Psalm 23

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)

Here is the beginning of our relationship to Christ.   We are born again (John 3:7)…

….and we have found that He has put away our sin in His sacrifice on the cross….and given us true life in Him.   

Everything we need is in Jesus, our Lord!   We are amazed and joyful…and exclaim to all!

Christ is to us:

John 10:11 “I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”

                  (Christ Jesus is also the “great Shepherd”  Hebrews13:20;   and the “chief Shepherd” 1 Peter 5:4)

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  He leadeth me beside the still waters.” (Psalm 23:2)

                 One of the first things Christ gives us as His children, is peace.   Peace with God, and peace in the situations of our everyday lives.

                 He is leading us out into “green pastures”.  (Ezekiel 34:14-15)

( He “maketh” me.     “Maketh” is a interesting term….for when we are first born again,  we need, at times, to be made to lie down.  To stop and just steep ourselves in His provision…His Word.  We are all so very busy….but He maketh His sheep and lambs to lie down,  that they may absorb and assimulate all that He has led them in, and given them in HIs Word…that they may grow thereby.)

No matter what we think of our lives….when Christ comes in….He leads us into peace with them.  They become green pastures because of His Presence…and influence.  Sometimes, it is not great peace….but a peace that gently distills into my soul…no matter what is going on.

        The “still waters” are quiet times with Him.  The Holy Spirit quenches my hunger and thirst for more knowledge of Christ. 

(1 Corinthians 2:9-10 “But as it is written,  Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.

        But God hath revealed them unto us by HIs Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”)

“He restoreth my soul:  He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3)

As we go along with Christ…He needs to heal us…spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.   We are many times in need of correcting….and just as many times in need of restoring us to the joy of the Lord.(Nehemiah 8:10)

       So many things in this world drag us down….into doubt, fear, and even almost to despair.  Things of the past, which need to be healed.   Things of the present, which we need to be seperated from….or which need to be put in the right place in our lives.

       But He lifts us up out of the miry clay….and imparts His purpose and joy again.

Psalm 40:2-3 “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock, and established by going.

       And He hath put a new song  in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.”

Then He leads us the right way.   He is the pattern,  and the way….so He begins to build His character within us….giving us the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)…

Psalm 5:8 “Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies;  make Thy way straight before my face.”

Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”

Though I believe that this is true when we come to die…when the cold, dark waters of death swirl around us…and praise God, He is there at the time of death, whatever way we die…to bring us home to the Father.

        Still I believe this is speaking of this world and it’s many dark places we must go through in our pilgrim way….as His soldier.

       We are all led through trials to activate our faith.        We all have spiritual battles we need to stand and hold on to Him in.       We are all led through times of seeming darkness….waiting for God to enlighten our eyes and to strengthen our mind, hearts, and bodies.       There are times,  we must wait for the Lord to be gracious.  

       Isaiah 30:18 “And therfore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you:  for the Lord is a God of judgement:  blessed are all they that wait for Him.”      (Lamentations 3:6,  Job 12:22)

      Remember we are being led through here…..

John 10:27-28 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:

      And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”

This I believe is the valley of the “shadow of death”.   It is a shadow….only…not real darkness…where we are seperate from the Lord, therefore…

       We need not fear the evil (evil times)…

      “For Thou art with me.”       He goes ahead, and shows us that He is between us and all that would come against us.

“Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”   

       (The rod was a short heavy stick which was used both to correct a wayward sheep….and protect from lions and bears.   The staff was a tall crooked stick, which was used to grab the sheep when they had fallen into pits, or fast moving water.   If the sheep who was not so near the Shepherd, could not see the Shepherd….they could see the tall staff, moving forward.

 In all times, but especially when the Way becomes difficult….we become thankful for His rod and staff….they are comfort to the weary soul.

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:  Thou anointest my head with oil;  my cup runneth over.”  (Psalm 23:5)

       (the word “enemies” here means to cramp, to bind, to distress, to put in a strait.)

This happens.  There are times of stress and persecution….that the Presence of God is an abundant feast of His joy.  

       And as we go on with our Lord,  our life becomes a Table in the Wilderness…a constant place of fellowship…even before our enemies. 

       Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I will do a new thing;  now it shall spring forth;  shall ye not know it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

John 15:11 “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

       We know His Holy Spirit filling us with His strength and grace….”my cup runs over”….up to the brim and overflowing in faith, hope and love.

Ephesians 3:16 “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;”

Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:  and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

We know His leading and guidance….but we also see that His goodness…His great purpose for us….and His mercy are keeping me all around…..and shall do so all the days of my  life.

He leads us home….ever onward, till we are forever with Him in heaven. “I will dwell”…..as a citizen of the Kingdom of God….I walk here, now…as a pilgrim. But one day, I will dwell forever with my Savior and Lord…what a day that wil be!

Bless the Lord, O my Soul

Psalm 103:1-2 “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:”

This is a psalm David wrote.

