Psalms 146:1-2
(1) Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!
(2) I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
It looks to me like the commitment here is not to make praise a conditional thing. The promise is not to praise the Lord while things are good. Rather, it looks like a commitment to praise the Lord in all times. I am reminded of Paul's imperative for us:
Philippians 4:4
(4) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
This isn't a matter of personal preference like choosing chocolate or vanilla ice cream. This is an imperative. But how do we do this?
I really recommend John Piper's Book When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy. It is full of practical spiritual disciplines that will help in this fight.
Incidentally, the verb translated "praise" in the Psalm is "halal." That is where we get "hallelujah" from.
Showing posts with label psalms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label psalms. Show all posts
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Cry of the Heart
Psalms 143:7-12
(7) Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
(8) Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
(9) Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge!
(10) Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
(11) For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
(12) And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.
David was down, but he knew the way out. He knew that the Lord would deliver him. However, he knew that it wasn't for his sake, but "for your name's sake, O LORD."
God does want to bless us with peace. He wants to lift us up out of the pit. Sometimes He leaves us in the pit as a trial to strengthen us. However, ultimately it is all about His glory. We cannot look to God as some sort of self-help tonic. He is God and He is going to do what He is going to do. We cannot change that. David does make it clear that we are to plea for deliverance though.
I certainly have my share of ups and downs, but I know that the Lord will ultimately carry me through for the glory of His name. One of the reasons I blog is because I want to make it clear to anyone who will read this that I see my life as lived for His name's sake. That's often difficult to communicate in day-to-day living, but it is really the message I want to spread.
(7) Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
(8) Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
(9) Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge!
(10) Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
(11) For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
(12) And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.
David was down, but he knew the way out. He knew that the Lord would deliver him. However, he knew that it wasn't for his sake, but "for your name's sake, O LORD."
God does want to bless us with peace. He wants to lift us up out of the pit. Sometimes He leaves us in the pit as a trial to strengthen us. However, ultimately it is all about His glory. We cannot look to God as some sort of self-help tonic. He is God and He is going to do what He is going to do. We cannot change that. David does make it clear that we are to plea for deliverance though.
I certainly have my share of ups and downs, but I know that the Lord will ultimately carry me through for the glory of His name. One of the reasons I blog is because I want to make it clear to anyone who will read this that I see my life as lived for His name's sake. That's often difficult to communicate in day-to-day living, but it is really the message I want to spread.
Monday, March 09, 2009
The Righteousness of Christ
Psalms 125:1-2
(1) A Song of Ascents. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
(2) As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.
We're back from our cruise and it looks like I put on 3 pounds. I'm not happy about that because I really thought that we were pretty disciplined. We took the steps all over the place. I ran 4 times during the week and lifted twice. We walked 2 miles each way from the boat to downtown Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas. It seemed like things should have more or less balanced.
But alas, the scale shows where my heart was last week. It was in my stomach as it has been so many times before. I realize that 3 pounds is not bad for being on a boat for 7 days, but it's still more than the 0 I was hoping for. This psalm reassures me that Christ's righteousness keeps me secure. It reminds me that He is perfect though I am clearly so imperfect.
I greet this week with a repentant heart and a refocus to get back on track. I'd appreciate your prayers.
(1) A Song of Ascents. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
(2) As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.
We're back from our cruise and it looks like I put on 3 pounds. I'm not happy about that because I really thought that we were pretty disciplined. We took the steps all over the place. I ran 4 times during the week and lifted twice. We walked 2 miles each way from the boat to downtown Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas. It seemed like things should have more or less balanced.
But alas, the scale shows where my heart was last week. It was in my stomach as it has been so many times before. I realize that 3 pounds is not bad for being on a boat for 7 days, but it's still more than the 0 I was hoping for. This psalm reassures me that Christ's righteousness keeps me secure. It reminds me that He is perfect though I am clearly so imperfect.
I greet this week with a repentant heart and a refocus to get back on track. I'd appreciate your prayers.
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Value of History
Psalms 107:43
(43) Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.
