Gladness

O. T. #1233  "Gladness"
June 29, 2018
Psalm 43
Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise Thee, O God my God.  Psalm 43:4

LET IT GLOW

Do you know anyone in that could use some happiness, exceeding joy, or hope? Anyone in need of some strength, a clear direction, whole bunch of truth that is dependable in the world? The psalmist found it all. Shall we take a peak at this little psalm of only 5 verses, but some great truths for us?

Some think this psalm is a continuation of 43 with their unanswered questions. And they were written by the chief musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah, who were singers in the Tabernacle. However, the writer mentions praising God with his harp. could it have been David? Reckin it doesn't matter too much.

How is God described here by the author?

• our strength-a fortified place; a defense; rock; stronghold.
• our light-illumination; happiness; bright; clear.
• our truth-stability; trustworthiness; establishment; faithful.
• our exceeding joy-gladness; greatly.
• our hope-to wait; to be patient; trust.

You know, friends, we live in in a time of  instability. People run from one spouse or live-in to another, from a secure job to one with flashy lights and uncertain promises, while dropping children by the wayside to find their happiness and thrills with bells and whistles. What a mess our society has gotten itself into. Would you agree? But instead of sitting here pointing fingers, what can we do to change it? What is the answer?


LET IT GROW 

Our confidence is based upon the truth that God is Savior, our hope of eternal life, our healer in this life, our forgiver of sins. (verse 5)

Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, in John14:6

Who rejoiced with exceeding great joy in the NT? The wisemen did when they saw the star, which directed them to where the boy Messiah was. (Matthew 2)
Jesus is our hope, the answers to our questions, our path to follow on this road of life, the One who lights our way.




LET IT GO

Praise my God.
Be my rock and strength, Jesus.

Questions Answered

O. T. #1232  "Questions Answered"
June 28, 2018
Psalm 42-Part 2


LET IT GLOW

Nine questions are within this psalm:

1. When can I go and stand before Him? (verse 2) The Levitical singers had been shut out of the sanctuary of God, the place where communion with God took place (in O. T. days). 
2. Where is this God of yours? ( verse 3) Enemies questioned the existence of God.  
3. Why am I discouraged?(verse 5) His soul has been brought low. 
4. Why is my heart so sad? (verse 5) His dejection has a remedy-praising God. 
5. Why have you forgotten me?(verse 9) God never forgets His children, even when circumstances  appears so. 
6. Why must I wonder around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?(verse 9) Turn to God in times of oppression. 
7. Where is this God of yours? (verse 10) He never leaves us. 
8. Why am I discouraged?(verse 11) He is questioning himself. 
9. Why is my heart so sad?

It is normal to down and question God. But, God is always faithful, never leaves us, and delivers us in His own time. We are His chosen, not forsaken.

LET IT GROW

Verse 11 shows us the writer knows the answers to his "why's. "
Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. 

Is God our hope? Paul says so in Romans 5:3-5. It is because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been give to us.

LET IT GO

                              ...of why's and cast my cares upon Jesus, for He loves me. 
                              ...  of sufferings so they produce endurance, character, and hope. 

Thirsty Deer

O. T. #1231  "Thirsty Deer"
June 27, 2018
Psalm 42
As the deer long for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. Psalm 42:1 NLT
As the harta panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. KJV


LET IT GLOW

Not sure that I mentioned this earlier, but Psalms is divided into 5 books. This is the beginning of the second book, Psalms 42-72. We find prayers, worship, confessions, and encouragements.

It is noted that David is not the author of this psalm, but the sons of Korah, who are Levitical family of singers in Israel, whom King David appointed.  They were priests who guarded the entrance of the Tabernacle. The writer was in the land beyond the Jordan near the mountain ridges of Mount Hermon. (verse 6) He yearns for the presence of God and His sanctuary in Jerusalem.

Here we read of a thirst for God; meditation on God's kindness and love when one is lonely or depressed. Through all of that, the writer finds encouragement:

• putting his hope in God, praising Him again-his Savior and God;  (verse 5)
• recognizes that God pours His unfailing love upon him; (verse 8)
• sings unto God through the night and prays to God who gives life; (verse 8)
• places his hope in God, praising his Savior and God again. (verse 11)

Is our hope in God? Are we thanking Him for unfailing love that He gives us? Are we singing and praying nightly to our Savior?


LET IT GROW


I have seen a herd of deer leave the safety of the woods, come out into the open, and drink water from a pond. Their thirst was so great that they risked their very life to get it quenched. This writer compares his thirst for his living God in the same way. He longs for God, in spite of the discouragement in his life. Do we have such a deep thirsting in our soul-longing for communion with God?

