Knowing God Through Depression? ~ Raul Ries

“…he who endures to the end will be saved.”

Matthew 10:22

Martin Luther experienced severe periods of depression that were not abated by anything he tried. Even spirited success like translating the Bible into German did not cause his attacks to end. Luther describes his extremity of his emotional state: “For more than a week I was close to the gates of death and hell. I trembled in all my members. Christ was wholly lost. I was shaken by desperation and blasphemy of God.” Luther even saw these moods as beneficial to his understanding of the Christian life. “For without them,” he wrote, “no man can understand scripture, faith, the fear or the love of God.”

Do you battle depression?

Thought for the Day:

If we are willing, God will use our depression to show his power in our life!

Do All Things to the Glory of God ~ WOW the Bible in 7 minutes a day

Do All Things to the Glory of God

1Corinthians 10:1-13,23-33; 11:1-2,23-34; Psalm 119:129-131; Proverbs 22:4

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well- being.

Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness."

If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." "Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

1 Corinthians 10:1-13, 23-33; 11:1-2, 23-34

WORSHIP

Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul keeps them.
The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
I opened my mouth and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
Psalm 119:129-131

WISDOM

By humility and the fear of the LORD
Are riches and honor and life.
Proverbs 22:4

Is your effectiveness as a leader growing? (95-2)

Is your effectiveness as a leader growing? (95-2)

November 10th, 2009 in 2 Samuel, Dependence on God, Leadership Principles, Old Testament, Personal Development, Purpose/Passion | leave a response

Godly leaders desire to be effective and give their best to serve God with the gifts they have been given. Effective leaders consistently monitor their conviction and look for signs of leadership deterioration. Review 2 Samuel 15:1-37.

David’s leadership had been blessed by God and Israel had become a world power and served as a shining testimony of their God to all the nations around them. Over time David began to focus more on his personal needs and desires and less on his role as God’s leader. Second Samuel 15 chronicles one of the lowest points in David’s life as a leader of a nation and as a leader in his family. David’s son Absalom became so disillusioned with his father’s leadership that he determined to steal the kingdom and destroy his own father and family. The chapter ends with David fleeing the capitol city and setting up a clandestine network that will infiltrate Absalom’s team to confuse the advice Absalom receives from his advisors and get David insider information.

A few common sense ways to determine if your effectiveness as a leader is growing or fading:

• Consider your decisions and the resulting actions over the past year:
  
  
  • Are you facing the challenges head on or delaying decisions that could be made because you don’t have the desire or energy to take on the challenge?
  
  
  • Are you serving your team or frustrated because you don’t seem to get the respect and recognition you feel you deserve?
  
  
  • Are you developing plans and strategies or simply reacting to situations?
  
  
  • Are you excited about the assignment God has given you or just showing up for a paycheck?
  
  
  • Do you have energy, excitement, a “feeling” of accomplishment, contentment and joy in your life or are you tired, frustrated with lack of momentum, and worried all the time?
  
  
  • Are you hopeful that you can make a difference with your team or does any accomplishment seem hopeless?
  
  
• Consider the responses of your team to your leadership over the past year
  
  
  • Are team members seeking your advice early (or per their normal pattern) or explaining mistakes later?
  
  
  • Do you hear more complaints about wages now than before?
  
  
  • Are there more disputes between members than usual?
  
  
  • Are some team members, that you thought were happy, looking for other jobs?

Godly leaders seek God’s wisdom to avoid a crisis in leadership rather than wisdom to repair damage later. In which area above do you need to seek God’s wisdom to make sure your effectiveness as a leader is growing?

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Tags: Consistency, Effectiveness

« Does your leadership strengthen the bond of loyalty? (95-1)

Trusting in His Strong Hold ~ Mike MacIntosh

And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away. Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. Mark 12:12-13

Have you seen the swarm of media surrounding politicians, entertainers, and athletes? Everyone is looking for a story. Some reporters are reputable and non-biased, but many are there solely to catch someone messing up in front of the media; this produces revenues and ratings for their companies. And this is sort of what's happening here with Jesus. But to make things worse, these aren't "innocent reporters" trying to get a story and make tons of money; they are enemies of God, attempting to find and distort evidence enough to kill Jesus Christ.