This Psalm and the few preceding it remind the reader about all the ways that the Lord has acted in faithfulness toward His people. This verse shows us the value in that. Remember that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. With that understanding it just makes sense that there should be a record of the faithfulness of the Lord. The people had much reason to praise Him and remember His steadfast love. This led to wisdom and encouragement.
When I think about His steadfast love toward me I can think of a litany of things. Just off the top of my head:
(43) Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.
This Psalm and the few preceding it remind the reader about all the ways that the Lord has acted in faithfulness toward His people. This verse shows us the value in that. Remember that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. With that understanding it just makes sense that there should be a record of the faithfulness of the Lord. The people had much reason to praise Him and remember His steadfast love. This led to wisdom and encouragement.
When I think about His steadfast love toward me I can think of a litany of things. Just off the top of my head:
- He saved me from my sin and redeemed me
- He regenerated my heart and gave me a desire to live for Him
- He brought Amanda into my life
- He has met my physical needs
- He blessed me with two beautiful children
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Big Psalm of Praise
I read through Psalms 103 and 104 today. What I noticed is that they could easily be combined into one big Psalm. Check them out when you get a chance.
The convicting thing for me is that I don't always give God the credit and glory He deserves for all that He has done and continues to do. These Psalms will help you get recentered in that way of thinking if you need it. I know that I often do.
The convicting thing for me is that I don't always give God the credit and glory He deserves for all that He has done and continues to do. These Psalms will help you get recentered in that way of thinking if you need it. I know that I often do.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Word for the Nations
Psalms 96:7-10
(7) Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
(8) Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!
(9) Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
(10) Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity."
As a believer who is pained by this fallen world, this Psalm brings me great hope. Everyone is commanded to give glory to the Lord. Everyone is commanded to tremble before Him. Our message to the world is that the Lord made the earth and He alone deserves our worship. The end of verse 10 also gives me hope to resolve the problem of evil.
What I'm afraid of is that the same promise gives people false hope. It is easy to read that "He will judge the peoples with equity" and think that applies to someone else. However, if you are not clothed in Christ's righteousness I guarantee that you do not want to be judged by the Lord. You are not in right standing with Him and you will be found wanting if He does judge with equity. The only solution for this is the cross of Christ. That is where His perfect justice was satisfied against the judgment we all deserve.
(7) Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
(8) Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!
(9) Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
(10) Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity."
As a believer who is pained by this fallen world, this Psalm brings me great hope. Everyone is commanded to give glory to the Lord. Everyone is commanded to tremble before Him. Our message to the world is that the Lord made the earth and He alone deserves our worship. The end of verse 10 also gives me hope to resolve the problem of evil.
What I'm afraid of is that the same promise gives people false hope. It is easy to read that "He will judge the peoples with equity" and think that applies to someone else. However, if you are not clothed in Christ's righteousness I guarantee that you do not want to be judged by the Lord. You are not in right standing with Him and you will be found wanting if He does judge with equity. The only solution for this is the cross of Christ. That is where His perfect justice was satisfied against the judgment we all deserve.
Monday, February 16, 2009
The God I Worship
Psalms 93:1-5
(1) The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
(2) Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.
(3) The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring.
(4) Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty!
(5) Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.
I love the short Psalms. I love how succinctly this one paints a picture of God's greatness and glory. Verse 4 takes me back to my last trip to the ocean. I remember how angry the sea looked before, during, and after a storm. Yet God is greater than all of that.
And if we ever start to lose faith in God's Word we have verse 5. I realize that the argument is a bit circular, but this verse reminds me of the great value of it. I think this old hymn puts it best:
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
What more can He say? Obviously this is rhetorical. His excellent Word is plenty.
(1) The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
(2) Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.
(3) The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring.
(4) Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty!
(5) Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.
I love the short Psalms. I love how succinctly this one paints a picture of God's greatness and glory. Verse 4 takes me back to my last trip to the ocean. I remember how angry the sea looked before, during, and after a storm. Yet God is greater than all of that.
And if we ever start to lose faith in God's Word we have verse 5. I realize that the argument is a bit circular, but this verse reminds me of the great value of it. I think this old hymn puts it best:
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
What more can He say? Obviously this is rhetorical. His excellent Word is plenty.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Proper Imprecation
Psalms 74:10-11
(10) How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever?
