Where the Lord Is, Greatness Is to be Found! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 87:1-7,

"He has set his foundation on the holy mountain;
the Lord loves the gates of Zion
   more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you, O city of God:
'I will record Rahab and Babylon
   among those who acknowledge me-
Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush-
   and will say, "This one was born in Zion."'
Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
   'This one and that one were born in her,
   and the Most High himself will establish her.'
The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:
   'This one was born in Zion.'
As they make music they will sing,
    'All my fountains are in you.'"

After freeing the Jews that were held in slavery in Egypt, and following a forty year wandering in the wilderness, God brought them to the land of Canaan. It was the city of Jerusalem in that land that God chose to have his temple built among his people. There the glory of God was to be found and there the temple worship would continue as it had in the tabernacle God had Moses build in the wilderness.

Jerusalem enjoyed the matchless prominence any place would have as the physical manifestation of God's presence. It wasn't that Jerusalem was great and so God made his abode there (as if to be acknowledging its greatness), but it was God's presence, his glory, that made Jerusalem great. 

In what feels like a view of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ from Zion, we read in verse 3 the Sons of Korah saying, "Glorious things are said of you, O city of God". Such a great city that in the Lord's own "register of the peoples" it will be written that "this one was born in Zion", acknowledging the honor one's birth there would represent.

Such is the glory of our Lord. Where he is, there is greatness. It is his very presence that makes it just so.

And so it is with us today, as he indwells us. In these vessels of weakness of ours, the Lord brings strength. In the midst of struggle with our own sin natures, the Holy Spirit brings change from within. Where the Lord is, there it is that greatness is to be found. Not because of that vessel but because of him who inhabits it.

The wonderful apostle Paul comes to mind as I think of these things. Were we to ask Paul, in his humility he would acknowledge he was nothing, but the Lord… now here is One to marvel at! And, yet, as I look at Paul's life, from the time of his persecution of the church and the martyrdom of Stephen to the time of his great, heartfelt concern for the churches the Lord brought birth to through him, I see greatness. A greatness that the presence of the Lord brought to Paul's life.

Wherever the Lord is, it is there greatness is to be found!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Incomparable God of Psalm 86! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 86:1-4,

"Hear me, Lord, and answer me,
   for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
   save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; have mercy on me,
   Lord, for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
   for I put my trust in you."

David cries out to the Lord to save him. In verse 14 we read, "Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God; ruthless people are trying to kill me— they have no regard for you."

This is certainly one of the featured themes of the book of Psalms. The one who is in trouble (in this case, David) cries out to the Lord for help and finds his relief in God. In addition to relief from his troubles, David also asks God to bring him joy, verse 4. He also acknowledges the help and comfort the Lord gives, verse 17.

David observes important things about the Lord in this psalm:

The Lord is forgiving and good, verse 5.
He abounds in love, also verse 5. And, his love is great, verse 13.
God answers, he responds, verse 7.
God's deeds are incomparable, verse 8, they are marvelous, verse 10.
God stands alone as the only God, verse 10.
God is faithful, verse 11.
God delivers from death, verse 13 and he saves ("you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me"), verse 17.
God is compassionate and gracious, verse 15.
God is slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness, also verse 15.
God is strong, verse 16.
God is a storehouse of goodness, verse 17.

Here is a psalm that is rich in theology. It tells us so much we need to know about the Lord. It appears to me that one of the many purposes and contributions of the book of Psalms is the presentation of the Lord as the One we need to flee to in time of need.

And… we all have a great need as we recognize the looming judgement of God for our sins. How thankful I am for this God described for us in Psalm 86 who has provided redemption for my sins, has forgiven me, and has made a place for me at his table in the next age!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Something From Nothing! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 85:4,

"Restore us again, God our Savior,
    and put away your displeasure toward us."

This plea to the Lord represents the very thing the Lord intended to accomplish with Israel. We know this because it was the Lord himself that placed Israel in such a plight at times. The reason for doing so was to make some adjustments to the nation, to prepare her for the coming of his Son, Jesus Christ, into the world, to redeem mankind's sins from his own sense of justice.

Once the discipline of the nation had the effect God desired, God would restore them in the usefulness of his own purposes.

Israel has always had an important place in God's plans and agenda of redeeming mankind. Even today, God is not yet done with the nation. Paul makes the observation:

"I do not want you [the church in Rome] to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
'The deliverer will come from Zion;
    he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
And this is my covenant with them
    when I take away their sins.'
As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable." Romans 11:25-29.

God still has big plans for the nation of Israel. It always amazes me how our God in heaven can take what looks like total disaster and bring about his own creative purposes for good. I only have to look at my own life to see this! Something from nothing!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Excitiing Times With the Lord - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 84:1-12,

"How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
    Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;
    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
    till each appears before God in Zion.
Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield, O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.
Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless.
Lord Almighty,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you."
 
We always share those things that move us, that get us excited. A new restaurant that we have found to be fantastic, a movie or book that really moves us, a great vacation spot… you get the picture. There are always those who have gone before us and when they find something they get really excited about, they are not reticent to let us know how wonderful whatever it is, is!
 
And so are the things of God. There are those who have gone before us, who may have gone further than we have with the Lord. Many of the psalms we read are from folks like this. They have gone before us, and have often drawn closer to the Lord than we have. And what is their report back to the rest of us? Our Lord is breath-taking!!

Look at what the sons of Korah have to say in this psalm! To be close to the Lord is something they found that creates such an intense desire or yearning for a return, that their hearts "even faint"!
 
Our time with the Lord should be something on this order! All consuming joy and excitement became theirs as they came near the Lord and so it should with us today. It certainly will eventually!