Some believe he wrote it when the Ark was moved successfully to Jerusalem. (after the sin of trying to move it on a cart. 2 Samuel 6:3, 6-10; 1 Chronicles 15:12-15,28)

This is a psalm expressing the goodness and mercy of God to sinners.

David calls upon himself, and the people to love and praise the Lord for all His benefits.

(Psalm 103:3-5). Praise the Lord…for…

His forgiveness…He forgives His people’s sins and iniquities.

His healing…both spiritual and physical.

His saving us from so many places of danger and destruction.

He shields (crowns) us with His loving-kindness, and treats us as His children….with tender mercies.

He has not only saved us, but given us contentment and joy.

He strengthens us by His grace.

(The eagle lives many years, and naturalists say….when they grow old, the eagle casts off her feathers [at molting time] and fresh ones come on,…..so that the eagle’ feathers are as young again)

Psalm 103:6 “The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.”

David praises the Lord for showing him his error, forgiving his sin…….and allowing him to finish bringing the Ark to the Tabernacle in Jerusalem, so that all may come and worship before God.

(Psalm 103:7-12)

As it was shown Moses at the giving of the Law, God is merciful and gracious.

(We do not think of grace being in the Old Testament….but it is always, “by grace are ye saved”…..there it looked forward to Christ, for those who believed God….now, we look back, and grace is given us by the Holy Spirit who abides with us, forever.

Grace is the unmerited favor of power….the power God gives us to look to Him, believe and be saved.)

God is slow to anger….praise the Lord for His longsuffering to us, wooing us to Himself, showing us our faults, and taking us by the hand when we are going astray, to guide us into the right way.

Though He signals His displeasure at our sins; He waits, giving us time to repent.

For He has not dealt with us according to our sins….for Christ took the penalty for them, which was against us.

(Where can you say the east ends and the west begins….for the east to us, is west to someone else.

As the line between them can not be found, so our sins can not be found for all who are in Christ Jesus.)

Psalm 103:13-14 “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.

For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.”

“Pitieth” means compassionate love. A father never pushes his children to go beyond their true capacity…..but encourages them, leading them into new things, with him at their side.

All the things which come to us, come through the Lord’s hands; He measures our trials, and joys that we might become grounded,…steady in our walk with Him.

Proverbs 30:8-9 “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Lest I be full, and deny Thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”

“Keep me, O Lord, from anything that will hinder my walk with You.”

Psalm 103:15, 17-18 “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto the children’s children;

To such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them.”

Our lives are short, in comparison to God’s mercy. He saw us in eternity past….made provision for us in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:9) that we might be with Him through eternity future.

He extended mercy when we were yet in our sins and rebellion against Him (Titus 3:4-5).

He saves us, and delivers us from our sins….washing us in His Word, and giving us His Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

Psalm 103:19 “The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all.”

How wonderful that He is ruler above all, unswayed by circumstances, or crisis.

We do not need to fear that we will be forgotten, or left to our own strength…..He invites to draw near His throne in prayer.

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

(Psalm 103:20-22). Seven times in the whole psalm;……and four times in the last three verses, David calls upon all the created beings….angels, those ministering as His servants, and all His works….in all places, to bless the Lord.

“Bless” here means “kneel and praise”. God can bless us with great benefits….but we bless God when we truly worship Him.

Then he finishes, as he started:

Psalm 103:22 “….bless the Lord, O my soul.”

And shouldn’t we bless Him….kneel down and praise our God….for all His benefits to us?

He that hath an ear to hear,  let him hear

Amos 3:8 “The lion hath roared, who will not fear?  the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?”

Amos was a man, who was content to dwell in Judah.  He was a herdsman and a gatherer of sycomore fruit…which is like figs.

       Yet he was called to go up to Israel,…the ten tribes which had separated themselves from Judah, and had set up golden calves…calling them “God” in Bethel and Dan.   

       Amos’ testimony was:

Amos 7:15-16 “And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me,  Go, prophesy unto My people Israel.

       Now therefore hear thou the word of the Lord:…”

The Lord “took” me.   He got my attention,…and told me to do this.   I will therefore speak His Words to Israel.   (And we all know Amos was threatened because of this.)

Amos 3:8 “The lion hath roared, who will not fear?  the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?”

The person who knows no fear, is out of touch with spiritual reality….for…

       Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:  and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.” 

      Fear is reverential awe.  It places God as God, and ourselves as His servants.   This is what happened to Amos…Amos feared the Lord…..and so he could pass the message of the Lord on to Israel. 

      Israel knew about the true God….yet went along in worshiping the golden calves….and God wanted them awakened and warned about continuing in this evil.

     (Paul said,  “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;…” 2 Corinthians 5:11.   And what is this “terror”?  

      2 Corinthians 5:9 “Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him.”   This is what made Paul afraid….that he might not please the Lord Jesus, Who loved him and saved him!)

