A DEBT OF GRATITUDE

Certainly you’ve heard the expression that “those who don’t learn from history are destined to repeat its mistakes”.  Most would rather “forgive and forget”.

Well, it’s not necessarily bad to forgive yourself for acting inappropriately, but you certainly don’t want to forget!  The wisdom of not forgetting is laid-open for all to see in Psalm 78.

The psalmist admonishes the reader to share acquired knowledge with others—especially their offspring—that they may know that the parents they so greatly look up to are utterly fallible!

Asaph encourages us to honor the wisdom of God when man’s wisdom looks better than God’s.  Tragically, man defines his own wisdom as better when the results he seeks are more enjoyable than those that God would provide.

The Lord did great things for the Israelites, but the sand on their side of the desert wasn’t brown enough!  They failed to believe God knew better than they did concerning their needs and thought their wants were necessarily their needs (not terribly unlike us)!

Over time, disenchanted with not getting things the way they wanted them, the Israelites rebelled in idol worship—which really got God ticked.  Yes, God did eventually rescue the desert dwellers, and took the enemies He used to accomplish His purposes to the woodshed in the process, but this does beg a question:

Wouldn’t it have just been easier for the Children of Israel to trust God from the beginning—especially in light of His many miracles?

The answer, of course, is a resounding ‘yes’, but then we wouldn’t have the Israelites as our example.  As it is written in I Cor 10:

     11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  14Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. (NIV)

Herein lies our peace.  Thank you, Israelites!

b(Les)sings

"AUTO" MATIC MEMORIES

When Sister Maria of “The Sound of Music” fame wasn’t feeling all that great, she’d ‘simply remember’ her ‘favorite things.’  When I’m not, I take similar advice from Asaph’s Psalm 77, remembering the Lord’s past supernatural deliverances in my life.  He Has delivered me many times—and no doubt has done likewise for you.  In the interest of keeping things short, three events come to mind.

The first goes back to when I was a lad of six, or so.  My best friend lived a block away—same street, just past the intersection.  I could see his mother waiting expectantly for me as I readied myself to cross the street.  Both of us dutifully looked both ways, failing to see any oncoming traffic, so I took off like hell’s proverbial escaped bat to get to the other side.  By that point, as is often the case for six year-olds, my right shoe had become completely untied.  It flew across the intersection to the other side while I landed squarely on my back on the pavement in the middle of it.  Sight and sound came together as I saw the muffler of a speeding 50s car just above my face and heard the blood-curling scream of my friend’s mother.  Imagine our mutual surprise when I righted myself unscathed, save for a blood blister on my right pinky.  My angel got a purple heart that day—at least one!

The second occurred about 20 years later as I was racing to a job interview.  Neither I nor the driver that swerved in front of me to take the Cicero Avenue Exit off of (Illinois) 294 South slowed down.  We were both doing about 50 miles per hour at the time.  Along with the swerve, I saw the frightening sight of a large rock flying out of the other guy’s pick-up bed.  It hit the pavement with force and likewise bounced up off of the pavement with same—yet, as I was moving forward—and it was moving straight at my face—it stopped in mid air (while I was driving) and dropped unceremoniously into the wipers reservoir.  As I drove the remainder of the ramp to the street, I realized why the driver sped in front of me—his engine was on fire.    It looked as though God had intervened for two drivers at the same time.

Not too long after that, I was once again driving hurriedly down an Illinois interstate, when I noticed a disabled UPS delivery van by the side of the road.  Before the days of prevalent cell phone ownership, I argued with myself as to whether or not to stop.  The driver was about six feet tall with no discernible body fat, an engaging smile, and the most absolutely stunning white teeth I had ever seen!  I asked how I might be able to help.  He got in the car and asked me to get off at the next exit.  After I turned left off of the exit, I could take another quick left and he would be at the building he needed to go to.  It didn’t sound too hard—I complied.  I was the only car to pull up to the parking lot, a minimum 600 feet from the two-story building.  He thanked me again, said, “God bless you,” and got out of the car, closing the door behind him.  I took a second to pick up something that had fallen on to the front seat passenger-side floor, and when I got up, he had vanished!  He would have to have been a jet to get to that building in 1 to 2 seconds—or an angel.