What else can we glean from this psalm? The writer has:

• a thirst for the living God; (verse 2)
• a breaking heart that remembers walking among worshipers of God, leading a procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks in the celebration; (verse 4)
• deep discouragement; (verse 6)
• nightly sings to God and praying to the One who gives him life; (verse 8)
• declares God is his rock; (verse 9)
• discouragement and sadness are in his heart; (verse 11)

Surely we know of a person down and out like this writer. We can share our hope in Jesus with them.
Can we declare God is our Rock?
A rock is a fortress, stronghold in Hebrew.

Do we go to God when we are troubled, with a breaking heart, discouraged and sad? Sounds like the author did. He sang praises to God and prayed. Should we apply his example? Read Romans 5:3-5.

LET IT GO

Hope in God's unfailing love.
Sing praises to Jesus.
Continue to pray.
Believe in His, the God of miracles.
Hunger for God's presence.

Integrity

O. T. #1230  "Integrity"
June 26, 2018
Psalm 41

LET IT GLOW

The MacArthur Bible Commentary says:
 David's message of Psalm 41 speaks of God's tender, loving care in the critical care unit of life:

1. Recognizes human compassion (verse 1a)
2. Revels in God's care for the compassionate (verses 1b-3)
3. Requests grace, health, and forgiveness (verse 4)
4. Rehearses the meanness that he has experienced (verses 5-9)
5. Requests grace, health, and retribution (verse 10)
6. Revels in God's care for him personally (verses 11,12)
7. Recognizes divine compassion (verse 13)

Shall we break it down and make it personal?

• When we are compassionate toward others, God returns it to us. It doesn't matter whether it be poor, sick, or lonely people.
• He rescues us in our time of trouble.
• He protects us and keeps us alive. He prospers us and rescues us from our enemies.
• God nurses us and restores our health. He may use medication and those in the health profession to aide us, but ultimately, healing comes form God.
• Our God forgives us and shows us mercy when we ask.

Such blessings we are shown. Do we give our Heavenly Father enough praises and thanks for all His compassion toward us? Will we in turn pour out that compassion on others?

LET IT GROW

Read verse 12, As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And set me before Your face forever.

In the Hebrew language, integrity (tom, tome) means innocence, upright.

There are times that people do not understand our words or actions, question our motives, ridicule us, or reject us. And then the only one who understands our motive is God. At those times when we are striving to keep our integrity in tack, we must trust God who sees all. Regardless of how others perceive us, we must continue to walk in integrity, doing what is right in God's eyes. He will uphold our integrity.
Shall we maintain our integrity by walking with Jesus? As a Christian, it is utmost of importance.


LET IT GO

Show the compassion of Jesus.
Watch my actions and words so they maintain my integrity.

Life as It Is

O. T. #1229  "Life as It Is"
June 25, 2018
Psalm 40-Part 3
Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee: let such as love Thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.  Psalm 40:16

LET IT GLOW

Beggars. We have all seen them dressed in rags, smelly, destitute. Why are we not there on the street begging for help instead of them? God's grace. So why are we not content and happy with our life as it is? Are we giving thanks to God for what we have, who He is? Are we lending a helping hand to the needy? Or do we turn our head away in pride? Oh me.

May those who search for God and love His salvation be filled with joy and gladness in You. May they continually shout, The LORD is great! (NLT)

What is David telling us?

• Let those who seek God be glad. As we make prayer and supplication to God, may we find Him and give Him glory. Seek Him with all our heart and we will find Him. May we magnify God for the blessings we receive.
• Let those who love the salvation of Jesus be saved from their sins, saved in God's way and on His own terms. (Admit we are a sinner, in need of salvation in Jesus only.)
• Let us magnify God with praises continually for the continually blessings He pours down. (Clarke Commentary)

Joy, gladness, praises. There, we have our marching order for today.

LET IT GROW

But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying , O my God. (verse 17)

In the Hebrew language, poor means afflicted, greatly depressed; needy refers to a beggar; one utterly destitute, and seeking help; thinketh is to meditate.

David says he is an afflicted, needy beggar, seeking God's help. What a miserable state in which David is.
However, he believes God will help and deliver him from this, whatever this is. David was asking God to think upon him, meditate. Our Mediator who provides acceptance to God thinks upon us, you and me. He meditates upon us. On one hand that is good, in the sense that God is concerned about what is going on in our life. On the other hand, He sees all we think and do. He is a good, good Father. We are loved by Him.
In due time, Jesus will deliver us out of our troubles. Wait for it, it will come. Let us not be so long under distress and misery that we lose our faith in God.

