “drums” or “drum”.  I don’t know if that is enough to keep them out of worship.  

So?  Worship.  If you don’t like the style or the accompaniment then express your opinion so that the leadership can know what works for you and then get over it.  Either learn to worship where you are or, with a good attitude and no hostility, go someplace where the music speaks to you. 

Portable Zion

(Psa 135:21 KJV)  Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

(Proverbs 15 also read)

God is continually trying to get across His majesty to Israel.  Earlier in this Psalm he is relating how He has been with them through history.  He relates how He controls all of nature.  Through what He says to them we can get a glimmer of His awesomeness.  

And yet how limited their vision was.  For some reason God chose Israel and marked out Mount Zion in Jerusalem.  That may have been for our benefit.  We cannot comprehend eternity.  We can grasp a temple built on a hill with an inner courtyard.  Don’t ever fall into the trap of thinking that defines God.  It is just a point He has chosen to touch the world and its people.  He did it through Israel.  He does it through His word.

So?  Let this be a day of rejoicing.  God dwells where He chooses.  In this day and age it seems to be in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus.  Think of yourself as a portable Zion.