And if any can shake their fist in the face of God, and by their actions say….”I will not!”….

      Then it is certain that they have not known the beginning of Wisdom….for they have not known the fear of the Lord.

Let me explain,  what happens when you come to “fear the Lord”.    

      First, there is a bowing of the heart.   

      Second, there is a desire placed within our hearts….not to run away….but to come closer to the Lord.

      Third, there is a sight given  of all that hinders our coming close to the Lord….and when confession is made…a seeking to keep all that would come between….out of our lives.

      Fourth,  there is a growing zealousness given  to do all that pleases Him…. who has sought me…and brought me closer to Himself.

This is the fear of the Lord….and worship is diffused throughout our everyday lives….for “the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.” (Prov. 9:10)

God is Sovereign!   And all things work to His Sovereign Pleasure.

We would want to change this….or that.  He wills to change us.

We often want deliverance out of our circumstances.   He wants to deliver us in our circumstances…and through them.

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to recieve glory and honor and power:  for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

This is one of my husband’s favorite verses….because it was given to him at a time when he was questioning some things which had happened….which even might happen…

….and it focused his eyes….not on himself, or these things…but on the Lord…the Creator and Sustainer of everything!

      So he asked….and we should all ask….

What is Thy pleasure in these circumstances?

        Where I am concerned…what is Your pleasure for me?   

What lesson would You teach me…how can I honor You, in these circumstances?

Amos 3:8 “The lion hath roared, who will not fear?  the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?”

“Speak My Word faithfully.”  was the Lord’s answer.

      And the answer is the same for all of us.  We can never tell the end of a matter….we have but to speak HIs Word….and leave the results to the Lord….as Amos did.

Three times in the fifth chapter of Amos….the Lord says to “Seek” Him…..that ye shall live. (Amos 5:4, 6, 8)  “For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel,   Seek ye Me, and ye shall live:”

       The fourth time…the Lord says “Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live:…”

Nowhere is there true life, without Christ Jesus the Lord, in that life.

        (I want to say here, that Israel, at this time was a prosperous nation.   Wicked but prosperous.  But Amos preached faithfully….and many were moved at his preaching,…but there was no true repenting of the nation.

        Less than seventy years later….all Israel was taken away out of their land…removed for the sins Amos preached to them about!    2 Kings 17:7-15)

And what is it that the Lord says to all us in Laodicea?  For His Words are there for us….

Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

What are we to repent from?    Our lukewarmness (Revelation 3:16)….which is an illistration of our indifference to Christ’s commands for our lives.  

But He rebukes,….and He chastens….that He will have His godly remnant in this age…as in all others.    

He wants us zealous….boiling hot for Him.   Our hearts bubbling over with the desire to give glory and honor and praise to the One Who still calls us onward.

    It only comes by repenting of that which holds us back….that which steals our hearts affection from HIm.

Be zealous therefore and repent.

Fear……and it’s consequences

Deuteronomy 31:8 “And the Lord, He it is that doth go before Thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”

This is Moses’s charge to Joshua, in front of all Israel…..for Moses would die….and Joshua would lead the people into their inheritance.

And what did Joshua need to know?

That God would go before…..to lead, and warn.

That God would be with him, not fail him, not forsake him…..

That he should fear not….nor be dismayed about the things ahead….for God was ahead….and with….and for him.

Our God says the same thing to us:

Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

Fear is a terrible enemy….

1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment, he that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Fear stops us….from having all that the Lord wants for us:

God wants us to believe….and fear steps in and says….”Wait! What about this…..or what about them?”

The Lord gives us peace amid trouble……we are calm….until….a new twist in the trouble comes….and fear sends panic!

The Lord gives us promises….and the adversary says….”That will never happen for you…..look at what you are up against!”

Fear can stop us slightly….as Peter walking on the water:

Matthew 14:29-30 “And He (Jesus) said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”

(But notice, his faith was enough to cry to Jesus to save him……and not try and swim back to the ship without Him!)

Or it can stop us completely….

…like the children of Israel at Kadesh-barnea (Deuteronomy 1:25-28)

They loved the land….it was everything God said….why then did they not believe Him, and go in and possess it?

Fear was one reason….and it’s complications (unbelief and rebellion) left them outside God’s blessing.

Fear also causes complications of feelings and thoughts:

It causes anger….Why is this happening to me?

It causes a sense of loss….when we are afraid,….we suddenly feel alone….no peace…no sense of direction.

It causes darkness….a shadow or a dimming in the light we have.

Fear intimidates…..telling us…”do something”……even if we have not gotten guidance…..”do something”.

“Fear not” or “do not fear” is written seventy-three times in the scriptures.

What is the answer to fear?

How do we get the victory over it?

Well, by experience, I can tell you that when fear has grasped ahold of you….it is hard to escape it.

Thankfully, we have power in the blood, and in the name of Jesus,….and power in the words of the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 3:25-26 “Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”

Isaiah 12:2 “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.”

