THE BLACK HOLE EXPLAINED

When I was engaged to be married to my wife, my mind was clearly on another planet—and I’m glad to say that hers was as well.  When you’re head over heels in love, driving becomes potentially dangerous.  Falling in love should come with its own warning label:  DO NOT OPERATE HEAVY MACHINERY WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THIS EMOTION. 

My spouse calls this the, “Black Hole Syndrome”—where, when under the influence of love—all logic disappears.  I’ve enjoyed watching it over the years in many an engaged couple.

The psalmist maintains a similar relationship with God.  He describes the Almighty’s heavenly attributes in great detail and brings peace to the reader that puts him or herself in the writer’s place.  Giddiness is next to Godliness.

As anyone married longer than one day knows, love is a two way street, and what spouse doesn’t bask in the peace and security of their mate when described by them in glowing superlatives.

The black hole is known to exist in outer space.  It is also understood to be the chasm between logic and emotion that results in euphoric peace as two walk together as one.

If this isn’t you, make the Lord your partner and rejoice in the peace that a union with Him brings.  Are you willing?  He’s ready to dance.

b(Les)sings

Psalm 45

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
 ²Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
 ³Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
 ⁴And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
 ⁵Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
 ⁶Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
 ⁷Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
 ⁸All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
 ⁹Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
 ¹⁰Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;
 ¹¹So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
 ¹²And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
 ¹³The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
 ¹⁴She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
 ¹⁵With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.
 ¹⁶Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
 ¹⁷I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

DOWN TO A DULL ROAR

Hello again beloved readers.

Well, the Frontier interruptions are now down to a dull roar, so I should be able to post later today.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

b(Les)sings

HISTORY LESSON

It has been said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to fulfill it (George Santayana).”  This, of course, has a negative connotation.  We are also told that, “History repeats itself” (which can be either bad or good).  We have an example of this in the New Testament with  (I Cor. 10:11, NKJV)

:  “Now all^[a] these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

We have numerous examples of this throughout the Old Testament, and Psalms in particular.  Psalm 44 is no exception to this. 

Its author reminds the reader of the history of deliverance that he’s seen by God’s hand, especially in comparison to the lack of human effort, that has extricated the troubled time after time.  The peace that such repeated deliverance brings is obvious, but perhaps not so obvious are periods of spiritual drought .  Sometimes God allows us to go through the desert of life so that we can more greatly appreciate the oasis that is Him. 

Peace comes when we choose to go to the One that can deliver it to us, rather than choose an attempt by us to deliver it to ourselves or others by our own efforts.

b(Les)sings

PSALM 44--KJV

[1] We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
[2] How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
[3] For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
[4] Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
[5] Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
[6] For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
[7] But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
[8] In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
[9] But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
[10] Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.
[11] Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
[12] Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
[13] Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
[14] Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
[15] My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
[16] For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
[17] All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
[18] Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
[19] Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
[20] If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
[21] Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
[22] Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
[23] Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
[24] Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
[25] For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
[26] Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.

---

I'M OK AND YOU'RE ANNOYING

Years ago, while in college, I was writing a paper for an interpersonal communications class, and strove for the most creative introduction I could.  I figured interviewing Transactional Analysis’ creator would be just the ticket. 

The woman on the other end of the phone was quite somber when I asked if Dr. Berne was available.  After a long pause she stated, “No.  Dr. Berne died this morning.”  Oops!

Dr. Berne had written Games People Play, and he later criticized (to some extent) the work done by a colleague that sprang forth from his original work.  That work was, I’m OK, You’re OK, written by Thomas A. Harris, M.D.

To take slight liberty with that title, the psalmist says at the beginning of Psalm 43, “I’m OK, and you (as a nation) are a bunch of jerks—get ‘em God.”

He reminds his Creator that he is fortified by Him, so why is He disregarding his need—and consequently, why should he have to be so overwhelmed?

He further petitions the Lord to send His light—the kind that ferrets out darkness—and truth—which battles the lies of life.

And the result?

Renewed intimacy with God that’s comparable to that of a newlywed couple’s.  In order to cement the peace that comes as a result of the situation, David reminds his soul to line up with that reality.