(11) Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them!
The first 9 verses of this Psalm detail how enemies have come and defiled the places of worship. Here we see the prayer for God to repay them for their wickedness. Notice the reason behind the prayer though. It's about God's holy name.
Maybe I'm too much of a John Piper fanboy, but every time I go through the Bible I am struck more and more by this theme. The holiness of God's name is vital, particularly in the Old Testament. That was the basis of the appeal Moses made to God as well. God was ready to wipe the people out, but Moses made the point that all the nations would scoff at God's inability to take care of His people. This stayed God's hand (though I don't think it changed His mind, but that's another blog).
The point is that we are here for God's glory. We are not here for ourselves and God is certainly not here for us. Now God can be greatly glorified in the blessings He chooses to give us, and we need to remember that as well. I think poverty theology is as bad as prosperity theology. It's jut not as popular because it's not as fun.
(10) How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever?
(11) Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them!
The first 9 verses of this Psalm detail how enemies have come and defiled the places of worship. Here we see the prayer for God to repay them for their wickedness. Notice the reason behind the prayer though. It's about God's holy name.
Maybe I'm too much of a John Piper fanboy, but every time I go through the Bible I am struck more and more by this theme. The holiness of God's name is vital, particularly in the Old Testament. That was the basis of the appeal Moses made to God as well. God was ready to wipe the people out, but Moses made the point that all the nations would scoff at God's inability to take care of His people. This stayed God's hand (though I don't think it changed His mind, but that's another blog).
The point is that we are here for God's glory. We are not here for ourselves and God is certainly not here for us. Now God can be greatly glorified in the blessings He chooses to give us, and we need to remember that as well. I think poverty theology is as bad as prosperity theology. It's jut not as popular because it's not as fun.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
What of the Unbeliever?
Psalms 73:16-20
(16) But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,
(17) until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.
(18) Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.
(19) How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!
(20) Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
Here the Psalmist wrestles with the apparent prosperity of those who do not worship the Lord. How could their lots in life be so much better than his while he remained faithful? It was all confusing until he went into the sanctuary of God. It was then that he was able to get the right perspective. Their end is destruction, while the end for the believer is life.
It's easy to look around at the unbelievers in our culture and envy what they have. The beautiful and rich folks in Hollywood spring to mind as do many corporate executives. I tend to think of Hugh Hefner as the modern-day Solomon. All of these folks seem to have it made now. Yet in the end they are going to end up spending a very long time experiencing God's justice.
I realize that this is not the spin that the popular prosperity folks put on things today. However, I do think that this is the biblical spin. What's interesting is that I read this as well today:
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
(18) For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
(19) For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
(20) Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
(21) For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
(22) For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
(23) but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
(24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
(25) For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
I think of this as being more directed toward those who think themselves too smart to believe in God. However, the folks I mentioned before functionally live as if they believe that. Most are either true, professing atheists or functional atheists. I want to be a professing and functional Christian.
(16) But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,
(17) until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.
(18) Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.
(19) How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!
(20) Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
Here the Psalmist wrestles with the apparent prosperity of those who do not worship the Lord. How could their lots in life be so much better than his while he remained faithful? It was all confusing until he went into the sanctuary of God. It was then that he was able to get the right perspective. Their end is destruction, while the end for the believer is life.
It's easy to look around at the unbelievers in our culture and envy what they have. The beautiful and rich folks in Hollywood spring to mind as do many corporate executives. I tend to think of Hugh Hefner as the modern-day Solomon. All of these folks seem to have it made now. Yet in the end they are going to end up spending a very long time experiencing God's justice.
I realize that this is not the spin that the popular prosperity folks put on things today. However, I do think that this is the biblical spin. What's interesting is that I read this as well today:
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
(18) For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
(19) For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
(20) Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
(21) For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
(22) For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
(23) but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
(24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
(25) For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
I think of this as being more directed toward those who think themselves too smart to believe in God. However, the folks I mentioned before functionally live as if they believe that. Most are either true, professing atheists or functional atheists. I want to be a professing and functional Christian.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Being Carried
Psalms 68:19-20
(19) Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah.
