relationships (Psalm 114:1-8) Relying on Miracles

(Psalm 114:1-8) 

1   When Israel went forth from Egypt,
     The house of Jacob from a people of a foreign language,
2   Judah became His sanctuary;
     Israel, His dominion.

3   The sea looked and fled;
     The Jordan turned back.
4   The mountains skipped like rams,
     The hills, like lambs.
5   What ails you, sea, that you flee?
     Jordan, that you turn back?
6   Mountains, that you skip like rams?
     Hills, like lambs?

7   Tremble, earth, before the Lord,
     Before the God of Jacob,
8   Who turned the rock into a pool of water,
     The flint into a fountain of water.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

The events of God bringing Israel out of Egypt and into the promised land is like an allegory of salvation.  

All the Israelites who trusted in God's direction to sacrifice a Passover lamb and paint its blood on the door frames, were saved from death and slavery.  This parallels anyone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus, the perfect sacrificial Lamb who shed His blood for us.  For those who accept His sacrificial gift of salvation and forgiveness, death passes over us and we are no longer slaves to sin.

God parted the Red Sea so that the Israelites could pass "through" the water safely to the other side, separating them from the enemy.  Egypt's army was destroyed, never again able to bring them back to slavery.  This parallels the moment of salvation when we are (immediately) baptized by the Holy Spirit of promise, who seals us for all eternity.  We are "born again", adopted into God's family, to become a child of God.  And God parting the Jordon River so that the Israelites could enter the promised land. parallels the moment when we will enter heaven.

Meanwhile, God is with us!  As verse 2 describes Judah becoming God's sanctuary, at the moment of receiving Jesus into our hearts and lives, we become the temple of God.  This demonstrates how Christianity is really all about having a close, personal relationship with our Lord and Savior.  His indwelling Holy Spirit not only seals us for all eternity, He remains with us to convict, guide and protect us.  

Just like God did not leave the Israelites to wander the wilderness without direction, protection or sustenance, the Lord stayed with them the entire time and performed many miracles.  Just so, in whatever wilderness we find ourselves, God is right here with us to guide, protect, nourish and sustain us.

Every one of these events and aspects of salvation require miracles that only God can do!  Does God still perform miracles?  Yes!  Should we then rely on miracles?  Absolutely!  Salvation in Jesus is a miracle.  And how the Lord's Holy Spirit protects us for all eternity, and then helps and guides us, is also many continuous miracles.  Just the fact that we are able to pray to the Lord, and He hears us and responds - is a miracle!  And not only is God able to perform miracles to save and help us, but He wants to!

relationships (Psalm 113:1-9) Praiseworthy

(Psalm 113:1-9) 

1   Praise the Lord!
     Praise Him, you servants of the Lord,
     Praise the name of the Lord.
2   Blessed be the name of the Lord 
     From this time on and forever.
3   From the rising of the sun to its setting,
     The name of the Lord is to be praised.
4   The Lord is high above all nations;
     His glory is above the heavens.

5   Who is like the Lord our God,
     Who is enthroned on high,
6   Who looks far down to 
     The heavens and the earth?
7   He raises the poor from the dust,
     He lifts the needy from the garbage heap,
8   To seat them with noblemen,
     With the noblemen of His people.
9   He has the infertile woman live in the house 
     As a joyful mother of children.
     Praise the Lord!

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

People desire to be praised, even when they don't deserve it.  And people are quick to praise someone who they admire, even though they are not perfect.  As well, people will praise others when they want something from them.  But compared to the Lord, we are not praiseworthy.  None of us are!  Not even close!  This is why verse 7 catches my attention.  

God created us from dust, so it would stand to reason that God is able to raise us up from the dust!!!  God created us with a purpose to have a personal relationship with Him, so it stands to reason that He would want each and every one of us to be reconciled to Him.  And God loves us so very much, so it would stand to reason that He would prepare the way of salvation!  The Lord humbled Himself by coming to earth, born through a virgin to be fully man, while still being fully God, in order to suffer and die on the cross, to pay the price for all our sins!

