As the Lord Liveth, and as thy Soul Liveth, I will not Leave Thee…

 2 Kings 2

This chapter fascinated me.  The ministry of Elijah was coming to an end and he was getting ready to pass his mantle on to his younger protégée, Elisha. On the day that this would happen Elijah takes Elisha to four different cities. Their starting point was Gilgal. First off, I loved that no matter how Elijah and even the prophets of the day tried to dissuade Elisha from following Elijah on to each different city, Elisha’s reply was always the same…

As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.

Praying that the Lord would grant me this same tenacious spirit that no matter my circumstance I would not look to the left or to the right but up and unto my God. Oh, Father, by Your Spirit may my heart always abide, obey and follow hard after You.  

I was also curious as to why God chose those particular cities to bring both Elijah and Elisha through on that last day.  I went back to each one in my Bible and was blessed as I read the stories associated with them and the lessons learned.  Verse one of 2 Kings 2 says this…

And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 

Gilgal - After 40 years of wandering this was the first place the Israelites stopped after crossing over into the Promise land.  It was where the generation that had not been circumcised were circumcised. 

Rend your heart and not your garment…

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.—Romans 2:28-29

Beloved…the Lord our God wants our hearts. To obey is better than sacrifice. He is 

near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart. These He will not despise

And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.—2 Kings 2:2a

The next stop was Bethel which is translated the house of God. It is where Jacob saw in a dream the angels of God ascending and descending on a heavenly ladder. It was where God promised him that He would be with him wherever he went. When Jacob woke up he said this:

16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." 17 And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!"Genesis 28 (emphasis mine)

No matter our circumstance…no matter where we find ourselves we, as believers, are in Christ.  He will never leave us or forsake us. He will complete the good work He began in us.  He will see us through this life and as we take our last breath here, His eternal arms will bear us up to be with Him forever. 

And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.—2 Kings 2:4

The third city Elijah stopped in was Jericho whose walls were high and seemingly impregnable. Here, the Lord fought for His people using their obedience to bring about victory. We are not sufficient for anything we face, but the Spirit of God who dwells in us IS. It is He who fights for us. Beloved…Go in His strength. The battles are always His, not Yours. 

And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.-2 Kings 2:6

The final destination for Elijah and Elisha before Elijah was translated and Elisha would pick up his mantle was the Jordan River. The Jordan is where the priests took that step of faith into the waters of the Jericho River and as they did the waters were parted and dry land appeared. 

We walk by faith through this life…not by sight. We, as believers, are to be directed, guided and empowered by His Spirit. We are to depend on Him and not ourselves. Step by precious step. 

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. 

Father, I am so thankful for Your word to us and the great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us. Thank you for their testimony.  Thank you most of all for Your Son and the gift of His Spirit who dwells in our hearts. 

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart..—Hebrews 4:12

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.—Hebrews 4:14-16

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—Hebrews 12:1-2

On Being Discontented…

Then the king of Israel said to him, "So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it." And he hastened to take the bandage away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. 42 Then he said to him, "Thus says the LORD: Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.'" So the king of Israel went to his house sullen and displeased, and came to Samaria.—1 Kings 20:40-43

And it came to pass after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money." But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you! "So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food.—1 Kings 21:1-4

Ahab wanted what Ahab wanted. He did not want what God wanted.  When Ahab’s will was thwarted he became sullen and displeased.  His discontented heart affected not only Ahab but everyone around him.  If there was one sin in my life that I could wish would be gone forever it would be this one...discontent. Why?  Because it says that God is not good and is not enough. Because it is ugly.  It steals my joy...it steals the moment by blinding me to its preciousness and beauty...it sucks the joy from those around me also because in my discontent, I can make their lives miserable.  Matthew Henry says that discontent does not rise from a condition or circumstance but from our own minds.  I find this to be so very true.  He reminds us that Paul was content in a prison but Ahab was discontented in a palace. 

When I desire something that is not what God currently has for me it causes me to fret. Fretting, the Bible says in Psalm 37, ONLY causes harm.  This is exactly what discontent with my current lot from the Lord does for me. It causes me and those around me harm. I become vexed in my spirit with all manners of annoyances and irritations.  Like Ahab, I become sullen and displeased because God, in His grace and mercy toward me, loves me too much to give me my wrong desires.  Instead of accepting what He has for me and looking forward to how He might use it to transform my heart, I rail against it.  Instead of praying through it and asking God to show me His purposes in it, I become hardened, prideful and feel entitled. I forget that what I am truly entitled to is death and eternal punishment.  I forget that my God has pulled me up out of the miry clay.  I forget that I have been crucified with Christ and that the life I live now, I live unto Him who rescued me and redeemed my life and my very soul from destruction.  