Sometimes our souls are stubborn indeed, but once they get the peace message (delivered by us) through their thick skins, they experience the liberation that such is.

b(Les)sings

Psalm 43

New King James Version (NKJV)

Prayer to God in Time of Trouble

 ¹ Vindicate me, O God,
         And plead my cause against an ungodly nation;
         Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!
 ² For You are the God of my strength;
         Why do You cast me off?
         Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
        
 ³ Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!
         Let them lead me;
         Let them bring me to Your holy hill
         And to Your tabernacle.
 ⁴ Then I will go to the altar of God,
         To God my exceeding joy;
         And on the harp I will praise You,
         O God, my God.
        
 ⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul?
         And why are you disquieted within me?
         Hope in God;
         For I shall yet praise Him,
         The help of my countenance and my God.

SO PLEASE STAND BY

Greetings beloved readers!

I am writing this in between spurts of internet service through Frontier Communications.

For those of you that know what I'm talking about, my speed test is presently download of .49 and upload of .01 (and it should be a minimum of 3.0 and .768 respectively).

Internet issues are supposed to be fixed within the next 24 hours--I will post again as soon as it is technologically feasible--at the moment, things are tenuous at best.

Thanks as always for following--and your patience.

b(Les)sings

THIRST FOR SANTA’S FOUR-LEGGED HELPER

David begins the 42^nd Psalm by comparing his thirst for the living God to that of a thirsty deer.  I don’t think it’s a coincidence that such a pursuit is “dear” to the psalmist—the “dear” living God.

I talk to inanimate objects, but surely I’m not the only one that does!  There is a certain degree of satisfaction that comes in conducting a monologue before such an item.  It doesn’t talk back, and in it’s not doing that, you know that you’re right—otherwise the thing would talk back to you (remember Balaam’s donkey).

The fact is that you get more peace from a “living God” than an inanimate one.  Case in point:  Psalm 115:4-8—What good is it to have mouth, eyes, ears, nose, and not be able to utilize the senses that they represent?  No good whatsoever—that’s the point.  Worshiping an object (or any other non-living God) is “senseless”. 

On the other hand, you want to maintain a relationship with One who has been in your shoes (Is. 53:4: Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. )   As Hebrews 4:15 reminds us, our High Priest is not unsympathetic toward our weaknesses because He was tempted as we are, in all points—yet without sin! 

To have an intimate relationship with a dead god is useless—to have one with the Living God—is peace-producing.  Don’t forget what the angels asked the ladies at Jesus’ tomb:  “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

The second half of that which will help you achieve peace in your life is the second half of the psalm, which basically says for us to tell our souls that God is in charge—He’s been in charge in the past, in the present, and will be in the future—so there’s nothing to be fearful of whatsoever—and hence, our peace.

b(Les)sings

PSALM 42 (KING JAMES VERSION)

[1] As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
[2] My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
[3] My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
[4] When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
[5] Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
[6] O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
[7] Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
[8] Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
[9] I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
[10] As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
[11] Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

A KID'S BEST FRIEND

Okay, I could be wrong here, but I’m guessing that the rest of you aren’t much different from me, and as a kid, your least favorite chore was making the bed (I’m not that crazy about it as an adult, but I have gotten better over the years).

Imagine if in addition to making your bed for you, you had an adult friend that fixed all of your booboos, gave you more money than you gave to others, and beat up all your bullies for you—that would be quite the friend, wouldn’t it!  To have someone to do that for you is to know peace, because you’re not having to deal with many of life’s unpleasantries.  That’s God, and David points that out in the first half of Psalm 41.

The second half focuses on God’s deliverance from His children’s enemies, whether they be foes of gossip or surprise traitors.

Whatever the deliverance, praise God in all, and the peace you desire will be your constant companion.

b(Les)sings

PSALM 41—KJV

 [1] Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
[2] The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
[3] The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
[4] I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
[5] Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
[6] And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
[7] All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
[8] An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
[9] Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
[10] But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
[11] By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
[12] And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
[13] Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

PATIENCE, PRISON, AND PRAISE: PASSPORTS TO PEACE

Have you ever wondered why patience is such a big deal to God?  Undoubtedly, it’s because the longer you wait, the greater faith you show that He will take care of business.