Time to start savoring the Lord today!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Joy in Justice and Joy in Redemption - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 83:1-2,

"O God, do not remain silent;
    do not turn a deaf ear,
    do not stand aloof, O God.
See how your enemies growl,
    how your foes rear their heads."

Asaph calls out to God for justice against Israel's enemies. He calls the enemies of Israel God's own enemies in that Israel was God's chosen people. Although God used other nations to get the attention of wayward Israel, Asaph now calls for God to bring his vengeance against them. "May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace. Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord— that you alone are the Most High over all the earth." Verses 17-18.

Certainly Asaph felt Israel's treatment at the hands of her enemies warranted a response from God. Asaph was looking for some justice.- a righting of the wrongs perpetrated by Israel's enemies. It appears to me that all mankind feels a deep need to see justice done, a righting of the wrongs. While this world is filled with culprits, there always exists a felt need for justice.

Perhaps this is why we are told so often in the Scriptures that people rejoice when God comes to bring his justice:

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
    he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples in his faithfulness. Psalm 96:11-13

As I think of these things, it comes to mind that a sinner like me faced the justice of God for my own sins. What a horrifying prospect! How thankful I am for Jesus Christ who took my punishment on himself on that cross. God's justice for my sin was visited upon him and now I stand forgiven with the same righteousness as Jesus Christ himself! He has redeemed me from God's justice! All this for simply embracing him in faith.

How unfathomable!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The God Of All Peoples - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 82:8,

"Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
    for all the nations are your inheritance."

In this psalm Asaph provides us a glimpse into God's court, where he "presides in the great assembly", verse 1. In his court an indictment is brought against some called "gods" (little "g" gods), "How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?" In verse 5 the observation is made of these gods, "They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness..."

Following the indictment, Asalph ends his psalm with a call for God to judge the earth - not just a particular group, but the whole earth. As he does so, he provides grounds for the appropriateness and legitimacy of God doing so: "all the nations are your inheritance."

All the nations belong to God. All the peoples belong to God. Not some god that a singular culture has invented but the one, and only one God, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit.

You might live in Saudi Arabia with a fabricated religion, but… the only god is the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob and he is your God. You might be an Apache or Cherokee with a fabricated religion but... the only god is the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob and he is your God. You might be a progressive, a homosexual, a communist, an atheist or a feminist, with a fabricated religion (if any at all), but... the only god is the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob and he is your God. There is only one God for all of humanity and we all belong to him.

I am reminded of Deuteronomy 32:39-41, "See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand. I lift my hand to heaven and declare: As surely as I live forever, when I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on my adversaries and repay those who hate me."

The wise of all the earth - of all peoples - recognize who their god is: the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. How thankful I am today for him providing his Son for us that I don't have to face that judgment!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Celebrate What God Has Done! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 81:1-3,

"Sing for joy to God our strength;
    shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Begin the music, strike the tambourine,
    play the melodious harp and lyre.
Sound the ram's horn at the New Moon,
    and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast…"

Sing for joy! Shout aloud! Make music! Celebration! Why? He delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt! He "removed the burden from their shoulders…"! He brought them up out of Egypt!

Likewise, God has delivered us believers from our slavery to sin! He has freed us from the law! He has delivered us from his own horrific judgment! He has guaranteed us a breath-taking inheritance in eternal life! We have even greater cause for celebration than Israel did following their deliverance from Egypt!

When the World Series is won at the end of the MLB season there will be a celebration in the hometown of the team that wins it. When the Super Bowl is won at the end of the NFL season it will result in a celebration in the hometown the team is from. There will be a parade, parties and events held in the cities! People will resound in the event, and drag into work late the next day after a night of celebration!

We do have our religious holidays and remembrances at Easter, Christmas and so forth. And, they are wonderful. But sometimes I wonder if there shouldn't be many city-wide celebrations of joy and ecstatic excitement for what God has done for believers - in all the cities and out in the country! Celebrations of joy, singing, shouting, music, dancing, a feast!

Certainly, what God has done for us deserves no less!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.

God Makes His Adjustments Within Us - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 80:8-12,

"You transplanted a vine from Egypt; 
   you drove out the nations and planted it.
You cleared the ground for it,
    and it took root and filled the land.
The mountains were covered with its shade,
    the mighty cedars with its branches.
Its branches reached as far as the Sea,
    its shoots as far as the River."

As the remnant of Israel languished in her captivity in Babylon due to her rejection of God over the years, Asaph makes an observation. He notes it was the Lord himself who brought Israel to the promised land, drove out the previous occupants and planted the nation there. He goes on to note how the nation had flourished there, as he describes it using the metaphor of a mighty cedar with its branches.

Since it was the Lord who brought Israel out of Egypt to transplant her into the promised land, Asaph pleads with the Lord to not allow the remnant of the nation to waste way in captivity. He asks the Lord three times in this psalm to "restore us", verses 3, 7 and 19, and that the nation will not then turn from him as it had done earlier, but call on his name, verse 18.

This is exactly what the Lord will accomplish with the nation. Following the captivity and some adjustment upon their return to the land, the nation would never again abandon the Lord. Not that the nation would no longer have its problems with him, but when Jesus Christ shows up several centuries later, Israel is found to have finally embraced God in such a way that Paul characterizes the unbelieving Jews of his day as "For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge." Romans 10:2.

Although as a nation they failed to embrace Jesus Christ as her Messiah, they nevertheless were done with chasing after idols. Now, as Paul says, "I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: 'The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.'" Romans 11:25-27. Another painful opportunity for the Jews as the Lord shapes them into what he desires.

The message for me is that when God needs to make adjustments in our lives, he will do it very effectively and while we may find it difficult, and very difficult at times, we will need to bide our time while the Lord brings about what it is he desires to see within us.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.