Mark 1:2-3 - The Fulfillment of the Prophet

Mark 1:2-3

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way;
The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight.’”

Message: The Fulfillment of the Prophet

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word immediately used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Mark begins his gospel in a different way than Matthew, Luke and John. Matthew and Luke give lengthy accounts of the birth of Christ. John goes all the way back to eternity. Mark, however, simply gives an Old Testament quote. That said, Scripture, at this time, was primarily the Old Testament and in this quote Mark links the Old Testament with his writing showing that Jesus is continuing the old covenant community.

Mark combines 3 Old Testament messianic texts: Exodus 23:20 (1526-1446 BC), Isaiah 40:3 (739-681 BC), Malachi 3:1 (538-333 BC)

Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.

A voice is calling,
“Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness;
Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.

By themselves, these passages are interesting. The Exodus verse, "angel" has been said to be Moses but also the Messiah or Christ as a messenger sent to rescue people. Isaiah 40:3 is a verse quoted by John in John 1:23 ascribing it to himself as the "voice." Now, as a reminder, this book of Mark is written between 57 and 59 AD, so it is 20 years since Jesus' death. Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. And this Malachi verse is speaking of someone preparing the way of the Lord, the Lord Jehovah. In other words, Mark is proclaiming immediately that John is preparing the way for Jehovah God or God. Personal, I think THE central issue in all of religious history is whether Jesus is God. And right now, 2 to 3 verses into his book Mark is saying "John is coming and preparing the way for the Lord - for God - for Jesus." 

John is the Messenger who will prepare the Lord's way.  He is linking the exodus or the deliverance of God's people, or to say it another way, the exodus follows the Babylonian exile and the final atonement for sin, and all things will consummate in the Christ: Jesus is coming to His temple, our God is coming on the highway. And John is showing the way and introducing Jesus who will come.  

And yet, Mark uses the present tense in talking about this. He is sure of it. 

Promise: We need to be grounded in the study of the Old Testament. Jesus is Coming. His way is being prepared. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the clarity of Your Word. Thank you for coming as you have and showing us that you are consistent with the message of the Scripture. Continue to give me understanding of Your Word as I study it.

Study Question: did God use anyone in your life to help you understand Jesus? When I was 15, God used several people - he provided people from church that came and visited me; he provided a pastor at a church gathering and he used a friend that was 17, 2 years older than me -- all of them helped me to understand Jesus for the first time and who he was and what he did for me. Who did God use in your life?

Mark 1:1 - The Second Evangelist

Mark 1:1
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 

Message: The Second Evangelist

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word immediately used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change. 

What the Lord is Saying: 

I continue to follow the Tabletalk reading plan, although slowly since I started getting them in 2013. Mark was studied throughout 2016 and so I still play catch up. But, I enjoy taking my time as well.

Gospel refers to good news and more specifically, the good news of Jesus Christ, the way of salvation. Mark does not speak of Jesus' early life, but is focused on Jesus' life on the road to the cross and resurrection.

MacLaren touches on the history of this word gospel. It is used in speaking of the Gospel of the Kingdom as much as it is used in reference to the Gospel of the King. Paul may have originated the term as it is found mostly in his writings. It is not in John's gospel, nor Luke, twice in Acts. John instead uses terms like "the witness," "the truth" or "the message" in some ways conveying the same idea. James, Jude, nor Hebrews uses it, and 3 times by Peter.

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God on earth is the good news of the establishment on earth of the rule of God in the hearts and lives of men. But, expounding further, what is this good news and what in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection constitutes good news. Martyrs are not new to history. Good news does not seem to simply be these 3 events (life, death, and resurrection), but rather it is the journey of Jesus and how he came about to die for sinners that constitute the good news.

Yet, the message of Jesus, as presented here and in the gospels and epistles is not one distinctly of Jesus, but there is a synchronized message of Jesus and Father of God. Everywhere Jesus is, God is as well. Their relationship is what is seen. Thus, it is not simply the gospel of Jesus, but the gospel of the glory of God. This salvation meaning is to know that God cares for me and loves me to such a degree that he would send His Son to live for me, to die for me, in order that I might be delivered from the bonds and death of sin. And everywhere the response to this is clearly seen as we drop everything to consecrate our lives in service to Him.

Everywhere this message is put forth, their is a response from people. Not everyone turns and runs to him. There is an expression of faith in him that shines.

It is not simply a retelling of a man, Jesus Christ, but he is the Son of God. Thus, this is an account that demands respect.

There is no other message. There is not a second gospel or second message. This is it and all other messages are counterfeit attempts to get to God, for this message is the only one that speaks of a man dying for our sins. This is a message for everyone, Jews and Gentiles, all people.

Promise: Here is the proclamation that Jesus is the Son of God, the chief cornerstone and ambassador of God moving on earth to life and dying for the sins of mankind, and living in the hearts and lives of people that call upon him and have faith in him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for Mark and his ministry and his book. Thank you that 2000 years later I can read of it and it can minister to me and those near me. Help me through it. Help me to remain consistent in studying it and bring people to know you through it. Help me to understand who you are as I read it, examining carefully the message. 

Study Question: What is your understanding of the meaning of the word "gospel?"

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 - Our Certainty in an Uncertain World

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Message: Our Certainty in an Uncertain World

Time: The Book of Ecclesiastes does not directly identify its author. The conventional belief is that the author is Solomon. The book was likely written towards the end of Solomon's reign, approximately 935 B.C. It is a book of perspective whereby the speaker reveals the depression that inevitably results from seeking happiness in worldly things. Most every form of worldly pleasure is explored by the Preacher, and none of it gives him a sense of meaning. He accepts that life is brief and ultimately worthless without God and advises the reader to focus on an eternal God instead of temporary pleasure.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I have studied this book off and on the past couple of years, I have seen some interesting conclusions about life. Life is not meaningless, but it is fleeting and repetitive. This book was written some 3000 years ago and yet its principles still hold true. That is amazing and yet, should remind me that much of life is the same in thought and deed. We have more conveniences today and more resources, but the nuts and bolts of life remain the same. 

For each of us, there is a proper time to do (3:2). Our lives are not much different than the beasts of the field who live for a while, then die. In life, we are to enjoy it. We are to enjoy the time with our wives and enjoy our labor and the fruits of it. Youth is a time of strength, but old age will come as well, and our bodies will get weak and our thinking will be more firm and unbending. 