The Book of Hebrews (11:6) tells us that without faith it is impossible to please Him, for we must believe that God (is God) and that He rewards those that diligently seek Him.  If you were God, would you reward those that didn’t believe in your existence, much less those that acknowledge your existence in a nominal way, failing to recognize the full scope of your sovereignty?  Of course not.  So then, calling upon the Lord with patience that He will deliver produces the peace that not calling upon Him won’t.

When I think of patience, I think of the Old Testament character, Joseph:  Thrown into a pit, left for dead, sold into slavery, elevated to an important position, only to be tossed into jail for years on a false rape charge, and finally, upon his release from prison, promoted to second in charge of one of the largest and most powerful nations on earth at that time!  That’s the kind of deliverance David talks about in this, the 40^th Psalm—a prison break initiated by you via patience—carried out by the Lord.

When I minister in jail I tell the inmates, “Sometimes you have to go to prison, to get out of the one you’re already in.”  Most nod in agreement, and concur that since they’ve come into a personal relationship with the Lord, they were no longer in the quicksand known as the prison of a Godless life—rather, they are on the Rock—the kind a wise person builds his house on (Matthew 7:24-27).

One thing convicts (and especially ex-convicts) have in common, is praising God before others for His deliverance.  The psalmist does this too—not just in Psalm 40, but in nearly every psalm written. 

Whatever kind of prison we’re in, when we wait patiently for the Lord  to act, believing that whatever the result, it’s in our best interest—we’re praising God by trusting in Him, and that brings the greatest peace of all.

b(Les)sings

Psalm 40

KING JAMES VERSION

[1] I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
[2] He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
[3] And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
[4] Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
[5] Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
[6] Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
[7] Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
[8] I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
[9] I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
[10] I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
[11] Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
[12] For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
[13] Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
[14] Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
[15] Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
[16] Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
[17] But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S THE WAY

The (regular) reader may recall from earlier in the psalms where we were told about one’s mouth speaking out of the heart’s abundance.  That’s reflected in the 39^th Psalm as well, and I’m sorry to say to have personally failed in this arena from time to time.

One such time was fairly recently while at my customer service position.  I was in the middle of a call that necessitated my putting the customer on hold while I spoke with a supervisor about the customer’s concern.  It was simply one of those days that had become one of those weeks, which were one of those months that had gone on for more than one of those years.  Remember that the children of Israel angered Moses (by irking the Lord) so that (Moses) “spake unadvisedly with his lips.”  Yes, it was Moses’ fault for saying what he did—and what was said was prompted by the actions of others.  Not that I was leading the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage toward the promised land, but I was trying to help consumers with issues that I, as a fellow consumer, did not feel they needed to have to deal with.

When I discussed the matter with the supervisor, I got the empathy that both the customer and I would want—and the answer that none of us would want as well.  While there was empathy expressed, it was not within the corporate protocol to be equitable to the customer, and I was going to have to be the bearer of that “good” news.  I couldn’t take it—I said, “damn”.  This may not sound especially harsh to those of you that can easily turn the air blue, but it had a very chilling effect on my credibility as a witness for God.

“I can’t believe you said that—guys, did you hear what Les just said?”  And on and on it went.  That one word, which was much nicer than the one I’d been thinking of at the time, caused at least one other person to question my credibility as a Godly witness, and may have adversely affected the supervisor’s accepting of any counsel I might offer her in the future.  I went on to rationalize my response, but what was done was done.

So, does an occasional curse word send you to hell?  No, but it can be a warning light on your spiritual dashboard, telling you that things are amiss, and that you should ask Him to help you with whatever the underlying heart issue is.  When you take notice of the ill spoken word (s), you learn that there’s one or more problem(s) within, that need to be addressed, and doing something about that will bring the peace you desire—not the turmoil you wish to avoid.

This “word” discussion relates closely to the often asked question, “What is God’s will for my life?”  Like that issue, it is a second area examined in the 39^th Psalm.

You have undoubtedly heard the expression, “When there’s a will, there’s a way”.  You might also have heard, “Where there’s a will, there are relatives.”  That’s true on both levels for those with dual citizenship—those with both an address here, and in eternity.

The Bible tells us in Romans 8:17 that we are, “(as children) then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ..”  An heir is someone that is acknowledged (usually with benefit) as the survivor of one that has passed on from this life.