(20) Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
Verse 19 is a great encouragement to me. The Lord carries me every day. That happens whether I realize it or not. I think of times when I carry Lily. If I'm taking her where she wants to go, it's a very easy and fun time. If I'm carrying her off to her room or downstairs for a spanking, it's not a lot of fun. I get her there, but neither one of us enjoys the experience much.
I want to walk in a way that is in concert with God. I want to be glad for wherever He is carrying me. I also appreciate the reassurance that this passage offers. I need to respect the attacks of the enemy, but I do not need to give in to them because I am carried by the Lord.
(19) Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah.
(20) Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
Verse 19 is a great encouragement to me. The Lord carries me every day. That happens whether I realize it or not. I think of times when I carry Lily. If I'm taking her where she wants to go, it's a very easy and fun time. If I'm carrying her off to her room or downstairs for a spanking, it's not a lot of fun. I get her there, but neither one of us enjoys the experience much.
I want to walk in a way that is in concert with God. I want to be glad for wherever He is carrying me. I also appreciate the reassurance that this passage offers. I need to respect the attacks of the enemy, but I do not need to give in to them because I am carried by the Lord.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Prayer of the Penitent
Psalms 66:16-20
(16) Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
(17) I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue.
(18) If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
(19) But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
(20) Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!
That pretty much sums up my story and why I want to go into vocational ministry. It all starts with humble confession and a desire to lift God up above all else. He won't listen as long as we are merely sorry for the consequences. He wants our whole hearts. Fortunately, He gives us His Spirit to bring us to true godly sorrow.
God has done this for me as I found freedom from bondage to pornography, self-gratification, gluttony, and laziness. He will free you from any bondage. Will you forsake the iniquity in your heart and call out to Him in humble confession?
(16) Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
(17) I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue.
(18) If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
(19) But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
(20) Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!
That pretty much sums up my story and why I want to go into vocational ministry. It all starts with humble confession and a desire to lift God up above all else. He won't listen as long as we are merely sorry for the consequences. He wants our whole hearts. Fortunately, He gives us His Spirit to bring us to true godly sorrow.
God has done this for me as I found freedom from bondage to pornography, self-gratification, gluttony, and laziness. He will free you from any bondage. Will you forsake the iniquity in your heart and call out to Him in humble confession?
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Conviction in the Psalms
Psalms 62:5-8
(5) For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
(6) He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
(7) On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
(8) Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Is it just me, or does reading this bring you conviction too? I read of the deep faith that the Psalmists had in God and I see just how badly mine pales in comparison. I know intellectually that these things are true. However, in my heart of hearts I know that I don't always live like I believe this. I get worried about money. I get caught up in the acquisition of stuff. I become more concerned with getting what I want from Amanda and the kids than from the always-providing God I worship.
It's a good reminder to me of just how pervasive faith should be in life. My prayer is for this Psalm to be my testimony too.
(5) For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
(6) He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
(7) On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
(8) Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Is it just me, or does reading this bring you conviction too? I read of the deep faith that the Psalmists had in God and I see just how badly mine pales in comparison. I know intellectually that these things are true. However, in my heart of hearts I know that I don't always live like I believe this. I get worried about money. I get caught up in the acquisition of stuff. I become more concerned with getting what I want from Amanda and the kids than from the always-providing God I worship.
It's a good reminder to me of just how pervasive faith should be in life. My prayer is for this Psalm to be my testimony too.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Refuge
Psalms 59:16-17
(16) But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.
(17) O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.
It's incredible to read this the same day that Romans 8 comes up. Amanda and I watched Fireproof last night and it forced me to think about my past life in porn. While I was never as violent as Caleb in the movie, I was living for myself and was immersed in me. I had the conflict of trying to do the right things as a husband, which is a little different from him, but I was still so immersed in me that I was blind to how much I was hurting Amanda. I have to admit to getting pretty teary at the end.
This is good for me though. I need to be reminded of what happened at the cross for me. I need to remember how anything good in my life is a work of grace, whether it is God's general grace or the particular grace He has shown me. I have so much to thank Him for in this world. I can't imagine the joy when I meet Him in the next.