Knowledge is interesting as well in life. We often are on a pursuit for more and more understanding, yet in this understanding we often end up with more questions than answers. Riches are something we pursue, but if we love them too much, they will not satisfy. Sometimes we work and acquire, only to die and have someone else enjoy them. There is no guarantee that the righteous man's life will be prolonged by being righteous or the wicked person's life will be short. Often the opposite is seen. 

The conclusion reached here by the Preacher is not to throw up one's hand in despair, but rather to find in God, in His Word, in Christ, we have all that we need and we have a certainty. The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. This is every person. No one is exempt. We are to fear God and keep His commandments. God sees all that we do. God also sees what man doesn't, our motivation and reason for doing what we do. Our reward is coming. And all of life will be exposed.

Fear the Lord
Repent of our sin
Trust in Him alone
Live a life of gratitude by keeping His commands
Enjoy Him for eternity

Promise: For each person, the same holds: fear God and keep His commandments.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for giving us a book like Ecclesiastes, that helps me to review life and see it for what it is. Thank you that you show me the importance of enjoying each day, enjoying my wife and family and provide me opportunities to enjoy the fruits of my labor. I appreciate this and value this in my life, but I also return to You and realize that my life remains about loving You and keeping your commandments. Help me to remain steady, despite ailments I may be experiencing more and more as I age. I never want to lose sight of You and who I am in You. Thank you Lord. I praise Your Name. 

Psalm 144:9-15 - The Blessings of Having the Lord God

Psalm 144:9-15

9 I will sing a new song to You, O God;
Upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,
10 Who gives salvation to kings,
Who rescues David His servant from the evil sword.
11 Rescue me and deliver me out of the hand of aliens,
Whose mouth speaks deceit
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
12 Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants,
And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace;
13 Let our garners be full, furnishing every kind of produce,
And our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
14 Let our cattle bear
Without mishap and without loss,
Let there be no outcry in our streets!
15 How blessed are the people who are so situated;
How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

Message: The Blessings of Having the Lord God

Time: Based upon authorship and subject matter, Psalms cover a range of centuries. David is mentioned 73 times, Solomon 2, Moses 1, and 50 designate no specific person. It is believed they were compiled around 537 BC. The psalms deal with such subjects as God and His creation, war, worship, wisdom, sin and evil, judgment, justice, and the coming of the Messiah.

What the Lord is Saying:

In review of the first 8 verses of this Psalm, David is crying out to the Lord recognizing first that God is great and the reality that he is small. God is the reason people see him as great. God is the reason he is a warrior in battle and is the reason he is the leader over his people. David also can't quite understand why God would even consider him of value. I know many times I have wondered why God would choose me. The peace I have seems almost unfair to what others have in our world. In light of this perspective, David calls on God to work in a mighty way.

This perspective or view point of God being the one that is capable of delivering and rescuing David continues in verse 9 forward.

His Determination
I will sing a new song to You, O God; upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You. Here is David's crescendo proclamation that the Lord God is in charge. His song, his new song, his forever song to he Lord is to sing his praises. Victory is in Jesus, now and forever.

His Discernment: Destroys Them
Who gives salvation to kings, who rescues David His servant from the evil sword. David had been in many battles and yet he is not ever testifying of his own greatness, but all of his praise of being rescued from the evil sword resides in the Lord.

His Discernment: Defame Them
Rescue me and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. David has clearly seen the evil present in many people's lives. It is no fun to witness evil, but it is there. He may have even been thinking of the murder of Amasa by Joab recorded in 2 Samuel 20. Joab was a cold-blooded murderer. Just as there are truly good people we want to emulate their are bad people we detest. But being rescued and delivered belongs in the hands of God.

His Desire: For A Magnificent Population 
Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, and our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace. David envisions a nation of youth drawing their strength from the Lord. These are people sure of their foundation. May we have youth in our country proud of our country, proud of our nation.

His Desire: For a Manifest Prosperity
Let our garners be full, furnishing every kind of produce, and our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; Let our cattle bear. He thinks of a nation with a healthy economy, where production is high and the gross national product beyond all normal expectation. In many ways this is modern day America.

His Desire: For a Meaningful Peace
Without mishap and without loss, let there be no outcry in our streets! Here there are no invasions of our country by a foreign foe. Are we a nation of peace? Unfortunately, we have lost our way as a nation from this with the many killings that occur at our schools, our military bases, businesses -- there is nothing that is truly safe now. 9/11 also showed that we can be attacked. For a moment, after that, people returned to the Lord, but it was momentary. Afterwards, they returned to their ways. What is missing from people? A right relationship with the Lord.

His Desire: For a Mirthful People
How blessed are the people who are so situated; how blessed are the people whose God is the Lord! We have all the resources to be content, but somehow we aren't. We are often a people still wanting more or being told we need more. And being taught that our economy is focused on people getting more. We have a lot but in order to get it we must borrow. It's amazing where we are at.

Here is the statement that should be the hallmark of our lives -- How blessed (happy) are the people whose God is the Lord. We think we have made it on our own, but actually, our praise belongs to the Lord. We need to return to this.

Promise: David recognizes in this Psalm that the secret to life is no secret. It is very apparent that God is to be our Lord and King and we are happiest in all of life with him at the center. This psalm declares that everything good about man is from God. Our positions, our roles, our jobs, our families, our money, our possessions is all there when we place him in charge. Evil men will continue, but we an rest in the Lord being our rescuer and deliverer.

Prayer: Thank You God for saving us. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for giving me life, abundance life, and peace, abundant peace. Help me to declare you and praise your name and acknowledge you as the reason for it all. I pray that you would be our peace. I pray that you would train us in how to be content and not simply focused on having more. Daily, bring back the joy of our salvation so we never lose that perspective of making you known in our world. Save me and save my family and friends. I praise you. And I thank you for what you have done so far. You are great.

Psalm 144:1-8 - God's Greatness and Man's Smallness

Psalm 144:1-8

1 Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle;
2 My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My stronghold and my deliverer,
My shield and He in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues my people under me.
3 O Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that You think of him?
4 Man is like a mere breath;
His days are like a passing shadow.
5 Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down;
Touch the mountains, that they may smoke.
6 Flash forth lightning and scatter them;
Send out Your arrows and confuse them.
7 Stretch forth Your hand from on high;
Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters,
Out of the hand of aliens
8 Whose mouths speak deceit,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

Message: God's Greatness and Man's Smallness

Time: Based upon authorship and subject matter, Psalms cover a range of centuries. David is mentioned 73 times, Solomon 2, Moses 1, and 50 designate no specific person. It is believed they were compiled around 537 BC. The psalms deal with such subjects as God and His creation, war, worship, wisdom, sin and evil, judgment, justice, and the coming of the Messiah.