Later in Romans (12:1-2), we’re told to no longer conform to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we might be able to prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

The world would tell you, “It’s no big deal—it’s just a word.”  I think we’re better off to heed the advice offered by Moses in Psalm 90, verse 12, where he told us to number our days that we might apply our hearts to wisdom.

In other words, our lives on this planet are relatively short—certainly compared with eternity—and thus we want to make the most of it for Him while we’re here.  By ignoring the issue that cussing is, we run the risk of dampening the effect that God wants us to have on others.  If we resist this, we grieve—if we go with His flow—we rejoice.

Remember that Jesus said of Himself in John 14:6 that He is, “The Way, and the Truth, and the Life”—and where there is His will, there is His Way.”

b(Les)sings

Psalm 39

New King James Version (NKJV)

To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

 ¹ I said, “I will guard my ways,
         Lest I sin with my tongue;
         I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle,
         While the wicked are before me.”
 ² I was mute with silence,
         I held my peace even from good;
         And my sorrow was stirred up.
 ³ My heart was hot within me;
         While I was musing, the fire burned.
         Then I spoke with my tongue:
      
 ⁴ “LORD, make me to know my end,
         And what is the measure of my days,
         That I may know how frail I am.
 ⁵ Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
         And my age is as nothing before You;
         Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.  Selah
 ⁶ Surely every man walks about like a shadow;
         Surely they busy themselves in vain;
         He heaps up riches,
         And does not know who will gather them.
      
 ⁷ “And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
         My hope is in You.
 ⁸ Deliver me from all my transgressions;
         Do not make me the reproach of the foolish.
 ⁹ I was mute, I did not open my mouth,
         Because it was You who did it.
 ¹⁰ Remove Your plague from me;
         I am consumed by the blow of Your hand.
 ¹¹ When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity,
         You make his beauty melt away like a moth;
         Surely every man is vapor.  Selah
      
 ¹² “Hear my prayer, O LORD,
         And give ear to my cry;
         Do not be silent at my tears;
         For I am a stranger with You,
         A sojourner, as all my fathers were.
 ¹³ Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength,
         Before I go away and am no more.”

RUNNING TO OR FROM—OUR CHOICE

In the first eight verses of Psalm 38, David illustrates how the laws of sowing and reaping were not cancelled back at the Garden of Eden.  They describe in painful detail the degree to which he suffers because he didn’t do what he should have, and did do what he shouldn’t have. 

We can learn a great lesson from the psalmist:  When you’ve sinned, run to the Lord and not from Him!  The sooner you realize that He loves you—rather than hates you—you’ll be sprinting in the right direction.  Run from Him and experience the torment you thought you were escaping by doing so.  Run to Him, and get the peace you thought would never be yours by doing that.

Wanting to run to or from God is one thing, and wanting to just run away is another.  When things get tough, the non-tough tend to get going.

As long as we live on this earth, our chances of mortality are 100% (unless raptured first) and with a right relationship with the Lord we should not be running away from death..  As we advance toward death, our bodies deteriorate.  This was the truth Moses referred to as the author of Psalm 90). 

We know from our personal experiences—and the experiences of others—that God still heals today.  We also know from these same sources that God does not always do so, and His not doing so is not necessarily due to anything other than His sovereignty

. 

We’re told in John 9:3 that when the disciples asked if the man was blind from birth due to his sin or the sin of the parents, Jesus replied, “Neither, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him.”

David concludes the psalm –as he does many of them—by agreeing with God about how much of a sinner he is, grateful that God fully extricates him from numerous troubles.

Yes, being delivered out of the hands of almost certain torment is a cause for celebration, and lends itself to its own level of peace—but let me challenge you with something:

As you go about from day to day, purpose in your heart to bring peace to God”s life—and then watch what He does in yours.

b(Les)sings

Pss.38—FROM KJV

[1] O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
[2] For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
[3] There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
[4] For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
[5] My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
[6] I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
[7] For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
[8] I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
[9] Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
[10] My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
[11] My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
[12] They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
[13] But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
[14] Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
[15] For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
[16] For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
[17] For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.
[18] For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
[19] But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
[20] They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.
[21] Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
[22] Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

YOU'LL GET YOURS--PSALM 37--PART II

The Book of Psalms is replete with the authors’ distress on how the evil people of this world seen more highly favored than the good.  Speaking as a “good” person, I can relate to that frustration. 

