Then Our Mouth Was Filled With Laughter and Our Tongue with Singing…

 

"So I will strengthen them in the LORD,

And they shall walk up and down in His name,"

Says the LORD.—Zechariah 10:12

Here in chapter 10 of Zechariah the Lord speaks to the regathering, redemption and spiritual restoration of Israel.  Verse 10 seems to speak of the time when Israel will be the Messiah’s messengers in the millennial kingdom.  Prophecy helps us to see God in the big picture. It remind us of where we are headed and encourage us to see Christ in the grace and glory of His promised victory. As I read through it this morning my heart sang this song of victory. 

The LORD God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer's feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills.—Habakkuk 3:19

Beloved…Give God your whole heart. Give Him the portions that are embattled and imprisoned by the enemy of our soul.  Seek the Lord and His strength…Seek His face for evermore. Walk in this world…up and down it…in His name and in His strength. 

Oh, that He would grant us according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith; that we, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.—Ephesians 3:16-19

Allow the light of the glory of God to shine in You and upon You. Turn to Him and behold His glory and be strengthened and transformed into His image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. 

When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion,

We were like those who dream.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

And our tongue with singing.

Then they said among the nations,

"The LORD has done great things for them."

The LORD has done great things for us,

And we are glad.

Bring back our captivity, O LORD,

As the streams in the South.

Those who sow in tears

Shall reap in joy.

He who continually goes forth weeping,

Bearing seed for sowing,

Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,

Bringing his sheaves with him.—Psalm 126

Loosed From Your Infirmity…

 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.—Luke 13:10-13

This woman’s story hit home this morning.  How often do I walk around staring at the ground…bent over and burdened under the weight of the evil and uncertainty of this life.  Scripture tells us that this woman was unable to raise herself up until the love of God touched her body, heart and life. 

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,—Ephesians 2:4-6

Beloved…it is the same for us.  Without the Spirit of God dwelling in us, we are hopeless and helpless. Without Him we can do nothing…not even raise ourselves up. But here is the thing. God has already quickened my Spirit. In Christ all my sins and failures have been disposed of once and for all. I have surrendered to the Spirit of Him who dwells in me, the consent of my will. His love is shed abroad in my heart. Metaphorically speaking, I already dwell in the heavenlies with Him. My help is near.  His power and strength is perfected in my weakness. He is my glory and Lifter of my head. I don’t have to walk around bent over and burdened…staring at the ground. I can walk in the newness of of life. Free from life’s burdens because He upholds me by His truth and walks with me. 

Father…Be merciful to me a sinner saved by Your amazing grace!  You are my glory and the One who lifts my head.  When my soul clings to the dust, revive me according to Your word. When it melts from the heaviness of the world around me, strengthen me according to Your word. When my soul faints, may Your word be my hope. Break the chains that bind me to this earth. Remind me that You are near. Incline to me, Father, and bring me up out of the horrible pit. Set my feet upon the rock and establish my steps. Fill me with Your grace and enable me to sing of Your goodness.

Hear my cry, O God;

Attend to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I will cry to You,

When my heart is overwhelmed;

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter for me,

A strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;

I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.—Psalm 61:1-4

I sought the LORD, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces were not ashamed.

This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,

And saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,

And delivers them.—Psalm 34:4-7

Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD;

Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.

For innumerable evils have surrounded me;

My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up;

They are more than the hairs of my head;

Therefore my heart fails me.—Psalm 40:11-12

Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God;

For I shall yet praise Him,

The help of my countenance and my God.—Psalm 42:11

Do Not Fear Little Flock…

Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

"And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.—Luke 12:22-34

There is a besetting sin for each of us to think on in Luke 12. (fear, greed, worry, and worldliness). The Spirit as I read this morning brought the worried, divided heart to my attention.

To worry…as the word is translated…is to be “pulled apart.”  I feel that way often and I hate it more and more.  This hating it is a good thing because it reminds me to center (or “re-center”as it were) my heart on Christ and place my trust wholly in Him.  

Father…Help me to seek You first…to focus the eyes of my heart on You and Your overwhelming, incomprehensible, never-stopping love that indwells and surrounds me. Unite my heart to fear You and You alone. You are my treasure…may my heart find its rest in the heavenly places in Jesus Christ, Your Son. 

Teach me Your way, O LORD;

I will walk in Your truth;

Unite my heart to fear Your name.

I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,

And I will glorify Your name forevermore.

For great is Your mercy toward me,

And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.—Psalm 86:11-13

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.--Ephesians 3:19

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.—Romans 8:5-6

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?—Romans 8:31-32

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.—Psalm 139:23-24

My Soul Silently Waits for God…by my daughter, Rebecca

 “Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation.” – Psalm 62:1, NKJV

I used to avoid verses like this one. Perhaps understandably, but certainly unjustifiably (considering David’s actual intention), I unconsciously translated “silently waits for God,” to “puts up and shuts up,” which obviously does not bring much comfort to anyone, let alone anyone in deep trouble or distress. David, however, meant to convey nothing of the sort. Understanding what he actually said brings great comfort.

Psalm 62 is David’s contrast of trusting in God versus trusting in man or man’s evil tactics. Few psalmists share David’s expertise on handling trouble, as his wisdom came from a lifetime of experience. From an early age, he endured and overcame much fear, pain, hardship, peril, and betrayal. David learned – sometimes the hard way – that the only ultimate solution to trouble, internal or external, is the Lord. This psalm will see him urge others to, “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (vs. 8). 

Pouring out one’s heart before God does not sound like putting up or shutting up. Nor does God, who David describes not only as our refuge but also as holding all power and all mercy (vs. 11-12), sound like His character is consistent with such a callous attitude. What then is waiting silently for God?