You see, two groups of people who hated each other very much were now teaming up to destroy Jesus. The Pharisees, known for their piety and religiosity, were anti-Roman and anti- anything associated with the Roman government. And the Herodians, who were all about protecting and defending the Roman government, didn't like the Jewish people, including the Pharisees, because they saw these people as traitors and enemies of Ceasar. So here is an interesting part of Mark's story. Despite their scorn for each other, the Pharisees and the Herodians joined forces to destroy Jesus.

The enemy wants nothing more than to destroy our reputation, our character, and our hope. The world attempted to do that to Jesus over 2,000 years ago, and the world is still trying to do this to Christians today. Look at what Psalm 2 says: "Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 'Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us'" (Psalm 2:1-3).

It is so important for us to be people in the Word of God. Rulers, nations, and all enemies of God want to break our bonds and tear apart the very fabric that holds us together--Jesus Christ. They desire to break off any relationship with heaven…and they want to take you down with them. They will distort everything you try to say. But let God's Word give you the words to say, and the wisdom that you give to others. The wisdom of man is foolishness, but God's Word never returns void. Keep your words few and let the love of Jesus pour through your life. Yes, the enemies will still try to catch you, but you can count on the fact that Jesus Christ will bless you abundantly for your faithfulness to His Word.

Filled, to overflow! ~ Jack Graham

…“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart… and your neighbor as yourself.” -- Luke 10:27

Who is your neighbor? That was a good question in Jesus’ day, and it remains an important one today.

Now, you and I might be tempted to think of a neighbor as someone who lives close to us. But let me challenge your thinking along the lines that Jesus challenged the rich young lawyer in Luke 10.

In his encounter with Jesus, a man asked the Lord, “Who is my neighbor?” He knew he was required to love God and to love his neighbor as himself. So he wanted to know specifically who it was that he was required to love.

But Jesus saw that the man was thinking law, not love. So he told him the story of a Samaritan man who went above and beyond to help a complete stranger whom he found dying along the road to Jericho.

This parable provided the ultimate answer to the question, “Who is your neighbor?” Jesus said that your neighbor is anyone who has a need that you can help meet!

This was a defining moment in the life of the young lawyer, and this new understanding had the power to change his life. Will you let it change yours?

Love God with all your heart, and show his love and kindness to the hurting people around you… your neighbors… wherever you find them.

YOUR NEIGHBOR IS ANYONE WHO HAS A NEED THAT YOU HELP MEET!

All things.... for our good ~ David McGee

Acts 18:2

"And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them."
NKJV

Life Lesson

When you follow God, He works things out for our good.

Corinth was a very wicked city. It could be said that Corinth was the Las Vegas of the day. The population of the city was over 400,000, and it was a popular tourist destination due to the location as well as the loose morals of the city. In fact, the reputation of the city was such that calling someone a "Corinthian" was considered an insult and to 'corinthianize' was to engage in sin.

Around AD 49, a wave of anti-Semitism rolled through Rome and the Emperor, Claudius, expelled the Jews from the city. As a result of this edict, Aquila and Priscilla departed to Corinth. After being mocked in Athens, Paul also was in Corinth where he met Aquila and Priscilla. What seemed to be bad circumstances for Aquila, Priscilla and Paul, became a huge blessing. Aquila and Priscilla became a valuable part of Paul's ministry team, and Paul was able to minister the Gospel more effectively due to their help. God used a bad thing to produce a good result.

Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." NKJV

Notice that it does not say 'most things' or 'some things,' but it says, 'all things'. This does not mean you will understand how God will work it out to your good. There will be many times where you will not know for days, weeks or even years, how He will do it. Throughout the Bible, we see God redeem events in the lives of people for His purposes. It is a theme of grace Christians can count on. Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" John 16:33b NKJV. No mistake or circumstance can be too great to be used by God. The choice is yours. In difficult times, you can be freaked out or you can rest in the promises of God.

Dear Father,
Thank You that I do not have to worry. Thank You that because of Your mercy, faithfulness, and great love for me, I can be at peace in all circumstances. Please help me to remember this. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Cordiality ~ Chuck Swindoll

Proverbs 15

The heart of the term "cordial" is the word "heart." And the heart of "heart" is kardia, a Greek term that most often refers to the center of our inner life—the source or seat of all the forces and functions of our inner being. So when we are cordial, we are acting on something that comes from and affects the very center of life itself. Maybe that's why Webster defines "cordial" as "of or relating to the heart; vital, tending to revive, cheer or invigorate, heartfelt, gracious."