(16) But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.
(17) O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.
It's incredible to read this the same day that Romans 8 comes up. Amanda and I watched Fireproof last night and it forced me to think about my past life in porn. While I was never as violent as Caleb in the movie, I was living for myself and was immersed in me. I had the conflict of trying to do the right things as a husband, which is a little different from him, but I was still so immersed in me that I was blind to how much I was hurting Amanda. I have to admit to getting pretty teary at the end.
This is good for me though. I need to be reminded of what happened at the cross for me. I need to remember how anything good in my life is a work of grace, whether it is God's general grace or the particular grace He has shown me. I have so much to thank Him for in this world. I can't imagine the joy when I meet Him in the next.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Deliverance
Psalms 53:1-6
(1) To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
(2) God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
(3) They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
(4) Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?
(5) There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
(6) Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
This Psalm speaks directly to the problem that Christ came to solve. We naturally do not seek God. None of us does good on our own. We naturally reject Him and do what we think is best. Sometimes we do things that aren't so bad, but ultimately that works-righteousness does not save us.
Verse 6 gives the promise of the future. If you are in Christ, I do hope that you rejoice in the truth that God delivers us from our ignorance and rebellion. Only God could have melted the heart of stone I had toward Him. While it isn't always as soft as I'd like, at least it isn't hostile to the Gospel anymore. I hope you can say the same.
(1) To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
(2) God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
(3) They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
(4) Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?
(5) There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
(6) Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
This Psalm speaks directly to the problem that Christ came to solve. We naturally do not seek God. None of us does good on our own. We naturally reject Him and do what we think is best. Sometimes we do things that aren't so bad, but ultimately that works-righteousness does not save us.
Verse 6 gives the promise of the future. If you are in Christ, I do hope that you rejoice in the truth that God delivers us from our ignorance and rebellion. Only God could have melted the heart of stone I had toward Him. While it isn't always as soft as I'd like, at least it isn't hostile to the Gospel anymore. I hope you can say the same.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The Measure of the Heart
This was today's Tozer. It's too good not to share:
Your baptism and your confirmation and your name on the church roll and the big Bible you carry--these are not the things that are important to God. You can train a chimpanzee to carry a Bible. Every one of us is the sum of what we secretly admire, what we think about and what we would like to do most if we became free to do what we wanted to do.
Yes, fruit is very important in our lives. If we don't have fruit then we can be sure that we are not saved. However, we can bear a kind of plastic fruit that looks good to others, but we know the difference. God certainly does too. Let's not kid ourselves or Him about the fruit that we bear.
What are the longings of your heart? This is a convicting question. I am glad that my mind doesn't drift instantly to porn anymore. I'm also glad that I don't have the hunger for video games I once did. Frankly, when I have idle time I spend it thinking about how I have homework to do. I'm not sure this is so much better.
This Tozer quote seems akin to Piper's message about how we are to desire God. Frankly, I don't desire Him as much as I probably ought. None of us does really. However, He gives the grace to desire Him more. Let's keep asking for it.
Edit: I read this in my daily reading after I posted it. It fits in so well I thought I'd better add it.
Psalms 50:12-23
(12) "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.
(13) Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
(14) Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High,
(15) and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."
(16) But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips?
(17) For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.
(18) If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers.
(19) "You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit.
(20) You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son.
(21) These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.
(22) "Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver!
(23) The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!"
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Do You Believe This?
Psalms 49:16-20
(16) Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases.
(17) For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
(18) For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed, --and though you get praise when you do well for yourself--
(19) his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light.
(20) Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
Here in America we put a lot of weight on riches. We look to the men who seem to have it all. We have magazines dedicated to our celebrities. And yet, in the end, death will consume all of them.
We need to ask ourselves if we really believe this passage. Are we content with the praise we will receive upon death? Or are we hungry for what the world can give us? It sure is nice to get the praise and adoration of those around us at the time. It may even be warranted and not necessarily sinful. However, in the end, do we believe that the true reward comes later?
