Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. (Job 13:15, ESV)
Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face:
withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me. (Job 13:20-21, ESV)
Suffering and death are two very scary things. None of us, I am sure, like to think about them. I am not afraid so much of the dying...it is the suffering or even sometimes worse, at least for me..the anxiety before the suffering. Sometimes, as the saying goes, we can die a thousand deaths before what we greatly fear comes upon us. I like how Job handles this. He purposes in his heart ahead of time to trust his God, come what may. That way he doesn’t need to revisit the trust question when he is at his most vulnerable. He also asks God not to withdraw His hand far from Him and to stop frightening him with such terrors.
Job is concerned with his misery...and he wants it to stop...but even more so with his relationship with his God. I like that. I want THAT. I often think that the dread that comes upon me when something goes awry in my life comes from my life prior to my salvation. When something happened to me then, my mind went into overdrive and was filled with ways for ME to attempt to regain control. This ME pathway has taken root in my heart. It is the one that has been most well traveled. In my unthinking mind it is the obvious choice. By His Spirit, I need to course correct and allow the Spirit of God to use His word to do direct me down His right paths.
My mind and heart believe that God is for me...that He has my good in mind in whatever He decides to allow me to face. SOMETIMES though, my heart is a WEE bit behind believing what my mind already knows. This is where my anxiety and fear dwell....in the grey space between my mind and my heart. I call it the “land of double mindedness”. What do I do when fear inevitably attacks? I remind myself that I am a new creation in Christ. Old things have passed away. I immerse myself in the truth of His promises...I abide...I cling...I ask God to increase my faith and allow His peace to rule my heart. Little by little, like the character “Much Afraid” from Hinds Feet on High Places was, I am transformed. I begin to look a little more like Acceptance-With-Joy and “Grace and Glory” as I surrender my fears and doubts and BELIEVE God.
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Trust in the LORD forever,
For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.—Isaiah 26:3-4
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me-practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4-9, ESV)
Saturday, August 24, 2019
My Heart Will Sing No Other Name...
If I wash myself with snow water,
And cleanse my hands with soap,
Yet You will plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes will abhor me.
"For He is not a man, as I am,
That I may answer Him,
And that we should go to court together.
Nor is there any mediator between us,
Who may lay his hand on us both.—Job 9:30-33
These verses stopped me in my tracks this morning as I read them. My heart began singing the lyrics from “Forever Reign” below.
“My heart will sing no other Name
Jesus, Jesus”
We have today what Job saw by faith...an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous who ever lives to make intercession for us. Jesus meets my every need. And they sang a new song, saying:
"You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood—Revelation 5:9
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"—Revelation 5:12
Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!—Revelation 5:13b
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.—John 14:6
For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.—Ephesians 2:18
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,—1 Tim 2:5
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
❤️For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
27 Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!—Job 19:25-27
And cleanse my hands with soap,
Yet You will plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes will abhor me.
"For He is not a man, as I am,
That I may answer Him,
And that we should go to court together.
Nor is there any mediator between us,
Who may lay his hand on us both.—Job 9:30-33
These verses stopped me in my tracks this morning as I read them. My heart began singing the lyrics from “Forever Reign” below.
“My heart will sing no other Name
Jesus, Jesus”
We have today what Job saw by faith...an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous who ever lives to make intercession for us. Jesus meets my every need. And they sang a new song, saying:
"You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood—Revelation 5:9
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"—Revelation 5:12
Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!—Revelation 5:13b
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.—John 14:6
For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.—Ephesians 2:18
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,—1 Tim 2:5
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
❤️For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
27 Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!—Job 19:25-27
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Job: An Encouragement and a Testimony
Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said:
“ Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.--Job 1:20-22
I LOVE Job! His story and these words have been an encouragement and a testimony to me of living by faith...of accepting all that comes my way with worship and words of faith. Job took all his emotion to the Lord and released it through worship!
Job did not have the benefit of reading Chapter 1 like I do. He had no idea what was happening behind the scenes. I know this was a test that God was allowing in his life. I know what God really thought of him. Job has been an example not only to me, but for countless others throughout time. His story reminds us that even though it seems like God has forsaken us there is a lot going on that we do not see. These verses remind me of all that Job went through. No one was tested like Job. And yet he endured and was able to say this:
But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
Here is what James says about Job:
My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
If Job endured, then I can too and so can you! Job's choosing to worship the Lord at a time of such deep sorrow and loss is and has always been such a comfort to me as I face my own grief and sorrow. I can wait on the Lord who is compassionate and merciful. I can wait on Him who loved me enough to die for me. I can wait on Him because my hope is sure and certain in Heaven. I can wait because like Moses I choose to see the "invisible" by faith.
