relationships (Psalm 88:1-18) Being Honest

(Psalm 88:1-18)  Lord, the God of my salvation,

     I have cried out by day and in the night before You.
2   Let my prayer come before You;
     Incline Your ear to my cry!
3   For my soul has had enough troubles,
     And my life has approached Sheol.
4   I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
     I have become like a man without strength,
5   Abandoned among the dead,
     Like the slain who lie in the grave,
     Whom You no longer remember,
     And they are cut off from Your hand.
6   You have put me in the lowest pit,
     In dark places, in the depths.
7   Your wrath has rested upon me,
     And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah 
8   You have removed my acquaintances far from me;
     You have made me an object of loathing to them;
     I am shut up and cannot go out.
9   My eye grows dim from misery;
     I have called upon You every day, Lord;
     I have spread out my hands to You.

10 Will You perform wonders for the dead?
     Or will the departed spirits rise and praise You? Selah 
11 Will Your graciousness be declared in the grave,
     Your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness?
     And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But I, Lord, have cried out to You for help,
     And in the morning my prayer comes before You.
14 Lord, why do You reject my soul?
     Why do You hide Your face from me?
15 I was miserable and about to die from my youth on;
     I suffer Your terrors; I grow weary.
16 Your burning anger has passed over me;
     Your terrors have destroyed me.
17 They have surrounded me like water all day long;
     They have encircled me altogether.
18 You have removed lover and friend far from me;
     My acquaintances are in a hiding place.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

First of all, this psalm really demonstrates just how personal our relationship with God can get.  We are reading God's inspired, infallible word here, and He included this psalm (of David's venting) to be included in His word!  God "wrote" the book so that we can "hear" God speaking directly to us!  As we study the Bible, we can see that God never sugarcoats the facts, because He truly wants us to know Him, and know that we can go to Him with anything and everything.  He clearly speaks to us, and expresses in His love letter to us that He desires to hear from us, 24-7!

Therefore, we are to know that we can vent to God.  When we vent to people, we still have to be so very caring and mindful as to how we word things, and depending on who it is, we have to be careful how much we actually share.  God's word is very clear about not gossiping, but going directly to those who have hurt us in efforts to reconcile, and pursue peace.  And even in this, we are to speak with God's love, wisdom and discernment, gently, kindly and compassionately.  People are NOT God and are definitely NOT perfect.

Now, in our relationship with the Lord, we can be totally honest with Him about how we are feeling, so that in our discussions with Him, we can gain peace, comfort, insight and understanding.  We will see that we are to allow God to work things out for us.  It may not be that God removes the obstacles in our path, but we can be confident that God will take us in a better way, which will always lead us to be closer to Him.  And we will definitely see God do amazing things in our lives!

Now, this psalm also shows David's humanness, although I cannot totally relate, as I have never been a king over a nation, surrounded by many, many enemies.  But whatever we are going through, we should keep in mind that God is in control, and does not tempt anyone or cause evil.  He is just and fair, and will only allow certain things to fall onto us, whether these are consequences of our own actions, or consequences of other people's actions, or due to natural disasters or diseases because we live in a sinful, fallen, broken world.  

God allows these things into our lives as tests for us to grow closer to Him.  And as we go through these struggles while continuing to trust in the Lord, and persistently striving to lean on Him and rest in Him... it will be a great testimony to ourselves and to those around us.  These experiences will inspire, teach and encourage other believers, as well as speak to unbelievers.

Therefore, in such times we are to be like David - steadfastly pursuing the Lord!!!  We can tell and ask God anything, because He already knows what we are thinking and feeling.  And, David asks some questions in verses 10 to 12 which might sound unreasonable to many, but they are excellent questions.  Not only did God eventually answer these questions, but the answer is beyond amazing!

When Jesus died and paid the price for sin, He did go to that dark place.  And because He rose again, having victory over death, those who believe in Him, will be resurrected and go to heaven for all eternity!  This includes anyone who believed in the Lord BEFORE Jesus came to earth in flesh... including David.  