As I think more on this, I am reminded of something I saw on a Hollywood awards show. I don't remember which show, but I remember seeing Joan Collins on it. Here is a photo of Joan Collins back in the day. Here is a more recent one. It's hard to capture just how plastic her face is with a still photo, but basically she is doing all she can with cosmetic surgery to cheat aging and death. The problem is that no matter how great she looks, her body will still decay and she will die.
Death claims all of us no matter how rich, powerful, influential, or beautiful. I want to be ready for it.
(16) Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases.
(17) For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
(18) For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed, --and though you get praise when you do well for yourself--
(19) his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light.
(20) Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
Here in America we put a lot of weight on riches. We look to the men who seem to have it all. We have magazines dedicated to our celebrities. And yet, in the end, death will consume all of them.
We need to ask ourselves if we really believe this passage. Are we content with the praise we will receive upon death? Or are we hungry for what the world can give us? It sure is nice to get the praise and adoration of those around us at the time. It may even be warranted and not necessarily sinful. However, in the end, do we believe that the true reward comes later?
As I think more on this, I am reminded of something I saw on a Hollywood awards show. I don't remember which show, but I remember seeing Joan Collins on it. Here is a photo of Joan Collins back in the day. Here is a more recent one. It's hard to capture just how plastic her face is with a still photo, but basically she is doing all she can with cosmetic surgery to cheat aging and death. The problem is that no matter how great she looks, her body will still decay and she will die.
Death claims all of us no matter how rich, powerful, influential, or beautiful. I want to be ready for it.
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Brevity of Life
Psalms 39:4-7
(4) "O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!
(5) Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah.
(6) Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
(7) "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
The Psalmist here understood something very profound. Our lives are completely meaningless apart from a Creator. If the world is truly as old as the Naturalists claim then we are here for barely a speck of time. Relatively speaking, it will take you several lifetimes to read this short post.
If we are nothing more than a blob of chemicals I don't understand why we should ever do anything good for anyone else. Why shouldn't we be completely motivated by self? Why even get upset about the problem of evil? The world is a cruel place and only the strong survive it. That doesn't seem so bad to us until we fall out of the group of the strong. Then we want some help. But why help those who need it when it will be to our disadvantage?
I am glad to know a personal Creator who gives my life meaning. Of course, that meaning is bound up in His glory. By myself I really am just a blob of chemicals. My own desires need to be aligned with His desires. He is jealous for His glory, which is only fair because as the Creator He is the only one worthy of that kind of honor.
This is something on which I need to spend some time in reflection today. It is such a privilege to know God and it is only possible because of the love He displayed at Calvary.
(4) "O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!
(5) Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah.
(6) Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
(7) "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
The Psalmist here understood something very profound. Our lives are completely meaningless apart from a Creator. If the world is truly as old as the Naturalists claim then we are here for barely a speck of time. Relatively speaking, it will take you several lifetimes to read this short post.
If we are nothing more than a blob of chemicals I don't understand why we should ever do anything good for anyone else. Why shouldn't we be completely motivated by self? Why even get upset about the problem of evil? The world is a cruel place and only the strong survive it. That doesn't seem so bad to us until we fall out of the group of the strong. Then we want some help. But why help those who need it when it will be to our disadvantage?
I am glad to know a personal Creator who gives my life meaning. Of course, that meaning is bound up in His glory. By myself I really am just a blob of chemicals. My own desires need to be aligned with His desires. He is jealous for His glory, which is only fair because as the Creator He is the only one worthy of that kind of honor.
This is something on which I need to spend some time in reflection today. It is such a privilege to know God and it is only possible because of the love He displayed at Calvary.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Biding Time
Psalms 34:17-22
(17) When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
(18) The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
(19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
(20) He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
(21) Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
(22) The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Passages like these become nonsensical if we do not keep an eternal view. I have cried for help in trouble and did not receive the help I wanted at the time. Countless martyrs have died terrible deaths, so does that mean verse 19 is wrong?
The Lord does stay near to the brokenhearted. He does ultimately save them as well. However, this must be viewed through the long lens. It is always true from an eternal perspective. This is how we make sense of evil in the world too. God will take care of His own in eternity, but it may not seem like it in this world.