What the Lord is Saying:

David's Source of Vitality: A Soldier
This Psalm begins with a praise to the Lord, recognizing that God is the reason for David's greatness. David acknowledges that the reason for his gifts is the Lord has provided. He does not attribute his greatness to himself but he thanks God and God is the one that is great, a rock - Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;

David's Source of Vitality: A Sovereign
As David attributes his greatness as a fighter, here he also attributes his greatness as a ruler to the Lord. My lovingkindness and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me. Everything about David points back to the Lord, "My rock." God is the strong one and however people want to view him or label him, it all points to the Lord.

The Vanity of Man's Person: How Insignificant is our existence
In verse 3 are two words for man -- adam and enosh. O Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him? Adam denotes mankind in general. Enosh as son of man is a world that stands for man's frailty and weakness. It comes from the word that mean "to be sick" or "to be wretched or weak." Here is the question, given the greatness of God and his great power, how is it that he considers man. What a difference this statement is from society who thinks that God must not simply be thinking of man, but only wanting the best for him at all times. God is often set aside because man has not been made great. But, it is the greatness of God that we need to be about.

The Vanity of Man's Person: How Inconsequential is our experience
The question of why God would consider man is further foreshadowed in these words - Man is like a mere breath; his days are like a passing shadow. David survey's his life and looks at his temporary time on earth. If we are honest with ourselves and our existence, sure there are good moments when we think we are on top of the world and have done good things, but there are other times that we see our sin and see the evil of our ways. As I survey life, and the shortness of life, how is it that God takes account of me. This is a far cry from our world today where all the focus is on the greatness of man and the greatness of his existence and experience. We are all about enjoying life to the max, not praising our God on high. But, David sees it. He sees the insignificance of man and sees that man is nothing without God.

The Vanity of Man's Plans: Apprehending the Power of God
In verses 5 and 6 is the following: Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down; Touch the mountains, that they may smoke. Flash forth lightning and scatter them; Send out Your arrows and confuse them. David does not ask for his greatness to be manifested, but he asks for the Lord's greatness to be manifested. Lord, show your power throughout this world. He wanted to people to see the greatness of God and he asks God to work in this way.

The Vanity of Mans Plan: Appropriating the Power of God
Stretch forth Your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hand of aliens whose mouths speak deceit, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.  It is the power of God that will rescue David and will rescue man. Man cannot rescue himself and God recognizes this. All the saving that goes on in this world is attributed to God. It is just some people give him praise for it and some do not. David's confidence was in God.

Promise: David praised God and understand that his position in this world was due to the great God. God is so great, it makes us wonder why he would have anything to do with us at all. But, he does. So, our response is to call on him and ask him to intervene in our lives. His power needs to be manifested on this earth.

Prayer: O Lord, you are the Rock. You are the great One. You are all power. The roles I find myself in and who I am is because of you being so great. I don't comprehend why you see value in me. I don't comprehend why you chose me and saved me. But, you have and I am so thankful. Forgive me for not always showing this thanks. I need you God. I need your help. So send down your power O God and make it known in my world by rescuing me. You are great.

Proverbs 24:16 - The Fall and Rise of the Righteous

Proverbs 24:16
For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity.
Message: The Fall and Rise of the Righteous

Time: King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs. Solomon's proverbs were penned around 900 B.C. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.

What the Lord is Saying: 

The righteous people in Proverbs are those that will enjoy great success. Righteous are contrasted with the wicked. So, now that I think about it, I'm not sure if the word usage is the same as I think about in the New Testament. Meaning, is it an absolute statement signifying someone that is without sin in the way that the righteousness of Christ, his perfect life, is placed on the believer in Christ upon his surrender and we are then forever seen from God as without sin, upon judgment.

In this verse, is the reality that the righteous someones fall. The righteous, as depicted by Solomon, are not those free of trouble. They do experience letdowns. For the scripture to say that a righteous man falls seven times does not necessarily mean only the number seven. Seven is a number of completeness and so it would mean that man may experience a complete falling or complete suffering in his life. But, as the verse states, even big setbacks in life or not permanent and the righteous rises again. 

Ultimately, in Christ this signifies the reward we will receive beyond the grave, resurrecting and living for eternity with God in heaven. Like Christ, it may appear that all has been lost in the death and we are gone in oblivion but we will rise again.

In contrast, the wicked stumble. And they do not rise again. As they stumble, they are weak. The wicked have no final victory to look forward to. I often see this reply from the wicked. They will often even mock the righteous and holding onto a brighter day because the wicked have no future victory to look forward to. They never recover.

Promise: The righteous do not simply suffer through pain, but they look forward to victory from pain. As James states, there is joy even in trials.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the promise of rescuing us and delivering us, no matter what occurs. Thank you that this present life isn't all there is and that you have a future glory waiting for those who are in Christ. Draw more to yourself. And help those in you to not get too focused on the hurts and pains that they forget that you will rescue them. Help us to not listen to the words of the wicked.

Proverbs 11:23 - The Fulfillment of Righteous Desire

Proverbs 11:23
The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

Message: The Fulfillment of Righteous Desire

Time:  King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs. Solomon's proverbs were penned around 900 B.C. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.

What the Lord is Saying: 

It's interesting to read Solomon's words and wonder overall what his worldview was regarding orthodoxy, sovereignty, divine election, and/or Calvinistic type principles. This verse is interesting as it showcases absolute language.

The desire of the righteous is only good. That is an absolute statement. Naturally, the righteous only desire good. That makes sense. If we choose righteousness then our desire is to do good. I struggle sometimes with the absolute statements in the Bible because they speak of a behavior that we don't have obviously all the time, but yet represent an ideal. I guess, in that vain, I am a realist. I suppose what I see is most people sit in between the two. They present to the world through their visible actions often righteousness and yet inside I think we all struggle with being wicked. But, maybe that is just something I see in myself, as a man. I don't know if I see this in my wife or think she struggles with this.

Often, its not that we are wicked, but that we are not as righteous as we could be. But, the aim in this verse is to do good and desire to do good towards people. Perhaps the proverb is saying more that the result of being righteous is having done good and having that peace while the result of being wicked is wrath and disfavor with self, ending their own wrath and ruin.