Being cordial literally starts from the heart, as I see it. It begins with the deep-seated belief that the other person is important, genuinely significant, deserving of my undivided attention, my unrivaled interest, if only for a few seconds. Encouraged by such a belief, I am prompted to be sensitive to that person's feelings. If he is uneasy and self-conscious, cordiality alerts me to put him at ease. lf she is shy, cordiality provides a relief. If he is bored, cordiality stimulates and invigorates him. If she is sad, cordiality brings cheer. What a needed and necessary virtue it is! How do we project cordiality? Try these four basic ingredients:

1. A warm smile. A smile needs to become a natural part of your whole person, reflecting genuine friendliness. Nothing is more magnetic or attractive than your smile, and it will communicate volumes to the other person.

2. A solid handshake. Never underestimate the value of this cordial expression, my friend. The handshake is a rare remaining species in the family of touch, and it is threatened with extinction.

3. Direct eye contact. Accompanying every handshake and conversation, no matter how brief, ought to be an eyeball-to-eyeball encounter. The eyes reflect deep feelings enclosed in the secret chamber of your soul . . . feelings that have no other means of release. Eye contact allows others to read these feelings. Cordiality cannot be expressed indirectly.

4. A word of encouragement. Keep this fresh, free from clichés, and to the point. Call the person by name and use it as you talk. Be specific and natural, and deliberately refuse to flatter the person. Let your heart be freely felt as your words flow.

"Oil and perfume make the heart glad, / So a man's counsel is sweet to his friend" (Prov. 27:9).

Spread some sweetness . . . have a heart . . . convey cordiality!

How are you doing in the cordiality department? Try to be conscious of it this week, without being self-conscious.

Truth or Consequences ~ Mark Balmer

Based on “What Satan Doesn’t Want You to Know” by Pastor Mark Balmer;

11/7-8/09, Message #MB395; Daily Devotional #1 - “Truth or Consequences”

Preparing the Soil (Introduction): “The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.” A.W. Tozer

Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): God’s Word is true (John 17:17). In the Evangelical church we often hear that statement proclaimed. We believe it in our heads as an intellectual assent, but does the reality of that truth play out in everyday practical circumstances? Do we meditate long enough to let it speak to our lives and direct our decisions (Joshua 1:8)? Or is it more of a story we read in order to make us feel better when times get tough? Our answer definitely determines the quality of our life here on earth and potentially our eternal life in the hereafter (John 5:24).

Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): I’ve been challenged this week to look closely at what I really believe about the Bible. It’s straightforward to believe in Jesus, what He’s done for me, that the Gospel is true, and I’m going to spend eternity in heaven. That’s good. That’s easy. But what about the parts that aren’t so effortless? For example, is it easy when the Bible tells us to love God with our whole heart and love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39)? What about the directive for husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church, or wives to submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-33), or children to obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1-3)? Do we make excuses for why we are the exception to that rule? “Well, if you knew my neighbor, my wife, my husband, my parents, you’d know why I can’t do that!” The bottom line is whether our belief in God’s Word is just in our heads, or does it apply to the good, bad, and ugly of our everyday lives? It’s either all true, or not at all. It either makes our lives abundant and satisfying, or why bother obeying? We all know the answer. God’s Word applied to our lives changes everything. Our challenge is to trust God for the grace and power to live it out.

Cultivating (Additional Reading): Matthew 4:14; Psalm 119:105)

The surety of His presence ~ Jon Courson

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. - James 4:8

One of my favorite verses in all of the Bible: Draw nigh to God, and He might draw nigh to you. No. Draw nigh to God, and He will sometimes draw nigh to you. No. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. That’s a promise! Don’t let anyone cast aspersions on God’s goodness or nature by saying, ‘I tried to get close to the Lord, but He is just so far from me.’

The Bible says He will draw nigh — always.

People say to me, ‘I’ve tried, but I can’t seem to connect with God.’

‘I don’t believe you,’ I lovingly answer, ‘because God’s Word says He will always draw near to us if we draw near to Him, and I have found this promise to be true. Without fail, every time I have been serious about seeking God, He has made Himself known to me through a Scripture, in my heart, or through the Body.’

Sometimes, gang, we need to lovingly say to those who whine about feeling far from God even though they claim they have tried to draw near to Him, ‘You’re deceiving yourself, or you’re trying to deceive me because God’s Word says that if you take the time and expend the energy to draw near to Him, He will draw near to you.