By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.—Hebrews 11:24-27
“ Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.--Job 1:20-22
I LOVE Job! His story and these words have been an encouragement and a testimony to me of living by faith...of accepting all that comes my way with worship and words of faith. Job took all his emotion to the Lord and released it through worship!
Job did not have the benefit of reading Chapter 1 like I do. He had no idea what was happening behind the scenes. I know this was a test that God was allowing in his life. I know what God really thought of him. Job has been an example not only to me, but for countless others throughout time. His story reminds us that even though it seems like God has forsaken us there is a lot going on that we do not see. These verses remind me of all that Job went through. No one was tested like Job. And yet he endured and was able to say this:
But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
Here is what James says about Job:
My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
If Job endured, then I can too and so can you! Job's choosing to worship the Lord at a time of such deep sorrow and loss is and has always been such a comfort to me as I face my own grief and sorrow. I can wait on the Lord who is compassionate and merciful. I can wait on Him who loved me enough to die for me. I can wait on Him because my hope is sure and certain in Heaven. I can wait because like Moses I choose to see the "invisible" by faith.
By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.—Hebrews 11:24-27
Psalm 37
Such good instruction from Ps 37 today, also!
Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart...Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;...Do not fret--it only causes harm.—Ps 37:3-4; 7a; 8b
Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart...Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;...Do not fret--it only causes harm.—Ps 37:3-4; 7a; 8b
1 Corinthians 13
"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." —1 Corinthians 13:13
First Corinthians 13 contains some of the most instructive, most useful and most beautiful verses in all of Scripture. ❤️
Right now, the believer abides in faith, hope, and love. But when Christ comes for us, faith will become sight, and hope will be fulfilled But not love! It abides forever. Love. It's the fruit of the Spirit from which joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control derive. If you have love, you have everything; if you do not have love, you have nothing.
First Corinthians 13 contains some of the most instructive, most useful and most beautiful verses in all of Scripture. ❤️
Right now, the believer abides in faith, hope, and love. But when Christ comes for us, faith will become sight, and hope will be fulfilled But not love! It abides forever. Love. It's the fruit of the Spirit from which joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control derive. If you have love, you have everything; if you do not have love, you have nothing.
Esther 9
And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus,
21 to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar,
22 as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.—Esther 9:20-22
There will come a day when verse 22 will come alive in each of our lives as believers. No trial last forever and this world is not our home. I don’t look forward to the actual process of dying, but I do look to that day when He will wipe every tear from my eyes. On THAT day there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor pain.
It happens even now when God delivers us from trials. Like the Jews in the kingdom of Ahasuerus, we rejoice! Our sorrow is turned to joy.
I am so thankful that Jesus uses our deepest pain and sorrow to transform us into His likeness and through them bring us our greatest joys. Warren Wiersbe says that He turns our trials into triumphs. What a picture of the heart of our Father. He even uses the inevitable and unavoidable sin and suffering of this fallen world for His glory and our good. How kind of Him...How good of Him...How merciful and compassionate of Him! The way of suffering is the way of spiritual maturity. So in your time of tribulation, look ahead...be mature...do not be short-sighted. Remember Romans 8:28. Remember Joseph's hopeless situation...they meant it for evil but God meant it for good and brought victory.
21 to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar,
22 as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.—Esther 9:20-22
There will come a day when verse 22 will come alive in each of our lives as believers. No trial last forever and this world is not our home. I don’t look forward to the actual process of dying, but I do look to that day when He will wipe every tear from my eyes. On THAT day there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor pain.
It happens even now when God delivers us from trials. Like the Jews in the kingdom of Ahasuerus, we rejoice! Our sorrow is turned to joy.
I am so thankful that Jesus uses our deepest pain and sorrow to transform us into His likeness and through them bring us our greatest joys. Warren Wiersbe says that He turns our trials into triumphs. What a picture of the heart of our Father. He even uses the inevitable and unavoidable sin and suffering of this fallen world for His glory and our good. How kind of Him...How good of Him...How merciful and compassionate of Him! The way of suffering is the way of spiritual maturity. So in your time of tribulation, look ahead...be mature...do not be short-sighted. Remember Romans 8:28. Remember Joseph's hopeless situation...they meant it for evil but God meant it for good and brought victory.
