The first time my dad decided to teach me how to swim, I was terrified. I was still in shallow water but I didn’t know when he would take me out to the deep water. Being the very short person I have always been, water was nearly always over my head! At least in my mind, it was. Dad’s first idea was to give instruction. But the words got lost in my fear. Then he showed me how to swim using my arms and legs as paddles. Again, all I could think about was when and how he would make me do what he was showing me. Then, seeing my fear, he said, get on my back and you will see and feel what I’m doing. Don’t worry, I will keep you safe.
Because I trusted my dad, I eased onto his back and held on for dear life! I clutched his neck with both arms wrapped tightly around him until he could hardly breathe, but he was laughing at the same time. Dad knew I wouldn’t drown on his watch. But I had to be convinced.
Soon he was swimming beyond the depths I was used to playing. The lesson got more serious. He swam with ease and I was still hanging on for dear life. Soon, I relaxed because dad was relaxed. He brought me back to shallow waters and said, “See, I had you all along”. He then said, “I love you too much to let you drown in deep waters.”
That’s exactly how our Heavenly Father, our Abba Father, feels about us. He loves us too much to let us drown in our own sin and selfishness, in troubles or from attacks from the evil one. He sometimes sends us to the deep waters of life to teach us His character while we realize He will always be there to rescue us and will not allow us to drown. Isaiah, God’s prophet, who spoke God’s words says,
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2
So, hold onto God for dear life…He’s got us! For life!
Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs
Psalm 91, The Message
1-13 You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!”
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door. He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
14-16 “If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God, “I’ll get you out of any trouble. I’ll give you the best of care if you’ll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party. I’ll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!”
TRUTH: “Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.” God’s got this and everything else the world throws at us.
Proverb 28:1, The Message
The wicked are edgy with guilt, ready to run off even when no one’s after them; Honest people are relaxed and confident, bold as lions.
WISDOM: Follow God, be honest and relax. Our confidence is in God alone.
Abba Father,
The reminders of your love and care were just what I needed this morning. Of course, You are in control of all, in all, above all because you created all. You know the hearts of all and can work wonders. We pray for your wonders and glory to be seen in all that is going on in our world today. We are in deep waters but we are holding onto You for dear life because our faith and confidence is You. You are our confidence! Thank you for loving us the way you do. May we love others they way you love us.
In Jesus Name, Amen
I will rest In Your promises My confidence Is Your faithfulness
Faithful, You are Faithful, forever, You will be Faithful, You are All Your promises are Yes and Amen All Your promises are Yes and Amen
Oh Lord, you’re beautiful, Your face is all I seek, For when your eyes are on this child, Your grace abounds to me.
These are some of the lyrics to a song, “Lord, You’re Beautiful” by the prolific Steve Green. It plays in the background as I read and study this next psalm written by a man of God, Moses. Moses was a leader, but as you recall from his story, being THE leader of God’s people was not what he desired until God put His power in him. Moses learned quickly that obedience to God was the only way to live and the only way to lead. God poured into Moses all that he needed to lead God’s people out of oppressive slavery. By God’s power left Egypt, through powerful waters, to a safe haven in the wilderness of God’s care and keeping. But evil followed them there.
Oh Lord, please light the fire, That once burned bright and clear. Replace the lamp of my first love, That burns with Holy fear.
From the burning bush to the parting of the Red Sea, Moses humbled himself in obedience to God. When he failed to do that, Moses knew it and quickly repented and came back to doing what God told him to be and do. We know when we stray to go it alone without God, don’t we?
I want to take your word and shine it all around. But first help me to just, live it Lord. And when I’m doing well, help me to never seek a crown. For my reward is giving glory to you.
We can learn great wisdom and the character of God from the psalm before us from one who knew God, talked with God and who lived in obedience to God. This is the true character of leadership called of God for a specific purpose and plan of God. Yes, God is God and we are not. When God calls, He has the plan. Our work is His work in and through us. We are merely invited to His work for a season and for “such a time as this”.
Oh Lord, you’re beautiful, Your face is all I seek, For when your eyes are on this child, Your grace abounds to me.
Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs
Psalm 90, The Message
A Prayer of Moses, Man of God
1-2 God, it seems you’ve been our home forever; long before the mountains were born, Long before you brought earth itself to birth, from “once upon a time” to “kingdom come”—you are God.
3-11 So don’t return us to mud, saying, “Back to where you came from!” Patience! You’ve got all the time in the world—whether a thousand years or a day, it’s all the same to you.
Are we no more to you than a wispy dream, no more than a blade of grass That springs up gloriously with the rising sun and is cut down without a second thought? Your anger is far and away too much for us; we’re at the end of our rope. You keep track of all our sins; every misdeed since we were children is entered in your books. All we can remember is that frown on your face. Is that all we’re ever going to get? We live for seventy years or so (with luck we might make it to eighty), And what do we have to show for it? Trouble. Toil and trouble and a marker in the graveyard. Who can make sense of such rage, such anger against the very ones who fear you?
12-17 Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well! Come back, God—how long do we have to wait?— and treat your servants with kindness for a change. Surprise us with love at daybreak; then we’ll skip and dance all the day long. Make up for the bad times with some good times; we’ve seen enough evil to last a lifetime. Let your servants see what you’re best at— the ways you rule and bless your children. And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us, confirming the work that we do. Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do!
TRUTH: Long before you brought earth itself to birth, from “once upon a time” to “kingdom come”—you are God.
Proverb 27:21, The Message
The purity of silver and gold is tested by putting them in the fire; The purity of human hearts is tested by giving them a little fame.