The word David uses for “silently,” means stillness, quiet, repose, trust (per Enhanced Strong’s Dictionary). Walvoord (Bible Knowledge Commentary) compares this word to “rest,” conveying the idea that only when waiting on God can David be at perfect peace. In other words, David, knowing that his salvation, his refuge, and his safety ultimately and exclusively derived from the Lord, found rest in his soul when he put his whole trust in Him. That meant David stopped relying on things that let him down and purposefully chose to believe God’s promises. He gave the reins of his life back into God’s hands and let Him lead, waiting on Him, as a servant with his master. Rest naturally followed, because God is indeed all-powerful, loving, and merciful, the Good Shepherd, who cared for David as His beloved child. David could declare, “I shall not be moved” (vs. 6).

Waiting silently for God, then, is nothing like putting up and shutting up. It is much better pictured by a child seeking refuge in his mother’s arms. All his distress melts away when he casts himself on his parent. She cares for all his needs and ensures the best for him (even overriding his own ideas of what is “best,” if necessary). Her child rightly trusts her, and because his trouble is now in her hands, peace descends on his soul.

Like David, all of God’s share the privilege of waiting silently for Him. Our souls find their rest in His loving arms, as we pour out our hearts before Him, trust Him, obey Him, and make Him our refuge.

References:

ed. Olive Tree Bible Software. (2020). Olive Tree Enhanced Strong's Dictionary. Olive Tree.

Walvoord, J. F. (n.d.). Bible Knowledge Commentary (2 Vols.). David C. Cook.

Seek First the Kingdom of Heaven…

In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, "Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: 

'This people says, "The time has not come, the time that the LORD's house should be built."'"

Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 

"Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?" Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways!

"You have sown much, and bring in little;

You eat, but do not have enough;

You drink, but you are not filled with drink;

You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;

And he who earns wages,

Earns wages to put into a bag with holes."

Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the LORD. "You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?" says the LORD of hosts. "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands."

The People's Obedience

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the LORD. Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, spoke the LORD's message to the people, saying, "I am with you, says the LORD." So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius.—Hagaii 1

As I read through the first chapter of Hagaii this morning, the Holy Spirit brought this verse from the book of Matthew to mind.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.—Matthew 6:33

Father…Be first in my heart and in my life.  Have the pre-eminence in all things.  You are my Shepherd. In Your love, care and protection, I have everything I need. You give grace and glory. No good thing will You withhold from those who walk uprightly. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."

And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."—Luke 10:38-42

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.--Psalm 16:11

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.--Ephesians 3:19

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

And ye are complete in him, --Colossians 2:9-10

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.--Psalm 73:23-24

Our soul waits for the LORD;

He is our help and our shield.

For our heart shall rejoice in Him,

Because we have trusted in His holy name.

Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,

Just as we hope in You.—Psalm 33:20-22 

The One Thing That is Needful…

 The Parable of the Sower

(Matt. 13:1–9; Mark 4:1–9)

And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold." When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

The Purpose of Parables

(Matt. 13:10–17; Mark 4:10–12)

Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?"

And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that

'Seeing they may not see,

And hearing they may not understand.'

The Parable of the Sower Explained

(Matt. 13:18–23; Mark 4:13–20)

"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

I can remember reading about “fruit” as a young Christian and not having any idea what it really was.  Once I figured it out, I looked for it in my own life and became discouraged. As I continued in my faith, however, it began to dawn on me that first of all whatever fruit WAS in my life it wasn’t mine, but His.  Second and more importantly I saw where all my fruit had their root.  The seeds were sown in my heart as morning by morning I spent time at Jesus’ feet and received His word with meekness. From that point I just needed to be patient.  My part was to receive…He did the work. My fruit was borne not in the busyness of ministry but in the quietness of my early mornings which were spent with my Jesus and His word. 

Beloved…Spending time with Jesus helps us to see all in our life in the light of His glory...other things that might seem important and compete for our attention fade as we behold Him. The darkness in our own soul and the wickedness of our heart will be overcome by His marvelous light.  Through no power of our own, we begin to put away sin and strongholds that have held our heart captive. Behold your God....Seek His face....Seek His presence....abide in His word, surrender to His Spirit and allow Him to transform you into His glorious image.  

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.—2 Corinthians 4:6-12

Attaching an old devotional here that helped me this morning. 

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.--Luke 10:38-42

Question:  What does Jesus say is the one thing that is needed?  What does Jesus describe as the good part?  The part which shall not be taken away?

Answer:  Sitting at His feet (abiding) and hearing His word with a heart that desires Him above all because He is what is needed.

The one thing that is needed brings salvation:

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.--James 1:21

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.--Romans 10:17

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:--Romans 5:1

The one thing that is needed brings peace:

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.--Isaiah 26:3

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.--Romans 8:6

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:--Romans 5:1

The one thing that is needed brings a desire for the things above and an indifference to the things of the world:

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.--Colossians 3:1-3

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.--Matthew 5:6

 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.--John 6:27

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.--Psalm 73:25-26

The one thing that is needed bears fruit unto our God:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.--John 15:4-5

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.--Galatians 5:22-23

The one thing that is needed is made manifest in our devotion and obedience to God:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.--Deuteronomy 6:5

But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.--Joshua 22:5

And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:--1 Kings 8:23

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.--Psalm 1:2

 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.--Psalm 51:6

The one thing that is needed brings us into His Presence and to fulness of joy...it gives us Jesus Himself. 

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.--Psalm 16:11

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.--Ephesians 3:19

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

And ye are complete in him, --Colossians 2:9-10

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.--Psalm 73:23-24

The desire for the one thing that is needed is produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit in a believers' heart.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.--John 14:16-17

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.--Romans 8:4