This is also why I have such a hard time with the prosperity message. What do those folks do in times like this when the economy is faltering? What do they do when someone gets sick? Are those churches being winnowed down because of the evidence of lack of faith in so many members who are laid-off? Or are those who still have their jobs just encouraging those without to develop a stronger faith so that God will provide the temporal riches that He supposedly promises?
God will take care of His own. It just will be on His timetable rather than ours.
(17) When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
(18) The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
(19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
(20) He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
(21) Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
(22) The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Passages like these become nonsensical if we do not keep an eternal view. I have cried for help in trouble and did not receive the help I wanted at the time. Countless martyrs have died terrible deaths, so does that mean verse 19 is wrong?
The Lord does stay near to the brokenhearted. He does ultimately save them as well. However, this must be viewed through the long lens. It is always true from an eternal perspective. This is how we make sense of evil in the world too. God will take care of His own in eternity, but it may not seem like it in this world.
This is also why I have such a hard time with the prosperity message. What do those folks do in times like this when the economy is faltering? What do they do when someone gets sick? Are those churches being winnowed down because of the evidence of lack of faith in so many members who are laid-off? Or are those who still have their jobs just encouraging those without to develop a stronger faith so that God will provide the temporal riches that He supposedly promises?
God will take care of His own. It just will be on His timetable rather than ours.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Fear the Creator
Psalms 33:6-8
(6) By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
(7) He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.
(8) Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
The one thing that got me from atheism to agnosticism is to ask why there is something instead of nothing. Any effect must have a cause. That cause must be somehow outside of the effect. It is just logically true. I suppose that if you wanted to take a pantheistic or panenetheistic view of things you could say that the universe is God and is self-existent. However, that doesn't seem to square with reason in my book. Plus, from what I understand, infinity past is a logical impossibility.
I know that men much smarter than me disagree, but it makes more sense to me to see the universe as created by something external to it than Carl Sagan's view that the universe always was and always will be. Sagan was describing some of the attributes of God when he made that statement each week. But, to him, the universe was God.
I think verse 8 is where we find the tipping point. Either we get off the throne of our own lives and acknowledge that there is a Creator who we can't quite understand, or we become the arbiters of what is true about the universe. Frankly, I don't feel equipped to make those kinds of decisions. I can't prove that God exists, but neither can anyone prove that He doesn't. I just happen to think that belief in God requires less faith than the alternative.
(6) By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
(7) He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.
(8) Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
The one thing that got me from atheism to agnosticism is to ask why there is something instead of nothing. Any effect must have a cause. That cause must be somehow outside of the effect. It is just logically true. I suppose that if you wanted to take a pantheistic or panenetheistic view of things you could say that the universe is God and is self-existent. However, that doesn't seem to square with reason in my book. Plus, from what I understand, infinity past is a logical impossibility.
I know that men much smarter than me disagree, but it makes more sense to me to see the universe as created by something external to it than Carl Sagan's view that the universe always was and always will be. Sagan was describing some of the attributes of God when he made that statement each week. But, to him, the universe was God.
I think verse 8 is where we find the tipping point. Either we get off the throne of our own lives and acknowledge that there is a Creator who we can't quite understand, or we become the arbiters of what is true about the universe. Frankly, I don't feel equipped to make those kinds of decisions. I can't prove that God exists, but neither can anyone prove that He doesn't. I just happen to think that belief in God requires less faith than the alternative.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Plea For Mercy
Psalms 25:6-7
(6) Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
(7) Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!
If we are in Christ we can pray this. We can ask the Lord not to remember our transgressions. I know that I have plenty of baggage from my past that I would love never to bring to mind again. Yet the Lord will not remember it if we are washed by the blood of Jesus.
This is the sort of mercy that I know we are also to have toward others. What a challenging passage!
(6) Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
(7) Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!
If we are in Christ we can pray this. We can ask the Lord not to remember our transgressions. I know that I have plenty of baggage from my past that I would love never to bring to mind again. Yet the Lord will not remember it if we are washed by the blood of Jesus.
This is the sort of mercy that I know we are also to have toward others. What a challenging passage!
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