In summary, even if things seem extremely dark and hopeless right now, if we have placed our faith in Christ, we can be confident and rely on His faithfulness and graciousness.  The Lord created us, and He loves us so very deeply!  He is literally our soulmate, our everywhere-present bff, our very understanding confidant, our omniscient source of truth and wisdom, our omnipotent protector and help, and our very present certain hope!

relationships (Psalm 87:1-7) Finding Joy

(Psalm 87:1-7)   His foundation is in the holy mountains.

2   The Lord loves the gates of Zion 
     More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob.
3   Glorious things are spoken of you,
     City of God. Selah 
4   “I shall mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me;
     Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Cush:
     ‘This one was born there.’”
5   But of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her”;
     And the Most High Himself will establish her.
6   The Lord will count when He registers the peoples,
     “This one was born there.” Selah 
7   Then those who sing as well as those who play the flutes will say,
     “All my springs of joy are in you.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

In the Millennium, Jesus will establish Israel and its capital city, Jerusalem (Zion).  The Israelites will be established in the Lord, and they will be fruitful and blessed with all their covenants fulfilled, because they as a nation will have accepted Jesus as their King and Messiah at the end of the Tribulation.  

As for right now, Zion could be likened to God's Church, which includes all churches that worship Him only, believe that Jesus is God, believe that salvation is only through Jesus and His work on the cross, and believe that the Bible is God's infallible word.  When churches are following Jesus like this, with humble, thankful hearts, of course it would be God's favorite place to be.

God's favorite place to be is also not just about logistics, as our bodies are considered a temple of God when one becomes a believer, because we receive the Lord's indwelling Holy Spirit of promise.  So, it is about the condition of one's heart and being born again into God's family.  Like that saying goes, "Home is where the heart is."  When we become children of God, our heavenly Father knows us and promises us that we will go to heaven, His home, for all eternity.

Until that day, because we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ, He establishes His firm foundation in us on a personal level.  We may be aliens living on this earth, but the Lord is always with us and working in and on our hearts so that we may experience joy in the Lord!  Asking the Lord to give us His joy - brings Him joy!!!  Even when we are gong through struggles, and things aren't "happy", the Lord wants to fill us with His comfort and joy, which is only found in a close, personal relationship with Him.

relationships (Psalm 86:1-17) Only Have to Remember One Thing

(Psalm 86:1-17)   Incline Your ear, Lord, and answer me;

     For I am afflicted and needy.
2   Protect my soul, for I am godly;
     You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You.
3   Be gracious to me, Lord,
     For I call upon You all day long.
4   Make the soul of Your servant joyful,
     For to You, Lord, I lift up my soul.
5   For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
     And abundant in mercy to all who call upon You.
6   Listen, Lord, to my prayer;
     And give Your attention to the sound of my pleading!
7   On the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
     For You will answer me.
8   There is no one like You among the gods, Lord,
     Nor are there any works like Yours.
9   All nations whom You have made will come and worship before You, Lord,
     And they will glorify Your name.
10 For You are great, and you do wondrous deeds;
     You alone are God.

11 Teach me Your way, Lord;
     I will walk in Your truth;
     Unite my heart to fear Your name.
12 I will give thanks to You, Lord my God, with all my heart,
     And I will glorify Your name forever.
13 For Your graciousness toward me is great,
     And You have saved my soul from the depths of Sheol.

14 God, arrogant men have risen up against me,
     And a gang of violent men have sought my life,
     And they have not set You before them.
15 But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
     Slow to anger and abundant in mercy and truth.
16 Turn to me, and be gracious to me;
     Grant Your strength to Your servant,
     And save the son of Your maidservant.
17 Show me a sign of good,
     That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
     Because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Wow!  Instead of being ashamed that we are believers, we need to be living in such a way that demonstrates God's presence in our lives - so that - those who oppose the Lord and His followers will see it and be ashamed!  And this isn't about us doing things in our own strength and effort, or doing things because we have to - it is about doing things in God's strength, and because we want to!  We should want to, as Christianity isn't about following a list of do's and don'ts... it is all about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!