Conversely, the expectation of the wicked is wrath. 

Promise: Guard my heart. God will reward good deeds not wickedness. Wickedness instead receives wrath.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be a righteous person and to desire righteousness at all times in my life and the lives of others. Train me in this.

Proverbs 16:4 - The Lord's Purpose for the Wicked

Proverbs 16:4
The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil.


Message: The Lord's Purpose for the Wicked

Time: King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs. Solomon's proverbs were penned around 900 B.C. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Immediately, this verse makes me think of Ecclesiastes 3:11, "He has made everything appropriate in its own time."

I have looked at verses like this and I do think they are difficult to understand. Many speak of divine election or not. Election refers to the fact that God chooses (or elects) to do everything that He does in whatever way He sees fit. When He acts, He does so only because He willfully and independently chooses to act. According to His own nature, predetermined plan, and good pleasure, He decides to do whatever He desires, without pressure or constraint from any outside influence.

This verse from Proverbs 16 reminds us that in addition to God's chosen people, if he has not chosen someone then their result will be separation from God. But, this is a difficult concept for many to accept for people like to feel like they are in control.

Yet, many don't teach this about this verse. Several commentaries that I have, like Elliot says, "The assertion that “He has made the wicked for the day of evil,” does not mean that He created any one for punishment—i.e., predestined him for destruction."

Personally, I think these issues are hard to determine the meaning of. I'm not sure if God works everything for his own purpose or if he predetermined all to be either good or wrong. It's a difficult subject. I understand both sides and of their defenses and in the end, I'm not sure which direction ultimately to choose.

Promise: The Lord has made everything for its purpose.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your truth and I depend on You and trust in You for your providence and trust in you for whatever you decree. Thank you for your love. Give me insight into understand your truths and what they mean for the rest of my life.

Psalm 150 - A Call to Praise the Lord

Psalm 150

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
2 Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
3 Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
4 Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
Message: A Call to Praise the Lord

Time: Based upon authorship and subject matter, Psalms cover a range of centuries. David is mentioned 73 times, Solomon 2, Moses 1, and 50 designate no specific person. It is believed they were compiled around 537 BC. The psalms deal with such subjects as God and His creation, war, worship, wisdom, sin and evil, judgment, justice, and the coming of the Messiah.

What the Lord is Saying:

One of the great things that has happened over the last 20 years in Christian circles and people of faith in Jesus is the emphasis and love for praise and worship music. In the 80s Hosanna Music were really the primary offerings of praise and worship music, but a few contemporary groups began to have praise and worship albums in the early 90's and these morphed into churches singing more contemporary songs from songwriters expressing themselves via praise. 20 years later it seems that most of the top selling Christian music on the various charts are primarily praise and worship offerings. 10 years ago most churches had a contemporary and traditional service but of late churches are more and more combining the two. My church had separate services, but in the last 7 years went to the both structure.

For me, it is a good reminder that my life needs to be about praise because often I have a tendency to be more selfish in my relationship with God and focused on how this is benefiting me. In the previous church we attended I noticed that the idea of worship was included in all the aspects of the church service, reminding us that worship is not only singing songs, but it is also how we live; so, the offering was an expression of worship as was the sermon, as was all the components of the service and our lives. The idea of grace living is that Jesus did it all and so in response to what he has done for us, we live a life of obedience to him because we desire to praise him and thank him for what he has done. We cannot help living this life of faith. And this life should manifest it throughout our lives. Thus, worship should be a component of our lives.

Everywhere
Praise God in His sanctuary; From these verses is the idea that we are to Praise God in His sanctuary, in the church, in the temple. I was reminded recently that the stable in which Jesus was born was a place of worship. It was a temple of sort where Jesus is embodied and was a place set aside for him. This is a reminder that sanctuaries are everywhere. They are in coffee shops where men and women gather to pray and keep one another accountable. They are in rooms of houses where families come together to pray. They are in rooms of churches. Thus, we can praise God throughout our worlds as we gather together.

Praise Him in His mighty expanse. Beyond this earth, in the heavens, in the mighty expanse we will praise the Lord. Praise is one of those acts that we will be doing for all eternity. In some ways I think of heaven as being mostly about praise. We are living but we are face to face with our God and just as I can't get too much time with Him and His Word, when given the opportunity to not have the encumbrance of work here, I imagine that life will be completely fulfilling and busy in worship and praise of God for eternity.

Thanksgiving for what He has done
Praise Him for His mighty deeds. This is where I struggle because I am so much about tomorrow and the future and going forward and often not about looking back at what has occurred. Our pastor is leaving. He announced he is moving on to another church back in his homeland - California. He has been at the church 7 years and the tendency for all of us is to say - what next. But one of the pastor's reminded us of the need to take a moment and think about all that God has accomplished in the last 7 years. And he has accomplished a lot through the service of this man and his family. We need to look back at times and be reminded of the sweet victories we have been able to experience.

Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Not only has he done great deeds in our lives, but He is great. I try to think of the attribute of God: His faithfulness, His mighty hand, His order of this world, His providence, His kindness, His healing touch, His presence, His leading, His hearing our prayers, His acting -- these are all examples of How great He is. Once again, there is so much to praise Him about.

Praise beyond our own words
Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals.  I remember the words of Russ Taff from an interview in the late 80s in which he said, "Music has a way of speaking to us like nothing else." As we are praising God, we are moved beyond just our voices, but there is also the desire to pick up instruments, whatever they are and play them before Him. I am truly amazed at the different types of music that are in the world. Often we gravitate towards a specific style, but it amazes me in the Christian music world that Rap, Hard Rock, Soft Rock, Alternative, Swing, Praise, Celtic, Pop, Anthems -- there are so many different styles and they all come together in praise and worship. The focus here is not simply the words. Instrumental music obviously can praise God. Again, we go beyond the singing and words and express praise with different kinds of instruments.

Everything
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! The crescendo of this Psalm is rather obvious, but still needs to be said. Let Everything that has breath praise the Lord. Thus, musical instruments have breath and humans have breath. Let it all praise the Lord. As we live and work and shop and worship and talk and fellowship; in all of our activities, we are to worship and praise the Lord.

Promise: Worshiping God in spirit and truth must be the goal of our lives.