Salvation is only found through the Lord Jesus Christ, because He is the only One who is able!  And this is our only way to be lifted up, out of the garbage heap - to be freed from the slavery of sin!  The Lord, who is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and eternal, and cares so very much, is so very worthy to be praised.  God, alone, is praiseworthy!

relationships (Psalm 112:1-10) Trustworthy Guidance

(Psalm 112:1-10) 

1   Praise the Lord!
     Blessed is a person who fears the Lord,
     Who greatly delights in His commandments.
2   His descendants will be mighty on the earth;
     The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3   Wealth and riches are in his house,
     And his righteousness endures forever.
4   Light shines in the darkness for the upright;
     He is gracious, compassionate, and righteous.
5   It goes well for a person who is gracious and lends;
     He will maintain his cause in judgment.
6   For he will never be shaken;
     The righteous will be remembered forever.

7   He will not fear bad news;
     His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8   His heart is firm, he will not fear,
     But will look with satisfaction on his enemies.
9   He has given freely to the poor,
     His righteousness endures forever;
     His horn will be exalted in honor.

10 The wicked will see it and be vexed,
     He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
     The desire of the wicked will perish.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

In our personal relationship with Jesus, it makes sense that we would awesomely respect our Lord and Savior, as well as love His commandments, guidance and discipline!  As a "younger" Christian, I didn't fully understand this last statement as I do now.  Yet, as I look back on all of my experiences with various mentors, coaches, directors and instructors, there should have been an "ah-ha moment" a lot sooner!  But that's almost the point... we are always learning, practicing and refining... and this is applicable to every facet in life.  Never mind studying and interning for some career path in the workforce, there is a lot of discipline and practice required just in sports, music and the art-world (for example).  

I've had coaches who did NOT know what they were doing.  Out of that, we were in the bottom at competitions, embarrassed and considered a joke by other teams, many of us wound up with serious injuries just from our workouts, and the workouts themselves were so unreasonable our joy was replaced with widespread frustration, lack of confidence in ourselves, contentions among teammates, and extreme distrust of the coach.  

Outcomes are so much different when we have excellent, experienced guidance from the person leading us (and a group).  Even when that coach tells you that you are doing something wrong, you will understand and want to make the necessary corrections, because otherwise it would mean a penalty against you and the team, or it would cause injury to yourself or someone else, or it will keep you from doing something well.  With a coach who is trusted and inspires confidence, we tend to be willing and even exited to put in the practice with sincere efforts, and compete according to all the rules of any given sport because in this way, we will experience success.  Even if we don't come in first place, if we have done everything well to the best of our abilities, we never have to walk away with our heads hanging.

Now let's apply this to our walk with God, who is all-knowing, all-powerful, AND He loves and cares about us!  He is our perfect heavenly Father, mentor, coach, director, instructor AND best friend.  He wants to guide us through life in absolutely everything we do, so that we can do all things well, with good outcomes that bless us and bring Him glory.  

When those around us are also trusting the Lord and what He says in His word, both at home and at church, we will experience unity in the Holy Spirit, who brings about the most amazing, in sync teamwork possible.  When we rely on God's strength, wisdom and love, we will experience His peace, confidence and courage.  And as we grow and mature in our faith, we learn to trust and believe in Him and His will, more and more.  Without a doubt, we will delight in God's commandments and guidance!

relationships (Psalm 111:1-10) Evidence Inspires More Trust

(Psalm 111:1-10) 

1   Praise the Lord!
     I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart,
     In the company of the upright and in the assembly.
2   Great are the works of the Lord;
     They are studied by all who delight in them.
3   Splendid and majestic is His work,
     And His righteousness endures forever.
4   He has caused His wonders to be remembered;
     The Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5   He has given food to those who fear Him;
     He will remember His covenant forever.
6   He has made known to His people the power of His works,
     In giving them the inheritance of the nations.