This psalm does an excellent job at defining what a Christian - a true believer - is.  So, who are the godly ones (the true believers)?  We are those who know that there is only one God, and He is great and does wonderous deeds.  We have humbled ourselves, knowing that we are afflicted and in need of a Savior, and that salvation is only through Jesus, the Lord.  We have gone to the Lord for forgiveness and have given our soul to Him.  And in the moment of being reborn, the Lord gives us His indwelling Holy Spirit of promise to seal us for eternity. 

Once a Christian, we should also know that we continue to need the Lord!  Knowing that He is omnipotent, we can totally trust Him.  We can call upon the Lord and depend on Him for our help "all day long" - for everything - always!  And we can call out to Him "on the day" of our trouble, without waiting.  No problem is too great!  We should know that God works things out and answers our prayers, so we can go to Him and receive His strength, comfort and joy.  We should know that the Lord is omniscient, truth, light, life, impartial, just and fair, so we can run to Him for His guidance and receive His courage and confidence.  

Christians are those who fear God and strive to put and keep Him first in our lives.  When we learn and know all of His qualities and how they benefit a person, we will want to continue learning from the Lord so we can walk in truth and in unity alongside Him.  And as we continue to walk closely alongside Him, He will continue to teach us and strengthen our faith and trust.  He is our strength, so we can ask God to help us be steadfast servants, being thankful to Him for everything.  Part of trusting in Him means we will see the value of trusting His word and His will, so we will strive to be obedient.  Part of this includes not neglecting going to church, to serve, and to worship, and glorify His name.

This might sound like a list of do's and don'ts to some, but Christians are those who realize that for all these things, it is the Lord at work in us!  We should know that the Lord is omnipresent, faithful, patient and caring.  Therefore, no matter what we are going through (good times or bad), no matter which relationship is creating grief (friend or foe), and no matter how we are feeling (invincible or depressed), we just have to remember one thing - keep on going to the Lord and asking Him for help!

relationships (Psalm 85:1-13) Finding Grace and Peace

(Psalm 85:1-13)   Lord, You showed favor to Your land;

     You restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2   You forgave the guilt of Your people;
     You covered all their sin. Selah 
3   You withdrew all Your fury;
     You turned away from Your burning anger.

4   Restore us, God of our salvation,
     And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.
5   Will You be angry with us forever?
     Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
6   Will You not revive us again,
     So that Your people may rejoice in You?
7   Show us Your mercy, Lord,
     And grant us Your salvation.

8   I will hear what God the Lord will say;
     For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
     And may they not turn back to foolishness.
9   Certainly His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
     That glory may dwell in our land.
10 Graciousness and truth have met together;
     Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth sprouts from the earth,
     And righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 Indeed, the Lord will give what is good,
     And our land will yield its produce.
13 Righteousness will go before Him 
     And will make His footsteps into a way.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Verses 10 to 13 really stand out.  When we accept truth, we will find grace, and in righteousness we will find peace.  Jesus is truth and righteousness.  

After dying on the cross, being buried in the ground, and paying the price for all sin, Jesus rose from the dead.  And those who accept His free gift of salvation and take on His righteousness will "sprout" and be fruitful in bringing Him glory, as we walk with integrity and share this good news of salvation, hope and peace.  And just as David is doing right here - praying for the lost - that their hearts will long to know, hear and receive - to be saved, revived and restored!

relationships (Psalm 84:1-12) Commitment Based On Knowing

(Psalm 84:1-12) How lovely are Your dwelling places,

     Lord of armies!
2   My soul longed and even yearned for the courtyards of the Lord;
     My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
3   The bird also has found a house,
     And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may put her young:
     Your altars, Lord of armies,
     My King and my God.
4   Blessed are those who dwell in Your house!
     They are ever praising You. Selah 

5   Blessed is the person whose strength is in You,
     In whose heart are the roads to Zion!
6   Passing through the Valley of Baca they make it a spring;
     The early rain also covers it with blessings.
7   They go from strength to strength,
     Every one of them appears before God in Zion.