Psalm 56:3-4 “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.

In God I will praise His Word, In God I have put my trust, I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”

Faith is the answer to the victory we need…

(how many times we let our shield of faith slip down….and we get hit by the fiery darts of the wicked one)

….”Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

When the Holy Spirit implants faith within us (for it is a gift from God to sustain and stabilize us)….then that faith makes the things God says, real to us.

We feel their blessing….though we may not have all there is in the Word….it gives us strength, for what is ahead.

When we let down our shield of faith, and let one of the Adversary’s darts hit us….we are wounded….

….putting up our shield afterward will not help.

But pulling out the dart of suggestion, accusation, and fear……and showing it to Christ Jesus, will.

Fear grabs ahold of us and says……”Do not trust God”

Faith comes from within, and enlightens the lie of the devil,….the suggestions of the world….and the desires from ourselves….

….and then faith keeps the candle of the Lord’s truth and grace burning.

Psalm 91:2, 4-6 “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.

He shall cover thee with feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night: nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.”

Fear is an terrible enemy…..which only the implanted faith, by the Holy Spirit can deal with.

Let us hold up our shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16)….”wherewith ye shall”…..

….notice “shall”….”be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked.”

And if we have become afraid….take it….tell it to Jesus. Cry unto Him for salvation from it.

Like for Peter, His hand will save you out of it….and put your feet on solid ground again.

An Expected End

Jeremiah. 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

This expected end here, is “the thing that the Lord longs for”.

This expected end is to hear when we get to heaven: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”. (Matthew 25:21)

God expects us to follow Him, and to this end He works within us and on us; so that He can bless us.

When we are first born again, our love of the Lord Jesus is very strong……

…..but when something, or someone has come between our heart’s affection and the Lord……our sight becomes affected.

We no longer see Christ as our all.

First it is “Christ and….everything else in their place.”

But then, it is “something…and Christ”

He has already slipped into a second place.

Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah is telling God’s people that God will be found of those who seek for Him.

For you see, “seek” and “search” are words used only when something is lost. Israel had lost true fellowship with God.

But the Lord says: “seek” Me:

The word is used as though we must go out of our comfort zone and look around us.

When we do,…..we can begin to see all the abundance of things He has done for us……and said to us.

To seek, is to think on these things, and on Who He is.

And as we do, we will “find Me.”

We are to “search” with all our hearts:

That is to take everything apart if necessary, to find the most valuable Object: Christ Jesus, Himself.

It is to throw away the other things we trust in, or have looked to.

We must tear away the pretenses we have wrapped ourselves in.

(I’m OK, sure I’m not as close to the Lord as before, it seems as though something has come between us; but I’m sure it will work itself out? Right?)

But when we do get these things out of the way:

“And I will be found of you, saith the Lord:…” (Jeremiah 29:14)

I have been as the Prodigal son, in a “far country” from God. But when I, too, “came to myself”, and saw things as they really were; I came home to the Father. (Luke 15:17-24)

The Father does not berate him, but runs out to meet him….and restores him.

So He does with all who will “seek” and “search”; and come home to Him.

There is an expected end for each believer. The thing He longs for.

That He may say to all of us: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Nimrod and the Tower of Babel

This is an interesting history.

(Genesis 10 and 11 are the last chapters that deal with the world at large….after this, God begins to deal with Abram’s (Abraham’s) call, and the promises of the Savior through his line.)

This is after the Flood…a new world has emerged….and men have been given a new chance to honor the Lord.

(And after such a mighty demonstration of God’s ability to see into our hearts, and judge us accordingly….you would think that men would turn and obey the Lord with all their hearts…)

But what do we find….

…man, defying God’s command…and seeking to set themselves up a government without Him…

…and the leader of this rebellion is Nimrod. (Nimrod means “the Rebel”)

Genesis 10:8-9 “And Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth.

He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.”

This “mighty hunter” was not of animals, or food…..but a hunter of men. He loved dominance….and would allow no interference from others.

(Four times scripture uses the term “mighty” to describe Nimrod.

He was not ordinary….

…he was mighty in his rebellion against any power but his own,

…he was mighty in his flagrant killing of all who stood in his way,

…he was mighty in his hatred of the Lord….doing all to show his hatred,

…he was mighty in his plan of world dominance.

Most believe he is a picture of the man of Sin, the Antichrist….who will “magnify Himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous [blasphemous] things against the God of Gods,….” Daniel 11:36-37)

The phrase, “before the Lord”, means that he did all this killing in defiance of God….right before His eyes….to show his contempt of God’s command to not kill (Genesis 9:6).

Genesis 10:10 “And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel…”

(which at first, meant “Gate of God”…what he thought of his city)

Nimrod’s rise to power, was first locally…..then his ambition grew and he fought, till he became the head of the people….who were still together.

God had told them:

Genesis 9:1 “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.”

Noah had three sons, and each was developed into a “tribe” of people….they should have spread out….