The basic premise of the aggravation is flawed; however, because the presumption is that this temporal life is the only life that either the evil or good will have to contend with.  I would rather have to deal with a drop in the bucket of time where I don’t get what I want (while seemingly others do), rather than drown in the well of eternity where I’m forever corrected for wrong choices made in this lifetime.

If you presume that this is the only life where people—good or evil—get their just desserts, you will be stressed, thinking that the reaping of what’s been sown is being ignored.  When you see that it has merely been delayed, hope—and likewise peace, abounds.

b(Les)sings

FROM THE KING JAMES VERSION:

Pss.37

[1] Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
[2] For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
[3] Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
[4] Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
[5] Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
[6] And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
[7] Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
[8] Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
[9] For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
[10] For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
[11] But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
[12] The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
[13] The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
[14] The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
[15] Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
[16] A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
[17] For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
[18] The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
[19] They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
[20] But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
[21] The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
[22] For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
[23] The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
[24] Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
[25] I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
[26] He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
[27] Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
[28] For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
[29] The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
[30] The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
[31] The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
[32] The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
[33] The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
[34] Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
[35] I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
[36] Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
[37] Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
[38] But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
[39] But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
[40] And the LORD shall help them and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

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TRUST, DELIGHT, AND REST--PSALM 37--PART I

Perhaps you’ve seen this sign:  “In God we trust—all others pay cash.”

Whether it’s heads and tails or love and marriage, many good things come in pairs, and the trust referred to in Psalm 37 has a partner too—it is called, “doing good”.  It’s not that you are incapable of doing good without trusting in the Lord—but it does help.  When you trust a sovereign God to be in control (rather than relying on your own merits), you are free to listen to Him and be available for the direction that He leads.  Being higher than the rest of us, God sees all things better than we do—past, present, and future, and when I put my trust in that leadership, I’m in complete peace that things will work out—even though they may not make sense to me at that point in time.  We’re told that if we follow that directive we can expect to “remain in the land”—not be moved out of whatever position we may be taking—and that our needs will be provided for.  It just doesn’t get much better than that.

We’re also to “delight in the Lord, and He will give us the desires of our heart.”  Ok, here comes a soapbox.

People abuse this verse, and it’s abuse adversely affects the peace of those abused by such teaching.  There are actually people that will hear that and think, “Ok, if I delight in God than He will give me that Cadillac I’ve always wanted.”  Nails on a chalkboard.

Folks, if the Lord is your delight, your heart’s desire will be granted, because that desire will be delighting the Lord!  The Lord may indeed bless one or more of you with a Cadillac, and that’s great, but don’t be using this verse as some sort of magic charm to manipulate God to bring that to pass.

It’s true that James tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from above.  We’re also told by Matthew that Satan (referred to in II Cor. 4 as “the God of this world”) tempted Jesus—if He didn’t have the goods to do with as he pleased, it wouldn’t have been a temptation.  Thus, it’s not the object that’s the perfect gift but what that gift will accomplish for the greater good.  Stay focused on that, and you will continue in peace—not its counterpart. 

Finally, we’re to “rest in the Lord”, waiting patiently for Him.  If you don’t think that’s too good an idea, when you get to heaven look up Abraham’s number and give him a call—and if the name Hagar comes up, it probably won’t be in connection with the great results that come out of doing our own things in our own strength. 

A very wise pastor friend of mine (who should be reading this, by the way) once said, “There’s better—and best.”  Better is our way—best is God’s—and it’s God’s that brings peace, and ours that brings turmoil.  Choose wisely.

b(Les)sings

Note:  Scripture passage will be listed at the end of Part II

ANOTHER TWO-PARTER--STARTING TOMORROW

Hello dear readers.

Once agian in order to give proper treatment to important text, I will be delaying the publishing of my blog on the first half of Psalm 37--and release it as soon as possible.  Right now, there's work to be done, so that y'all can sit back and relax.

b(Les)sings

EVIL HAPPENS

Evil happens.  Fortunately, God happens too. 

In the 36^th Psalm, David begins his time of peace by focusing on the good qualities of God, reminding himself of the love God has for him in abundance, and acknowledges his belief (before others) that the wicked will meet their demise.