8   Lord God of armies, hear my prayer;
     Listen, God of Jacob! Selah 
9   See our shield, God,
     And look at the face of Your anointed.
10 For a day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere.
     I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God 
     Than live in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
     The Lord gives grace and glory;
     He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.
12 Lord of armies,
     Blessed is the person who trusts in You!

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

There is nothing better than being a child of God!  This is a person who has put their faith and trust in the Lord.  The action of commitment comes before any feelings.  It is based on knowledge!  In KNOWING the Lord and His wonderful word.

We know when we truly trust in God, we can trust that what He tells us to do is right and it will work.  And as the Lord works in our hearts and works through our service to Him, and blesses and works things out for us, we will long and yearn to know Him even more.  All of this, which comes from the deepest, most personal relationship we can ever know, will inspire us to sing praises to Jesus.

relationships (Psalm 83:1-18) Dealing With Enemies

(Psalm 83:1-18)  God, do not remain quiet;

     Do not be silent and, God, do not be still.
2   For behold, Your enemies make an uproar,
     And those who hate You have exalted themselves.
3   They make shrewd plans against Your people,
     And conspire together against Your treasured ones.
4   They have said, “Come, and let’s wipe them out as a nation,
     So that the name of Israel will no longer be remembered.”
5   For they have conspired together with one mind;
     They make a covenant against You:
6   The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
     Moab and the Hagrites;
7   Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek,
     Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8   Assyria also has joined them;
     They have become a help to the children of Lot. Selah 

9   Deal with them as with Midian,
     As with Sisera and Jabin at the river of Kishon,
10 Who were destroyed at En-dor,
     Who became like dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
     And all their leaders like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 Who said, “Let’s possess for ourselves 
     The pastures of God.”

13 My God, make them like the whirling dust,
     Like chaff before the wind.
14 Like fire that burns the forest,
     And like a flame that sets the mountains on fire,
15 So pursue them with Your heavy gale,
     And terrify them with Your storm.
16 Fill their faces with dishonor,
     So that they will seek Your name, Lord.
17 May they be ashamed and dismayed forever,
     And may they be humiliated and perish,
18 So that they will know that You alone, whose name is the Lord,
     Are the Most High over all the earth.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

David asks God for help.  And even though he wants his enemies to experience extreme consequences, his hope is that they would realize who God is.  And maybe they would even want to seek out the Lord, as it is God's desire that all come to know Him and be saved.  (1 Timothy 2:3-4) 

There is good reason why we should leave judgment and vengeance to the Lord!  We are not all knowing, but God is.  He knows exactly who will become believers and how much it will take for them to feel remorse to the point of repentance. Our purpose is to continue in God's will, praying for God's guidance and help, and allowing God to do what needs to be done.  Our close relationship with the Lord will help us in all our other relationships... with family members, friends and enemies!

relationships (Psalm 82:1-8) We Do Not Have to Be Alone

(Psalm 82:1-8)  God takes His position in His assembly;

     He judges in the midst of the gods.
2   How long will you judge unjustly 
     And show partiality to the wicked? Selah 
3   Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
     Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
4   Rescue the weak and needy;
     Save them from the hand of the wicked.

5   They do not know nor do they understand;
     They walk around in darkness;
     All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6   I said, “You are gods,
     And all of you are sons of the Most High.
7   Nevertheless you will die like men,
     And fall like one of the princes.”
8   Arise, God, judge the earth!
     For You possess all the nations.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

At the moment, it seems that the wicked are running amok and running many things in this world.  Even though God created all mankind with a purpose, and with the intention that all would be children of God, sin separated us from Him because Adam and Eve brought sin, division, destruction and death into the world.  They chose to disobey and believe Satan's lie that they could be as God.  

We can see from the state of the world that people do not make very good gods.  We deceive ourselves if we think we can be god of our own lives.  When we try to take control and do things our way, things will go wrong.  This is why we need Jesus Christ as our personal LORD GOD and Savior!

There is only one God, and He is Sovereign and perfect.  We cannot be gods, but we can become children of God when we put our faith in the Lord.  And as children of God, He will work on our hearts to become more and more like Him.  