God wanted the people to separate from each other.

It would be so much better for those who wanted to worship God to do so apart from the others.

But they refused to go to replenish the earth….instead staying together….

….and then, under the dictatorship of Nimrod…..forming a “nation” in open rebellion to God’s Word.

He held power, when he held the people….so….he forms a nation founded on the principal of rebellion to the God of heaven.

That is why they begin to build a tower….a tall stronghold….with an edifice reaching into the heavens…

This city was built first….large enough for all…a fortress…..to keep all together….by force, if necessary……

(You will notice….he is so determined to rule by his own decisions…..that when the “plain” was not a place of stone for building….they made bricks. It was not a place for mortar….they used slime.

How eager the sinner to sin, and glorify themselves…..no matter what materials they have to use)

….and then to “make us a name”…..he had a desire for fame, adoration from all, and power…yet said….”make us a name”……to get them to follow him….flattery often works

Then, he designs a tower……unto heaven….

“We will show God that we will not do His commands….and we will go right up to heaven and show Him!” (Oh, the terrible folly of sin!)

Genesis 11:1-4 “And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”

Nimrod wanted to rival God….to have dominion over all men….to set up his government in opposition to God’s.

And he was doing it.

Everyone was following him….and building for him….and this went on for years.

But he did not take God into account….

(How it show us that man is always seeking to build a monument to his own genius….for his own fame.

And how we all need to beware…..lest we, too, build anything without God’s plan,…..or His tools,…or HIs time.)

Genesis 11:5-6 “And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”

This is amazing!

The Lord “comes down”…..(you see this again with Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis 18:20-21)

The Lord of Heaven came down….He could see perfectly well in heaven, yet you can feel the sadness of His decent….

….another rebellion….another crisis….I will deal with.

(It is important to note: that just like before the destruction by the flood, God spoke of the “imagination” of man [Genesis 6:5]….how it leads people into great sin.)

So God “comes down” to see:

Genesis 11:7-8 “Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.”

“Go to,…”. God uses the language they used….I think to mock them….they spoke of what “they” were going to do…..

….now He speaks the same way….”Go to,…” to show…what He will do.

Yet, the Lord does not strike them dead…..nor does He send a wind, or storm….He does not send illness…

He could….but instead He sends them…..confusion of tongues.

He completely destroys Nimrod’s plans….by “confounding their language….that they may not understand one another’s speech”

They had used their tongues to incite rebellion…and violence…..now they would use their tongues for confusion and chaos……

…..they leave off building because of strife and controversies…for they could not understand one another;……arguments began, as they usually do when people can not understand each other.

And they separated from each other…which is what God wanted…separated by families….going out through all the world.

(Have you noticed that “separation” is often in God’s plans for us? 2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord,…”)

And when God divides their tongues….He sends them into different directions.

Here is the formation of the different nations….all over the world.

Exactly what God wanted…..without one death.

What an amazing God we have!

He accomplished His Will, by simply willing them to speak different languages!

How simply He can do His Will!

Genesis 11:9 “Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”

Babel….confusion. Anytime we think we can win a battle against the Lord….confusion reigns within….

…..and confusion of life will be the result.

As Christians, in a confusing world:

We are to know God’s Word to us….and obey Him.

We are to place all our plans before Him.

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

And we are to pray:

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Let us not add to the confusion….but let us “know”, “be established”, and speak what pleases Him.

(Interesting to note: God again gave different languages, at the giving of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

Christ had said,..

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

But how? They did not speak in many languages…..how could they learn so quickly?

But the Holy Spirit gave them the power and ability to do what Christ said, “Go, and preach…to all the world”….not just to speak other languages…..but to understand those languages, as well!

Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Each language to those the Spirit chose.)

Acts 2:6 “Now when this was noised abroad,…”

Ignorant fishermen speaking other languages fluently?!

“…the multitude came together, and were confounded,….because that every man heard them speak in his own language.”

But this time those that were “confounded”……

……would be given understanding by those languages……to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!

Again, by different languages, these men were sent forth…..so that those that believe on Christ Jesus, might be separated from the world…..to Him!

We have an amazing God!)

(One other side note: In the last days, a man….a rebel against God will emerge again…..to try and build a “kingdom” against God….

….to set himself up as a god….instead of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 9-10 “Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Who opposes and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God, sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing himself that He is God.

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all his power and signs and lying wonders,

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;

because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”

He will rule as a “hunter”…..destroying all who will not go along…and honor him.

He will design a “fortress” around all by making them bear a mark….for only they can buy or sell…..(Revelation 13:16)

And he will enter the Temple at Jerusalem….the pinnacle like the “gate of God”…and set himself up as God.

Daniel 11:36

“And the king shall do according to his will;

and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god,

and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods,

and shall prosper

till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.”

Here is the plan of the Anti-Christ……yet, (and again I say, what an amazing God we have):

“Till….”