Nearly two decades later, I’m reminded of a New Testament verse:

Hebrews 13: [2] Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (KJV)

Angels are not some magical beings that we call upon at will to do our bidding, but rather, they are servants of the Most High God.  They serve Him at His beck and call—lifting Him up forever. 

When you’re needing peace, ask the Lord to bring to your remembrance the times in which He’s delivered you, and you’ll know what real peace is.  Remember that what defines something as good is not  what our perspective of it is, but rather, that which has been accomplished that God wanted to accomplish in our lives through it.

b(Les)sings

New King James Version (NKJV)

Psalm 77

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

 ¹ I cried out to God with my voice—
         To God with my voice;
         And He gave ear to me.
 ² In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
         My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;
         My soul refused to be comforted.
 ³ I remembered God, and was troubled;
         I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.  Selah 
        
 ⁴ You hold my eyelids open;
         I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
 ⁵ I have considered the days of old,
         The years of ancient times.
 ⁶ I call to remembrance my song in the night;
         I meditate within my heart,
         And my spirit makes diligent search.
        
 ⁷ Will the Lord cast off forever?
         And will He be favorable no more?
 ⁸ Has His mercy ceased forever?
         Has His promise failed forevermore?
 ⁹ Has God forgotten to be gracious?
         Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?  Selah 
        
 ¹⁰ And I said, “This is my anguish;
         But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
 ¹¹ I will remember the works of the LORD;
         Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
 ¹² I will also meditate on all Your work,
         And talk of Your deeds.
 ¹³ Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary;
         Who is so great a God as our God?
 ¹⁴ You are the God who does wonders;
         You have declared Your strength among the peoples.
 ¹⁵ You have with Your arm redeemed Your people,
         The sons of Jacob and Joseph.  Selah 
        
 ¹⁶ The waters saw You, O God;
         The waters saw You, they were afraid;
         The depths also trembled.
 ¹⁷ The clouds poured out water;
         The skies sent out a sound;
         Your arrows also flashed about.
 ¹⁸ The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
         The lightnings lit up the world;
         The earth trembled and shook.
 ¹⁹ Your way was in the sea,
         Your path in the great waters,
         And Your footsteps were not known.
 ²⁰ You led Your people like a flock
         By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

WAR

War.  It’s horrible, yet sometimes necessary.  The Old Testament in particular is full of references to it, so how then should we regard it?

Our war perspective should be twofold.

First, that God is in charge and we’re not—that He fights our battles for us—when we’re wise enough not to get in His way and do it ourselves.  

Second, since He knows the beginning and the end—and everything in between, whatever does or doesn’t happen in war—like everything else—will be used by Him to help accomplish His ends—which has the best interest of our ends at heart.

If, say, as God, your desire is to see more and more people come into a personal relationship with the Son, and more people would do that through the seeming “untimely” death of a brave soldier versus survival of the same, why wouldn’t you allow for that, especially since the late troop would live forever without pain with his or her Lord? 

When faced with any situation that seems difficult for our carnal minds to grasp, we can be filled with God’s peace by realizing that He’s in charge of every piece—that is the tapestry of our lives.

b(Les)sings

PSALM 76 (KJV)

[1] In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.
[2] In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.
[3] There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.
[4] Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.
[5] The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.
[6] At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.
[7] Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?
[8] Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,
[9] When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.
[10] Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
[11] Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
[12] He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth. (KJV)

GRADUATION DAY

Mary got a well-deserved promotion today.

She was always easy to touch—I speak not of her body, but the genuineness that was her spirit, and it was that spirit that continuously touched those in Christ’s Body that had the wisdom to latch on to her.  I was one of many that wisely did so.