Years ago I played piano at a mid-week Bible study.  We would start the meetings off with a short, general prayer, and then go into music.  It would go from raucous, foot-stomping praise to reverent melodies.  Well, actually, it was all reverent—some was just more boisterous.

One evening, when the food and fellowship portion of the night was upon us, I was softly tickling the ivories, trying to stay sharp, as one of the participants approached me.  He noticed a secular song that I was playing—what he didn’t know is that I was actually playing a song of praise; I had re-written the words to the popular tune.  Suddenly he was extraordinarily intense about my playing the song for him.  I explained what it was about, and that I didn’t normally play secular music (unless I’d re-written it in the spiritual genre), but he seemed more interested in having his way than His.  I breathed up a short prayer.  I didn’t want to play the song, but I also didn’t want to disappoint a brother.  And then, almost audibly, I had a thought:  “You can play the song, and I’m going to let you hear it the way that I do.”

Saying it was bad does not even come close.  It was (literally) nauseating.  I had not felt that sick since I asked the Lord to let me experience the morning sickness my late wife was experiencing—midst the cafeteria at work during lunch hour.  I’d vaguely compare it to nails on a chalkboard, but then that never bothered me.  Thankfully, the song finally ended, and I felt like I needed to take a bath—I’d been defiled.  I can safely say it wasn’t the singing of a secular song that sickened the Lord, but rather, the pride with which the person sang it.  There is a striking lack of peace when you choose to exalt self over exalting God, for exalting Him is the very nature He has placed within us from the beginning, and anything to the contrary brings unrest—peace’s nemesis.

Planning evil likewise goes against the nature of God—it is an attempt to punish and control others, rather than have Him do the job for you.  Think about it; whatever God may do to correct someone, it always has the person’s peace in mind—when we try to do the correcting, it’s usually to exact the vengeance we long for, and at best, that’s our peace at the expense of another.

We live in a fallen world, and evil will inevitably affect us from time to time.  Yes, evil happens—but thankfully, so does God.

b(Les)sings

Psalm 36

New King James Version (NKJV)

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD.

 ¹ An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked:
         There is no fear of God before his eyes.
 ² For he flatters himself in his own eyes,
         When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates.
 ³ The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit;
         He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
 ⁴ He devises wickedness on his bed;
         He sets himself in a way that is not good;
         He does not abhor evil.
      
 ⁵ Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens;
         Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
 ⁶ Your righteousness is like the great mountains;
         Your judgments are a great deep;
         O LORD, You preserve man and beast.
      
 ⁷ How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
         Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
 ⁸ They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,
         And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
 ⁹ For with You is the fountain of life;
         In Your light we see light.
      
 ¹⁰ Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You,
         And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.
 ¹¹ Let not the foot of pride come against me,
         And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.
 ¹² There the workers of iniquity have fallen;
         They have been cast down and are not able to rise.

THE BEST WAY TO ELIMINATE STRESS

There is a bumper sticker that reads something like this:  “Stress:  It’s what’s experienced when resisting the urge to choke the living _ _ _ _ out of someone that otherwise so richly deserves it.”

God’s Word tells us that vengeance is His (Romans 12:19)—He repays, so you don’t have to worry about that—“no” to worry means “yes” to peace.

After discussing this concept in Psalm 35, David goes on to offer rationalization, so that God will be won over to his way of thinking—and who of us don’t do that ourselves?

By lining up our petitions with God’s will from the start, we eliminate the stress (and hence lack of peace) that goes along with not doing so.

Toward the end of this chapter, the psalmist further petitions the Lord for future deliverances desired.

It’s like my job.  I ask people if they want to supply an email address for “future updates and other offers”.”  Their email address (should they give it) is used solely within the company itself.  I have no agenda in asking that question except that I may keep my job.

Yet, when most people hear the question, they go into an oral dissertation about why they don’t give it out.  A simple yes or no would suffice—I never asked for their life story to begin with.

If these same people took a moment to reflect on the quality service they’ve received to this point, they wouldn’t feel the need to justify their answer.

Why stress yourself with extra verbiage and the anxiety as to whether or not it will be well received?  Let your yes be yes and no, no—for the greatest amount of peace available.

