Monday, November 24, 2014

THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD


As I was contemplating what to share with you, I found myself thinking about one of my favorite psalms—Psalm 19.  As the world continues to grow darker with the spread of evil and rejection of God and His word, I believe the message of this psalm is one worth hiding in our hearts.

Psalm 19:1–3 “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.”

The heavens sparkle in declaration of the magnificent glory of God.  From sunset to sunset, the heavens shout of His majesty and the knowledge that HE IS.  The word for knowledge includes more than just knowing facts; it includes the power to instruct, to make known, and to give understanding.  In reference to verse one, the instruction and revelation being given is about Almighty God.  Whereas we humans communicate through the language of words, the Almighty can reveal Himself to us by the wonder, majesty and amazing design of His creation.  God declares Himself through His creation in a way that can be understood by everyone.

In my study of Genesis I ran across an article by Wayne Walter in which he made a beautiful observation concerning God’s placement of the sun, moon and stars.

Genesis 1:16–17 “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth….”

The Hebrew word for set means enhance, show off as a jeweler might magnify the brilliance of his diamond by placing it in a case of black velvet.  The firmament surrounding the earth enhanced the beauty of the luminaries even as a magnifying glass.”

Psalm 19:4–6 “Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.”

The word for line includes the idea of being measured and connected.  I think David is saying that the heavens have been designed with purpose for the good of planet earth and its inhabitants.  The dominant body of the heavens is the sun, and it rises in the morning with a brilliance that David compares to the joy reflected in the face of a bridegroom on his wedding day and to a runner who is strong and confident in his ability to win the race.  The rising and setting of the sun are continual and dependable from day to day, and all of planet earth is affected by its light and heat.

Psalm 19:7 “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”

As David contemplates the heavens and how they are a reflection of the wisdom and design of their Creator, he automatically makes a jump to the wisdom and dependability of God’s purposes for man.  God gives us His law, His commandments, for a purpose—to bring man back into fellowship with Him.  Everything contained in the law represents truth.  The Hebrew for the word sure included the idea of a parent nurturing and building up a child.  God’s word is meant to nurture us and build us up to be wise in mind, word, and action—a people who are no longer deceived by the enemy and slaves to our sin nature.

Psalm 19:8 “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.”

The word of God provides guidelines for living that are right and just; they are intended to bring us joy and pleasure.  God isn’t sitting up in the heavens trying to think of ways to make our life miserable; He takes pleasure in our happiness.  His commands are meant to protect us and enrich our enjoyment of life.  Every command of God is intended for our well-being and to bring a shine of joy to our eyes.

Psalm 19:9 “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.”

The fear of the Lord is reflected in our attitude and actions; the reveal whether or not we recognize God for Who He Is—all-powerful, seeing everything, knowing everything, worthy of our praise and worship.  When we fear the Lord, we will choose to be morally clean and pure in our thoughts, words, and deeds—a mindset that will extend into eternity. 

Every decree or judgment of God is certain, trustworthy, and morally right.

Psalm 19:10–11 “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”

David is saying that we should desire to know God’s word and live by His laws more than we desire earthly treasure or delights.  Why?  Because they provide enlightenment and teaching and result in great reward from God. This implies a reward of greater treasure and greater delight than those available to us now on planet earth.

Psalm 19:12–13 “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”

As David continues to meditate, his thoughts turn back to himself.  He doesn’t want his life to be full of mistakes.  He wants God to forgive him and wash him clean from the sins in his life of which he is ignorant—or maybe this is a reference to sins that he has tried to hide from everyone else, but he knows that they are not hidden from God.  David also recognizes that he needs God’s help to keep him from sins rooted in pride; pride is a powerful influence in our lives.  He doesn’t want pride to rule his choices and actions.  With God’s enablement David knows that he can live a life that is pleasing to God—a life that is free of rebellion and sinful practices. 

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

David closes by expressing a desire for the words of his mouth and the meditation or thoughts of his heart to delight and bring pleasure to God.  David claims YHWH, the God of Israel, as his strength and his redeemer or deliverer.

I can’t help but think of the words of an old hymn:

O Lord my god!   When I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy hands have made.  I see the stars; I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee; How great Thou art, how great Thou art!  Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee; How great Thou art!  How great Thou art!                               --Carl Boberg

Monday, November 17, 2014

BEAUTIFUL FEET





I decided to read through this chapter in Isaiah, and the following verses stood out to me.

Isaiah 52:7–10 “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”

It is my desire to have beautiful feet before the Lord.  I want to share the message of  salvation through Jesus and remind everyone that God Reigns!  He is not an absentee Father who leaves His children to fend for themselves.  He is overseeing the unfolding of His plan that was made before the foundations of the world were ever created.  He has given His children His Holy Spirit to comfort, strengthen and provide for our every need.  The beautiful promise—God is once again going exalt Zion and bless Jerusalem.  He is going to bare His holy arm in judgment and return to earth to reign as the king of Kings in His holy city of Jerusalem.  At that time, “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”

Monday, November 10, 2014

A WARNING FROM NAHUM


I was reading through Nahum today; and when I came across this section, I could not help but make a connection to what God must see as He looks at America in general. 

Nahum 3:1–7 “Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;  The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots. The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses: Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts. Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame. And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock. And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?”

My paraphrase:  Bad things are in store for America, the bloody nation—a nation that has killed about 50 million innocent babies through abortion.  It is a nation full of lies as evidenced by the actions of many of our governing leaders, through its business principles, and through its marketing ploys.  The accepted mantra is that the ends justify the means.  Wealth is abundant and is ever susceptible to robbery—by wicked individuals and even by those in government leadership who seek to forcibly spread that wealth through policies that will defraud the wealth of others to garner support of the masses that hope to benefit from such robbery.  Wickedness and violence destroy many throughout the land.  Such evil abounds because America has rejected God’s existence and authority as evidenced through our morals, music, entertainment, education system and government.  She is a nation easily led by demonic deception.  She eagerly promotes her wickedness and morals among the other nations through example and the marketing of the products of her decadent culture.  Ultimately, she promotes a culture that disregards the right to life; seeks to destroy the family unit of father, mother and children; promotes gender confusion; and is attempting to blur the lines of humanity through genetic manipulation—and the list could go on.  Behold, God is against your wickedness America.  The day is coming when you will be shamed before the nations, and I judge you so thoroughly that the nations will be astonished that a nation once so great could fall so quickly and with such disgrace.  The nations will look and say, “America is laid waste:  who will mourn for her?  Where can anyone be found that is willing to help her?”

I know this paints a very morbid picture of our future, but I believe it is an accurate picture of our future unless by some miracle a great revival breaks out across our nation in which we repent of our wickedness and turn back to God in faith and obedience. 

There is a precious promise revealed in Nahum for those that have placed their faith in God and accepted the gift of salvation made possible by the willing sacrifice of His precious Son Jesus.  He will be our strength, defense and protection throughout whatever may come until He chooses to bring us home.

(picture by my granddaughter - click for larger view)