The verse that I use to counter my wrong desires and wrong thinking is this very familiar one...

Psalm 23:1 (NLT) A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

Psalm 23:1 (CSB) The LORD is my shepherd; I have what I need.

Psalm 23:1 (NIV) A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

The Becoming One...the great I AM is my Shepherd and He lives in me!  I lack nothing!  I CAN be content because He is my shield and my exceedingly great reward.  I dwell at ease when my heart by His Spirit, commits its cause to God.  So much effort and energy goes into fighting for my way...energy that could be expended in His Spirit for His cause.  God’s people do not have to worry about themselves. They can focus on others because, as Spurgeon says,  God cares for their “estate.” 

Beloved, let Him do His perfect work in your life and in your heart.  Allow Him full sway.  Live in continual dependence upon your God and His grace.  Find your satisfaction in Him and dwell in ease and fullness of joy.  

The LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 

Oh Father, how very blessed is the man who puts His trusts in You!

Sweet Words of Comfort and Truth from John 14 and 16…

 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.

18 "I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you.—John 14:16-18 (Amplified)

"But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?' 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [and taken complete possession of them]. 7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].—John 16:5-7 (Amplified)

For this heart there are not very many sweeter words than these words of John 14 and John 16?  He has not left us orphans. He has sent us (believers) His Spirit to dwell in our hearts.  The Spirit of God makes His home with us.  He will never leave us nor forsake us.  

The word translated “Helper” in English is apparently so rich a word that it requires several English words to do it justice and capture its meaning. The Holy Spirit who lives in me and is always with me is my Helper, my Comforter, my Advocate, my Intercessor, my Counselor, my Strengthener and finally my Standby!

Our God is compassionate, kind and gracious and always meets us at our point of need.  He is the Great I Am, the Becoming One who becomes for us whatever our need may be.  He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 

Beloved, God’s Holy Spirit is with us who believe for every step of our journey here on earth.  He is our constant companion to whom we can resort continually. Rely on Him and revel in His love and care. 

28 For You will light my lamp;

The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

29 For by You I can run against a troop,

By my God I can leap over a wall.

30 As for God, His way is perfect;

The word of the LORD is proven;

He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

31 For who is God, except the LORD?

And who is a rock, except our God?

32 It is God who arms me with strength,

And makes my way perfect.

33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,

And sets me on my high places.

34 He teaches my hands to make war,

So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;

Your right hand has held me up,

Your gentleness has made me great.

36 You enlarged my path under me,

So my feet did not slip.—Psalms 18:28-36

A Lightened Countenance…

29 But I am poor and sorrowful;

Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.

30 I will praise the name of God with a song,

And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.—Psalm 69:29-30

I want to imitate David here!  Oh Lord, when my day is darkened and trouble surrounds me, help me, by Your Spirit, to do as the Psalmist does here:

I will praise the name of God with a song,

And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Praising God brings perspective and shifts our focus off of our circumstances and onto our Father in Heaven. Psalm 50 tells us that when we do this, we order our conduct aright.  We put God in His rightful place…at the very center of our hearts and our lives.  When we sing and give God thanksgiving, our life and our circumstances are brought into focus.  Our countenances are lightened….and not only ours but those around us as well. Jesus becomes high and lifted up.  Our troubles lose their sharp edges and, as a result, their ability to cut and affect us viscerally.

God is good all the time...His thoughts toward us are thoughts of peace and not of evil…to give us a future and a hope. He makes His goodness follow us and covers our missteps with mercy.  May His praise then, be continually on our lips as we go through our day. By His Spirit, let us praise Him despite our own fleshly inclinations to complain.  Let us purpose in our heart to praise Him especially during those times when it is the last thing that we want to do.  Oh Father, our feelings are so fickle. Help us to walk with You by faith according to the promises in Your word, not according to the state of our emotions. 

Raise your hands and praise the One who has been so faithful in the past, whom you know is working in the present and who will not turn aside but will complete the good work He started in you.  Beloved, at that very moment we begin to praise, even the night will light about us. 

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.—2 Corinthians 3:18

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 6 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.—2 Corinthians 4:5-6

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.