WISDOM: Know that God’s testing fire purifies our hearts and souls until He can see his reflection in us. He is God and we are His people. Others will know us by Who we reflect in our character.
Oh Lord, you’re beautiful, Your face is all I seek, For when your eyes are on this child, Your grace abounds to me.
Abba Father,
You are God and we are not. Affirm Your work in us and through us. Give us clarity and wisdom to know we truly are in the center of Your will, accomplishing YOUR purpose and plan. I want what You want, Lord. May your glory be seen in me and all around me as I go about this day. Thank you, Lord.
Our country is in turmoil. Countries and providences have been divided for ages. Leaders rise and fall. Humans want our own way and we want it instantly. When we don’t get our own way, the fighting begins. It’s more than a mere difference of opinion, we have lost our path to all that is right and just. What is right and good comes only from the mind of Christ, our Lord. If we do not believe in Christ, the Son of the Living, Present God, and follow our own way, then we are lost to our devices of hate and hateful ways with vices of bitterness, addiction to self-satisfaction, which leads to self-destruction. Friends, none of us are smart enough to go our own way. No matter what is happening, don’t forget the passwords of praise. The passwords into God’s grace are humility and repentance.
How often do we forget our passwords to our apps? How frustrating it is to forget our passwords, that we created ourselves, to “protect” important information in our computers! We try every word, letter and number configuration to get to the right stuff, right? We shout hallelujahs when we finally remember and can get to what is most important to us.
It is the same when we lose the passwords of praise to our Creator, our living hope, our salvation, the foundation of our faith. We try every configuration of behavior to do what is right in our own way instead of being the created who love God with all that is in Him while trusting and obeying God’s way of living His love, mercy and grace. I love how Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase the psalmist’s words in The Message, describing the avenue to sincere praise;
“The Right and Justice are the roots of your rule; Love and Truth are its fruits. Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of God.” Ps. 89
The passwords of praise are then shown in our responsive behavior to God’s love, truth, justice, righteousness, mercy and grace! “Blessed are the people who know…” Blessed are the ones who sing God’s song and tell His story. Blessed are the ones who live in His ways because of their love for Him.
Ah, remember, the Lord “looks over the whole earth”, browsing and scanning whose hearts are completely His. (2 Chronicles 16:9) Is my heart, mind and soul His? Completely? These are the passwords of praise.
What did our Lord see yesterday at our nation’s capital? Did it surprise Him? No. Jesus explained what would happen over two thousand years ago to his disciples who ask about the future of His coming and His Kingdom’s reign. Many who believe are wondering the same these days. The signs have been appearing all along, so to say it is soon is only our way of resolving what has gone on in God’s creation since Cain and Abel. We don’t know the time, but those who know Jesus will know Him when He does come back for His own.
While living under treacherous oppressive Roman rule we find the disciples concerned about what Jesus was saying about The Temple. In Matthew 24…”The disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
ABIDING “ENDURANCE” IS A PASSWORD OF PRAISE!
The Coming
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His [d]elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24
AND WHEN HE COMES…Those who know Him will know it is He who is coming! Look for Him! Lay down all that stands in the way of knowing Jesus now! To know, repent, abide, follow, love unconditionally, walk humbly, showing mercy to all mankind are the passwords to praise. There is only one password to setting us free from sin— “Jesus”!
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
The ultimate password to praise? Believe. Believe in Jesus and be saved from our sin and from all this divisive world thinking has to offer us as cheap living. Instead choose to live rich, abundantly abiding lives in and for Him. There is no one like our God! Absolutely no one.
Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs
Psalm 89, The Message
An Ethan Prayer
1-4 Your love, God, is my song, and I’ll sing it! I’m forever telling everyone how faithful you are. I’ll never quit telling the story of your love— how you built the cosmos and guaranteed everything in it. Your love has always been our lives’ foundation, your fidelity has been the roof over our world. You once said, “I joined forces with my chosen leader, I pledged my word to my servant, David, saying, ‘Everyone descending from you is guaranteed life; I’ll make your rule as solid and lasting as rock.’”
5-18 God! Let the cosmos praise your wonderful ways, the choir of holy angels sing anthems to your faithful ways! Search high and low, scan skies and land, you’ll find nothing and no one quite like God. The holy angels are in awe before him; he looms immense and august over everyone around him. God-of-the-Angel-Armies, who is like you, powerful and faithful from every angle? You put the arrogant ocean in its place and calm its waves when they turn unruly.
You gave that old hag Egypt the back of your hand, you brushed off your enemies with a flick of your wrist. You own the cosmos—you made everything in it, everything from atom to archangel. You positioned the North and South Poles; the mountains Tabor and Hermon sing duets to you. With your well-muscled arm and your grip of steel— nobody trifles with you!
The Right and Justice are the roots of your rule; Love and Truth are its fruits. Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of God. Delighted, they dance all day long; they know who you are, what you do—they can’t keep it quiet! Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us— you’ve been so good to us! We’re walking on air! All we are and have we owe to God, Holy God of Israel, our King!
19-37 A long time ago you spoke in a vision, you spoke to your faithful beloved: “I’ve crowned a hero, I chose the best I could find; I found David, my servant, poured holy oil on his head, And I’ll keep my hand steadily on him, yes, I’ll stick with him through thick and thin. No enemy will get the best of him, no scoundrel will do him in. I’ll weed out all who oppose him, I’ll clean out all who hate him.