Shortly after my first wife passed away, Mary (and the rest of the Woodstock Christian School Moms in Touch) were there for me.  They were earthy—never holding back on anything, including giving me important perspectives, both as females in general and wives and mothers in particular.  I admired their candor, and courage in allowing me, a male, into their inner sanctum—it showed what they were made of.

Mary was the kind of mother every kid wanted to have—fun-loving and young at heart, yet not shying away from boundary-setting where needed, an act that lets any child know that he or she is loved, despite their objections to the contrary.

Mary was the kind of friend every adult wanted.  When you look up “real” in the dictionary, it says, “See also, Mary.”

I remember how she beamed upon learning that she would be a grandparent—and beaming all the more when it came to fruition. 

In Psalm 75, verses 6 and 7 we read as follows (KJV):

     ⁶For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
 ⁷But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

That only leaves true north—God—to do the promoting, and in His infinite wisdom, He has lifted her up.

Well done, good and faithful servant—enter into the joy of your Lord.  You’re already missed terribly, Mary, but that pales in comparison with how overjoyed we are for you.

Our heart goes out to Ron and family, and we pray that the God of peace grants His peace—the peace that passes all understanding—to all of us that mourn her.

In love,
Les Linz
www.psalmsblueprintforpeace.blogspot.com

THE OTHER SHOE

Years ago, when I was just starting to get my ministerial feet wet, I had the opportunity to preach one Sunday night before a modest number of congregants.  Nervous and excited at the same time, I shared a message I thought to be good, and in fact have shared it many times since.  It was actually during this sermon that my (then) 9 year-old daughter drew a pencil drawing of me at a lectern, holding a Bible in one hand, with the other raised in obvious oratory.  It was an amazing likeness—clearly she doesn’t get her artistic talent from me.

I was profoundly honored and anxious to have the church’s three sitting pastors on the platform behind me (One of whom, as the congregation’s Senior Pastor, did not resign until having been there for over 25 years—an unheard of tenure for church leaders.  Additionally, the other two ministers had been there well over a decade each—also rare in the church employment field).

Overall, I thought the message had gone fairly well, and at the end of the service went to the back of the sanctuary to greet those leaving for the night.  The people were very polite, and when all but the Senior Pastor was left, I looked to him with expectation.

“I thought it was an excellent message,” he said.

“And?”  I said.

“And nothing.  It was an excellent message.”

As I stood glowing in his presence, my wife explained a character trait of mine to him.

“He’s always waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

There was more than one reason for that dominating my life, but probably the most profound one had to do with the death of my late wife.  Ting passed on at age 37 after two bouts of breast cancer in five years (She experienced three glorious years of remission in between).  As a natural defense mechanism, when someone you love is going through something like that, and you have to deal with it as the non-afflicted family member, you start giving up hope.  That way, if healing does not occur, you’re not disappointed—and if it does—you’re delighted.

That’s the way it often is when you’re living in this world and love the Lord.  You know that others hate Him—He told you they would.  As His spiritual spouse, you want to fix things, but remember that the greatest of peace comes to those that let Him do the fixing.

b(Les)sings

Pss.74 (KJV)

[1] O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
[2] Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
[3] Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
[4] Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
[5] A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
[6] But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
[7] They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
[8] They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
[9] We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
[10] O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
[11] Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.
[12] For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
[13] Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
[14] Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
[15] Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
[16] The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
[17] Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
[18] Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
[19] O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
[20] Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
[21] O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
[22] Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
[23] Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.(KJV)

TOO RICH

The psalmist Asaph had some issues with the rich, or at least, for a while.

You’ve probably known (or known of) at least one person that you thought was living much too easy a life—one that didn’t need to be as wealthy as they were.  Unfortunately, focusing on things like that tends to breed covetousness—and that’s not good for any child of God.  It’s a poison that can creep into our bloodstream at unawares with great speed, destroying both the believer’s testimony and credibility.

Thankfully we can defer to the Apostle Paul. 