The cross is the greatest example. The darkest hour of history...the hour where Jesus suffered pain and agony unimaginable...became the brightest hour...the cross which previously had been accursed..became a symbol for hope, glory and victory.
We fight as those who have already won...Jon Courson tells us we begin at the finish line. So be of good cheer!
"These things I have spoken to you, that “IN Me” you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."—John 16:33
Psalm 36:9
For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.—Ps 36:9
With You Father, is abundant life...life that bubbles up eternally. Life that is fed from the wells of living water that spring up into everlasting life. Goodness and hope are poured forth in abundance. Your light shines and makes the cascading waters sparkle. Your goodness overflows us and Your light enables us to see Truth. You ARE the fountain of living water and therefore with joy will we draw water from Your wells of salvation. He who puts his trust in You is filled with Your goodness and out of his heart flow rivers of this living water. You ARE our light and our salvation. The Light of Life follows US! The Lord our God lightens OUR darkness and shines on us, in us and through us. It is God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness...He has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation...WE are His own special people that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. The path of the just (US!) is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day!
In Your light we see light.—Ps 36:9
With You Father, is abundant life...life that bubbles up eternally. Life that is fed from the wells of living water that spring up into everlasting life. Goodness and hope are poured forth in abundance. Your light shines and makes the cascading waters sparkle. Your goodness overflows us and Your light enables us to see Truth. You ARE the fountain of living water and therefore with joy will we draw water from Your wells of salvation. He who puts his trust in You is filled with Your goodness and out of his heart flow rivers of this living water. You ARE our light and our salvation. The Light of Life follows US! The Lord our God lightens OUR darkness and shines on us, in us and through us. It is God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness...He has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation...WE are His own special people that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. The path of the just (US!) is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day!
Psalm 36:7
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.—Ps 36:7
Oh, Father...Your lovingkindness IS precious. There is nothing the world can give us that can remotely compare. How great is Your goodness that You have laid up for those who fear You! For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive. You are abundant in mercy to them that call upon You. We will utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness. You are good to all, and Your tender mercies are over all Your works. All Your works shall praise You and Your saints shall bless You. We shall speak of Your glory and talk of Your power. For You, our God, so loved the world, that You gave us Your Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! How precious are Your thoughts toward us, O God! How great is the sum of them! Keep us as the apple of Your eye and hide us under the shadow of Your wings. You shall cover us with Your feathers...Your truth shall be our shield and buckler. You will recompense our work and give us a full reward. Be merciful to us, O God, be merciful to us...for our soul trusts in You and in the shadow of Your wings, will we make our refuge until these calamities are past. ❤️
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.—Ps 36:7
Oh, Father...Your lovingkindness IS precious. There is nothing the world can give us that can remotely compare. How great is Your goodness that You have laid up for those who fear You! For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive. You are abundant in mercy to them that call upon You. We will utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness. You are good to all, and Your tender mercies are over all Your works. All Your works shall praise You and Your saints shall bless You. We shall speak of Your glory and talk of Your power. For You, our God, so loved the world, that You gave us Your Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! How precious are Your thoughts toward us, O God! How great is the sum of them! Keep us as the apple of Your eye and hide us under the shadow of Your wings. You shall cover us with Your feathers...Your truth shall be our shield and buckler. You will recompense our work and give us a full reward. Be merciful to us, O God, be merciful to us...for our soul trusts in You and in the shadow of Your wings, will we make our refuge until these calamities are past. ❤️
Nehemiah....
If I had to describe Nehemiah in one word, I would describe him as “tenacious”. The words “so I contended” are used often in Chapter 13 as he confronted those who had returned to their former ways while he had traveled back to Persia for a time.
And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. (Nehemiah 13:25, ESV)
Pretty formidable man who feared God and not man.
Chapter 13 brings OT history to a close. The books that come after Nehemiah are chronologically before this time with the exception of Malachi which was written during the time of Nehemiah’s absence from Judah.
And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. (Nehemiah 13:25, ESV)
Pretty formidable man who feared God and not man.
Chapter 13 brings OT history to a close. The books that come after Nehemiah are chronologically before this time with the exception of Malachi which was written during the time of Nehemiah’s absence from Judah.