7   The works of His hands are truth and justice;
     All His precepts are trustworthy.
8   They are upheld forever and ever;
     They are performed in truth and uprightness.
9   He has sent redemption to His people;
     He has ordained His covenant forever;
     Holy and awesome is His name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
     All those who follow His commandments have a good understanding;
     His praise endures forever.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God has given us so much evidence of Himself and His character.  He has given us His word, the Bible, in order to study and see that it is true and trustworthy.  In it contains events which are supported by historic evidence.  And as we trust in Him and live obediently according to His word, we will see evidence in our own lives.  

To those who believe in the Lord, we are given His indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us and help us understand even more!  The more we know and understand, the more we will fear and trust the Lord!  The more we fear and trust the Lord, the more blessings we receive!  How can one not delight in His word and in His works and in having a personal relationship with Him!?

relationships (Psalm 110:1-7) Understanding the Whys

(Psalm 110:1-7) 

1   The Lord says to my Lord:
     “Sit at My right hand 
     Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
2   The Lord will stretch out Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,
     “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”
3   Your people will volunteer freely on the day of Your power;
     In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn,
     Your youth are to You as the dew.

4   The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind,
     “You are a priest forever 
     According to the order of Melchizedek.”
5   The Lord is at Your right hand;
     He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath.
6   He will judge among the nations,
     He will fill them with corpses,
     He will shatter the chief men over a broad country.
7   He will drink from the brook by the wayside;
     Therefore He will lift up His head.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

I think most people talk to themselves in order to process things.  I know I have, and will still do at times, although I decided a while ago that I should really try to talk to the Lord God instead!  I mean, He's always there, He's a much better listener, and He can literally help me sort things out much better than I or anyone else can!  Afterall, we are told to pray without ceasing!  Well, here we see God the Father and Jesus, the Son of God, speaking to "each other".  Don't get me wrong, there is only one God, and He is a Trinity, three in one.  

I like to explain it like this, I am a wife, a mother and a servant... yet I'm only one person!  Between the different roles that I have, there are different responsibilities and relationship dynamics.  For example, as a wife, I seek unity and oneness with my husband to establish the best approach to take regarding our children.  When interacting with our children, my role as a mother takes over.  And both roles, wife and mother, will take into consideration my role as a servant... to consider why and how something should be done.  And as a servant of God, of course, this involves doing everything in His love and in His will.

So, back to what God is saying... because He is really talking to us, and giving us His plans and reasoning.  He's also explaining to us the different roles that He has, just so that we can understand Him better, in a way that we can relate.  And in this short chapter, this prophecy contains a lot of information.  Verse 4 speaks about Jesus' character and one of His roles.  Verse 3 speaks about the Lord Jesus coming in flesh through a virgin birth and the Holy Spirit, to be fully man while still being fully God.  Verse 1 speaks about what happened after Jesus' ascension.  And the rest of the verses speak about His second coming at the end of the Tribulation, to set up the Millennial kingdom and fulfill all covenants with Israel.

What does this mean for us, right now?  First of all, we should appreciate the fact that God speaks to us and lets us know His plans and reasons.  We can be confident in trusting Him in all things, as He is sovereign and keeps His promises.  And in our thankfulness, because of everything He has done, is doing and will do, we should freely and wholeheartedly desire to serve Him!  

And these thoughts just struck me... Everything we do and say can either be a disservice which would lead to divisiveness and destruction, or everything we do and say, in God's strength, wisdom and love, can be a service which would lead to encouragement and edification.  

As well, just as God speaks to us to explain His plans and reasons, whether we are parents, leaders or mentors, it helps others to know our plans and reasons.  Just saying, "Do this, because I said so!" leads to skepticism, resentment and rebellion.  But, in teaching and explaining the plans and the whys can help others understand, have confidence and be unified in the direction that is being taken.  And certainly, the impact is much greater when we are being an example to follow, practicing what we teach, all in God's strength, wisdom and love.

relationships (Psalm 109:1-31) Dealing With Enemies and "Frenemies"

(Psalm 109:1-31) 

1   God of my praise,
     Do not be silent!
2   For they have opened a wicked and deceitful mouth against me;
     They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
3   They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,
     And have fought against me without cause.
4   In return for my love they act as my accusers;
     But I am in prayer.
5   So they have repaid me evil for good,
     And hatred for my love.