He tells us in Philipians 4: ¹¹ Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (NKJV)

Whatever state he’d been in he had learned to be content—and he’d been in some pretty lousy states.  That’s something we can (and need to) learn from.  Look at another thing Paul told us as well:

From Romans 7: ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (NIV).

It’s like when James speaks of that prophet of old in James 5: ¹⁷ Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. ¹⁸ Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops  (NIV).

So what is the hope?  That we’re not subject to the control of covetousness or jealousy.  If you’re not greater than that Pharisee’s Pharisee Paul (and who of us are), you can choose contentment, rather than disgruntlement with others.  Like the Apostle, realize you’re going to blow it from time to time, and know that like Elijah, a common man, you (likewise) as a common man, can have uncommon peace, by choosing to rejoice for those you would just assume curse.

b(Les)sings

Psalm 73

New King James Version (NKJV)

A Psalm of Asaph.

 ¹ Truly God is good to Israel,
         To such as are pure in heart.
 ² But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
         My steps had nearly slipped.
 ³ For I was envious of the boastful,
         When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
        
 ⁴ For there are no pangs in their death,
         But their strength is firm.
 ⁵ They are not in trouble as other men,
         Nor are they plagued like other men.
 ⁶ Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
         Violence covers them like a garment.
 ⁷ Their eyes bulge^[a] with abundance;
         They have more than heart could wish.
 ⁸ They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
         They speak loftily.
 ⁹ They set their mouth against the heavens,
         And their tongue walks through the earth.
        
 ¹⁰ Therefore his people return here,
         And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
 ¹¹ And they say, “How does God know?
         And is there knowledge in the Most High?”
 ¹² Behold, these are the ungodly,
         Who are always at ease;
         They increase in riches.
 ¹³ Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
         And washed my hands in innocence.
 ¹⁴ For all day long I have been plagued,
         And chastened every morning.
        
 ¹⁵ If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
         Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
 ¹⁶ When I thought how to understand this,
         It was too painful for me—
 ¹⁷ Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
         Then I understood their end.
        
 ¹⁸ Surely You set them in slippery places;
         You cast them down to destruction.
 ¹⁹ Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
         They are utterly consumed with terrors.
 ²⁰ As a dream when one awakes,
         So, Lord, when You awake,
         You shall despise their image.
        
 ²¹ Thus my heart was grieved,
         And I was vexed in my mind.
 ²² I was so foolish and ignorant;
         I was like a beast before You.
 ²³ Nevertheless I am continually with You;
         You hold me by my right hand.
 ²⁴ You will guide me with Your counsel,
         And afterward receive me to glory.
        
 ²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but You?
         And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
 ²⁶ My flesh and my heart fail;
         But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
        
 ²⁷ For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
         You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
 ²⁸ But it is good for me to draw near to God;
         I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
         That I may declare all Your works.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 73:7 Targum reads face bulges; Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read iniquity bulges.

PREYING

We can either prey on our nations’ leaders or we can pray for them.  Preying makes us feel better—praying makes them (and the nations) better.  Consider Romans 13:1-7:

[1] Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
[2] Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
[3] For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
[4] For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
[5] Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
[6] For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
[7] Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

God has a history of turning His children over to others, in order that they might endure correction that betters them, and there is nothing in either Old or New Testament to indicate He’s changed his methodology for teaching. 

Peace will abound when the Messiah returns, but until then, the only way to experience inward peace midst outer instability is to subject one’s self to the direction provided in His Word.
b(Les)sings

<< Psalm 72 >>
King James Version 
________________________________________
1<<A Psalm for Solomon.>> Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.
2He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
3The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
4He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
5They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
6He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
7In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
8He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
9They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.
10The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
11Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
12For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
13He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
14He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
15And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.
16There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
17His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
19And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

WHAT'S THAT YOU SAY?

Many years ago I went to visit a Spanish speaking Assemblies of God church in Elgin, Illinois (Templo Calvario) with a fellow elder of mine.  We were both active on a steering committee that was attempting to start a Spanish speaking charismatic/Pentecostal American Baptist Church in the town of Woodstock (McHenry County), Illinois.

