Week Seventeen - He's Just a Man

This year, I'm doing something different for my Bible reading and devotional time. I'm reading one chapter each morning, creating a short synopsis, and then a short meditation. My goal is to do the entire Bible and then publish it in sections. We will see how that works out. But in the meantime, I'm really enjoying taking time to read only one chapter and think it through instead of trying to read five full chapters each day. Slowing down means I'm gaining more.

Today, I was in Psalm 9. It starts out with two words sprinkled throughout the Psalm, I will.  I will praise thee. I will be glad and rejoice. I will sing praise, and I will rejoice in thy salvation. The I wills of Scripture indicate a concerted choice to focus on God rather than on the problems around. I have found this to be such a good practice for faith and mental health. It is a great way to obey the Lord and take every thought captive.

When trouble comes knocking, I can open the door to fret and fear, or I can choose to praise. And even if trouble enters the room, songs of faith can rise from my heart as I wait upon the Lord and listen carefully for His instruction. I don't have to succumb to pits of despair when praise can lift my heart!

The Psalm continues with a discussion of enemies: how God has rebuked and destroyed them, removing their name forever and ever. It reads like David is speaking directly to his enemies, telling them of their doom and God's greatness. He also seems to be speaking directly to God: how God has not forsaken those who seek Him, does not forget the cry of the humble, and will execute judgment on those who oppose His children.

I liked David's final summations. Verse 17 reads, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." Verse 20, "Put them in fear, O Lord; that the nations may know themselves to be but men."

How apt this Psalm is for today. Fear tends to rise in our hearts with the thought of war and enemies. Fear due to anticipated attacks, not knowing what will happen, and sometimes, a lack of faith. 

There is no Bible promise that war will not come, but there is the promise of God's intervention and protection for those who trust Him. He is our shield and buckler. He is the God of victory. War is but a tool in His hand. We need to fear, but trust. Psalm 9:10 says, "And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee." 

We can't put our trust in politicians or nations. We can't trust our emotions and fears. All of these things are volatile. Only God is consistent and purposeful in fulfilling His will, and that is where we must place our trust. In Him - Him alone, no matter what the future holds.

The enemy, David says, is just a man, subject to God, though he refuses to recognize God. He will stand before God for judgment, as will we. 

So let's choose praise to arise by faith in our hearts and through our lips. Praise lifts God high, gives us strength and increased faith, and is a witness of God's greatness that the old enemy cannot stand to be around. 

We have much to rejoice over, so choose praise. God is stronger than our enemy.

Psalm 10:1-2, "I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.  And verse 14, That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation."

I will. Will you?

Week Sixteen - Perplexed

Esther 3:15 reads, "the city Shushan was perplexed." Haman has just convinced the king to send out an order (the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be rescinded) for the annihilation of all Jews. There had been no Jewish uprising against the king. The Jews were assimilated into Persian society, and the only thorn in the flesh was Haman's hatred toward Mordecai, who would not bow to him.

Haman's need for vengeance went far beyond a personal conflict, and his action left the city bewildered as to why this was happening.

Pride and vengeance produce evil; evil that loses all sense of reality and common sense. It reaches out without regard for who is in the crosshairs, concerned only with nailing its point to the wall and eliminating anything or anyone that restricts or inhibits its continued pride and evil desires.

Taking time to judge our motives, especially when it comes to pride, is important. And God knows we need to take stock. James 3:13-18 is a great place to start. 

The passage could be paraphrased as such.  

So you think you are right? You think you are wise? Then show your wisdom by how you live. If you have bitterness, jealousy, and anger in your heart, you need to recognize that this is not from God. It is earthly, self-motivated, and influenced by the enemy. You'll know it is wrong because it produces confusion and evil. But wisdom from God is entirely different. It is pure, peaceful, gentle, welcoming, merciful, and is shown in good works. It creates peace.

When we focus on revenge or getting our way, we are not using Godly wisdom. We are not producing peace. And when we act in irrational ways, we confuse or perplex those around us. 

You see, we are often good at hiding our true motives. But God sees right through us. God saw right through Haman, and his attempt at annihilation backfired big time. That law of sowing and reaping is eternal and consistent in every era.

So today, before you strike out in vengeance, take time to think about your motives. Are they earthly? Are they self-motivated, self-serving, or self-promoting? Are they spurred on by evil intentions and thoughts? The result reveals the motivation. Bad wisdom produces confusion and leaves our family and friends perplexed. Good wisdom produces peace.

What are you producing?