Prayer: O Lord, I praise You and thank You for the reminder and proclamation of your Word, showing me that my entire life is a way to worship You. That is goes beyond church or Sunday's and permeates all of life. Help that to be so in my life. Thank you for all that you have done for me and for creation. I love music and praise you for it. Sometimes the artist I am listening to does not have an intent to be praising you, but in listening to it, I can praise You still. Thank you for living and breathing in all people. You are everyone's God, but not everyone calls you God. I praise You. Help me to know how to better praise you and take time specifically to remember all that you have done and thank you for what you are going to do.

Ecclesiastes 12:11-12 - To Study or Not to Study

Ecclesiastes 12:11-12
11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.

Message: To Study or Not to Study

Time: The Book of Ecclesiastes does not directly identify its author. The conventional belief is that the author is Solomon. The book was likely written towards the end of Solomon's reign, approximately 935 B.C. It is a book of perspective whereby the speaker reveals the depression that inevitably results from seeking happiness in worldly things. Most every form of worldly pleasure is explored by the Preacher, and none of it gives him a sense of meaning. He accepts that life is brief and ultimately worthless without God and advises the reader to focus on an eternal God instead of temporary pleasure.

What the Lord is Saying:

Words of the Wise
This passage comes near the close of the book of Ecclesiastes. It seems to summarize what has been said to this point by the Preacher, emphasizing that the the words of wise men or the inspired words that are coming from Almighty God are like goads. For us today, a goad is a spiked stick or a board in which nails were embedded with their points exposed encouraging an animal such as a cow or ox to keep moving by the animal feeling a sharp pain. Thus, the words of the wise are seen as a goad. Wise words sometimes hurt and are partly unwelcome as we traverse through life, on our own, left to our devices. But, we need to be poked and reminded of our purpose. As seen in Psalm 23:1 (The Lord is my shepherd), the ancient Hebrews often referred to God as their "shepherd." Thus, these are words given by one Shepherd -- the Lord God.

Reminders are sometimes corrections that sting a little. We traverse through life often with an expectation of how things are to go and wise words at times assault us a little, prodding us or reminding us. I notice this often in my life as I often get corrected at work. I make a point that I think is appropriate and come to find out there is a rule that contradicts my point. Getting corrected continually is sort of tough. It hurts to the psyche, but it is necessary and I shouldn't resist it, though I do.

Excessive Reading
But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body. Here is a warning to be careful about how much time we spend studying and seeking information. We need to be people of action, not just study. I even see this as an application to pray for I notice my own tendency to spend a lot of time in study and gaining knowledge and not enough time praying or taking what I have learned and praying. Again, as has been talked about, I need that gentle prodding and reminder. The reason I study is to see how the Lord wants me to live. That is my purpose.

Promise: Seek Wisdom. Seek Godly wisdom, but also be a person of action not simply study. Welcome the wisdom from God, even it means getting corrected or reminded of what I need to do.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this insight that I need, though I may not always want or desire. Getting corrected is a humbling experience. Help me to read what I need to read, but also be a person of action. Thank you for the wisdom of your Book. Thank you that it is what I need each and every day.

Psalm 119:169-176 - Crying Out To Understand

Psalm 119:169-176

169 Let my cry come before You, O Lord;
Give me understanding according to Your word.
170 Let my supplication come before You;
Deliver me according to Your word.
171 Let my lips utter praise,
For You teach me Your statutes.
172 Let my tongue sing of Your word,
For all Your commandments are righteousness.
173 Let Your hand be ready to help me,
For I have chosen Your precepts.
174 I long for Your salvation, O Lord,
And Your law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live that it may praise You,
And let Your ordinances help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.

Message: Crying Out to Understand 

Time: Based upon authorship and subject matter, Psalms cover a range of centuries. David is mentioned 73 times, Solomon 2, Moses 1, and 50 designate no specific person. It is believed they were compiled around 537 BC. The psalms deal with such subjects as God and His creation, war, worship, wisdom, sin and evil, judgment, justice, and the coming of the Messiah.

What the Lord is Saying:

This is the concluding passage of Psalm 119. There have been 22 lessons I have done on this Psalm. The Blessedness of keeping God's Law, God's Word in the Heart, A longing for God's Word, The Power and desire to obey, A heart inclined to God's Law, Saved to Testify, The Word of God in Times of Trouble, Not forgetting God's Law, The Word of God and Affliction, God's Word, Affliction, and Glory, God's Sustaining Word, God's Fixed and Enduring Word, Love for God's Law, The Joy of God's Law, A Lamp to our Feet, The Single-Minded Law of God, When Others Don't Keep God's Law, Faithful Obedience, The Nearness of God in His Word, Seeking God's Statutes, The Treasure of God's Word.

So just looking at those titles is clear to see that this Psalm has been about the high honor we place on God's Word and hiding it in our heart. It lasts the test of time. It endures for all time and we are to be near to it, inclining our heart to it continually. 

I need to be near it. It needs to continue to be the center of my life. As I look out at my study of this, I see it started in August 2015, so I've been at it over 2 years. Honestly, that is too long. I am a little saddened that this tells me that for a tabletalk reading of 250 readings, I've been at it over 750 days, which is 1 every 3 days. The only good news is I haven't given up and continue to persevere. 

In addition to Tabletalk, I have also relied on various commentaries, including lately the books I have on the Psalms by John Phillips, copyright 1987. John Phillips (1927-2010) served as assistant director of the Moody Correspondence School as well as director of the Emmaus Correspondence School, one of the world’s largest Bible correspondence ministries. He also taught in the Moody Evening School and on the Moody Broadcasting radio network.

LORD, HEAR ME (169-172)

The Prayer: For Enlightenment (169)

Let my cry come before You, O Lord; Give me understanding according to Your word.  As I have even said in this reading earlier, I'm been on a quest for knowledge, but it is really for understanding. It is better to understand, as is clearly shown here, than simply amass more knowledge. In understanding, the Word becomes part of me, not just a reference book. And I want to be changed by the Word of God. Here in this verse is the cry of the Psalmist - O Lord, Give me understanding according to Your Word. That is profound. Again, my favorite verse of Proverbs 3:5 that says, Lean not on my own understanding. I don't want to be trained and live by my own understanding, but rather I want my understanding to be according to God's Word. 

The Prayer: For Enablement (170)

Let my supplication come before You; deliver me according to Your word. He cried for understanding and then also brought his request before Him to be delivered. He had a thirst for the Word taking up ownership in His life. Here, he mentions needing to be delivered, not just from circumstances, but from his doubts. He had cried, he had prayed, and yet change had not occurred. Perhaps he was holding onto God's promises, acting his life in a way that honored God, praying, fasting, and praying again and yet, through these actions, the results did not come. Could something be getting in the way, perhaps even a darkness and wicked spirit getting in the way. He pleaded that he needs his supplication to come before God. The Devil is scheming and we need protection of the Word of God in our life. 