I looked forward to the visit for a few reasons.

First, I was hoping to learn things that I could take back to help birth that church.  Second, I was enjoying the prospect of being able to hear a friend of mine sing some special music.  Third, I relished the thought of worshiping my God with other believers of different race and culture.  I figured it was a preview of Heaven.

At some point after some congregational hymn singing, someone gave a message in tongues.  I didn’t know what was said, but I knew it wasn’t a language I recognized, like bits of the Spanish language.

And then, after the person was speaking, another person “interpreted” what was said—in Spanish (with some words that I did recognize). 

And then, a person I later found out to be bilingual (Spanish/English) translated the Spanish interpretation of the unknown tongue into English—so that all were edified.

The author of Psalm 71 petitions the Lord early on to ‘deliver’ him from confusion.  It was the following passage from I Cor. 14 that then came to mind when I read that (KJV—italics and bold in the following two passages rendered that way by the author):

[21] In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
[22] Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
[23] If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
[24] But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
[25] And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
[26] How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, everyone of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
[27] If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.[28] But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
[29] Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
[30] If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
[31] For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
[32] And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
[33] For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints (KJV).

b(Les)sings

Pss.71 (KJV)

[1] In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
[2] Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
[3] Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
[4] Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
[5] For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.
[6] By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
[7] I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
[8] Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
[9] Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
[10] For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
[11] Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
[12] O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
[13] Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
[14] But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
[15] My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
[16] I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
[17] O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
[18] Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
[19] Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
[20] Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
[21] Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
[22] I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
[23] My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
[24] My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are

HURRY, HURRY

People that have lived long enough to receive their congratulatory 100^th birthday anniversary wishes from our Commander in Chief can tell you how much any number of things have changed over the years, especially the various methodologies employed to speedily deliver a message one to another.

Since the first “marathon”, people have been looking for ways to get the message out faster and faster.  The telegram was eventually replaced by the mailgram (always a dumb idea in my estimation).  Now we’re up to cell phones, text messaging and the like.  Sometimes, a combination of old-fashioned telephone and police radio transmissions team up for spectacular results too.

It was late winter, 1978.  I was on a weekend trip to Schiller Park, Illinois, with our junior college Circle K group (college chapter of Kiwanis International).  We were meeting for a regional convention at the Howard Johnson.  We befriended many an interesting person during the visit, and found it had a lot to do with another group that was meeting at the hotel at the time, an EST Seminar.

An acronym for Erhard Seminar Training (a.k.a. Est Standard Training), the participants would meet for 60 hours over the course of two 30 hour weekend sessions.  The course had as its goal, the motivation to see peoples’ lives change for the better—especially those that were grappling with self-esteem issues, or those generally doing battle with the world.  Word had it to be a very expensive endeavor for the participants, who were under strict control of the leader(s), in order that their thinking might be reshaped. 

As a psychology student, I was very interested in eavesdropping on the sessions when not in Circle K meetings (or the pool).  The verbiage and tone of the instructors seemed to be at the very least, harsh—but what caught my attention, and the attention of a hotel operator—was the verbal thrashing that one of the Seminar workers was giving an elderly lady that could have easily passed for Tweety’s owner.

Apparently, because she had committed the grievous error of eventually going to the bathroom after having been told several times that she could not leave to do so, she stood outside the ballroom, being told she could not come back for the rest of the seminar, and that none of the thousands of dollars she’d spent would be returned. 

The loud voice of the instructor and the sobbing of the elderly lady carried from where they were to the hotel desk.  The attendant sent the security guard over to talk with the man, except the man did not seem terribly interested in civil discourse.  Things became more and more heated—so much so that I decided to walk outside to literally get a breath of fresh air.  It wasn’t a full minute later that nine police cars showed up—two with galloping police dog German Shepherds in tow, two with shotguns at the ready, the others with revolvers out of their respective holsters—I nearly got knocked over.