More Consequences of Accessing Grace through Faith ~ Bob Hoekstra

Time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness. (Hebrews 11:32-33a)

With time and pages running out in his epistle, our divinely inspired writer summarizes the testimonies of specific servants of the Lord (Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel), as well as one general category (the prophets). His summary presents more consequences of accessing grace through faith.

The first consequence of their faith is that they "subdued kingdoms." As with Joshua, David was exceptionally effective in defeating enemy nations. "David attacked the Philistines, subdued them… Then he defeated Moab…And David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his power by the River Euphrates…Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus…He also put garrisons in Edom" (1 Chronicles 18:1-3, 6, 13).

The next consequence of their faith is that they "worked righteousness." These terms speak of walking in righteousness before the Lord and calling others to the righteous ways of the Lord. Samuel had a reputation of walking in righteousness before his God. "'There is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man'…Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate" (1 Samuel 9:6, 18). The prophets persistently called the people to forsake their ungodly ways and to turn to the Lord's righteous ways. Isaiah preached powerful warnings concerning unrighteousness. "Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward" (Isaiah 1:4). He also held forth the Lord as man's only hope of righteousness. "Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6-7).

The kingdoms we are to subdue today are the kingdoms of self and flesh, as well as the kingdom of this world righteousness we need and that we proclaim is the righteousness of Christ, who lives in us! The means is ever the same—by faith. (with its millions of bound and lost, who are perishing in darkness). The

Lord God of power and righteousness, teach me to rely upon Your power, that the kingdoms of self and flesh might be subdued in my life day by day. Lord, I want to abide in You, so Your righteousness might shine through me daily. Enable me to cry out against ungodliness, while at the same time, pointing people to You for the forgiveness and righteousness they need, Amen.

A Catalyst of a Question ~ Bob Coy

So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" Mark 9:21 (NKJV)

When Jesus came down from the Mount of Transfiguration, the father of a young man who was demon-possessed approached Him. Imagine the mosaic of emotions this dad must have been feeling: compassion for the son he once held in his arms as an infant, trepidation about the supernatural forces now at work in him, and frustration over his inability to do anything about it.

All this compelled the dad to bring his boy to the Lord for help. Amidst a crowd that had gathered, the enemy flexed its muscles by causing the son to convulse, moan, and foam at the mouth. What could be more pathetic and heart wrenching for this father? "All these people-strangers-watching my poor son act like this. How humiliating!"

Surveying the situation, Christ asks the father, "How long has this been happening to him?" Why did Jesus ask that? It wasn't because He didn't know the answer. Jesus already knew the answer. He knew this was a condition the son had suffered from since childhood, just as He knew every intricate twist and turn of his entire existence. So why did He ask how long this had been going on?

This question was a catalyst for reflection. It caused the dad to stop and recount the sad history behind his son's condition, the years of pain and powerlessness. "From childhood." It was more than just an answer but an admission of absolute weakness and inability. He had nothing to boast or brag about at that moment in that place, and that's exactly when and where Christ's power is unleashed.

In our own lives, there are things that require His healing touch, things that have afflicted us "from childhood." God wants to do that work in us, but at the same time we need to be in that place of having nothing to boast or brag. We need to confess our utter brokenness and nothingness before He can mend and make us whole.

Discuss with your group how brokenness can open the door to healing. Share an example from your own life.

Dig into Mark 9:14–29. What does the passage show you about the heart of this dad? How does the Heavenly Father use an earthly father in this situation? What spiritual lessons is the Master teaching in this situation? Decide as a group to lift up faithful fathers. Pray for the dads in your church and community.

Decide as a group to lift up faithful fathers. Pray for the dads in your church and community

Equipped to Serve ~ Charles Stanley

1 Peter 4:10-11

The Lord has given an amazing responsibility to those whom He has saved. He has called them to be His servants and accomplish His work here on earth. Just think about how remarkable this is: Almighty God, who needs nothing and can do all things, actually invites us to share in all that He is doing to draw people to Himself, to bring His children to spiritual maturity, and to care for those in need.

Being a servant of the Lord requires that we put ourselves under His authority, listen to His instructions, and carry out His commands. In our own strength, this task is beyond our abilities, but when we are walking obediently with Him, He supplies all that we need.

The Father never gives assignments for which He will not equip His children. He begins by developing Christlike character within us. Then, as we cooperate with His Spirit, God transforms a self-centered heart into the heart of a servant who delights in meeting the needs of others.