The Promise: He Would Praise the Lord (171)

Let my lips utter praise, for You teach me Your statutes. O the joy that I receive when I understand the statutes, the words of God. I have seen it in my family as well, in Pamela, in Megan, and in Tyson. Derek, I am waiting. It will come. But, there is such excitement and joy and praise to God as the Spirit intercedes and interprets the Bible sometimes directly, sometimes through a preacher or a commentary, or a song or even a person, but the Joy that I receive when it comes into my life. How exciting when I discover a truth that is in the Bible? Where did that come from? Wow. This book is incredible. 

The Promise: He Would Proclaim the Word (172)

Let my tongue sing of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.  I have seen in the last 24 hours the destructiveness of my tongues. How I need to be silent more, praying more, and expounding less. I need to keep myself quiet and not try so hard to make sense of things. Instead, let it sing of God's word. My brother does such a great job with this. Bobby, my friend, does as well. That is what I need to be boasting about - God's word and not leaning on my own understanding. It starts with verse 169 - Give me understanding. I want it to move from a text to an understanding. Maybe it is, through my mistakes. As I said earlier, it is the word of God that I need to meditate on. It and it alone.

LORD, HELP ME (173-176)

Lord, Save Me: The Ground of the Appeal (173b)

For I have chosen Your precepts. I choose God's word. I'm not choosing to be guided by anything else in life. I come before the Lord, expecting him to act and word, not because of another philosophy but because I have chosen His Word

Lord, Save Me: The Greatness of the Appeal (173a)

Let Your hand be ready to help me. I am not asking help from a pastor, a saint, Mary, a statue, or any other form. I want Your Hand. I want You Lord. I come before the Throne room of God and beseech You O God. 

Lord, Satisfy Me (174)

I long for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my delight. It is clear from the preceding verses that the Psalmist is not getting what he desires. He is asking and is not receiving. He thinks something is obstructing his asking and yet in spite of all of this he continues with the plea to the Gospel of Salvation and continues to proclaim that the Law is his delight. What a great encouragement and challenge to us today. Society is replete with people who punt God because he does not supply their every need. Many get the comforts of life, and good job, good family, healthy for a while, a nice house, all the time thinking those things come their way but when something bad happens and they call on God and don't get what they want, they throw up their arms in disgust and leave. O Lord, I don't want to be this type of person. I don't want to be that person that thinks I must get my way, all the time, and when I don't, I abandon you. 

Lord, Strengthen Me: Wrought in Him (175a)

Let my soul live. He pleads once again to the Lord to let his soul live. Bring me alive God. 

Lord, Strengthen Me: Brought from Him 

Let my soul live that it may praise You Why does he want his soul to live? In order to Praise God. Let me wake up in order to praise You. I don't want to resent or be angry God at you, so wake me up to praise You. 

Lord, Strengthen Me: Taught to Him (175b)

And let Your ordinances help me. He wants God's word to be the help and the vehicle to help him Praise Him. He asks God to have his soul live, being aided by God's word. 

Lord, Seek Me: Straying

There have been 175 verses sung to this point, exemplifying and extolling the great Word of God and leaning on the Law of God and how does this Psalmist Conclude? Maybe not as I would expect. I see honesty. I have gone astray like a lost sheep. What honesty. The standard is there, but his life remains, he knows, absent from what he has read and memorized and taken to heart. He voices that he has gone astray. 

Lord, Seek Me: Praying

Seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments. He is lonely, vulnerable, afraid. After all that he has seen, there is the reality that he still struggles. And He sort of pleads to God, that still he will not forget Your commandments. He shows himself to be vulnerable, a sinner, and yet still a Christian desiring obedience in his life.

Promise: As the Word of God is preached and studied, the Spirit brings His people to salvation and by the supernatural gift of wisdom enables us to live in a way that pleases Him, moving us to a life of worship and praise.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your word and hearing me, saving me, strengthening me and seeking me. Lord, thank you that you are there. As I turn to you, remove the barriers and may the spiritual forces not get in the way of my petitions. Thank You God for loving me and knowing my needs. You God are in Control. I am a sinner, daily in need of You. Thank you for the beauty of Your word and I praise you for it. 

Proverbs 11:21 - The Certainty of Deliverance

Proverbs 11:21
Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,
But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.

Message: The Certainty of Deliverance

Time: King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs. Solomon's proverbs were penned around 900 B.C. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.

What the Lord is Saying:

The Contrast
As in many Proverbs, this verse presents a contrast. Here it speaks of the evil man and the descendants of the righteous. And then it also contrasts their two outcomes: not going unpunished contrasted with being delivered. The outcomes presented here of punishment and deliverance are outcomes we are all trying to avoid and receive, respectively.

Evil Outcomes
To me, the hallmark belief of the Bible is just this here and that is principally evil will be punished. I think this is one of the primary principals of the Bible that is chiefly being assaulted today. One of the big ways this is being done is what is defined as evil is being diminished or lessened. Conversely, what is called punishment is also being diminished.

I love old shows. One reason I love old shows is they generally are absent of vulgar thoughts and living in the shows and the tenets of what I would subscribe to in my life are often not as apparent. Sure, there still may be adultery or murder present but it is not explicitly shown. And bad language and cursing God's name is generally completely absent. And often there is a cord of faith in most movies because the country at large had a backdrop of faith even if they may not have really had their heart into it. So overall, I like these old shows and movies for those reasons.

Regarding this verse, I think of cop shows like Adam-12 and Dragnet. Adam-12 followed the lives of 2 officers, throughout their day as they encountered offenses that occurred in society. Offenses that were present were stealing TV's, revenge, domestic disturbances, investigating noise complaints, settling a dispute between arguing neighbors, arresting drug abusers (not dealers, but users). I guess my sense is many of these types of situations don't get dealt with by police today. But, also we in society may not even call these serious offenses. Much of the focus is what we term serious offenses now.

I think most people today would agree with this verse completely in that evil should be punished, but I also think that what they call evil today is way different from 50 years ago. TV shows, Movies, and the media have worked to redefine what is evil in society. And so the belief in society is punishment will not come to many because evil is not as prevalent in society as Scripture would make us to believe.