That’s how we are concerning God’s promises, and the best way to correct that behavior is this:  The next time you feel motivated to be that way with God, remember His past faithfulness to fully accomplish His will in you—even if it isn’t the way you’ve demanded that it be done. 

This is true peace.

b(Les)sings

SO MUCH TO WRITE, SO LITTLE TIME--PART II

David talks about the Lord delivering him from all his fears.  I can relate.

I’m not exactly formidable in size and consequently do not prompt waves of fear to crash down over those I come in contact with, but those that seek contact with me are capable of producing such waves—PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) can exacerbate them.

Still working for that coffee service, I was on coffee pot washing duty one day—it was about as glorious as it sounds.  An Asian fellow whom I knew to be a Black Belt came up to me and simultaneously grabbed and twisted all of my left pectoral.  I expressed my displeasure—he seemed unmoved.  As he began poking the rest of my chest with a long, bony finger, a crowd gathered.
    
“I could kick your _ _ _, “ he bragged.  “Yes, you could,” I exclaimed, “But what are you going to do with Jesus?” 

Both of us were stunned.  He left, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief, thanking God for His deliverance.  What was needful for me came up in the bucket from my well, I just hadn’t purposed to draw out any of its “water” at the time.

b(Les)sings

Psalm 34
King James Version 
________________________________________
1A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

SO MUCH TO SAY, SO LITTLE TIME--PART I

 

I would like to take a moment to have all readers rise with me and thank my wife.  Without her, I would not have thought to break this formidable treatise on Psalm 34 into two parts—“Thank you, dear." Please be seated.

Years ago, I delivered coffee and bottled water products for a company out of Elgin, Illinois.  After helping to set up a new account in a small, rented, modular building (it resembled a cross between a trailer home and the caboose of a freight train), I followed up a few weeks later, making a second delivery. 

Conversation was buzzing among the dozen or so employees as I asked the young man to kindly sign my delivery ticket.  He saw the moment, seizing an opportunity.

“How much money do you make?” he asked.  “I knew where he was going, and didn’t think it was any of his business, so I truthfully replied, “An adequate hourly wage.”

He tried getting the specific amount a few more times before abandoning his effort. 

“If you sold _______for me, you could make $100,000 a year.  I’m making tons of money myself,” he said unconvincingly.  I thought to myself, “Yeah, you’re making so much money in sales that you’re an office clerk just for fun.”

He went on and on with the transparent embellishment until my soul simply could not take it anymore.  I felt a geyser of words springing forth from my belly, with authority and volume.

“Son, money didn’t buy my salvation!”

It was one of those E. F. Hutton moments.  Everyone had simultaneously stopped conversing and all heard.  I looked dumbfounded at the youth and pointing, said, “I’ll need your signature here please.” 

He signed, looking confused in the process, as though thinking deeply about something.  The group conversation started up again and I left.

I returned three weeks later to meet with the police, who told me the company had literally moved out in the middle of the night.

What gave me peace to speak so boldly?  The God of the Word.  Like then, as now—spoken or written.  It’s that very Word that tells us how necessary words will be provided for us when we have need of them  (Luke 12: [11] And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:  [12] For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say—KJV).

It has been poetically said, “Whatever is down in the well comes up in the bucket, “ and as Jesus said, ‘Out of the abundance of man’s heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).  My well had the Word of God in it—the peace that salvation is.  The words are peace to those that drink of them and speak of them—and peace comes to those who apply those words in their lives.

On another matter, our daughter will tell you that I never fail to brag on her when given a chance (and sometimes I’ve been known to make chances to do so).  I don’t do it to build her up—or myself for that matter—but that the Father that helped me with her upbringing may be glorified.

David tells us that his soul shall make its boast in the Lord, and doing that brings us peace because it reminds us of how kept we are by a sovereign God—and how we don’t have to rely upon ourselves to do the job.

Coming up—Part II.

NOT SICK, JUST TIRED

Hello.

Had to take a muscle pill today, and on top of the lack of sleep I've been getting, this is not the time to do Psalm 34 justice.  I worked on it some in the middle of today between phone calls, and expect to finish it tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by.  Please stop again in a day--when I'm more coherent.


b(Les)sings