To further enable believers to do His work, the Lord gives them spiritual gifts which are to be used for the benefit of others. The Holy Spirit bestows each believer with the exact gift needed for serving in the specific work God has appointed for that person.

The invitation is issued; the strength and ability are provided. All that is needed are some willing servants to participate in the most exciting adventure on earth. Join with the Lord in His work, use your spiritual gifts, and make an impact for Christ in this world.

Let Go and Let God Be God ~ Joyce Meyer

O our God, will You not exercise judgment upon them? For we have no might to stand against this great company that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You. — 2 Chronicles 20:12

Here Jehoshaphat admits to God openly his total inability to deal with the problem. For years I tried very hard to change myself without success. I tried so hard and so long to break bad habits only to fail time and time again. I tried to alter different things in my life, to get prosperity, to make my ministry grow, and to be healed.

I remember wanting to give up simply because I was so exhausted from trying to fight my own battles. I went through all that on a regular basis until one day I was being really kind of melodramatic about it, trying to impress God with how miserable I was. I said something like, "God, I've had it. This is it. I'm through. Nothing I'm doing is working. I give up. I'm not going to do this anymore."

Just then, deep inside me, I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Really?" There was real excitement in His voice. That happens because the only time He gets to work in us is when we become so exhausted that we finally decide, "Instead of trying to do this myself, I'm going to give up and let God be God."

Trying to be God will wear you out fast. Why not give up your own effort and do what Jehoshaphat did in verse 12? Admit to God that you have no might to stand against your enemies and that you don't know what to do, but you are looking to Him for direction and deliverance.

True Repentance ~ Greg Laurie

"Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones."

— Luke 3:8

What do you think of when you hear the word "repent"? Maybe you think of someone wearing a sandwich board with flames on it who is yelling, "Repent!" It's a word we don't hear very much today.

You might be surprised to know that the first word to fall from the lips of Jesus Christ after He began His public ministry was "repent" (see Matthew 4:17).

The word "repent" means more than mere regret or sorrow. You can be sorry for something and not be repentant. You can feel sorry about a certain sin, especially if you reap the consequences of it. The person who gets caught in a lie is sorry. The criminal who gets caught is sorry. But the question is whether that sorrow leads to change. It might not. The liar might just be more careful. The criminal may plot his next crime with more foresight. There are people who are sorry for reaping the consequences of what they have done, but they have never made any changes in their lives.

Real sorrow, according to the Bible, will lead to repentance. It will lead to change. John the Baptist preached to the multitudes, "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance . . . " (Luke 3:8). Many people have never really repented of their sins. They have never really brought forth fruit in keeping with repentance. But this is absolutely necessary if you want to be forgiven of your sin. Recognition of personal sin is always the first step in receiving forgiveness.

However, you can recognize that you need to repent and still not do it. You can recognize your personal sin and not necessarily take action. The two need to come together.

Twitter Proverbs from Rick Warren

• If the only people you think are brilliant are those you agree with, you still have a lot to learn.about 7 hours ago from web

• You have just enough time to do God's will.If u cant get it all done, you're doing the wrong thing or doing it the wrong wayabout 21 hours ago from web

• "How can you expect a man who's warm to understand one who's cold?" - Solzhenitsynabout 21 hours ago from web

• Today you can watch the International Civil Forum on the Peresecuted Church at Saddleback.http://bit.ly/jmE0z7:54 AM Nov 8th from web

• @joshinthe818 Hey Pastor Rick, I'm a church planter in Burbank! THANKS 4 LETTING ME KNOW JOSH! RW Who else out there?10:44 PM Nov 7th from web in reply to joshinthe818

• Today:The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Last yr 176,000 Christians were murdered 4 their faith.10:42 PM Nov 7th from web

• If you are a church planter, please let me know!10:24 PM Nov 7th from web

• Size doesnt attract.Love does.People shun cold churches & flock to where they're loved. Our 4,500 home groups give love!12:05 PM Nov 6th from web

• The greatest churches in history are yet to be built.Are u prepared to be used by God? Willing to pay the price? To be hated?12:00 PM Nov 6th from web

• It’s a myth that megachurches are going away.They’ll be LARGER & MORE of them in Next Gen due to multi-site & technology.11:52 AM Nov 6th from web

• We’ve planted over 40 churches but still needed multi sites as one answer for our own space needs.11:49 AM Nov 6th from web

• Multisites arent a substitute 4 planting churches but a cheaper strategy than building bigger to handle your growth.Do BOTH11:48 AM Nov 6th from web