Deliverance
The contrast to the evil outcomes of evil choices and people and acts is the deliverance that comes from the descendants of the righteous. Now, this is different because it doesn't say the righteous, but rather the descendants. Could it be that there is power in living a righteous life; that living a righteous life yields dividends beyond the current generation? Perhaps this is the importance of living in a righteous manner. And yet it is possible the seed or descendant is more line with the children of God that we are called, those that have trusted Jesus as Savior and depend on his righteousness. We know we are not righteous without Christ. He is complete righteousness, so rather than this saying that this is a promise to my children, maybe rather what it is is a promise to those that have surrendered their lives to the Lord and accepting his riches.

The deliverance we have received is being in Christ and the peace that comes from this. We have peace in Christ that will last forever, for eternity. Those that keep the commandments of God; and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, we were delivered from the outcome that is deserved. We deserve punishment and to be separated from God, but through Christ we have been redeemed and we have been delivered.

Again, this is a message so contrary to the message that we hear in our world today. What is preached is human effort and outcomes from what we have done. The need to even be delivered has been replaced by the idea that we are all self-dependent. I don't need God when I have lots of savings in my back account. I don't need God when I can clearly see the result of my hard work and good decisions. I have much so I pray little. There is such a danger in riches or having things because it so easily makes me think that I can do it on my own, without God. It's the same lie that was presented to Adam and Eve. The serpent gave the idea that nothing really bad will come from breaking God's commandments. And even better we need to change God's rules into rights.

Promise: This is the essence of this verse - it isn't necessarily talking of immediate punishment or immediate deliverance, but these are final outcomes.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the clarity of this verse. Thank you for your great love for me and for saving me. Lord, keep me centered on You. Keep me focused on the great need in the cross. Help me to not be self-dependent and self-sufficient. I pray to remain urgent for truth, for deliverance. I thank you for your patience and allowing so many the opportunity for salvation by giving them time.

Psalm 115:9-18 - Blessing The Lord Now and Forever

Psalm 115:9-18

9 O Israel, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us;
He will bless the house of Israel;
He will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will bless those who fear the Lord,
The small together with the great.
14 May the Lord give you increase,
You and your children.
15 May you be blessed of the Lord,
Maker of heaven and earth.
16 The heavens are the heavens of the Lord,
But the earth He has given to the sons of men.
17 The dead do not praise the Lord,
Nor do any who go down into silence;
18 But as for us, we will bless the Lord
From this time forth and forever.
Praise the Lord!

Message: Blessing The Lord Now and Forever

Time: Based upon authorship and subject matter, Psalms cover a range of centuries. David is mentioned 73 times, Solomon 2, Moses 1, and 50 designate no specific person. It is believed they were compiled around 537 BC. The psalms deal with such subjects as God and His creation, war, worship, wisdom, sin and evil, judgment, justice, and the coming of the Messiah.

What the Lord is Saying: 

As I continue to look at this Psalm, I saw in the first 8 verses a contrast between all praise to God and the folly of replacing God or instead worshiping idols. To God be the glory. He is the patient one despite many questioning that He is even there. But, God does as he wishes and He is to be glorified; He doesn't need me and He is sovereign over all. How narrow it is those that people can choose instead to worship a man-made idol and in so doing they get completely off track. It amazes me in life how easily we got off track and begin living for things that just don't matter. The Lord is to be praised above all. Daily I need reminders to remember God, seek Him, thank Him, praise Him.

People appraise God as being helpless and the Psalmist responds to show the stupidity of idolatry and finding rest in man-made things.

Appeal - The Covenant People
O Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. The first 8 verses sound like a prayer of praise to God, but verse 8 makes a shift to words maybe from a leader to the people, such as a choir leader to the congregation appealing to them to trust in the Lord. He is Israel's help and Israel's shield. He helps us and he protects us. Those are words I must not forget. Sunday, a man walked into a church service in Sutherland Heights, Texas and opened fire on a small church gathering killing 26 and wounding more. This tiny church now has lost half of its membership. It's hard to fathom, but it should remind us that people need the help of God daily in their lives. Without that help, we do not think properly. In all of life's situations he is our help and our shield. This doesn't mean that nothing bad will happen to us; his protection lasts for eternity.

Appeal - The Consecrated Priest
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. Verse 9 appealed to Israel and this verse appeals to the priest. The people are to trust in the Lord, but also the priests. The priests should set the example for the masses that it is God who is our help and shield.

Appeal - The Converted Pagan
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. From Israel, to the Priest, to the person, or the pagan, all are to trust in the Lord. He is our help and shield no matter where we are at in life.

Application - Assurance of Blessing
The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless those who fear the Lord, the small together with the great. Our Lord is the business of blessing. And I need to be in the business of recognized those blessings. This doesn't mean everything will work out the way I want it. Help me, Lord, to see where you are working and thank you for it. You are mindful of me. You have given me Life, eternal life. You have given me breath. All the good that I have in my life is a gift from You. Each day that I can live is a gift from You. And my faithfulness, my measure of my fear is not contingent on the degree of blessing that I will receive. God simply blesses His people.

Application - Assessment of the Blessing
May the Lord give you increase, You and your children. May you be blessed of the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth. The Lord is able to bless anyone at anytime. Nothing is too difficult for Him. I need to trust in this each day. Forgive me Lord for thinking you are done with me.

Applause - The Globe
The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth He has given to the sons of men. Heaven is the home of the Lord. It is his home right now. Any time Scripture attempts a description of Heaven it resorts to symbolic language. The earth has been given to human beings. God came to this earth to redeem it. It needs redeeming, continually.

Applause - The Grave
The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence; At this time, Jesus had not yet brought life to those in the grave. The Old Testament shares a gloomy picture of the grave. In contrast, the living are to praise the Lord.

Applause - The Godly

But as for us, we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forever. Praise the Lord! We are to bless the Lord forever. He is to be praised at any time, at all times. 

Promise: The Lord is about blessing His people and we are about blessing the Lord, praising His name forever.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that we are able to put our trust in You. Thank you for being our help and our shield. Help me to believe this each day and trust in You no matter what comes. As we experience difficulties and trials that we think are too big for us to deal with, remind us that we can trust in You, remain in You and you will help us and shield us from the world and its messages. Thank you for the way you have blessed me. I don't understand it, but I continually thank you for it. Help me to continue to recognize this in my life.