Nehemiah 13:1-2
On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, (Nehemiah 13:1-2, ESV)
The Israelites read on a regular calendar cycle...kind of similar in a way to our OYB. It makes sense then, that as they read, they were confronted with areas in which their thinking and practice had wavered from the Scriptures. So thankful for the guidance and conviction the daily reading of Scripture brings to my heart and mind. It makes this verse from Ps 139 come alive.
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. (Psalms 139:5, ESV)
And this one from 2nd Timothy...
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)
The Israelites read on a regular calendar cycle...kind of similar in a way to our OYB. It makes sense then, that as they read, they were confronted with areas in which their thinking and practice had wavered from the Scriptures. So thankful for the guidance and conviction the daily reading of Scripture brings to my heart and mind. It makes this verse from Ps 139 come alive.
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. (Psalms 139:5, ESV)
And this one from 2nd Timothy...
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)
All Things are Lawful...
"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. (1 Corinthians 10:23, ESV)
Paul gives us four principles of Christian liberty in 10:23-30. My favorite is the first one in verse 24:
Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
It reminds me of other verses in the Bible that exhort me to love...
Owe no one anything but love...love is the fulfillment of the law
Love one another fervently from a pure heart...
Love suffers long and is kind....
Love covers a multitude of sins...
If I am seeking the good of my neighbor over myself than in effect I am doing all of the principles Paul outlined because I am loving them. I am putting off pride that pushes for its own way and also conceit which looks for personal glory rather than the glory of God.
Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.—1 Corinthians 8:1b
Paul gives us four principles of Christian liberty in 10:23-30. My favorite is the first one in verse 24:
Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
It reminds me of other verses in the Bible that exhort me to love...
Owe no one anything but love...love is the fulfillment of the law
Love one another fervently from a pure heart...
Love suffers long and is kind....
Love covers a multitude of sins...
If I am seeking the good of my neighbor over myself than in effect I am doing all of the principles Paul outlined because I am loving them. I am putting off pride that pushes for its own way and also conceit which looks for personal glory rather than the glory of God.
Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.—1 Corinthians 8:1b
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength...
Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10, ESV)
The words they had heard did remind them that God punishes sin, but also that God blesses obedience. That was reason to celebrate. They had NOT been utterly destroyed as a nation, in SPITE of their sin, and were, by God’s grace, on the brink of a new beginning. Our God promises us joy!
And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,—Exodus 34:6 (NKJV)
I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.—Psalm 16:8-11
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.—2 Cor 4:17-18
The words they had heard did remind them that God punishes sin, but also that God blesses obedience. That was reason to celebrate. They had NOT been utterly destroyed as a nation, in SPITE of their sin, and were, by God’s grace, on the brink of a new beginning. Our God promises us joy!
And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,—Exodus 34:6 (NKJV)
I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.—Psalm 16:8-11
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.—2 Cor 4:17-18
Nehemiah chapter 5 & 6
Chapter 5 closes with a short version of Nehemiah’s term as governor in the land of Judah describing the good that he did. The last verse of Chapter 5 says this...
“Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.”
I love that. Everything Nehemiah did was because he feared God. If God remembered what he had done than no one else had to. Nehemiah was NOT a people pleaser. He lived to please His God. ❤️
That was a good thing because the Governor of Judah had enemies. People who did not have his best interests at heart but pretended otherwise...people who heaped evil upon him for the good he had done. Chapter 6 outlines some of their attempts to destroy him either by slandering him or ruining his godly testimony. Nehemiah, however, had the best weapon at his disposal and used it often. He was a man of prayer. He lived in communion with His God. Below are two examples of his prayers...
Then I sent to him, saying, "No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart." For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, "Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done." Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.—Nehemiah 6:8-9
My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid.—Nehemiah 6:14
Nehemiah had much against Him but His God was for him...God heard his prayers and thwarted his enemies at every turn.
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.—Nehemiah 6:15-16
Ending with a portion of the OYB Psalm today because it is just so perfect in conjunction with the reading in Nehemiah.
Let all the earth fear the LORD;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.—Ps 33:8-12
“Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.”
I love that. Everything Nehemiah did was because he feared God. If God remembered what he had done than no one else had to. Nehemiah was NOT a people pleaser. He lived to please His God. ❤️
That was a good thing because the Governor of Judah had enemies. People who did not have his best interests at heart but pretended otherwise...people who heaped evil upon him for the good he had done. Chapter 6 outlines some of their attempts to destroy him either by slandering him or ruining his godly testimony. Nehemiah, however, had the best weapon at his disposal and used it often. He was a man of prayer. He lived in communion with His God. Below are two examples of his prayers...