This will become evident as we put our faith into practice, in serving others and helping those who are vulnerable.  And here to, in everything we do, God wants to be our strength, wisdom and help!  We are not alone!  In our relationship with Him, He is faithful and desires to be part of every aspect in our lives!

relationships (Psalm 81:1-16) Singing Songs to Honor

(Psalm 81:1-16)  Sing for joy to God our strength;

     Shout joyfully to the God of Jacob.
2   Raise a song, strike the tambourine,
     The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.
3   Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
     At the full moon, on our feast day.
4   For it is a statute for Israel,
     An ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5   He established it as a testimony in Joseph 
     When he went throughout the land of Egypt.
     I heard a language I did not know:

6   “I relieved his shoulder of the burden,
     His hands were freed from the basket.
7   You called in trouble and I rescued you;
     I answered you in the hiding place of thunder;
     I put you to the test at the waters of Meribah. Selah 
8   Hear, My people, and I will admonish you;
     Israel, if you would listen to Me!
9   There shall be no strange god among you;
     Nor shall you worship a foreign god.
10 I, the Lord, am your God,
     Who brought you up from the land of Egypt;
     Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

11 “But My people did not listen to My voice,
     And Israel did not obey Me.
12 So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart,
     To walk by their own plans.
13 Oh that My people would listen to Me,
     That Israel would walk in My ways!
14 I would quickly subdue their enemies 
     And turn My hand against their adversaries.
15 Those who hate the Lord would pretend to obey Him,
     And their time of punishment would be forever.
16 But I would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
     And with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God wants to help and bless Israel, all they have to do as a nation is listen and hear the Lord, and walk in His will.  Prophecy shows that this will only happen by the end of the Tribulation, and then Jesus will return to earth, take them into the Millennium and fulfill all of their covenants.

Meanwhile, God wants to save, help and bless - anyone - who listens, hears and puts their faith in the Lord and walks in His will.  It's not that we have to be obedient first and then He will save us.  It is actually impossible for us to do that.  God just asks that we make Him our personal Lord and Savior, and then He will help us walk in His ways and give peace and fulfillment to our lives.  The Lord is our strength!!!

In all of this, it should inspire us to sing to the Lord!  It isn't so strange.  Think about how the secular world has millions of anthems and love songs which are written to give honor to some close personal relationship - of a person who is loving, caring, strong, faithful and not afraid of challenging and encouraging their loved ones... But instead of looking to a fallible person or country for our strength and guidance, we choose to look to the infallible Lord and Savior and give Him all the honor and glory!

relationships (Psalm 80:1-19) Finding Comfort, Courage and Strength

(Psalm 80:1-19)  Listen, Shepherd of Israel,

     Who leads Joseph like a flock;
     You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!
2   Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, awaken Your power,
     And come to save us!
3   God, restore us 
     And make Your face shine upon us, and we will be saved.

4   Lord God of armies,
     How long will You be angry with the prayer of Your people?
5   You have fed them with the bread of tears,
     And You have made them drink tears in large measure.
6   You make us an object of contention to our neighbors,
     And our enemies laugh among themselves.
7   God of armies, restore us 
     And make Your face shine upon us, and we will be saved.

8   You removed a vine from Egypt;
     You drove out the nations and planted it.
9   You cleared the ground before it,
     And it took deep root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shadow,
     And the cedars of God with its branches.
11 It was sending out its branches to the sea 
     And its shoots to the Euphrates River.
12 Why have You broken down its hedges,
     So that all who pass that way pick its fruit?
13 A boar from the forest eats it away,
     And whatever moves in the field feeds on it.

14 God of armies, do turn back;
     Look down from heaven and see, and take care of this vine,
15 The shoot which Your right hand has planted,
     And of the son whom You have strengthened for Yourself.
16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down;
     They perish from the rebuke of Your face.
17 Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand,
     Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.
18 Then we will not turn back from You;
     Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.
19 Lord God of armies, restore us;
     Make Your face shine upon us, and we will be saved.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Even when and especially when our enemies mock and laugh at us, we just need to continue looking to the Lord.  Obviously, God made the covenants with Israel to protect and guide them, as He chose them to be the missionaries to the world.  These covenants will be fulfilled one day, in the Millennium.  