Psalm 115:1-8 - Glory to the Name of the Lord

Psalm 115:1-8
1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
But to Your name give glory
Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.
2 Why should the nations say,
“Where, now, is their God?”
3 But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of man’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak;
They have eyes, but they cannot see;
6 They have ears, but they cannot hear;
They have noses, but they cannot smell;
7 They have hands, but they cannot feel;
They have feet, but they cannot walk;
They cannot make a sound with their throat.
8 Those who make them will become like them,
Everyone who trusts in them.

Message: Glory to the Name of the Lord

Time: Based upon authorship and subject matter, Psalms cover a range of centuries. David is mentioned 73 times, Solomon 2, Moses 1, and 50 designate no specific person. It is believed they were compiled around 537 BC. The psalms deal with such subjects as God and His creation, war, worship, wisdom, sin and evil, judgment, justice, and the coming of the Messiah.

What the Lord is Saying:
I believe Chris Tomlin's second album Arriving opens with the song Not to Us. The chorus is:

Not to us, but to Your name be the glory

Wow. That is this verse from Psalm 115.

Overall, this Psalm is about idolatry and exposing it and contrasting it to the worship of the true God.

Appreciation - The Sanctity of God's Name
Our redemption is forever associated with the act of our Great God. Thus, it is His Name that we will forever glorify, not ours. And in this verse, that idea of not to us is repeated, like an exclamation point and further clarification: Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory. 

Appreciation - The Scoffers of God's Fame
There will always be scoffers of God. There will always be those that call into question his existence, authority, sovereignty. Why should the nations say, “Where, now, is their God?” God's name is cursed more than ever as society looks more and more unlike God and things of God. God remains patient. He understands people and He is kind, waiting for people to come to repentance. His timing is perfect. Those that don't believe in God thing they can somehow call on God to act. When he doesn't respond, they think they are proving that he doesn't exist. They are proving that He remains patient.

Appreciation - The Straightness of God's Aim
But God does as he wishes. He is not under my authority nor the authority of man. I must even remember this that He will act in a way that is best for him and for me. He sees all and knows all. But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.

Appraisal - The Form of the Idol
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of man’s hands. They have mouths, but they cannot speak; they have eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but they cannot hear; they have noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but they cannot feel; they have feet, but they cannot walk; they cannot make a sound with their throat. I suppose from the perspective of God it seems absurd to believe in something that has been crafted by man or is even an animal that is a creation of God. It makes as much sense talking to a garden gate or bench. Why do people elevate these creatures, these objects to the status of God. It doesn't make sense to me, but that is my perspective. And as I know there are other idols in our lives that we erect in place of our worship of God, that I'm sure don't make sense either to God.

Appraisal - The Folly of the Idolator
Those who make them will become like them, everyone who trusts in them. The worship of idols creates this hold on us as we almost habitually allow them to become a part of our lives and then we can't see it anymore as it takes hold of our minds. The only thing that can change this is a change of heart. It's sad to watch this happen. And yet I see it all too often in my boys, more specifically my youngest son and his attachment to a drug in his life.

Promise: This passage begins with a prayer - not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory. I need to continue to give praise to the Lord and continue to pray giving glory to his name.

Prayer: Lord, help me to always remember that you are my God in the heavens and you do as you please. It is not to me, but to your name be the Glory. Help me to always realize that people will question you, but you are the unseen personal God. It is sad to see people worshiping idols that are fashioned in the more of a god. Remove this from people's lives, specifically from my families lives. Help us all to be surrendered to you and your ways.

Proverbs 6:27-29 - Fire Safety

Proverbs 6:27-29
27 

27 Can a man carry fire next to his chest
and his clothes not be burned?
28 Or can one walk on hot coals
and his feet not be scorched?
29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife;
none who touches her will go unpunished.

Message: Fire Safety

Time: King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs. Solomon's proverbs were penned around 900 B.C. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.

What the Lord is Saying:

The message in these verses is simple: "Don't play with fire; if you do, you will get burned." Verse 27 is almost a verse a humor acknowledging the ridiculous of carrying fire next to his person and yet thinking that he can do this and not get burned. We often do the same with sin. We listen to music that we know has a bad message, but I remember saying as a kid, I just ignore the words and enjoy the music. We do the same with TV shows and movies, loving parts, and saying we ignore the rest. But, it is having an affect on us.

These verses are a caution statement to the sin in our lives. Most notably here is the sin of adultery. It amazes me how much the Bible is a book about avoiding sexual sin. And yet we find ourselves living in a day and age when sexual immorality and temptations is everywhere in our world. As a man, I see that I am weak in those areas. Perhaps it was being tempted to look at a magazine when I was a young man, before the age of 10 and then again in middle school when my hormones were on high alert. And this temptation has carried with me in life, despite having a beautiful and wonderful wife who fulfills all of my needs and desires. It continues. The temptation continues despite my circumstances. The media puts out the message continually because they know it is something that people want and desire. Hugh Hefner just died and in many ways he is thought to be a revolutionary person and yet he gave permission to something that really was a taboo throughout scripture, but he helped normalize it so that the sin became acceptable behavior.

This is the danger I have seen with sin in the 21st century and post 1960's, it is the rewriting of it, to make it seem acceptable. We have focused instead on "If it feels good, do it" and even the idea of tolerance in which we respect anyone's desire to like whatever they desire. We are riding down a slippery slope and in many ways, getting further away from God as a country (USA). And many people don't care because as long as our comfort, safety, and entertainment is in check, we don't care about what is going on around us.

It's an interesting sin in society. We have so many messages that joke about it, but we still call out people that get caught in these behaviors. A famous Hollywood producer just got caught because he pressured women to be involved with him (the accusation). I don't think the act is being judged but rather what is being judged is the infringement of another person's rights. It's just so ironic when it is a message that is continually sold in society.

The message here is clear: don't go near it. Stay far from it. That's the only way to get out unscathed.

Promise: Knowing our own weaknesses, we should avoid those occasions, people, or places where we might find ourselves playing with the fire of sin. If we do not do that, we will set ourselves up for failure and compromise the holiness to which God calls us.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the truth of your word, even words written by a man that lived about 3000 years ago still resonate with us today. Despite our advances in a myriad of ways these same principles hold true to our lives. Lord, give us your power to resist these sins. Lead us not into temptation. When we do sin, deliver us from evil. Thank you for being a God of forgiveness and cleaning us from all impurity. Now, help us to walk each new day - clean.