6   Appoint a wicked person over him,
     And may an accuser stand at his right hand.
7   When he is judged, may he come out guilty,
     And may his prayer become sin.
8   May his days be few;
     May another take his office.
9   May his children be fatherless,
     And his wife a widow.
10 May his children wander about and beg;
     And may they seek sustenance far from their ruined homes.
11 May the creditor seize everything that he has,
     And may strangers plunder the product of his labor.
12 May there be none to extend kindness to him,
     Nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.
13 May his descendants be eliminated;
     May their name be wiped out in a following generation.

14 May the guilt of his fathers be remembered before the Lord,
     And do not let the sin of his mother be wiped out.
15 May they be before the Lord continually,
     So that He may eliminate their memory from the earth;
16 Because he did not remember to show mercy,
     But persecuted the afflicted and needy person,
     And the despondent in heart, to put them to death.
17 He also loved cursing, so it came to him;
     And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.
18 But he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment,
     And it entered his body like water,
     And like oil into his bones.
19 May it be to him as a garment with which he covers himself,
     And as a belt which he constantly wears around himself.
20 May this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,
     And of those who speak evil against my soul.

21 But You, God, the Lord, deal kindly with me for the sake of Your name;
     Because Your mercy is good, rescue me;
22 For I am afflicted and needy,
     And my heart is wounded within me.
23 I am passing like a shadow when it lengthens;
     I am shaken off like the locust.
24 My knees are weak from fasting,
     And my flesh has grown lean, without fatness.
25 I also have become a disgrace to them;
     When they see me, they shake their head.

26 Help me, Lord my God;
     Save me according to Your mercy.
27 And may they know that this is Your hand;
     You, Lord, have done it.
28 They will curse, but You bless;
     When they arise, they will be ashamed,
     But Your servant will be glad.
29 May my accusers be clothed with dishonor,
     And may they cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

30 With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the Lord;
     And I will praise Him in the midst of many.
31 For He stands at the right hand of the needy,
     To save him from those who judge his soul.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

I'm sure most of us have had some enemies, as well as "frenemies". in our lives at one point or another.  With outright enemies, at least one knows where they stand with them, but it hurts more when a friend or loved one suddenly turns on us.  From other Bible verses, we know that God tells us to love our enemies, pray for them, and even be kind to them; so how do we justify these verses above?

We see how merciful and patient God is just from how He allowed David to vent.  But in his venting, David was not wrong.  First of all, David was not the one who was going to seek vengeance or retribution, he asked God to take care of that;  and verses 4-5 demonstrate that David did show love and goodness to them.  In fact, while everyone is able to experience God's goodness in their lives, not everyone responds to that.  

Some people need to get really uncomfortable before they see their need for God, and then realize and accept His goodness and mercy.  So when we pray for our enemies (and "frenemies"), it's not to ask that they experience success or live healthy, happy, trouble-free lives... Not at all!  We should be praying for their salvation!!!  And this doesn't even go for just enemies, but all our loved ones who are not yet believers.

Verse 28 demonstrates that God blesses, even though people curse.  God does not tempt or hurt, but He will allow consequences to fall on people, and one day He will judge all unbelievers for the sins they have committed.  And even the act of sending them to hell... it is not of God.  God created hell for the demons.  And if a person decides to reject the Lord, it stands to reason that they wouldn't even want to live in the Lord's home for all eternity.

God created us to have a personal relationship with Him, and desires that all come to know Him;  but because He is love, He does not force anyone to love Him back.  Because God is holy, He cannot have a relationship with sin, but because He is love, He came in flesh to pay the price for sin, to provide a way.  When we accept His free gift of salvation, all our sins are forgiven, and we are clothed in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus, able to call God our heavenly Father.