I’m with him for good and I’ll love him forever; I’ve set him on high—he’s riding high! I’ve put Ocean in his one hand, River in the other; he’ll call out, ‘Oh, my Father—my God, my Rock of Salvation!’ Yes, I’m setting him apart as the First of the royal line, High King over all of earth’s kings. I’ll preserve him eternally in my love, I’ll faithfully do all I so solemnly promised. I’ll guarantee his family tree and underwrite his rule.
If his children refuse to do what I tell them, if they refuse to walk in the way I show them, If they spit on the directions I give them and tear up the rules I post for them— I’ll rub their faces in the dirt of their rebellion and make them face the music. But I’ll never throw them out, never abandon or disown them. Do you think I’d withdraw my holy promise? or take back words I’d already spoken? I’ve given my word, my whole and holy word; do you think I would lie to David? His family tree is here for good, his sovereignty as sure as the sun, Dependable as the phases of the moon, inescapable as weather.”
38-51 But God, you did walk off and leave us, you lost your temper with the one you anointed. You tore up the promise you made to your servant, you stomped his crown in the mud. You blasted his home to kingdom come, reduced his city to a pile of rubble Picked clean by wayfaring strangers, a joke to all the neighbors. You declared a holiday for all his enemies, and they’re celebrating for all they’re worth. Angry, you opposed him in battle, refused to fight on his side; You robbed him of his splendor, humiliated this warrior, ground his kingly honor in the dirt. You took the best years of his life and left him an impotent, ruined husk. How long do we put up with this, God? Are you gone for good? Will you hold this grudge forever? Remember my sorrow and how short life is. Did you create men and women for nothing but this? We’ll see death soon enough. Everyone does. And there’s no back door out of hell.
So where is the love you’re so famous for, Lord? What happened to your promise to David? Take a good look at your servant, dear Lord; I’m the butt of the jokes of all nations, The taunting jokes of your enemies, God, as they dog the steps of your dear anointed.
52 Blessed be God forever and always! Yes. Oh, yes.
TRUTH: “Your love has always been our lives’ foundation, your fidelity has been the roof over our world.”
Proverb 27:8, The Message
WISDOM: “People who won’t settle down, wandering hither and yon, are like restless birds, flitting to and fro.” “Be still and know that I AM God.” He is God above all His created, above all wisdom the world has ever known. And He is Savior. Walk in His ways. “Settle down”.
Abba Father,
We come to you with broken hearts for what is happening where we live and wonder what’s next for us? What will we endure because of the brokenness of those who have turned to hate, lies, deceptions while stirring up defenseless people? Ah, but then we realize you are in control and will always be in control. Our souls are precious to you. You saved our souls for eternity by the blood sacrifice of Your Son. We find peace in knowing, while realizing the depth of your love for us. Help us to not align ourselves with anyone who hates but instead lean into the passwords of praise that declare our allegiance only to you. Leaders rise and fall. But you, Lord? You are our King forever! Help us love like you love as if our lives depended on it no matter what is happening around us or to us.
Years ago, a tv variety show was introduced basically so country singers could have a platform to promote their music to the general public. From the show HeeHaw, a little country humor was thrown in between the country songs. Every week, two “good ole’ boys, dressed in overalls, would sing:
Gloom, despair, and agony on me Deep, dark depression, excessive misery If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all Gloom, despair, and agony on me
And then they would both spit “raspberries” with their mouths. Yeah, not so high class, but we all laughed as kids for the first few times. Then it got old. Very old.
Is that what the psalmist is singing in today passage? At first read through, all we hear is darkness and despair. Going a bit deeper, we learn that this is the last “sons of Korah” psalm in the Psalms and is perhaps the most plaintive song in the entire book. In the Hebrew text, the psalm ends with the word hoshek, “darkness,” and there is no closing note of triumph as in other psalms that begin with pain and perplexity. What is up with that?
The psalm speaks of darkness, life in the depths, the immanence of death, feelings of drowning, loneliness, and imprisonment. I wonder if a pandemic was going on at the time? Heman was a servant of God who was suffering intensely and did not understand why, yet he persisted in praying to God and did not abandon his faith. Not all of life’s scripts have happy endings, but that does not mean that the Lord has forsaken us.
From Heman’s experience, as recorded in this psalm, we can discover four instructions to follow when life falls apart and our prayers seemingly are not answered;
COME to the Lord by faith. Be honest in prayer no matter what is going on. Heman had trusted the Lord to save him, and the fact that he prayed as he did indicates that his faith was still active. No matter how we feel and no matter how impossible our circumstances, we can always come to the Lord with our burdens.
TELL the Lord how you feel. He already knows, but if you need a sounding board the best person to tell how you honestly feel is One who can take it. Telling someone else just brings them down and you still don’t have a solution. Only God knows and can help.
DEFEND your cause before the Lord. Heman’s argument is simply that his death will rob God of a great opportunity to demonstrate His power and glory. Sometimes, when I don’t know what to pray when life is threatened, I simply pray, may Your Glory be seen in this. God answers that prayer beyond our wildest imaginations.
WAIT for the Lord’s answer. This is the toughest one of all. We cry out, “how long, O God?” many times in our own prayers while waiting of God’s answer and best timing. Sometimes waiting is the only thing we can do, right? So, what do we learn in the wait? God’s best lessons of faith are taught in the wait. “Be still and know that I am God” comes to mind. Be still means to let go and give it all to God with faith knowing that He will intercede. I have discovered that it is in giving up completely but I find God works His wonders. Mm.
So, it seems this psalm of doom, despair and agony has given us an encouraging lesson about our faith. What do you think? Gloom or Gladness?
Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs
Psalm 88, The Message
A Korah Prayer of Heman
1-9 God, you’re my last chance of the day. I spend the night on my knees before you. Put me on your salvation agenda; take notes on the trouble I’m in. I’ve had my fill of trouble; I’m camped on the edge of hell. I’m written off as a lost cause, one more statistic, a hopeless case. Abandoned as already dead, one more body in a stack of corpses, And not so much as a gravestone— I’m a black hole in oblivion. You’ve dropped me into a bottomless pit, sunk me in a pitch-black abyss. I’m battered senseless by your rage, relentlessly pounded by your waves of anger. You turned my friends against me, made me horrible to them. I’m caught in a maze and can’t find my way out, blinded by tears of pain and frustration.
9-12 I call to you, God; all day I call. I wring my hands, I plead for help. Are the dead a live audience for your miracles? Do ghosts ever join the choirs that praise you? Does your love make any difference in a graveyard? Is your faithful presence noticed in the corridors of hell? Are your marvelous wonders ever seen in the dark, your righteous ways noticed in the Land of No Memory?
13-18 I’m standing my ground, God, shouting for help, at my prayers every morning, on my knees each daybreak. Why, God, do you turn a deaf ear? Why do you make yourself scarce? For as long as I remember I’ve been hurting; I’ve taken the worst you can hand out, and I’ve had it. Your wildfire anger has blazed through my life; I’m bleeding, black-and-blue. You’ve attacked me fiercely from every side, raining down blows till I’m nearly dead. You made lover and neighbor alike dump me; the only friend I have left is Darkness.
TRUTH: The only true Friend we have in the gloom and darkness times of our lives is God who sheds His light and dispels the darkness. Be still, wait and watch God do what only God can do!
Proverb 27:1, The Message
WISDOM: “Don’t brashly announce what you’re going to do tomorrow; you don’t know the first thing about tomorrow.”
Abba Father,
We don’t know what tomorrow holds but we know who is in charge of all our tomorrows. Great are You, Lord! I love how you love us. I love how you work. You have helped me through many dark times, transforming my life little by little. All my hope, faith, trust is in You alone because of my love for You. Continue to do what You must in me—but be gentle. Show me the way I should go and I will walk it. Lead my every thought and action with your wisdom.
Even though we have lived away from our hometown for almost three decades, we still say “we are originally from Oklahoma”. We were born there, grew to adulthood, married and birthed three children in our hometown. Randy and I taught elementary school in our hometown before going into ministry. God led us to pastor the church we grew up in even though others advised against that at the time. Our mentor affirmed what God was doing in us in our hometown, however, and advised to stay for “such a time as this”, so we did. Then God led us to leave for ministry assignments elsewhere. So, we left our physical hometown.
There are things you miss from your hometown adventures. For us, it’s eating Braum’s ice cream in warmer weather. When you make visits back to your hometown, the first activities on the agenda are eating the foods you miss, going to places that bring pleasant memories or looking up former friends that grew up with you and remained in your hometown. Memories usually get better with age. (Smiling.)
God’s hometown on earth, the city of Jerusalem, is described by the psalmist as the place he loves to dwell for it is the place His people come to be reborn, recommitting their love for Him! But let’s take a closer look for understanding. The writer was not indulging in arrogant nationalism but only seeking to glorify the God of Israel and the blessings He bestows.
The psalm must be read on two levels. It is a prophecy of the future kingdom, when all nations will come to Jerusalem to worship (86:9; Isa. 2:1-5), and it is also a picture of the heavenly Zion where the children of God have their spiritual citizenship (Luke 10:20; Gal. 4:21-31; Phil. 3:20-21; Heb. 12:18-24). Old and New Covenants come together in this simple psalm of praise to God where all are saved from death by believing that He is who He says He is.
He is God and we are not. No one loves like our God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). When we believe that Jesus, God’s Son, died to redeem us, we are reborn and adopted as God’s children to live in His “hometown” of heaven with Him forever!
GOING DEEPER STILL…
Warren Weirsbe, Commentator, helps to understand the connection between Zion and God’s eternal “hometown”.
“David chose Jerusalem for his capital city (2 Sam. 5:6-10), and the Lord validated that choice by putting His temple there. The nation of Israel was to be separate from the other nations both politically (Num. 23:9) and geographically. That is why God called Jerusalem “my city” (Isa. 45:13) and “the Holy City” (Isa. 48:2; 52:1) and Zion “my holy mountain” (Isa. 11:9; 56:7; 57:13). It is “the joy of the whole earth … the city of the great King” (48:2).
It is His foundation from which He has built His great work of redemption (Isa. 14:32). “Salvation is of the Jews,” said Jesus (John 4:22); and were it not for Israel, the world would not have the knowledge of the true and living God, the inspired Scriptures, or the Savior. Jesus died and rose again outside the walls of Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit descended on the church meeting in Jerusalem on Pentecost, and it was from Jerusalem that the early Jewish believers scattered to carry the gospel to the nations.”
Jerusalem is God’s hometown on earth. Jerusalem was not only the temple of the true God, but also the throne of David, and it would be the Davidic line that would give us the Savior, Jesus Christ. In the end times, Jerusalem will be a center of controversy and conflict, but the Lord will rescue His beloved city (Zech. 12:1–13:1). But the prophets have written some “glorious things” about the future Jerusalem, and the apostles have written even more glorious things about the heavenly Jerusalem!
The emphasis in all three verses is on birth, indicating that the people who enter the future glorious kingdom will experience a “new birth” and belong to the family of God. Like Paul, they will be citizens by birth (Acts 22:25-29) and not by purchase. The phrase “them that know me” indicates more than an intellectual appreciation of the Lord. It describes a personal relationship with Him, like that of husband and wife (Gen. 4:1; 19:8; 1 Sam. 2:12; 3:7).