God always has a time…..His time…

…”till the indignation be accomplished:

For that that(what God has determined)….shall be done.”

And it shall be done by The Word…..Christ will come forth and the sword of His mouth will slay these that have come to destroy His people.

Revelation 19:11, 15-16 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.

And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword,….And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.”

He comes down, and deals with this rebellion……He wills and it is done…..He speaks…..and a sword of righteousness is sent….and He ends this, by His Word.

And His kingdom will be established.)

Obedience

2 Corinthians 10:6 “And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

God is saying that He will vindicate…..will bring about justice, if we will fulfill our obediences.

We often feel that obedience is simple…..you hear what is said, and do it.

Genesis 2:16-17 “And the Lord God commanded the man,….of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die”

See how obedience to the command of God is the one virtue of Paradise….the one condition for Adam and Eve, and their posterity….to abide there.

It was the one thing his Creator asked of him.

(I find it amazing that people think that God does not have “the right” to demand of us!

As our Creator….He has the right to command and decide about each of us…..yet has given us a mind, a heart, and a will that we might will after Him, that we might see the reasonableness and goodness of His commands.

Of course, as our Savior, He has a double right to command us….for all He has done has been for our good. Romans 8:29)

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

We have all missed the mark…..the goal to which God made us…to love and glorify Him by obedience.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

This is man, born under the sun’s full obligation, to His Creator.

Obedience is the act of acknowledgment. We know, because the Lord has given us His Word…..and we acknowledge His Voice, and obey.

Obedience is the act of a learner to his Master…..for we understand that God has a plan for us….

…and this obedience is part of the overall discipline that the Lord is doing in us.

Obedience is the act of submission. It is done, not always seeing the “why” of the command…..

….but believing and yielding to the God of the command.

And obedience is worship…..counting Him worthy of our all.

In the life of every man…..but especially every Christian, obedience is the one thing that is to decide his destiny.

I could go to the Old Testament for many examples….

….but let us look in Acts…at Stephen.

Now Stephen was a believer. But you never hear of him until there was a need for service.

Acts 6:1 “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose murmuring….because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.”

The church had begun to deliver food from those who brought their goods to the Apostle’s….to the widows and those who could not see to themselves.

But some felt that they were being cheated, so complained.

(Now, though the complaints were bad, yet it opened a door of service to men who would later be called deacons. They were to see to the material side of the work….who needed what….and to try and meet that need, in prayer and service.

This is the first time the Apostle’s are not choosing…..but the people in the church….”look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”)

Stephen was the first chosen. (Acts 6:5) and he went right to work….and was blessed in it.

Acts 6:8 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

Whether this was for the supply of food, or other supplies….God was blessing his obedience.

This lead men to first argue with him…..(so much jealousy is over the opinion of others! And not over God’s Will.)

Then, because “they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake”…..they paid some to slander and accuse Stephen.

We know what happened…..he was dragged before the council….”and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council.”

Yet, even they saw the truth…..if they had obeyed it.

Acts 6:15 “And all that sat in the council (and that included Saul of Tarsus),

looking steadfastly on him (boy, they wanted to see something bad),

saw the face as it had been the face of an angel.” (God’s light and love for them shining in him.)

Then they not only saw the light…..they heard the Truth….

…Stephen taking them back to the beginning of the nation…Abraham and his call….right up to the building by Solomon of the Temple.

Showing them how the nation had rebelled against God’s way, many times.

Reminding them that God does not live in a building…..for He has made all things…

….and that it is our hearts that is the receiving or resisting of God.

Ending his message, with:

Acts 7:51, 54 “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost:….

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart,…”

Stephen then looked up…..past them….to the Lord Jesus, who saved and called him to service….and proclaimed:

“Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56)

They refused the Word of God again…..and “stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him:”

Obedience is acknowledging God, is understanding and learning from God,….it is submission to Him….and counting Him worthy of our all.

Stephen, even in pain and death….spoke like His Lord….

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”

This obedience Saul could never get around….God avenged Stephen’s obedience on Saul…..and saved this murderer.

Are we fulfilling our obedience to God?

Search me O God and know my heart

We sometimes forget that we need the Holy Spirit’s understanding to know the scriptures, or what  HIs Word is saying  to us…for our hearts are deceitful (fraudulent or crooked)

Jer 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:  who can know it?

         I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins (will), even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

(Years ago, when I was a child,, I was at my cousin’s house…she was a lot older than I,…and she was going to make a special sauce for the cake she had made.   I was around and heard her say….”This recipe looks like it would be a good one.  I think I will try it.”

        Well, let me tell you….my cousin was raised in my esteem,…a lot!   How could you tell by just looking at the numbers, and the ingredients of a recipe…and tell it would be good?   She was a superstar to me!   

        Of course, now, after some  “experience”  myself….I know what she meant.   And it still pleases me, when I can do the same….read a recipe and tell whether it will be good or not.   