On a Side Note: We may be feeling perplexed by our current world situation, wondering what is happening, why, and what the outcome will be. But let's remember Esther's instruction - fast and pray. There is a God in heaven, and He is not perplexed. He knows exactly every moment of man, the intent of the heart, and how He uses men to accomplish His will. God showed Himself able to save in the Persian Empire during the time of Esther. He is no less able to save in our time. Don't let perplexity become your normal state. Let it be one of faith and courage in the face of evil. You can trust the Lord!

Week Fifteen - Praying for Results

Today, I completed my reading of Job. In this final chapter, Job humbly responds to God's claim of supremacy. With an utterly broken heart, he recognizes God's authority and wisdom, saying, "I know that thou cast do everything and that no thought can be withholden from thee. (vs. 2), "Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (vs 6). 

Then, his so-called friends become the focus of God's attention. They had attacked Job's integrity and painted God as merciless. Now, God requires their repentance and a burnt offering. To make His point further, He also requires a prayer from Job. This is the only thing God will accept, saying, "ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job" (vs 8).

Vindication is there for Job. Not that he was seeking it, but God gave it anyway. Job's trial is over. 

As I meditated on the situation, prayer took on a more pointed light. Only when we place ourselves humbly under God's authority and mercy can we ever expect an answer to prayer, and only then are we positioned to pray for others. Three things came to my attention.

1. We must pray with humility, not pride. We are not better than each other. Whether we are praying for a friend or a foe, we must remember that we have equal access, equal value, and equal accountability before the Lord. We are all on level ground. Pride tells us, as it did Job's friends, that our opinion is best, that our evaluation of the situation holds sway, and that we should be heard. But when we pray with humility, our words are fewer, and our hearts humbly weep as we recognize our own humanity.

2. We must pray, asking for God's will, not trying to tell Him what to do. Oh, how good we are at telling God what we think should be done, how we expect Him to answer, and what outcome will be to our benefit. Our prayers sound like commands and instructions instead of requests. God doesn't need our opinion. He works all things according to the purpose of His own will, not ours. And how thankful we should be for that truth, because if everything were done according to our will, things would be in a huge mess!

3. Prayer done in humble obedience opens the windows of heaven. Verse 10 reads, "And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before." Job's obedience was key to the release of his trial. Job didn't seek vengeance; he humbly prayed that God would accept the sacrifice of his friends and grant them forgiveness. He had no ulterior motive. Note: he prayed in obedience before he received the blessing. Isn't that further food for thought?

If you are expecting results from prayer, consider these three things, and then ask yourself these questions.

Am I praying from pride, looking for vindication or elevation? Do I pray humbly and with a heart of repentance? Can I rest in God's will and not demand my own? Do I pray a list of instructions to God? Am I expecting Him to answer according to my desires? Do my prayers qualify as obedient? Does God answer my prayers with blessings? Am I thankful and obedient before I receive the answer to my prayer, or discontent, whiny, and complaining? Do I pray in faith and leave the rest to God?

When we are praying for results, these thoughts matter.

Week Fourteen - Quietness and Trouble

Job 34:29 reads, "When he giveth quietness, who can make trouble?" These words are part of Elihu's lengthy speech to Job. 

Feeling very sure of himself, Elihu accuses Job of sin and rebellion against God. Surely, he affirms, God is just, and Job is wrong. He believes Job's pity party proves that he walks with men of iniquity (vs 7-8), and that Job believes following God is a waste of time (vs 9). "Listen to me," he says in verse 10. Notice that Job does not respond. Maybe he is resting in verse 29?

Scorners, scoffers, and accusers abound, spouting out their poisonous opinions, but we, like Job, are most usually wisest to let their windy words blow and rest ourselves in the peace that passes understanding.

Tom was preaching on Sunday about the two thieves hanging on crosses either side of Jesus. The one rails on our Lord, scoffing and accusing Christ of being false. Notice that Jesus, like Job, does not respond. This man's words condemn him. His actions toward the only One who could rescue him prove his unbelief. How sad that those who need a Saviour are the ones most vocal in rejecting Him.

But verse 29 held this thought for me: when God gives peace about a situation or decision, no amount of trouble or challenge can dislodge it.

In my journal, I recorded this - "God, even during a trial, has an amazing ability to bring peace and confidence when we cast our cares upon Him. Trouble cannot move us when we are resting in Him."

Have you found this true? I know I have. I've faced some heartbreaking and desperate situations with a peace that carried me through without emotional collapse. It isn't because I am strong. It is because He is, and He gives me His strength and quietness in the face of trouble.

Our world is in turmoil, but we can have quietness. Our life's situations may stretch and strain us, but when we rest ourselves in the Lord, He gives sufficient grace to walk the path before us.

So today, don't let the windy words of scoffers dislodge your emotions. Don't let trouble get the upper hand. Seek God's peace and let yourself rest in the peace that passes understanding. "When he giveth quietness, who can make trouble?"