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

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.