The Man of Sorrows was delivered through death into His resurrection of life everlasting. He can deliver us to joy and gladness amidst our life of sorrow. Then we will be ultimately delivered into heaven. AMEN!

LET IT GO

Seek the Lord Jesus.
Praise Him, no matter my circumstance.
Beg for His help and deliverance.
Keep in mind that God meditates upon me, His child.
Trust His timing.

Sacrifices

O. T. #1228  "Sacrifices"
June 22, 2018
Psalm 40-Part 2
Sacrifice and offering Thou didn't not desire...  Psalm 40:6a

LET IT GLOW

Beginning with verse 5, David states that God has performed many wonders (wonderful works) for us. His plans for us are too numerous to list. God has no equal.

So true, David. We could spend all day listing  the wonderful works of God-creation and Jesus.
The way they all uniquely function is astounding, those on earth in the heavens. Can human mathematics possibly total the wonderful works of God?
Can we count the great mercies, goodness, and lovingkindness of God? Will we admire and praise our Heavenly Father for all we are, have, and need? Should we wait until eternity to admire our Maker? There is no one like our God.

Now, concerning His plans for us, can we imagine all He has planned?
Jeremiah 29:11 says His plans are to prosper, not harm, to give us a hope and a future, as Israel.
with that perspect, how can we not have a good day today?

LET IT GROW

Look at verse 6. Sacrifices and offerings are not what God desires of us. It was a common practice of killing animals in the Tabernacle of Israel for people to be acceptable to God. Those acts were meaningless unless done in the right attitude and for the right reason, covering their sins.
Falwell lists four types of offerings during David's time:

1. Sacrifice-by the ordinary person at the altar;
2. Offering-meal offering with oil and frankincense;
3. Burnt offering-the whole burnt offering;
4. Sin offering-sin or trespass offering.

None of these, by the blood of bulls and goats, could make adequate atonement for Israelites' sins. Only the blood of Jesus Christ could do that (Hebrews 9).

We make rituals of church attendance, giving of tithes, taking communion. If those are done selfishly and self-centered, then they are empty. It is the attitude of devotion and a heart of love to obey God which He desires from us.

1 Samuel 15:22 says, To obey is better than sacrifice."
Are we doing God's will in love and loving to do His will?


LET IT GO

Love God.
Obey God.
Follow the Holy Spirit's leading.

Wait Patiently

O. T. #1227 "Waiting Patiently" 
June 21, 2018
Psalm 40
I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  Psalm 40:1

LET IT GLOW

How many times has a child skinned up their leg, crying and bleeding, and we bent down to look at it, then clean up the scrape? God does so for us when we are hurt.

David may have written this psalm when he was restored to the throne after Absalom departed. This is called a Messianic Psalm. Verses 6-8 are quoted in Hebrews 10:5-9, as the words of Christ. Not only is David describing the Lord's restoration of him from the door of death to the throne of Israel, but is also prophetically describing the anguish and crucifixion of Christ, the Son of David. (Liberty Bible Commentary)

The Hebrew word for waited and patiently is the same word, which means to bind together; collect; to expect; look; tarry; wait (for, on, upon); inclined refers to stretch; spread out; bend away.

Waiting patiently on the Lord refers to the Lord God bending forward toward the psalmist, a beautiful picture of God's concern, and care for those who cry out to Him.

Life Application Study Bible says waiting upon the Lord is not easy. David received four benefits from waiting:

1. God lifted him out of his despair. (verse 2)
2. God set his feet on a rock. (verse 2)
3. God made his steps secure. (verse 2)
4. God put a new song of praise in his mouth. (verse 3)

Often blessings cannot be received unless we go through the trial of waiting.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Do we cry out to the Lord Jesus in our waiting period? As we trust Him with our problem, He will lift us up, make us steady and secure, and give us a new song of praise. As we cry out, He will bend down to us. His lovingkindness is always available, dear one

LET IT GROW

Many will see what God has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in Him. Happy is the person who makes their trust the Lord Jesus, does not have confidence in the proud, or in idol worship. (verse 4)

Jesus has provided salvation for us. His grace sees us through whatever storm comes our way. So let us wait patiently and be happy while we wait for the answer or change in circumstances.

LET IT GO

Wait patiently on  God.
Praise Jesus while I am waiting.