• Other churches are family, not competition. We’ve helped 6 denominations plant in the Saddleback Valley. We love them all.7:11 AM Nov 6th from web

• In a democracy nobody gets their way all the time. Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose.7:02 AM Nov 6th from web

• Redefining marriage has lost in EVERY state(31)when PEOPLE got to VOTE on it -still media calls the majority view extreme?6:58 AM Nov 6th from web

• 280 of our young Hispanic pastors at Saddleback 4mentoring.We'll all speak Spanish in Heaven so u better start learning it!10:32 AM Nov 5th from web

• Never confuse prominence with significance.Your ministry has eternal significance, despite who knows about it now. 2Cor4:189:42 AM Nov 5th from web

• "Only those who throw away their lives for my sake & the Good News will ever know what it means to really live" Mk8:35 LB9:00 AM Nov 5th from web

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God"s Sanctuary For Sabbath Rest ~ Kay Arthur

Jeremiah, Part 1 (Return To Me)

Program 34 – God‟s Sanctuary For Sabbath Rest

Are you one of those people that feel like your wealth has just been taken away from you? Whatever it was, a small amount or a large amount, it’s like it has fallen through your hands like sand. Are you one of those that say “My inheritance is gone? I have nothing left. Why has this happened? What am I going to do?” O Beloved, you need to lift up your eyes. You need to look at that throne of majesty high from the beginning and let it be your place of sanctuary. (See Jeremiah 17:12)

In Jeremiah chapter 16 He has told them great calamity is coming. Now we move to Jeremiah chapter 17 and what He’s going to do is, He’s going to focus on Israel’s heart. He’s going to talk about their heart in this chapter in very significant ways. Listen to Jeremiah chapter 17, verse 1: “The sin of Judah is written down with an iron stylus; with a diamond point it is engraved upon the tablet of their heart….” (Jeremiah 17:1) That sin is just written on their hearts and it is done with a diamond point. A diamond is very, very hard. That means that their hearts are exceedingly hard. Now we’ve read about their hearts. We’ve read about the fact that they don’t have a circumcised heart. They haven’t removed the old. They have stayed in this condition. So listen to what it says. “…It is engraved on the tablet of their heart…on the horns of their altars.” (Jeremiah 17:1)

You see when they made a sacrifice they would go, and you can read about this in Leviticus chapter 16, verse 18, and he talks about the blood on the horns of the altar. Their sin is so bad they keep having to make sacrifices. It says, “As they remember their children…they remember their altars and their Asherim by green trees on the high hills.” (Jeremiah 17:2)

Do you remember when we had Nita Tin? If you missed that session that we had with her last week and her talking about the idols that she worshipped in Burma. And that’s where they would put their idols under the green trees. And then He says this, “O mountain of Mine in the countryside, I will give over your wealth and all your treasures for booty….” (Jeremiah 17:3) Now this is what I do is, I take and put a green dollar sign in my Bible for every reference to “riches”, to “money”, to “wealth”, to “treasures”. This is what God is saying. Your sin is engraved on your hearts. It is so bad. And He says, “…Mountain of Mine in the countryside, I [am going to] give…your wealth…,”(Jeremiah 17:3) What you own and you possess, “…and…your treasures for booty….” (Jeremiah 17:3) Now if He’s talking about “O mountain of Mine,” as Mount Zion, when the children of Israel are besieged by Nebuchadnezzar in the first siege, in the second siege, in the third siege treasures and wealth are taken out of the temple and finally the temple is destroyed in 586 B.C. But they’re taken out and they’re carried to Babylon. You’re gonna read about it. It’s in the end of Kings. It’s in the end of Chronicles. It’s going to be at the end of Jeremiah also. “…Your high places for sin throughout your borders.” He says, “…You will, even of yourself, let go of your inheritance….” (Jeremiah 17:3-4)

Now their inheritance is the land. And if you will remember the chart that you’ve downloaded, by going to “preceptsforlife.com”, He is going to take them into captivity into Babylon. And they are going to come out of their inheritance because their inheritance is the land of Israel. It includes some of Syria, some of Lebanon, some of Jordan. I mean, they don’t have it now, but they’re going to be driven out of their inheritance.