At the end of this passage, though, David comes back to how he realizes his need for God!  The "needy" is not referring to those who are necessarily financially poor, but those who recognize their need to be saved by the Lord, and have a personal relationship with Him.  They are those who realize their need to have God in their lives each and every day, for every breath they take.  They are those who need to show their appreciation for God by praising and thanking Him in and for everything!  And in this, according to verses 26-27, David hopes that the unbelieving enemies will see how God does rescue and help!

relationships (Psalm 108:1-13) Issues, Answers and Solutions

(Psalm 108:1-13) 

1   My heart is steadfast, God;
     I will sing, I will sing praises also with my soul.
2   Awake, harp and lyre;
     I will awaken the dawn!
3   I will give thanks to You, Lord, among the peoples,
     And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
4   For Your mercy is great above the heavens,
     And Your truth reaches to the skies.
5   Be exalted above the heavens, God,
     And may Your glory be above all the earth.
6   So that Your beloved may be rescued,
     Save with Your right hand, and answer me!

7   God has spoken in His holiness:
     “I will triumph, I will divide up Shechem,
     And measure out the Valley of Succoth.
8   Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine;
     Ephraim also is the helmet of My head;
     Judah is My scepter.
9   Moab is My washbowl;
     I will throw My sandal over Edom;
     I will shout aloud over Philistia.”

10 Who will bring me into the fortified city?
     Who will lead me to Edom?
11 God, have You Yourself not rejected us?
     And will You not go forth with our armies, God?
12 Give us help against the enemy,
     For deliverance by man is worthless.
13 Through God we will do valiantly,
     And it is He who will trample down our enemies.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Verse 12 very clearly points out that we cannot depend on mankind or ourselves.  Our efforts are worthless!  They are driven by fickle, shortsighted thinking and selfish desires, and carried out with feeble strength.  So, exactly what are our underlying issues, and who or what can we depend on, and why?

Our main issue is sin.  We are born with a sin nature that separates us from God.  Where there is sin, there is death, and nothing we do (or don't do) could ever save us.  Because God is holy, everything He says and does is in His righteousness.  Therefore, He will not and cannot tolerate sin.  He will deal with and do away with unrighteousness.  Because God is also love, He came in flesh to die in our place and suffer the punishment that is due us.  So, it is only in receiving the Lord's salvation and forgiveness of sin that we can experience freedom from sin, death and punishment, and experience peace and trust in a personal relationship with Him, with thankful hearts.  

Another issue is that we will doubt and be insecure and forgetful.  Doubting is not wrong if we remain determined to seek and find the right answers.  Because God is love, He wants to communicate very clearly with us, and not just leave us hanging.  And so, because God is also truth, He speaks directly to us in His word in order to give us the answers and the direction we should take.  He will not steer us wrong.  We can strive in steadfast obedience when we put His wisdom into practice, while asking and allowing Him to work in and through us.

We can also struggle with pride, thinking that we can be successful in our own efforts, strength and thinking.  And when we do come upon success, we often want to take the credit.  Mankind is full of pride, and celebrates this in many ways, with parades, parties, award ceremonies, etc., etc.  Because God is merciful, loving and caring, He does rescue, protect and help those with humble hearts.  As we experience help and security in His promises, we should be humbled all the more and desire to praise Him and give Him all the credit and the glory.  

We will definitely struggle with greed, trying to get what we want, when we want it, doing it in our own way, thinking this is the best thing for our lives.  But we are NOT all-knowing, all-powerful or everywhere-present.  Because God is sovereign and His is the glory, He triumphs and has the victory already.  And because God is also love, He has purpose and a plan for each of us, and knows what is best for our lives, and how to achieve that.  As well, He desires to fight our battles for us.  So, in Him, we can do valiantly and experience confidence and courage in His strength, wisdom and love.