WHOEVER BELIEVES…
As citizens of Zion and the children of God, the Jews and Gentiles not only live together, but they also sing together and play musical instruments as they rejoice in God’s blessings. Be born again into the Kingdom of God. “Believe and you will be saved”…(Acts 16:31) Every person is invited to God’s hometown and claim it as their own!
Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs
Psalm 87, The Message
A Korah Psalm
87 1-3 He founded Zion on the Holy Mountain— and oh, how God loves his home! Loves it far better than all the homes of Jacob put together! God’s hometown—oh! everyone there is talking about you!
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4 I name them off, those among whom I’m famous: Egypt and Babylon, also Philistia, even Tyre, along with Cush. Word’s getting around; they point them out: “This one was born again here!”
5 The word’s getting out on Zion: “Men and women, right and left, get born again in her!”
6 God registers their names in his book: “This one, this one, and this one— born again, right here.”
7 Singers and dancers give credit to Zion: “All my springs are in you!”
TRUTH: God’s loves his hometown but He loves His created even more! Believe, love God back, begin a seriously committed relationship with the God who loves us beyond human capabilities. Believe and God’s hometown is ours, too!
Proverb 27:19, The Message
“As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”
WISDOM: “Hometown” is where the heart is.
Abba Father,
We ponder the memories of our hometown and they cannot compare to residing in the hometown of your salvation and redemption. Thank you, Jesus, for the invitation to dwell in Your Presence, seek Your wisdom, and to live as a member of Your family forever. Thank you for hope, joy, and peace through good times and bad. Thank you for loving us the way you do. Thank you for helping us grow in our relationship with you as “joint heirs” in your forever hometown Kingdom. There is no one like You. Great are you Lord. Praise will forever be on my lips for I have been reborn into your hometown! Thank you, Lord. If home is where the heart is then I’m home with you.
When life gets too hard, we quit. When someone hurts our feelings, mocks us or ignores us, we quit, sulk and walk away. When our work becomes too challenging, requiring more learning, we quit to find a work that is easier. When a spouse doesn’t please or “meet our needs”, we quit working on the relationship and turn to someone else who we think will make us happier. When a restaurant serves us in a manner that displeases us, we quit going there. No second chances from us to be had! When someone betrays us, we hold a grudge and ban them from our lives forever. When someone gets angry at us and tells us their love for us is over, we quit loving them and everyone else like them. Quitting for humans in a world that tells us to “have our own way” is easy and even acceptable.
Quitting is our mantra–unless we know the God who never quits and never gives up on us!
David’s psalm offers high praise to the God who never quits! Let’s read this passage over and over until we can list all the ways God never quits! This is a great exercise for us. If we really believe that what we believe about God is really real, we will want to be who He wants to be and do what He wants us to do. Jesus, God’ Son, came to earth to show us God’s never quitting love, mercy and grace. Jesus, the supreme example of never quitting until our lives were redeemed, taught us how to live a never quitting life of love. Like the prophet of God Micah repeated from God Himself, we are required to live this life “doing what is right, loving mercy, while walking humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8, paraphrased.) There is no mention in God’s Word that states we are to quit loving or doing what is right while walking with God.
In fact, for further clarification, Paul writes, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9) That “harvest” describes lost people, seekers of hope, who need help finding and following Jesus, the Source of everlasting, never quitting love, hope, peace in good times and bad, mercy and grace. Jesus invites us to His work to tell His story while pointing the “harvest” of souls to Him to be saved from death.
God never quits. “God, you’re the one, there’s no one but you!”
“O God, are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love, and you never, never quit.” Thank you.
Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs
Psalm 86, The Message
A David Psalm
86 1-7 Bend an ear, God; answer me. I’m one miserable wretch! Keep me safe—haven’t I lived a good life? Help your servant—I’m depending on you! You’re my God; have mercy on me. I count on you from morning to night. Give your servant a happy life; I put myself in your hands! You’re well-known as good and forgiving, bighearted to all who ask for help. Pay attention, God, to my prayer; bend down and listen to my cry for help. Every time I’m in trouble I call on you, confident that you’ll answer.
8-10 There’s no one quite like you among the gods, O Lord, and nothing to compare with your works. All the nations you made are on their way, ready to give honor to you, O Lord, Ready to put your beauty on display, parading your greatness, And the great things you do— God, you’re the one, there’s no one but you!
11-17 Train me, God, to walk straight; then I’ll follow your true path. Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I’ll worship in joyful fear. From the bottom of my heart I thank you, dear Lord; I’ve never kept secret what you’re up to. You’ve always been great toward me—what love! You snatched me from the brink of disaster! God, these bullies have reared their heads! A gang of thugs is after me— and they don’t care a thing about you. But you, O God, are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love, and you never, never quit. So look me in the eye and show kindness, give your servant the strength to go on, save your dear, dear child! Make a show of how much you love me so the bullies who hate me will stand there slack-jawed, As you, God, gently and powerfully put me back on my feet.
TRUTH: Our Father in Heaven never quits. He never quits loving us, being with us, protecting us, providing for us and teaching us. God is always at work in those who love Him back. Love God. Love like He loves us.
Proverb 26:13-15, The Message
Loafers say, “It’s dangerous out there! Tigers are prowling the streets!” and then pull the covers back over their heads.
14 Just as a door turns on its hinges, so a lazybones turns back over in bed.
15 A shiftless sluggard puts his fork in the pie, but is too lazy to lift it to his mouth.
WISDOM: Loafers quit, run and hide. Believers never quit and run to the battle that God is fighting for us and with us.
