God's Faithfulness - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 91:15b,

"... I will be with him in trouble ..."

This phrase, taken from verse 15 of this psalm, reminds me that the Lord will be with us during times of trouble. As trouble comes, he will be with us, he will see us through it - he is faithful.

An important character trait of God is pointed to that we can rest assured of in the midst of trouble, "his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Verse 4. The faithfulness of God is an important thing to be aware of and celebrate as we place our faith in him. He will never leave us, he will never forsake us, but be with us even during difficult times.

I am disappointed with some who feel that if we don't "perform" in our new life in Christ, he will forsake us, abandon us. I see this as a gaping hole in their understanding of God's nature. Their perspective is that we need to earn God's favor at every moment to maintain our righteous standing with him. Apparently for them, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross was simply not enough to cover our sins completely, and that the suffering of Jesus on the Cross needs to be embellished, adorned with our "good works." As if God just might forsake us!

I simply don't see it that way at all. As the psalmist points to God's faithfulness, it is that very aspect of God that prompts me to want to live my life in a way that pleases him. Not that I'm very good at it, but knowing the Lord is faithful to me motivates me tremendously to be faithful to him. His faithfulness prompts my faithfulness.

The writer of Hebrews quoted Moses from a farewell address to the nation of Israel as he passed the torch to Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:6), "Never will I [the Lord your God] leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5. That was addressed to the nation of Israel, but in the Hebrews 13 passage we find an exhortation to the church to order our lives in such a way that pleases the Lord, and knowing of this faithfulness of the Lord provides tremendous motivation to be faithful to him.

Listen to this wonderful comment Paul made to the church in Corinth, "He [God] will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

The rock solid, never-changing faithfulness of God is something we can count on as a shield and rampart for our lives and spawns our own faithfulness to him!

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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A Shelter To Rest In - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 91:14-16,

"'Because he loves me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.'"

The psalmist quotes the Lord as saying he will be the rescuer of those who love him, those who acknowledge his name. A key theme throughout Psalms is the Lord portrayed in this way.

In Psalm 91 the Lord is characterized vividly:

A shelter to rest in, verse 1.
A refuge and fortress to be trusted, verses 2, 4.
A savior from "the fowler's snare" and deadly pestilence, verse 3.
A covering of protection (feathers, under his wing), verse 4.
A shield and rampart because of his faithfulness, Verse 4.
Providing for no fear of "the terror of night", "the arrow that flies by day", a stalking pestilence in darkness, or a plague at midday, verse 6.

The psalmist points out that although multitudes may fall prey to horrific things, "it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked." Verse 7b-8. This is what captures my thoughts this morning.

Judgment day is coming and I can't help but think that the message in this psalm is that by calling out to God, embracing him in faith, making him our refuge and savior, we will be protected from the wrath of his own judgment of all sinners. "With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

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.

Flee to the Lord When Struggling - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 88:1,

"Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you."

This psalm, ascribed to the Sons of Korah in the heading, points the the Lord as "the God who saves me". A major thread that weaves itself throughout the whole book of Psalms is that the Lord is the One to flee to when we find ourselves in need.

The psalmist is clearly in need here:

"I am overwhelmed with troubles
    and my life draws near to death.
I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
    I am like one without strength.
I am set apart with the dead,
    like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more,
    who are cut off from your care.
You have put me in the lowest pit,
    in the darkest depths.
Your wrath lies heavily on me;
    you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.
You have taken from me my closest friends
    and have made me repulsive to them.
I am confined and cannot escape;
    my eyes are dim with grief." Verses 3-9.

The psalmist addresses the One he sees as causing the desperation he finds himself in, that it is the Lord's wrath that has placed him in the "lowest pit" he finds himself in.

Why would the Lord deal this way with someone who would turn to the Lord and cry out to him in the midst of their need? The answer appears obvious to me that it is precisely because the Lord has brought difficulties into the psalmist's life that the psalmist has learned to trust and rely on the Lord in times of need. There is a history of this interaction throughout the psalmist's life:

"From my youth I have suffered and been close to death;
    I have borne your terrors and am in despair.
Your wrath has swept over me;
    your terrors have destroyed me.
All day long they surround me like a flood;
    they have completely engulfed me.
You have taken from me friend and neighbor—
    darkness is my closest friend." Verses 15-18.

I am once again reminded of Jesus' words to the church in Laodicea, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent." Also from Proverbs 3:11-12, "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." And, in Hebrews 12:7-11:

"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

When we find ourselves struggling, flee to the Lord! He is waiting with open arms for us while he makes us into what we need to be.

A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/

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.

Marketing Jerusalem - Ruminating in the Word of God

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

"He has founded his city on the holy mountain.
The Lord loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
    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.'"

A part of the intent of this psalm has to be to showcase Jerusalem as a type of the church. While the church was unknown to the "Sons of Korah", the Holy Spirit nevertheless inspired the writing of this psalm.

Zion is the location where God exists, it is the place where people are written into "the register of the peoples" when they are born. I can't help but think about how we are written into the Lamb's Book of Life when we are born into his family.

"Nothing impure will ever enter it [the "New Jerusalem", the bride of the Lamb] nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life."

A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/

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.  

Zion! The Place to Be! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 87:1-2,

"He has founded his city on the holy mountain. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob."

This psalm celebrates Zion - the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is called the "city of God" in this psalm, verse 3. It is also called the "City of David" in many places in Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Nehemiah and Isaiah.

The writer of Hebrews, in writing to believers, says, "you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem." Hebrews 12:22. This speaks of Zion being the place people come to as they approach God. It was in Zion Solomon built the temple of God and that is where the nation went to worship the Lord. Now when those come to God, they can be said to have come to "Mount Zion, to the city of the living God".

We read in Revelation 21:2-5, "I [John] saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death" or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'"

Zion is the place to be! Not surprising that the forces of hell refer to "Zionists" in a derogatory way. Count me among the Zionists! How about you?

A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/

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.  

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

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him 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 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!

A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/

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's Plans for Israel - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him 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 is the very thing the Lord desired to do. We know this because it was the Lord himself that placed Israel in such a plight. The reason for doing so was to prepare the nation for 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's desired, God would restore the them.

Israel has always had an important place in God plans and agenda of redeeming mankind. Even today, God is not yet done with the nation, nor will he ever be. 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!

A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/

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.