We have issues, and God is our only answer and solution.  It is God's very own nature - His unchanging and eternal traits - that puts a stamp of guarantee on everything He says and does!  Let us encourage one another with thankful praises to keep steadfast in looking to the Lord!

relationships (Psalm 107:1-43) Finding Satisfaction and Fulfillment

(Psalm 107:1-43) 

1   Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
     For His mercy is everlasting.
2   The redeemed of the Lord shall say so,
     Those whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy 
3   And gathered from the lands,
     From the east and from the west,
     From the north and from the south.

4   They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region;
     They did not find a way to an inhabited city.
5   They were hungry and thirsty;
     Their souls felt weak within them.
6   Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
     He saved them from their distresses.
7   He also had them walk on a straight way,
     To go to an inhabited city.
8   They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
     And for His wonders to the sons of mankind!
9   For He has satisfied the thirsty soul,
     And He has filled the hungry soul with what is good.

10 There were those who lived in darkness and in the shadow of death,
     Prisoners in misery and chains,
11 Because they had rebelled against the words of God 
     And rejected the plan of the Most High.
12 Therefore He humbled their heart with labor;
     They stumbled and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
     He saved them from their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death 
     And broke their bands apart.
15 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
     And for His wonders to the sons of mankind!
16 For He has shattered gates of bronze 
     And cut off bars of iron.

17 Fools, because of their rebellious way,
     And because of their guilty deeds, were afflicted.
18 Their souls loathed all kinds of food,
     And they came close to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
     He saved them from their distresses.
20 He sent His word and healed them,
     And saved them from their destruction.
21 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
     And for His wonders to the sons of mankind!
22 They shall also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
     And tell of His works with joyful singing.

23 Those who go down to the sea in ships,
     Who do business on great waters;
24 They have seen the works of the Lord,
     And His wonders in the deep.
25 For He spoke and raised a stormy wind,
     Which lifted the waves of the sea.
26 They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;
     Their soul melted away in their misery.
27 They reeled and staggered like a drunken person,
     And were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
     And He brought them out of their distresses.
29 He caused the storm to be still,
     So that the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they were quiet,
     So He guided them to their desired harbor.
31 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
     And for His wonders to the sons of mankind!
32 They shall also exalt Him in the congregation of the people,
     And praise Him at the seat of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a wilderness,
     And springs of water into a thirsty ground;
34 And a fruitful land into a salt waste,
     Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He turns a wilderness into a pool of water,
     And a dry land into springs of water;
36 And He has the hungry live there,
     So that they may establish an inhabited city,
37 And sow fields and plant vineyards,
     And gather a fruitful harvest.
38 He also blesses them and they multiply greatly,
     And He does not let their cattle decrease.

39 When they become few and lowly 
     Because of oppression, misery, and sorrow,
40 He pours contempt upon noblemen 
     And makes them wander in a pathless wasteland.
41 But He sets the needy securely on high, away from affliction,
     And makes his families like a flock.
42 The upright see it and are glad;
     But all injustice shuts its mouth.
43 Who is wise? He is to pay attention to these things,
     And consider the mercy of the Lord.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Everyone is born hungry, thirsty and needy, because God created us with a soul, which can only be filled and satisfied by Him.  God also created us to be social.  And while having close friends and family is very important, the most important personal relationship we can ever have is with the Lord!  As one speaker said, Jesus didn't come to die on the cross in order that we might be married... He died on the cross to pay for our sins so that He could offer all of us His free gift of salvation, which redeems us, heals us, and reconciles us with the Lord God.  Jesus literally becomes our soulmate!  He is faithful and will never leave.  All one has to do is humbly accept His forgiveness, mercy and grace.

Then, those who are believers, who love Him, will show their love, faith and trust through their obedience.  The Lord saves us not just from the physical enemies of this world, but from death (both physical and spiritual).  He saves us from His punishment and Satan's realm.  He also saves us from loneliness, hopelessness and despair.  So, no matter who we are, or where we are, or in which prison or desert we find ourselves in, when we realize our need for the Lord Jesus, and call upon Him for help, He will satisfy our hunger and thirst!  And He will fill our hearts with peace, hope and joy.

relationships (Psalm 106:13-48) Obedience With Understanding

(Psalm 106:13-48) 

13 They quickly forgot His works;
     They did not wait for His plan,
14 But became lustfully greedy in the wilderness,
     And put God to the test in the desert.
15 So He gave them their request,
     But sent a wasting disease among them.