Apparently what happened is that in the heat of the “discussion”, in a moment of panic the hotel operator said, “Officer needs assistance” instead of “Security officer needs assistance.”  I was instantly in love and awe with how passionately one law enforcement officer would come to the aid of another thought to be in distress.

That’s the way it is with God and you. 

God hurries to help you when you call upon Him for the help.  He sends out His reinforcements to assist and drives your enemies away.  You stay—they flee.  Your enemies become filled with your former dread, as you become filled with the contentment of God.

b(Les)sings

Psalm 70

New King James Version (NKJV)

–To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance.

 ¹ Make haste, O God, to deliver me!
         Make haste to help me, O LORD!
        
 ² Let them be ashamed and confounded
         Who seek my life;
         Let them be turned back^[a] and confused
         Who desire my hurt.
 ³ Let them be turned back because of their shame,
         Who say, “Aha, aha!”
        
 ⁴ Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
         And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
         “Let God be magnified!”
        
 ⁵ But I am poor and needy;
         Make haste to me, O God!
         You are my help and my deliverer;
         O LORD, do not delay.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 70:2 Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate; some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac read be appalled (compare 40:15).

ENEMY MATH

When you do things the enemy doesn’t like, you are likely to become a victim of enemy math.  What makes up enemy math?  It has four basic components:

ADDITION—More and more of your opponents gather together to do you harm.  Since they don’t succeed as much as they’d like individually, they think being confederate one with the other against you will help their cause.

MULTIPLICATION—They attract an ever increasing group of those that are discontent with your successes.

DIVISION—The cause it whenever and wherever they can.

SUBTRACTION—They try their level best to take away from what you have.

And now for the good news.  God does math too.

ADDITION:  Matthew 6: ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (KJV ).

MULTIPLICATION:  Luke 6: ³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (NKJV)

DIVISION:  Luke 12:⁵¹ Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. ⁵² For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. ⁵³ Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”(NKJV)--NOTE:  This particular 'operation' is not meant to bring peace on earth, but rather, Heaven.

SUBTRACTION:  John 15² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;^[a] and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.(NKJV)

Remember that peace isn’t necessarily getting the result the way we want or in the timing that we would want it.  Instead, it’s what God wants in His perfect timing.

b(Les)sings

Psalm 69 (KJV)

 ¹Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
 ²I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
 ³I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
 ⁴They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
 ⁵O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
 ⁶Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
 ⁷Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.
 ⁸I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.
 ⁹For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
 ¹⁰When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
 ¹¹I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.
 ¹²They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.
 ¹³But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
 ¹⁴Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
 ¹⁵Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
 ¹⁶Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
 ¹⁷And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.
 ¹⁸Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.
 ¹⁹Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.
 ²⁰Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
 ²¹They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
 ²²Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
 ²³Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
 ²⁴Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.
 ²⁵Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
 ²⁶For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
 ²⁷Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.
 ²⁸Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
 ²⁹But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
 ³⁰I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
 ³¹This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
 ³²The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
 ³³For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
 ³⁴Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.
 ³⁵For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
 ³⁶The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein. (KJV)

RELEVANT FOR HALLOWEEN

The wicked flee in God’s presence—that doesn’t just happen in the movies.

The Word tells us that in the name (authority) of Jesus, demons will have to flee.  If demons didn’t exist, they wouldn’t have to flee in Jesus’ authority and we wouldn’t have to have been told that to begin with.

A few years back I was experiencing all the classic symptoms associated with congestive heart failure.  One early Sunday morning around that time, a demon appeared to me in my bedroom as the light of dawn streamed through the translucent curtains.

He looked a little bit like Lurch from The Addams Family television series, and skinny as the proverbial 'rail'.  He was at least 9 feet tall, which is what I surmised by seeing his feet on the floor and his head pressed against our 9’ ceiling.  He spoke in a gravely, hoarse and monotone basso-profundo voice, utterly void of any humanity whatsoever.

“Shall we add ‘well done’ to your tombstone?”