13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.—2 Corinthians 4:7-15

Loving to Perfection…

 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.  (emphasis mine)—John 13:1

John MacArthur says "He loved them to the end" means literally, He loved them to perfection...fervently...to the limits of love.  Oh Father, my love falls so very far short of the standards that you have not only laid out for me but also modeled for me!  This is how I want to love those you have placed in my life...to perfection!  Help me to love as You do.  Your love is NOT of me...Love is OF You.  We love, because You first loved us.  My love cannot love my enemies and do good to those who spitefully use me.  My love cannot love those who say all kinds of evil against me.  My love can only love me...my love is selfish and always seeks its own.  Your love is sacrificial...it is good and gracious to all!  You send rain on the evil and the good.  Your love was demonstrated toward me when I was still Your enemy.  When I was helpless, hopeless and against You, You died for me!  I cannot generate this kind of love on my own...it is a gift from You.  Your love sacrificed Your Son and made a way in the darkness for me.  Your love endured the cross and paid the price for my redemption.  

I surrender to You, Father and I invite Your Spirit to take control,  govern my heart and produce the fruits of righteousness to Your praise and glory!  Ministry apart from Your Spirit is empty, vain and meaningless.  Guard and clothe all my words, thoughts and actions with Your love.  Your goodness...Your active love toward me is what led me to repentance.  Help me to demonstrate that kind of love to those You place in my life.  

Let all I do be done in love!!

Now My Soul is Troubled…

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.—John 12:27

I felt totally inadequate to write on this verse this morning because in it I identified and saw Jesus in His humanity and was concerned that my focus there would somehow detract from the fact that He was also fully God.  Plowing ahead with the help of some commentators. 

Christ dreaded the suffering that He knew was coming upon Him because of our sin. His soul was troubled. John MacArthur says that the term for trouble used here is strong and indicates horror, anxiety and agitation. Jesus’ contemplation of taking on the wrath of God for the sins of everyone who would believe caused revulsion in the sinless Savior 

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.—2 Corinthians 5:21

Matthew Henry aptly says His soul was troubled in order to ease the trouble of our own souls. I love that. 

What does Jesus do in His trouble?  (His horror, anxiety and agitation). He brings His heart to God.  He prays to His Father in Heaven and asks to be saved from this hour.  I love what Jesus says next because I have prayed similarly and it is almost like we answer our own question.  

‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.  

“Hold on”, says Jesus. “This is why I came.” Ever been there?  You are in the middle of being brutally honest with God in prayer and even as you are speaking you are reminded of your purpose and your calling.  You remember that you are here to do the will of Your Father in Heaven.  It is your desire that He be glorified.  The beautiful words of Isaiah 53 come to mind…

When You make His soul an offering for sin,

He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,

And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.

11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,

For He shall bear their iniquities.

Your inner man is strengthened and the muddied waters become clear once again.  Matthew Henry says innocent nature got the first word but divine wisdom and love got the last.  Beloved, weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. 

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—Hebrews12:1-2

5 My soul, wait silently for God alone,

For my expectation is from Him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation;

He is my defense;

I shall not be moved.

7 In God is my salvation and my glory;

The rock of my strength,

And my refuge, is in God.

8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

Selah—Psalm 62:5-8

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of [those] whose heart [is] loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”— 2 Chronicles 16:9 

The Fragrance of Christ

Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”—John 12:1-8

In this passage we see Mary of Bethany…the woman who sat at Jesus’ feet for instruction at His feet once again…this time in worshipful service…anointing Him with costly oil of spikenard for His burial.  The Scripture tells us here that the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.  Filled, we could say, with the fragrance of Christ…the fragrance of surrender…the fragrance of doing the will of the One who sent Him.

Serving and worshipping Christ is costly. Jesus in coming to this earth emptied Himself by assuming the form of a bondservant made in the likeness of men.  He humbled Himself to the point of death…even the death of the cross so that we, by faith in His perfect life, death and resurrection might live forever with Him. Scripture exhorts us to have this same attitude.  As believers we are His bondservants and are to walk as He walked.  We are to moment by moment set aside our life, so that God’s Life can come forth through us.  

“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” —Galatians 6:20

“For me to live is Christ.”—Philippians 1:21

Beloved…Press on toward the goal (Christlikeness) for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Give God your life today and everyday, and He will give you His. 