And see, what do we look at in the United States of America? What started happening at the first of the year 2009? I mean, people were losing their 401’s. They were losing what they had put up as their inheritance, their retirement, so to speak. And so He says, “You will, even of yourself, let go of your inheritance that I gave you; and I will make you serve your enemies in the land which you do not know; for you have kindled a fire in My anger which will burn forever.” (Jeremiah 17:4) “I am so angry at you. And you kindled it. You started the fire with your sin.” “Thus says the LORD, „Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength…whose heart turns away from the LORD. For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes….‟” Put a dollar sign over it. “…But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant.” (Jeremiah 17:5-6)

“The Chattanooga Times Free Press”, Saturday, February 21st, it says, “Value of banks plunges. Obama assurances don’t ease nationalization fears.” It says “Once again Wall Street is losing confidence in America’s beleaguered banks, and this time, experts say, in Washington’s ever changing plans.”

They talk about change. They keep changing. They keep changing. “To rescue them as well.” And I don’t like it when our President, and I want to esteem him, but I don’t like it when he says that it is a matter of politics when they will not agree with his plan. No, it is not a matter of politics. It’s a matter of integrity. And it says, “During somber assurances from the White House that the industry is sound, shares of bank company’s plunge to new lows on Friday on fears that some of the country’s largest banks including Citi Corp and Bank of America eventually would be nationalized.”

They heard a rumor. They heard Senator Christopher Dodd, the Democrat from Connecticut saying, for a while the government may have to take over the banks. And what happens? Fear struck their heart.

Listen, Precious One, when fear starts to strike your heart, when your inheritance goes, when your wealth is being taken away, you need to remember that there is majestic throne on high from the beginning. (See Jeremiah 17:12) God has not left His throne. He is sovereign. He creates good and He creates adversity. He is the Lord that does all these things. (See Isaiah 45:7) And then you need to run to Him ’cause it is the place of your sanctuary. Remember that time line that we have. Remember the throne above it all and listen and cling. He’s saying, “Don’t trust in mankind.”

You know this amazed me. February 18th, 2009 American thinker Clarice Feldman wrote this article, “What Is the World Coming To?” Pat Dollard links to Peter Goodman’s report. The Russian leader warned the U.S. against adopting socialism because it doesn’t work. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said that the U.S. should take a lesson from the pages of Russian history and not exercise excessive intervention in economic activity and blind faith in the states’ omnipotence.

At the same time, February 24th, 2009 the Harris Poll was taken and the Harris Poll showed that Obama was more popular than Jesus Christ. People were looking to Obama, so it was Obama. Then it was Jesus, then it was Gandhi and then it was Martin Luther King. We’re looking at the arm of flesh. You can’t trust in the arm of flesh. Flesh will fail you. Listen to what He says. You’ll “…be like a bush in the desert…you will not see when prosperity comes….” (Jeremiah 17:6) You’re not gonna get wealthy. You’re not gonna see prosperity. You’re gonna live in stony waste, “…a land of salt without inhabitant.” (Jeremiah 17:6)

Contrast: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD….” (Jeremiah 17:7) You have a throne on high. That’s where your security is. That’s where your trust is. “…And whose trust is the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:7) Not just in His sovereignty, but in His character, in who He is.

That’s the man that’s blessed. And what will this man be like? Now listen, listen carefully. Observe the text. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes….” (Jeremiah 17:8) It doesn’t say that the heat’s not gonna come. But you will not fear. “…But its leaves will be green….” (Jeremiah 17:8) You can have green leaves in drought time. It says, “…Its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in the year of drought….” (Jeremiah 17:8)

People are afraid and they’re reacting on the basis of fear instead of stopping and being sober minded and looking at the throne and trusting in God and knowing that He is your sanctuary. He is the place where you can find strength. He is the place that is your stronghold. He is the place that is your sanity. He is the place that is your security. It says, and He will not “…cease to yield fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:8)

Oh Beloved, do you see what He’s saying? Cursed if you’re trusting in mankind and blessed if you are trusting in the Lord and your trust is the Lord. Yes, heat is going to come. Yes, drought was going on. We know that from last week. They were in the midst of drought and yet you could have green leaves in drought time if you would look at the Lord and trusts in Him. But why don’t they? “The heart is more deceitful than all else [it] is desperately [wicked]. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) And see the heart and the mind are interchangeable. “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind….” You see how He says that. “…Even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:10) Do you want God to reward you according to your deeds according to your ways? We’ll talk about it more in just a minute.