Abba Father,
O Lord, I am so glad you never gave up on me. Your love is amazing, relentless and unchanging in depth and breadth. I fall and you are always there to snatch me from the fire that could burn me forever. Always is a good word in our language to describe you. You always love, even when we feel unlovable. You always protect. You always show us mercy and kindness. You always provide just what we need before we know we need it. Thank you, Lord. Continue to work on me and teach me to never quit loving and showing mercy.
In Jesus Name, Amen
And we’re singing…
Oh no, You never let go Through the calm and through the storm Oh no, You never let go In every high and every low Oh no, You never let go Lord, You never let go of me…
This psalm was probably written after the Jewish people returned to their land following their seventy years of captivity in Babylon (Jer. 29). The Scottish preacher George H. Morrison said, “The victorious Christian life is a series of new beginnings,” and he is right. It is a sin to disobey God and fall, but it is also a sin to stay fallen. We must always make a new beginning, and this psalm gives us some instructions that we can follow after times of failure and chastening.
First, Give Thanks to God! Jeremiah had told the people that their captivity would last seventy years and that then the Lord would restore a remnant to the land (Jer. 29). God protected the people as they made the long journey home. He forgave their sins and gave them a new beginning, and for this they thanked the Lord (Isa. 40:1-2). When we turn back to God, repent, and confess our sins, He turns back to us and restores us.
Ask God for Renewed Life. It is one thing for the nation collectively to have a new birth of freedom, but there must also be changes in individuals. The praise begun in verses 1-3 now becomes prayer from the hearts of the people. I am reminded of the God’s direction and desire to restore us from 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” God’s desire is to restore our relationship with Him!
“Turn [restore] us” is the burden of their prayer. It has well been said that a change in geography will never overcome a flaw in character. The return of the people to the land was no guarantee that all of them had returned to the Lord. Establishing the nation, rebuilding the temple, and restoring the liturgy would not guarantee God’s blessing on His people. They desperately needed His life at work within them.
Same here today. We complain and cry out for this deadly virus that is wreaking havoc, holding us “captive” of our once self-made lifestyles to cease. Even when it does, or is controlled by a vaccination, what will we have learned through the struggle of mask wearing and isolation? We can go back to church, “back to what was”, and not have learned anything in the circumstance. The virus did not come from God, but God used the life altering situation to restore what was lost in His people—if we allowed Him.
New life is not something that we manufacture ourselves; new life can come only from the Holy Spirit of God. God gave a special message about this to Haggai (Hag. 2:1-9) and also to Zechariah (Zech. 4:6).
Listen to God’s message to us. “I can’t wait to hear”, (verse 8) suggests that the worship leader or a prophet stepped forward and said, in effect, “Now it is time to be silent before God and listen for His message to us for this hour.” God and His people were now reconciled, and He was speaking peace to them (Jer. 29:11). The task of God’s people is to fear God and glorify Him (v. 9).
In verses 10-13, the Lord announced future blessings that He would send if His people continued to walk with Him. Righteousness and peace–attributes of God–are personified and would “kiss” each other, for the warfare would be over.
There is a glimpse here of the Person and work of Jesus Christ, for only in Him can mercy and truth become friends, for if you tell the truth, you may not receive mercy! But the blessing changes the people, for truth springs up from the earth! God’s people are faithful and walk in the truth. The psalmist described a world of holiness and harmony, a picture of the coming kingdom over which Christ shall reign. And what a harvest there will be, not only of food necessary for survival (Hag. 1:3-11) but also of heaven-sent blessings that will bring joy to the land. As people walk through the land, God’s righteousness will go before them, and their way will be prepared. God’s will shall be done on earth just as it is now done in heaven.
85 1-3 God, you smiled on your good earth! You brought good times back to Jacob! You lifted the cloud of guilt from your people, you put their sins far out of sight. You took back your sin-provoked threats, you cooled your hot, righteous anger.
4-7 Help us again, God of our help; don’t hold a grudge against us forever. You aren’t going to keep this up, are you? scowling and angry, year after year? Why not help us make a fresh start—a resurrection life? Then your people will laugh and sing! Show us how much you love us, God! Give us the salvation we need!
8-9 I can’t wait to hear what he’ll say. God’s about to pronounce his people well, The holy people he loves so much, so they’ll never again live like fools. See how close his salvation is to those who fear him? Our country is home base for Glory!
10-13 Love and Truth meet in the street, Right Living and Whole Living embrace and kiss! Truth sprouts green from the ground, Right Living pours down from the skies! Oh yes! God gives Goodness and Beauty; our land responds with Bounty and Blessing. Right Living strides out before him, and clears a path for his passage.
TRUTH: “Right Living strides out before him and clears a path for His passage.” “If my people who are called by My Name…”
Proverb 26:1, The Message
We no more give honors to fools than pray for snow in summer or rain during harvest.
WISDOM: Do not honor, envy or ask fools to lead us to foolish living. Seek wisdom.
Abba Father,
I repent of complaining while you are shaping me, knocking off all the rough edges, and molding me for your good and perfect will. I give you my life. I repent of foolish thinking and holding grudges against those who mock me. I call on You to renew the joy of your salvation in me. I ask for wisdom from You. I pray for insight and understanding for those are the skills for right living. Continue to mature your character traits in me. It’s tough work and only you can do it. I love you with all that is in me. I need you every hour. Restore us. Heal us. Save us.