Then I sent to him, saying, "No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart." For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, "Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done." Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.—Nehemiah 6:8-9
My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid.—Nehemiah 6:14
Nehemiah had much against Him but His God was for him...God heard his prayers and thwarted his enemies at every turn.
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.—Nehemiah 6:15-16
Ending with a portion of the OYB Psalm today because it is just so perfect in conjunction with the reading in Nehemiah.
Let all the earth fear the LORD;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.—Ps 33:8-12
Pray...Watch...Work
Life lesson from Nehemiah for me...
Pray...Watch...Work
Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.—Nehemiah 4:9
So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.—Nehemiah 4:6
"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."—Matt 26:41
for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.—Phil 2:13
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen—Hebrews 13:20-21
Pray...Watch...Work
Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.—Nehemiah 4:9
So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.—Nehemiah 4:6
"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."—Matt 26:41
for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.—Phil 2:13
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen—Hebrews 13:20-21
Comfort Food...
Reading through Nehemiah for me is like eating comfort food. It reads in many places like a diary and makes life at that time jump off the page. It is so down-to-earth and every day real...it encourages my faith.
Beyond the Horse Gate the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house.
29 After them Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house.—3:28
So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work—4:6
And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."—4:14
So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing.—4:23
Beyond the Horse Gate the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house.
29 After them Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house.—3:28
So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work—4:6
And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."—4:14
So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing.—4:23
Nehemiah 1
So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.— Nehemiah 1:4
Then the king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.—Nehemiah 2:4
Nehemiah was a leader, he was a mover and a shaker but what I see most in the life of Nehemiah is that he was a man of prayer.
Reading through Ch 1, verses 5-11 tells me that Nehemiah had a genuine, active and dependent relationship with his God. The content of his prayer tells me that they sprung from a heart that truly believed God is who He says He is. I love that! I so want to emulate the relationship Nehemiah fostered with God! I want my prayers to come from a heart that believes God. I want My Father in heaven to be the first person I think about when I awake and the last person on my heart as I drop off to sleep. I want an awareness of His Presence continually so that my calling on Him becomes as natural as breathing.
Believing with Nehemiah that:
The LORD IS...
merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
14 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.fn
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children's children,
18 To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.—Ps 103:8-18
Then the king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.—Nehemiah 2:4
Nehemiah was a leader, he was a mover and a shaker but what I see most in the life of Nehemiah is that he was a man of prayer.
Reading through Ch 1, verses 5-11 tells me that Nehemiah had a genuine, active and dependent relationship with his God. The content of his prayer tells me that they sprung from a heart that truly believed God is who He says He is. I love that! I so want to emulate the relationship Nehemiah fostered with God! I want my prayers to come from a heart that believes God. I want My Father in heaven to be the first person I think about when I awake and the last person on my heart as I drop off to sleep. I want an awareness of His Presence continually so that my calling on Him becomes as natural as breathing.
Believing with Nehemiah that:
The LORD IS...
merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
14 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.fn
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children's children,
18 To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.—Ps 103:8-18
Psalm 31:14-15a
What freedom and peace is ours when we come to that place of trust....where we can say as Jesus did, "nevertheless, not My will but Yours, be done." What a blessing to have such an awareness of His presence and an assurance of His care and of His perfect love that we can say as David did in Psalm 31:
But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." My times are in Your hand;—Ps 31:14-15a
Or as Jeremiah did in the hands of his enemies...
As for me, here I am, in your hand; do with me as seems good and proper to you.--Jeremiah 26:14
Jeremiah truly knew that despite how it looked from the outside, he was always in the palm of God's hand. He knew that whatever happened to him, God was controlling it all and protecting him. God is near...we live in His presence. He goes with you wherever you go. He is not a God afar off....He is near at hand.
Praying that each of us can meet each moment with this kind heart attitude of explicit trust and acceptance of His will...That, by faith, we would walk with Him in agreement...and dwell in the shelter of His perfect love knowing that He really does perfect all that concerns us and performs all things for us.
But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." My times are in Your hand;—Ps 31:14-15a
Or as Jeremiah did in the hands of his enemies...