But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.—John 12:23-26 (emphasis mine)

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?—2 Corinthians 2:14-16

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.  12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.—Philippians 3:7-16

Getting Past the Stench….

Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”—John 11:38-40 (emphasis mine)

I stopped here in my reading this morning.  Even as an optimist, there are times when the eyes of my heart can focus on the stench and corruption of this world instead of the glory of God that surrounds me.  Oh, Father give me a heart of faith that sees Your goodness always.  Where sin abounds, Your grace abounds much more!  You give  beauty for ashes…the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. 

 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

For His mercy (lovingkindness) endures forever.(is everlasting)—Psalm 107:1

Whoever is wise will observe these things,

And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.—Psalm 107:43

Verse 1 of Psalm 107 commands us to give thanks to the Lord.   It also tells us why.  For He is good and His lovingkindness is everlasting. The very last verse of Psalm 107 says that whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.  Most of this psalm is spent reviewing the variegated trials that come humanity’s way in the course of a lifetime while at the same time showing us how God assists us and supports us through each of these hardships and distresses.  

What are we wise to observe as God does this?   His lovingkindness!   What a great thing to make a practice of observing as we navigate through the sorrow and tribulation that come with life lived in this fallen world.  Trials can become opportunities to observe the Lord’s goodness and rightly understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.  How often during a trial does Satan try to confuse and discourage us with lies.  He whispers to us when we are scared, telling us that we are alone, without anyone to help.  But making a practice of “looking for and seeing” God’s merciful hand on our lives will serve to counter the lies and shore up our assurance as we become personally acquainted with it (His lovingkindness) in our own hearts and lives. Psalm 26:3 is so helpful here..

For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,

And I have walked in Your truth.

Keep God’s goodness before your eyes and His truth as a light to your path.  He has given us His Spirit to help us.  We are NOT alone.  

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” —John 14: 25-27 

Who is wise?

Let him understand these things.

Who is prudent?

Let him know them.

For the ways of the LORD are right;

The righteous walk in them,

But transgressors stumble in them.—Hosea 14:9

But let him who glories glory in this,

That he understands and knows Me,

That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.

For in these I delight," says the LORD.—Jeremiah 9:24

[that we] may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--

19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.—Ephesians 3:18-19

But the Word of God Endures Forever…

Nothing was in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.—1 Kings 8:9

I stopped at this verse because I wondered what happened to Aaron’s rod that budded and golden pot that had the manna that Hebrews 9 speaks of. 

Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.—Hebrews 9:1-5

I spent some time thinking on this before I went to the commentators.  No joy. 😀  Some expositors pointed me to Exodus 16:33 and Numbers 17:10 saying that the articles mentioned were never in the ark, but by it…being laid in the place before the testimony. My favorite explanation and the one I wish I had thought of goes to Jon Courson who says this:

“Hebrews 9:4 tells us that the ark contained the Ten Commandments, a pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod. Here, however, we see only the Ten Commandments within the ark. I believe the Holy Spirit included this information to help us to come to a very important understanding. That is, signs and wonders—budding rods and manna—as wonderful as they are, are not lasting. What lasts, what endures, what is absolutely essential is the Word of God.”

Amen!  

23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because

"All flesh is as grass,

And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.

The grass withers,

And its flower falls away,

25 But the word of the LORD endures forever."

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.—1 Peter 1:23-25

Return to Your Rest, O My Soul…

 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”  25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”—John 10:23-30

3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.—Colossians 3:3

As I read this passage from John 10 this morning it was as if God was enveloping me with His protection and care by throwing one of those “newfangled” weighted comfort blankets over me.   Beloved, In Him, we are secure!  In Him we live and move and have our being. We, as true believers, walk through this life under His covering blanket of security.  Our God is in sovereign control...no one can snatch us from His hand.

37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”—Luke 6:37-40

As a true child of God, Jesus holds one of my hands and God, my Father, the other. They are united in purpose and in action. (I and My Father are one.”) My safety and security is their priority. They have hedged me behind and before and have laid their hand upon me. 

To get to me, you have to go through God first. He is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for His flock. I am His lamb…I BELONG to Him!  I hear his voice and I follow Him.  He gives me eternal life and promises that I will never perish and neither shall anyone snatch me out of His hand. The LORD  is MY Shepherd. My security rests with Him.  In Him, I have everything I need both in this age and in the age to come. 

Return to your rest, O my soul,

For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.—Psalm 116:7

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me.—Psalm 139:7-10

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 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? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 8:31-39