In Jesus Name, Amen
And we’re singing…
By Your spirit I will rise From the ashes of defeat The resurrected King, is resurrecting me In Your name I come alive To declare Your victory The resurrected King, is resurrecting me By Your spirit I will rise From the ashes of defeat…
As soon as the calendar year turns over, our social media is bombarded with beach scenes calling us to live in the sun during the winter months. We even dream of sunshine..at least I do. If you live in the sunshine, there’s probably no place you’d rather be! If you live in a place that is overcast and cold at this time of the new year, then you dream of being in the sun. We tell each other all the places we’d rather be than where we are. We’re human, that way.
Let’s go another road. How would you rather look? I have experienced life enough to hear curly headed people wish for straight hair, blonds wish they were brunettes, the short want to be taller, the tall what to be shorter, the fair skin want less freckles, the dark skin wants to be lighter, the large what to be small and the thin want to larger. The muscled want to be more muscled. And it goes on and on, never being satisfied with our physical appearances to a fault. We spend way too much thinking on this avenue at this time of year, as well. Just throw the stale Christmas cookies away and listen…
What if we took as much time thinking about the outside and pondered about the inside? Who are we? Where would we really rather be? What gives us the most peace, no matter where we physically live? Where do we “live” spiritually? Who do we love talking to the most? Who gives life to our soul? Who takes our breath away? Who would we rather be with and talk to when no other person on earth is around? Who is the One and Only who knows us best and wants the best for us because of His relentless, unchangeable, merciful, gracious love? Who do we talk to first each morning before anyone else? Who brings calm when we are overwhelmed by overthinking? Who is it we long to be with most of all? Who do we eagerly serve all day long and into the night, without tiring, simply because of Who we are serving?
“One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches.”
Where would you rather be?
Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs
Psalm 84, The Message
A Korah Psalm
1-2 What a beautiful home, God-of-the-Angel-Armies! I’ve always longed to live in a place like this, Always dreamed of a room in your house, where I could sing for joy to God-alive!
3-4 Birds find nooks and crannies in your house, sparrows and swallows make nests there. They lay their eggs and raise their young, singing their songs in the place where we worship. God-of-the-Angel-Armies! King! God! How blessed they are to live and sing there!
5-7 And how blessed all those in whom you live, whose lives become roads you travel; They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks, discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain! God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!
8-9 God-of-the-Angel-Armies, listen: O God of Jacob, open your ears—I’m praying! Look at our shields, glistening in the sun, our faces, shining with your gracious anointing.
10-12 One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches. I’d rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin. All sunshine and sovereign is God, generous in gifts and glory. He doesn’t scrimp with his traveling companions. It’s smooth sailing all the way with God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
TRUTH:“I’d rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin. All sunshine and sovereign is God, generous in gifts and glory.”
Basking in the SONshine is where I’d rather be…
Proverb 25:25-28, The Message
Like a cool drink of water when you’re worn out and weary is a letter from a long-lost friend.
26 A good person who gives in to a bad person is a muddied spring, a polluted well.
27 It’s not smart to stuff yourself with sweets, nor is glory piled on glory good for you.
28 A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.
WISDOM: Be SONshine to others who are living under the overcast of loneliness and doubt without God. A self-controlled person is a person who has given control to God.
Abba Father,
No matter where we physically live on this earth, you send your shining Light and Life to the dark places that can occasionally overcome our souls. Your Light always pierces the darkness and eliminates it altogether. I love that about You! You are the One I long for each morning and the One I thank before my head hits the pillow at night. You are the One who listens to my ramblings and guides me to where I rather be. Your desires for me become my desires in agreement with your will and purpose. Yes! Better is one day with you than a thousand elsewhere!
“You have heard that it was said,‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”–Jesus Matthew 5:43-48 NIV
Be perfect in God’s love by loving others the way He loves us—Unconditionally.
The psalmist is crying out to God, praying for their enemy to be dealt with by God. The psalmist is specifically pointing out ways for God to provide justice where justice is needed! Smiling at these words because God doesn’t need our help. Granted, their enemy truly wants to wipe God’s people off the face of the earth and take everything they have all while mocking and persecuting them. Because God is God, it seems to be acceptable to be honest before God for God is the One and Only who can help! Our God is merciful and just. The world calls it “karma”. Believers call it justice in the midst of turmoil when the enemy seems at full strength, God is stronger still.
How many times have we seen God’s glorious justice prevail when the enemy thought he had won? Think about it. Write it down and praise God!
So, like Jesus taught, we pray for our enemies, believing God knows what is happening and is still in control of every circumstance. We know that God never fails and always prevails as the Victor at the end of a long day. Even in death, because of Jesus’ work on the cross to save us, God wins. Therefore, we win. We pray, lament, ask for help and wisdom and then wait, listen and obey what God says. This is not laying down, curling up in the fetal position, giving up or “taking it on the chin” defenselessly, it is calling on the One and Only, God of all who is in all, to fight our battles.
The ultimate prayer is that our enemies turn to God and believe. Asaph’s last words of his prayer are, “Bring them to the end of their rope, and leave them there dangling, helpless. Then they’ll learn your name: ‘God,’ the one and only High God on earth.”
Commenting on this psalm, Alexander Maclaren wrote, “The world is up in arms against God’s people, and what weapon has Israel? Nothing but prayer.” But is there any better weapon? As he saw the enemy armies surrounding Israel, Asaph lifted three heartfelt requests to the Lord;
Lord, see what is happening!
Lord, do what is necessary.
Glorify Your Name!
Before asking for their destruction, Asaph prayed that the enemy would be “ashamed and dismayed” and would turn to the true and living God.
THIS should be our prayer as we pray for our enemies…In Jesus Name.
Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs
Psalm 83, The Message
An Asaph Psalm
1-5 God, don’t shut me out; don’t give me the silent treatment, O God. Your enemies are out there whooping it up, the God-haters are living it up; They’re plotting to do your people in, conspiring to rob you of your precious ones. “Let’s wipe this nation from the face of the earth,” they say; “scratch Israel’s name off the books.” And now they’re putting their heads together, making plans to get rid of you.
6-8 Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia and the Tyrians, And now Assyria has joined up, Giving muscle to the gang of Lot.
9-12 Do to them what you did to Midian, to Sisera and Jabin at Kishon Brook; They came to a bad end at Endor, nothing but dung for the garden. Cut down their leaders as you did Oreb and Zeeb, their princes to nothings like Zebah and Zalmunna, With their empty brags, “We’re grabbing it all, grabbing God’s gardens for ourselves.”
13-18 My God! I’ve had it with them! Blow them away! Tumbleweeds in the desert waste, charred sticks in the burned-over ground. Knock the breath right out of them, so they’re gasping for breath, gasping, “God.” Bring them to the end of their rope, and leave them there dangling, helpless. Then they’ll learn your name: “God,” the one and only High God on earth.
TRUTH: Pray for your enemies. Pray for God’s justice. Trust and obey God.
Proverb 25:21-22, The Message
If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch; if he’s thirsty, bring him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness, and God will look after you.
WISDOM: Pray for your enemies. Do good to your enemies. God will look after you.
Abba Father,
Wow, what a lesson today about how to pray for our enemies! We also remember that ultimately our enemy is not of flesh and blood, but is the prince of darkness whose goal is death and destruction. I pray for those who allow this prince to use them like puppets, creating chaos in our lives. I pray that come to you and call you, Lord. I pray for myself to have your help in not falling for evil’s schemes. May Your Kingdom come, may Your Will be done. Give us this day all we need to win over the enemy. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who hurt, mock, belittle as sin against us. DELIVER us from all evil. For you have all power. To you be all glory for the victory!
How many remember the song of justice and peace we sang as children and teens? The song became a favorite among folk singers in my era and beyond. I haven’t heard it sung in a long time. To this generation it is probably deemed to repetitive and boring. In case you forgot or have never heard of this song of hope, it goes like this,
He’s got the whole world in His hands He’s got the whole wide world in His hands He’s got the whole world in His hands He’s got the whole world in His hands
This is also the song that never ends! Each verse added a new perspective of God’s provision and care, grace and mercy. Yes, it is a camp song easily sung around a fire. Other added verses would be;
He’s got the little bitty baby in His hands…
He’s got you and me brother in His hands He’s got you and me sister in His hands
He’s got everybody here in His hands… He’s got the whole world in His hands He’s got the whole wide world in His hands…
This was a song of innocence to a generation of “Jesus” people who didn’t realize at that moment in time all the injustice to people around the world and how deeply it was ingrained in certain areas and cultures. But we do now. We call on God and He listens. He knows. And He cares. He’s got the whole world in His hands. As the Psalmist knows, corrupt judges will be dealt with by the Most High God, the Creator of all, the One and Only who is Judge and has the last say.
OUR TAKEAWAY
Don’t be one of the corrupt judges who look only to satisfy their own desires! Let your first thought be Love, not like the world loves, but pure, unconditional Jesus love for all mankind. “Judge not…” for God has the whole world in His hands.
Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs
Psalm 82, The Message
An Asaph Psalm
82 God calls the judges into his courtroom, he puts all the judges in the dock.
2-4 “Enough! You’ve corrupted justice long enough, you’ve let the wicked get away with murder. You’re here to defend the defenseless, to make sure that underdogs get a fair break; Your job is to stand up for the powerless, and prosecute all those who exploit them.”
5 Ignorant judges! Head-in-the-sand judges! They haven’t a clue to what’s going on. And now everything’s falling apart, the world’s coming unglued.
6-7 “I commissioned you judges, each one of you, deputies of the High God, But you’ve betrayed your commission and now you’re stripped of your rank, busted.”
8 O God, give them their just deserts! You’ve got the whole world in your hands!
TRUTH: God will provide justice for those treated unjustly. Woe to us who judge people God has created as “less than”. Woe to us who love only a select few and forget the rest of the world. Woe to us who think only of ourselves and those we choose to be our friends. Injustice comes in all colors, ages, political affiliations, religions, cultures and social statuses.
Make a stand, says Joshua to the people of God, “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 NIV
Proverb 25:6-15, The Message
Don’t work yourself into the spotlight; don’t push your way into the place of prominence. It’s better to be promoted to a place of honor than face humiliation by being demoted.
8 Don’t jump to conclusions—there may be a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw.
9-10 In the heat of an argument, don’t betray confidences; Word is sure to get around, and no one will trust you.
11-12 The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, And a wise friend’s timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger.
13 Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat—refreshing!
14 Like billowing clouds that bring no rain is the person who talks big but never produces.
15 Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.
WISDOM: Gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.
Abba Father,
You created us, male and female, to love you back and to love each other. You created love. You are the maker of mercy. You are a great God of grace. You are the supreme example, dear Jesus, of how to “lay down your life” for another because of this great love of God. We love, not as the world says to love, but as you have shown us Love. Help us to love like you love, not expectantly anything in return. Help us to love so deeply that divisions are impossible. Help us to love so graciously others will be drawn to You and Your love in us. Most of all, help us not to assume who is credible enough to love but to just love. Help us to judge not, just love. For you have taught us Love never fails. I’m so glad You’ve got the whole wide world in Your Hands. Yes, indeed!