       But it struck me the other day….as Christians….newly born ones….or older….are we acquiring the “experience”  of hearing what  the Word of God  is saying to us?  or what He is telling us to do?

       Well, He has just that help for us…. if we listen to the Holy Spirit, who shows us exactly what it means to us! The truth of it.

What a blessing He is!   What a provision for us!   To know for ourselves…both what the Lord is saying to us…and for the grace [ability] He gives to do it…..for that is exactly what we need.)

The Psalmist writes:

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart:  try me, and know my thoughts:

       And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Search me….to examine intimately.   

        And as the Psalmist says in another verse in this psalm: “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.

        Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.”  (verses 2-3)

Thou knowest, O Lord…..so the Psalmist (and we should, too)…says…”search me….make intimate examination of me….of my heart….my inmost feelings and attitudes….and my thoughts.

       For You can see the truth… if there be any wicked way in me”. 

       This is something we should do with the Lord, every now and again.   Especially, when we begin to feel that there is a coldness in our hearts toward the Lord….let Him examine us.  

      (We are not called to search ourselves….but we are to honestly deal with what the Lord shows us….. the Lord is to search us.

I believe it takes the power of the Holy Spirit for us to get honest. We are not able of ourselves to do this….that is why we should cry…”Search me O God…”.)

Our ways are our usual mode of thinking,…planning,…looking at others,…and feeling about things.   This is “our way”.

       Isaiah 53:All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

       Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

What a tremendous Savior we have!

 Christ, by the Holy Spirit will set us aside,   to His Way….this is sanctification.

       If we are yielded to the Holy Spirit in our everyday walk,…we will learn to see things from His viewpoint….and will learn to feel the way He does about things….and people.

And the Lord….has known us.    Sometimes we say:

       “Well, I have good reason to feel the way I do about so and so.   Or about this place.”  

And perhaps we do…..but when we become a child of God,  He will lead us out of our reasons and feelings….into a “large place”….a place where we can stand toe to toe with our “enemies”…and be at peace….having the victory which is….His Way.

God has seen every action…in, for and against us.

       Psalm 139:16-18 “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned,  when as yet there was none of them.

      How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!

      If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:  when I awake, I am still with thee.”

We are not hidden….we have never been hidden from the eyes of God.   This has reference to us being in our Mother’s womb….but it also is spiritually.

      When we are first born again….we are being formed into His character…”in continuance”.   He will lead us into all truth….and lead us out of ourselves.   “…and lead me in the way everlasting.”

HIs is an everlasting Way….a Way and a Life built upon Truth and grace.   

Let us give ourselves over to Him….and He will certainly lead us in His Way, everlasting.

First Principles

My husband received once…the greatest need for our day is a return to first principles.

Hebrews 5:12 “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”

We need to be taught in the fundamentals of the Scriptures.   

       Of course we need to be born again before we can really learn of Jesus (Ephesians 4:20)….but once we are born again,  we need to learn from the milk of the Word….and grow.

      (I fear that many believe that the “milk of the Word” is all about God’s love….and although HIs love is great and true….the basics of Scripture is Christ.   

       From the beginning to the end…God points to Him…and our part in Him.   His Word…for He is the Word.  His Purpose to have a people for His name sake.   His great call…down through the ages,  to men,  to follow and know Him.  His descent to earth to become our Savior from sin.   His death and resurrection…for He accomplished both death to sin and life to God for us….and His great intercessory power for HIs people.)

Romans 16:25-27 “Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

       But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations    for the obedience of faith:

       To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever.   Amen.”

But the first principle I am going to speak about here….is the cross…my (our) personal cross…that the Lord Jesus told us Himself about….by denying ourselves, picking up our cross (which is anything of God’s Will that cuts across my will)…and following Him.   (Matthew 16:24)

      But when we have done that….and we no longer resist His Will in anything (this is not instant obedience, but final obedience.  We have determined to follow Him, no matter what it costs us.)

Then, we are ready to go on  in the fundamentals of Christ….then we become the living sacrifice:

Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,  that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

      The member of the Godhead we present our bodies to is the Holy Spirit.   He has come to transform us…sanctify us….set us aside in all our ways, thoughts, actions, words,….to God.

And He works in us to:

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

How amazing is our God!   He commands that we be not conformed to this world….but He just does not command….He gives grace….to renew our minds, to see the evil of this world…not just in general….but in particular where our walk is concerned.

How do we know whether this course of action….or this person,…or going to this place is right?

          There are many “bad” things we  absolutely know to stay away from…the scriptures are very plain about these…..but there are also many things which may be right for some….but not for me.   These are called personal convictions.

Our minds being renewed (In the Greek means renovation.  We all have thoughts of renovating a house, kitchen or other room.  There is always a lot of tearing out….building up…replacing new for the old.)   So it is with our minds.

        They are renewed….for the Holy Spirit has come and gives us His thoughts.   “Old things are passed away…behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Many of the “old things” that need to be replaced are “conformity to the world”.   