As for me, here I am, in your hand; do with me as seems good and proper to you.--Jeremiah 26:14
Jeremiah truly knew that despite how it looked from the outside, he was always in the palm of God's hand. He knew that whatever happened to him, God was controlling it all and protecting him. God is near...we live in His presence. He goes with you wherever you go. He is not a God afar off....He is near at hand.
Praying that each of us can meet each moment with this kind heart attitude of explicit trust and acceptance of His will...That, by faith, we would walk with Him in agreement...and dwell in the shelter of His perfect love knowing that He really does perfect all that concerns us and performs all things for us.
Ezra 10
Now then make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives. Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, "It is so; we must do as you have said. (Ezra 10:10-11, ESV)
I remember listening to Pastor Chris teaching on repentance many years ago. He would always tell us that repentance looked like something....that you could, in effect, see it. It was about doing a 180 degree turn and going in the opposite direction of where you had been headed. That picture he painted has been very helpful to me over the years. The two essential elements of repentance are here in the above verses...
Confess....meaning to agree with what God says about your sin and
Do His will...taking righteous action to separate from sin.
Repentance is a decision to stop whatever it is that you are doing that is sin and instead do the will of Your Father in heaven.
I remember listening to Pastor Chris teaching on repentance many years ago. He would always tell us that repentance looked like something....that you could, in effect, see it. It was about doing a 180 degree turn and going in the opposite direction of where you had been headed. That picture he painted has been very helpful to me over the years. The two essential elements of repentance are here in the above verses...
Confess....meaning to agree with what God says about your sin and
Do His will...taking righteous action to separate from sin.
Repentance is a decision to stop whatever it is that you are doing that is sin and instead do the will of Your Father in heaven.
Psalm 31...
In You, O LORD, I put my trust...For You are my strength. Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.—Psalm 31:1;5
I hear the Lord Jesus here...I hear His prayer to His Father from the cross. What a privilege that my heart can pray this same prayer now...in Christ...acknowledging like He did my trust and complete dependence on OUR Father in heaven. Like Jesus I will not be ashamed...I have placed my trust in God, MY Father. God would not leave His Son in Sheol...His confidence was not misplaced. In His righteousness God would deliver Him who had humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name...I am in Christ...
“By Your spirit I will rise
From the ashes of defeat
The resurrected King, is resurrecting me
In Your name I come alive
To declare Your victory
The resurrected King, is resurrecting me”
—Resurrecting by Elevation Worship
You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.—Psalm 31:1;5
I hear the Lord Jesus here...I hear His prayer to His Father from the cross. What a privilege that my heart can pray this same prayer now...in Christ...acknowledging like He did my trust and complete dependence on OUR Father in heaven. Like Jesus I will not be ashamed...I have placed my trust in God, MY Father. God would not leave His Son in Sheol...His confidence was not misplaced. In His righteousness God would deliver Him who had humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name...I am in Christ...
“By Your spirit I will rise
From the ashes of defeat
The resurrected King, is resurrecting me
In Your name I come alive
To declare Your victory
The resurrected King, is resurrecting me”
—Resurrecting by Elevation Worship
Ezra 9
And I said: "O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens.—Ezra 9:6
O LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we are left as a remnant, as it is this day. Here we are before You, in our guilt, though no one can stand before You because of this!"—Ezra 9:15
So much ingratitude...so much trampling and despising on the mercy of God. So much evil returned for the goodness shown to them by their God. Nehemiah and Malachi later encountered the same sin. Neither God’s wrath in the exile, nor His grace in the return was enough to keep them from defecting again. Truly, Ezra says it all when he says “here we are before you in our guilt”. They were without excuse, as are we. There was nothing and there is nothing else to say.
They reward me evil for good,
To the sorrow of my soul.—Psalm 35:12
O LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we are left as a remnant, as it is this day. Here we are before You, in our guilt, though no one can stand before You because of this!"—Ezra 9:15
So much ingratitude...so much trampling and despising on the mercy of God. So much evil returned for the goodness shown to them by their God. Nehemiah and Malachi later encountered the same sin. Neither God’s wrath in the exile, nor His grace in the return was enough to keep them from defecting again. Truly, Ezra says it all when he says “here we are before you in our guilt”. They were without excuse, as are we. There was nothing and there is nothing else to say.
They reward me evil for good,
To the sorrow of my soul.—Psalm 35:12
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)