Meanwhile, these verses can apply to other nations - meaning - if a nation and its leaders honor God, God will bless those nations.  But!  Other nations will never "replace" Israel.  Let us be careful not to twist God's words so they say what we want to hear.  If we do that, then we are dishonoring God!

Now, these verses do apply to individuals as well, as God desires that all come to know Him personally.  All we have to do is see and believe and call upon Him, and it is the Lord who saves us.  And as we ask, He will work things out, and work in and through us.  In trusting and fearing the Lord and striving in obedience to His will, we do not have to fear or worry about anything or anyone, He will protect, guide and help us.

Several times in this psalm, David uses the name "God of armies".  God created everything and is over everything and everyone, including the angels.  As this is the case, we should know that God is able to carry out His promises and His plans, and we can be confident that it is as good as done!  This is one level of trust.  

We should also understand that God is omniscient, and therefore He knows what will work and what will not work.  As He loves and cares for us, He would not steer us wrong!  Therefore, we can be confident to obey His commandments, not because we have to, but because we want to.  This is another level of trust!  Then, the more we trust and follow through, the more we will see God work in our lives, the more we will see that we can trust the Lord... and, on and on.  Faith and trust in the Lord will fill us with His comfort, courage and strength!

Our personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is a journey.  When we decide to take His hand, even when we stray or stumble, He will never let us go!  And when we decide to walk closer and closer to Him and with Him, we will experience more and more of His comforting presence and the blessings of His light shining upon us.

relationships (Psalm 79:1-13) Being Thankful

(Psalm 79:1-13)  God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance;

     They have defiled Your holy temple;
     They have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
2   They have given the dead bodies of Your servants to the birds of the sky as food,
     The flesh of Your godly ones to the animals of the earth.
3   They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem;
     And there was no one to bury them.
4   We have become a disgrace before our neighbors,
     An object of derision and ridicule to those around us.
5   How long, Lord? Will You be angry forever?
     Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
6   Pour out Your wrath upon the nations which do not know You,
     And upon the kingdoms which do not call upon Your name.
7   For they have devoured Jacob 
     And laid waste his settlement.

8   Do not hold us responsible for the guilty deeds of our forefathers;
     Let Your compassion come quickly to meet us,
     For we have become very low.
9   Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name;
     And save us and forgive our sins for the sake of Your name.
10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
     Let vengeance for the blood of Your servants which has been shed 
     Be known among the nations in our sight.
11 Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You;
     According to the greatness of Your power, let those who are doomed to die remain.
12 And return to our neighbors seven times as much into their lap 
     Their taunts with which they have taunted You, Lord.
13 So we Your people and the sheep of Your pasture 
     Will give thanks to You forever;
     To all generations we will tell of Your praise.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

This chapter is specifically speaking about the relationship between Israel and God, based on the Abrahamic, Mosaic and Davidic covenants, which will only be fulfilled in the Millennium.  This will come about when the Israelites see their "signs", the judgments during the Tribulation, then they as a nation will believe and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, King and Messiah.  Our relationship towards Israel should be a caring one, while praying for them.  We should care for the things that God cares about!

This scripture can also be applied to us.  No matter what we are going through, or no matter what is going on around us, we need to stay focused on God;  and in His strength, we should be actively living in His will.  As in verse 9, a good place to start (each day) is to confess any sins we might be struggling with.  We can also ask God to help us move past any sinful situation we have been born into, or any sinful situation we find ourselves.  

In our daily walk with God, we should be giving thanks to Him, not only because there are so many reasons to be thankful, but because this will help adjust our attitude and how we see the Lord.  To behave properly in society, we are taught certain manners which demonstrate respect.  For example, we are taught to say "please" and "thank you".  Why then do we sometimes feel like we can just order God around like He is our servant, without so much as a please or a thank you?

We don't deserve anything!  In fact, we are to be serving the Lord!  And why wouldn't we want to?!  The Lord God came to earth in flesh to be our perfect example.  He served us, and took our place in death!  And always, everything God has done, is doing, and will do for us - is because of His love and compassion.  So, as a child of God, asking and allowing Him to work in and through us, we can be more like Him.  