Of course he was referring to what Jesus said when He explained how when a Christian dies, he will hear, ‘Well done good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joy of your Lord.’

My first thought was to tell the demon, ‘Go to hell,’ but then I thought, “No, he’s already been there.”  Then I thought to tell him to shut up, but then I remembered how the archangel Michael was quoted in Jude: (1:9)

Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (--NKJB--).

Finally, I came up with the right answer.  With Michael as my model, I said, “In the authority of Jesus…” and that was it—I never had to say another word.  I think for one moment God actually allowed me to see how fast a nanosecond is.  I still can’t get my head around how dramatic and spectacular his split was.  Thankfully the story doesn’t end there.

I went to church that Sunday, not where I usually go, but to a house of worship affiliated with the denomination that held my ministerial credentials.  No one at the church knew me—I was there as a stranger.  Before I went in, I asked the Lord to please heal me.  He spoke into my mind to go to a particular woman for prayer.  Finally, the opportunity came toward the end of the service as she walked up to the front to pray for people.  I didn’t even tell her what I needed.  She said to me, “I want to pray for you, but if you don’t mind, I want to pray to the Lord first, to ask what He wants.” 

“Fine,” I said, gladly.

And then she prayed—and wept—and prayed some more, put a finger on my chest and said, “Yes, Lord, a new heart.  Please give my brother a new heart.”  And, like the Tin Man, I walked out of there with one—my symptoms gone.

Remember that it’s not just authority, but the relationship behind it.  Look at Acts 19:

¹³ Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We^[a] exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” ¹⁴ Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
¹⁵ And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
¹⁶ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered^[b] them, and prevailed against them,^[c] so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. (--NKJV--)

In the Greek it reads, ‘Jesus (we’re well acquainted with) and (with) Paul (we’re very familiar), but who are you (you who refer to the authority of Jesus without possessing a relationship with Him)?

In a relationship-backed Jesus authority, not only do demons flee, but peace rushes in where fear once lived.
b(Les)sings

Psalm 68

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
 ²As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
 ³But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
 ⁴Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
 ⁵A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
 ⁶God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
 ⁷O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
 ⁸The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
 ⁹Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
 ¹⁰Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
 ¹¹The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
 ¹²Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
 ¹³Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
 ¹⁴When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
 ¹⁵The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
 ¹⁶Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.
 ¹⁷The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
 ¹⁸Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
 ¹⁹Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
 ²⁰He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.
 ²¹But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
 ²²The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
 ²³That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
 ²⁴They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
 ²⁵The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
 ²⁶Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
 ²⁷There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
 ²⁸Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
 ²⁹Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
 ³⁰Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.
 ³¹Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
 ³²Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
 ³³To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
 ³⁴Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
 ³⁵O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

PRAYING FOR THE WIFE

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery—it can also be supernaturally valuable.

The courts are full of people contending that the idea they’ve stolen from another is actually their own.  Aside from being impudent, insolent, and arrogant on its face, it’s also profitable, providing the judge finds in their favor.

But the Judge bestows His greatest favor on those that do what He says.

In Numbers (6:22-27) the Lord addresses Moses, telling him to instruct his brother and nephews (the priests) to bless those in their charge like this: 

     “May the Lord bless you and keep you.  May the Lord make His face to shine upon you.  May he be gracious unto you, and may he grant you His gift of peace.”

That is popularly known as the Aaronic blessing, and it’s something I decided to pray over my wife on a daily basis for some time now.  My greatest regret is that I didn’t think to do it earlier than I did.

When I pray over her I lay my hands upon her as a point of contact, and as I speak the words, I sense God’s joy—not only for the words themselves, but in His knowing that I care enough about His creation to bless her with the best He has to offer. 

Yes, the prayer includes the word, “peace”, yet the greatest peace comes with the infusion of God in your life—not only as you pray the prayer, but live it as well.

b(Les)sings

King James Version (KJV)

Psalm 67

 ¹God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
 ²That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
 ³Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
 ⁴O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
 ⁵Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
 ⁶Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
 ⁷God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.