       We often grow up comparing ourselves with others around us….at home or school or work.  The “fads” of the times….in clothes, and speech.  The morals of the world…and (sadly) sometimes even the church we attend…

…all these are “old things” which need to be renewed by His Holy Spirit and the Word of God, when we are born again….and are beginning to follow Him.

For now, we are His child…His servant….His friend.   And we can not be a friend of the world, if we are a friend of God.  (James 4:4 “…know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?…”)

     (We are not friends of the world,   we are lights to it…showing His light from within us.)

The means is always the same….deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow the Lord Jesus.

      The cross we carry is a daily cross.   It first deals with our wills….but once we truly will to do and be His Will, (and this is often called “being crucified with Christ”)….

…..then, we willingly pick up our cross in love to Christ…and carry it day by day….for it deals with our minds and hearts….our lives, our affections, and our attitudes, bringing us into union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

(One of my favorite songs is 

    “Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand.  

The shadow of a mighty Rock within a weary land.

     A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way.

From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day.

     I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;   

I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face;

     Content to let the world go by,  to know no gain nor loss,

My sinful self my only shame,  my glory all the cross.”

      We must come to the place that we would not give up our cross for all this weary  world. 

I will cling to it…till I can place it down at Jesus feet for a token of my love.

While Christ is our pattern…each of us will be us,…for time and for eternity.

     That is what the Lord wants….for “us”…the “us” He created…the “us” He saved…the “us” He is forming into His character….to come after Him.

      The first Principle we always need to learn is that Christ not only saves us…but teaches us….leads us….and empowers us….through this world.

Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

The first principle we need to learn….is to yield to this working….and become renovated for His Purpose, under the teaching of the cross He gives us.

Haggai

Ezra 5:1 “Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.”

Haggai was an old man, and Zechariah was a young man.

Both were told to talk to the leaders of the returned remnant (they had been seventy years in captivity in Babylon, for their sins, but had come back, after the opportunity came to return.)

Zechariah spoke mostly in visions, telling the people, that they had returned for a purpose: which they should continue in, and finish.

His was a message to encourage and build up.

But before they could be built up; they needed to Awaken! To God’s claims on their lives. This Haggai did.

Haggai was a man who got right to the point.

Haggai 1:3-5 “Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,

Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house (God’s temple they were to rebuild) lie waste?

Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.”

You see, the people who had returned to Israel, had started building the temple with great enthusiasm.

As soon as God’s work was started: enemies came.

They said, Let us “help” you.

They wanted to stop God’s people from being separate from them and their ways. (The world always wants to interfere in God’s Will and work.)

But when the remnant refused, saying they alone would build God’s house. Then trouble began. (Ezra 4:4-6).

The enemies accused the remnant of rebellion to the king of Persia, and he believed them, and commanded that they stop what they were doing!

What should the remnant do? (What they should have done was send their own letters to the king, reminding him of what the former king had promised and decreed for the house at Jerusalem! Ezra 6:1-7)

This was their purpose: To rebuild the temple, so that the first thing (and the Lord is always to be first in our lives), would be His people in a right relationship to Him, by sacrifice.

(We must remember that the sacrifices of the temple were looking forward to the Great, and Only True Sacrifice for sins: Jesus Christ, our Savior.)

When they had stopped building the temple; they started working on their own houses, and estates. They built very elaborate houses for themselves.

But God would not let them forget their purpose, so:

Haggai 1:7-9 “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.

Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? Saith the Lord of hosts.

Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.”

This fierce and serious message was heard (thankfully), and obeyed.

Haggai 1:12 “Then Zerubbabel…,and Joshua…,the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God sent him, and the people did fear before the Lord.”

And the Lord encouraged them:

Haggai 1:13-14 “Then spake Haggai the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord.

And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel….,governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua…., the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,”

When the Lord is “with us”, we are in a very secure place, for His power is at work for us.

For the Lord also made Darius the king find a decree, which had not been found before.

By that decree, the Israelites were not only to be left alone to build the House of God…….but they were to be funded, and encouraged! (Ezra 6:2-3, 6-7)

And the Lord gave them a very great promise:

Haggai 2:7, 9 “And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with (the)glory, saith the Lord of hosts.

The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Part of the temple they were finishing, would be there when God sends His Son, Jesus Christ. (It was; for Herod built his temple around part of this original building. Jesus walked on the stones they laid.)

(Notice how many times Haggai uses the name The Lord of Hosts. This name signifies that the Lord is Captain of His army…..and that army can be anything….angels, hornets, hail,…..and He uses His army for our protection.)

And, when they obeyed; The Lord blessed them in all the other things:

Haggai 2:19 “Is the seed yet in the barn? Yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.”

The Lord has said to us:

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

We are to concentrate on His Purpose for us: to do His Will.

And He will be “with you” today, tomorrow, and so on.