16 When they became envious of Moses in the camp,
     And of Aaron, the holy one of the Lord,
17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,
     And engulfed the company of Abiram.
18 And a fire blazed up in their company;
     The flame consumed the wicked.

19 They made a calf in Horeb,
     And worshiped a cast metal image.
20 So they exchanged their glory 
     For the image of an ox that eats grass.
21 They forgot God their Savior,
     Who had done great things in Egypt,
22 Wonders in the land of Ham,
     And awesome things by the Red Sea.
23 Therefore He said that He would destroy them,
     If Moses, His chosen one, had not stood in the gap before Him,
     To turn away His wrath from destroying them.
24 Then they rejected the pleasant land;
     They did not believe His word,
25 But grumbled in their tents;
     They did not listen to the voice of the Lord.
26 Therefore He swore to them 
     That He would have them fall in the wilderness,
27 And that He would bring down their descendants among the nations,
     And scatter them in the lands.

28 They also followed Baal-peor,
     And ate sacrifices offered to the dead.
29 So they provoked Him to anger with their deeds,
     And a plague broke out among them.
30 Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
     And so the plague was brought to a halt.
31 And it was credited to him as righteousness,
     To all generations forever.

32 They also provoked Him to wrath at the waters of Meribah,
     So that it went badly for Moses on their account.
33 Because they were rebellious against His Spirit,
     He spoke rashly with his lips.

34 They did not destroy the peoples,
     As the Lord had commanded them,
35 But they got involved with the nations 
     And learned their practices,
36 And served their idols,
     Which became a snare to them.
37 They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons,
38 And shed innocent blood,
     The blood of their sons and their daughters 
     Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
     And the land was defiled with the blood.
39 So they became unclean in their practices,
     And were unfaithful in their deeds.

40 Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against His people,
     And He loathed His inheritance.
41 So He handed them over to the nations,
     And those who hated them ruled over them.
42 Their enemies also oppressed them,
     And they were subdued under their power.
43 Many times He would rescue them;
     They, however, were rebellious in their plan,
     And they sank down into their guilt.

44 Nevertheless He looked at their distress 
     When He heard their cry;
45 And He remembered His covenant for their sake,
     And relented according to the greatness of His mercy.
46 He also made them objects of compassion 
     In the presence of all their captors.

47 Save us, Lord our God,
     And gather us from the nations,
     To give thanks to Your holy name 
     And glory in Your praise.
48 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
     From everlasting to everlasting.
     And all the people shall say, “Amen.”
     Praise the Lord!

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

There are several types of sins listed in these verses that can take us away from God's path and plans for us:  jealousy, fear, doubt, greed and pride.  

Jealousy will cause us to hate and be critical.  Fear will cause us to complain and prevent us from taking steps of obedience.  Doubt will cause us to forget God and turn our trust to other "gods" (people, things or our own resources).  Greed will lead us to lusting and wanting the wrong things in life.  And pride will lead to an arrogant self-righteousness and self-reliance, which leads to rebellion and living an ungodly, unhealthy and dangerous lifestyle.

There are things we need to be doing in order to remain in God's will:  loving God first, and then loving others;  knowing God's truth and seeking His wisdom, protection and measures of accountability;  trusting in God and His word with steps of obedience and understanding;  being content and thankful;   and humbly realizing that we don't just need the Lord's salvation, we need Him to be involved in every aspect of our lives at all times!  

God doesn't just throw us a bunch of commandments and laws just for the sake of showing us who is boss.  He loves and cares for us, and so, in every direction that He gives us, there is reason and a purpose, which is to have a deeper relationship with Him, and have better relationships with those around us.  With a deeper understanding of God and His word, will come a strong desire to strive in obedience with His help.  Therefore, in and for everything, we should be giving thanks and giving God all the glory!