The Lord's spirit is what should fill our hearts and our lives, and spill out onto all those around us.  No matter where we go, we should be willing and able to tell others about the salvation which is found only in Jesus Christ.  This is to have a personal relationship with Him.  To be born again - is to be adopted into God's family, to be part of His inheritance, with the promise of eternity!  How could we not be so very thankful!?

relationships (Psalm 78:1-72) Choosing the Better Way

(Psalm 78:1-72)  Listen, my people, to my instruction;
     Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2   I will open my mouth in a parable;
     I will tell riddles of old,
3   Which we have heard and known,
     And our fathers have told us.
4   We will not conceal them from their children,
     But we will tell the generation to come the praises of the Lord,
     And His power and His wondrous works that He has done.

5   For He established a testimony in Jacob,
     And appointed a law in Israel,
     Which He commanded our fathers 
     That they were to teach them to their children,
6   So that the generation to come would know, the children yet to be born,
     That they would arise and tell them to their children,
7   So that they would put their confidence in God
     And not forget the works of God,
     But comply with His commandments,
8   And not be like their fathers,
     A stubborn and rebellious generation,
     A generation that did not prepare its heart 
     And whose spirit was not faithful to God.

9   The sons of Ephraim were archers equipped with bows,
     Yet they turned back on the day of battle.
10 They did not keep the covenant of God 
     And refused to walk in His Law;
11 They forgot His deeds 
     And His miracles that He had shown them.
12 He performed wonders before their fathers 
     In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through,
     And He made the waters stand up like a heap.
14 Then He led them with the cloud by day 
     And all the night with a light of fire.
15 He split the rocks in the wilderness 
     And gave them plenty to drink like the ocean depths.
16 He brought forth streams from the rock 
     And made waters run down like rivers.

17 Yet they still continued to sin against Him,
     To rebel against the Most High in the desert.
18 And in their heart they put God to the test 
     By asking for food that suited their taste.
19 Then they spoke against God;
     They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
20 Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out,
     And streams were overflowing;
     Can He also provide bread?
     Will He prepare meat for His people?”

21 Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath;
     And a fire was kindled against Jacob,
     And anger also mounted against Israel,
22 Because they did not believe in God 
     And did not trust in His salvation.
23 Yet He commanded the clouds above 
     And opened the doors of heaven;
24 He rained down manna upon them to eat,
     And gave them food from heaven.
25 Man ate the bread of angels;
     He sent them food in abundance.
26 He made the east wind blow in the sky
     And by His power He directed the south wind.
27 When He rained meat upon them like the dust,
     Even winged fowl like the sand of the seas,
28 He let them fall in the midst of their camp,
     All around their dwellings.
29 So they ate and were well filled,
     And He satisfied their longing.
30 Yet before they had abandoned their longing,
     While their food was in their mouths,
31 The anger of God rose against them 
     And killed some of their strongest ones,
     And subdued the choice men of Israel.
32 In spite of all this they still sinned 
     And did not believe in His wonderful works.
33 So He brought their days to an end in futility,
     And their years to an end in sudden terror.

34 When He killed them, then they sought Him,
     And they returned and searched diligently for God;
35 And they remembered that God was their rock,
     And the Most High God their Redeemer.
36 But they flattered Him with their mouth 
     And lied to Him with their tongue.
37 For their heart was not steadfast toward Him,
     Nor were they faithful with His covenant.
38 But He, being compassionate, forgave their wrongdoing and did not destroy them;
     And often He restrained His anger 
     And did not stir up all His wrath.
39 So He remembered that they were only flesh,
     A wind that passes and does not return.

40 How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness
     And grieved Him in the desert!
41 Again and again they tempted God,
     And pained the Holy One of Israel.
42 They did not remember His power,
     The day when He redeemed them from the enemy,
43 When He performed His signs in Egypt 
     And His marvels in the field of Zoan,
44 And turned their rivers to blood,
     And their streams, so that they could not drink.
45 He sent swarms of flies among them that devoured them,
     And frogs that destroyed them.
46 He also gave their crops to the grasshopper 
     And the product of their labor to the locust.
47 He destroyed their vines with hailstones 
     And their sycamore trees with frost.
48 He also turned their cattle over to the hailstones,
     And their herds to bolts of lightning.
49 He sent His burning anger upon them,
     Fury and indignation and trouble,
     A band of destroying angels.
50 He leveled a path for His anger;
     He did not spare their souls from death,
     But turned their lives over to the plague,
51 And struck all the firstborn in Egypt,
     The first and best of their vigor in the tents of Ham.
52 But He led His own people out like sheep,
     And guided them in the wilderness like a flock;
53 He led them safely, so that they did not fear;
     But the sea engulfed their enemies.

54 So He brought them to His holy land,
     To this hill country which His right hand had gained.
55 He also drove out the nations from them
     And apportioned them as an inheritance by measurement,
     And had the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents.
56 Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God 
     And did not keep His testimonies,
57 But turned back and acted treacherously like their fathers;
     They turned aside like a treacherous bow.
58 For they provoked Him with their high places 
     And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images.
59 When God heard them, He was filled with wrath 
     And He utterly rejected Israel;
60 So that He abandoned the dwelling place at Shiloh,
     The tent which He had pitched among people,
61 And He gave up His strength to captivity 
     And His glory into the hand of the enemy.
62 He also turned His people over to the sword,
     And was filled with wrath at His inheritance.
63 Fire devoured His young men,
     And His virgins had no wedding songs.
64 His priests fell by the sword,
     And His widows could not weep.

65 Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep,
     Like a warrior overcome by wine.
66 He drove His adversaries backward;
     He put on them an everlasting disgrace.
67 He also rejected the tent of Joseph,
     And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
68 But chose the tribe of Judah,
     Mount Zion, which He loved.
69 And He built His sanctuary like the heights,
     Like the earth which He has established forever.
70 He also chose His servant David 
     And took him from the sheepfolds;
71 From the care of the ewes with nursing lambs He brought him 
     To shepherd Jacob His people,
     And Israel His inheritance.
72 So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,
     And guided them with his skillful hands.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Verse 36 mentions flattering and lying to the Lord.  This is not good to do to people, let alone to God!  Yet somehow, people think that they can manipulate and control the Lord.  And somehow, many people think that they know better than the One who created all things!  So, the huge riddle is that even though people witness, experience and benefit from God's amazing power, love, patience, gracious compassion and generosity, they will still choose not to trust in Him.  

In this chapter, we see how personal God really is.  Just for the fact that the actions of people can cause the Lord to feel jealous, anger, grief and pain - demonstrates how much He loves and cares about each and every one of us (believers or not)!  Therefore, the Lord allows things in our lives to show us how much He cares and how much we need Him.  And still, many people reject and walk away from Him.  And then there are some people who can only learn the hard way.  

Obviously, God knows that we are "only flesh".  Even after we have put our faith and trust in Him, He knows that we can be our own worst enemy!  Even when we don't want to, we will stumble and stray.  So without His mercy and grace, it would be impossible for anyone to be saved and remain with Him.  But because the Lord loves us, He makes His salvation and help available to the world - for free!  Such a precious, wonderful gift!  And we should be ready and excited to share this gift - this good news - with all of those around us!  Especially with our children!!!

The Lord desires that we ask Him for His help, wisdom, guidance, strength, comfort, peace, contentment, fulfillment, joy...  He will very often give us what we need before we even ask Him, just as He supplied the Israelites with manna everyday.  And even though they asked - with unthankful hearts - for meat, God still gave them that desire in that moment.  But how often do we ask for things with wrong motives, and then expect that God should just give us what we want?

Since the Lord is omniscient, He knows exactly what we NEED, and He knows what is best for our lives.  Because He has given each one of us purpose, He desires to guide us towards that, allowing experiences (including tests and trials) into our lives which will mold us towards a better way.  In this, we still have a choice!  To rebel against doing things in God's will.  Or - to understand and trust the benefits of striving and being obedient, with the Lord God Jesus Christ's salvation and help!