Welcome back, Beloved. I know what you’re thinking. I know you’re thinking: “Listen, I am suffering financially because of others that did us in.” And that is true. I mean our whole economy was shaken. And in the midst of the shaking we found out that a lot of people are getting paid a lot of money that they don’t deserve and they haven’t earned, but they think it’s their perk. And we hear about people that, that have ruined the lives of others because they have been full of corruption. As we look at this wealth, next to verse 3 of Jeremiah 17 when He says “…I will give…your wealth and…your treasures for booty….” (Jeremiah 17:3) I want you to write “15:13”, and I want you to go back and look at Jeremiah 15:13. He says “Your wealth and your treasures I will give for booty without cost, even for all your sins and within all your borders.” (Jeremiah 15:13)

Look at Jeremiah chapter 20 in verse 5, just jumping ahead. He says, “I will…give over all the wealth of this city, all its produce…all [of] its costly things; even all the treasures of the kings of Judah I will give [them] to the hand of their enemies…they will plunder them, take them away and bring them to Babylon.” (Jeremiah 20:5) They’re going to plunder them. So if you’ve been plundered, I know it’s wrong, I know it’s unjust, but I want to tell you something, don’t ruin your life with an anger and a bitterness that will not go away. Instead lift your head to the throne above and to the One that sits on the throne and let God be your sanctuary and trust in Him.

You know the Bible says, “It[’s been] good for me that I[’ve] been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes. (Psalm 119:71, KJV) And so many times when we find ourselves in hard places is when we get to know God. Listen to what He says, “As a partridge…,” verse 11 of chapter 17, “…that hatches eggs which it has not laid, so is he who makes a fortune, but unjustly; in the midst of his days it [the fortune] will forsake him, and in the end he will be a fool.” (Jeremiah 17:11) Those people that got their gain unjustly are not going to get away with it.

And so then we come to our crowning verse that I’ve used all this week: “A glorious throne on high from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary. O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake You will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth…,” listen, “…will be written down….” (Jeremiah 17:12-13) Your sins are written on your heart. You turn away on earth it’s going to be written down. Why? “…Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water….” (Jeremiah 17:13) “Here I was the fountain of living waters. You could have drunk of Me. You could have been satisfied, but instead you forsook Me.”

In Revelation chapter 20 at the end of the thousand year reign it talks about the great white throne judgment when the books will be opened and all the those who stand there are lost. They’re going to go to the lake of fire [where the worm dies not and the fire is not quenched]. (PARAPHRASE, Mark 9:48) But the books will be opened and they will be judged according to their deeds. (See Revelation 20:12) They could have had salvation. Jesus died for them but they refused. And He says “Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed….” (Jeremiah 17:14) Jeremiah is speaking. You colored that. I do it orange. “…Save me [O God] and I will be saved….” (Jeremiah 17:14) You’re the One that can heal me.

And so if you’re hurting because of all that’s been happening in your life, if you’re hurting and angry and bitter because of what others have done to you and, or you’re just walking around and we’re saying we’ve bailed them out. We paid the mortgages on their house. I restrained myself. I made sure I could pay my mortgage. Listen, do not go there. “Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me [O LORD] and I will be saved, for You are my praise.

Look, they keep saying…„Where‟s the word of the LORD? Let it come now!‟” (Jeremiah 17:14-15) Hey, wait a minute. You’ve been talking about destruction, you’ve been saying it’s gonna come. Well bring it on.

It reminds me of 2 Peter when they say, “Oh, he’s talking about the promise of Jesus Christ coming. You’ve been talking about Him being King on the earth. You’ve been talking about His ruling over the face of this earth. But they say “Where is the promise of His coming…?” (2 Peter 3:4) Well they’re saying, “Okay, you’ve been saying this Jeremiah. Now where is God? Bring it on. Let’s see it.” And Jeremiah says, “But as for me, I have not hurried away from being a shepherd after You….” “God, I have done my shepherd duties.” “…Nor have I longed for the woeful day….” “You know that I haven’t longed for this day.” He says, “You Yourself know that the utterance of my lips was in Your presence.”(Jeremiah 17:16) “Oh God, „Do[n’t] be a terror to me; You are my refuge in the day of disaster.‟” (Jeremiah 17:17)

So what is he pointing us to again? He’s pointing us to that throne that we drew at the very top of the chart. “…You are my refuge in the day of [distress].” (Jeremiah 17:17) “You are my sanctuary. You are the One that I can run to.”

“Let those who persecute me be put to shame, but as for me, let me not be put to shame; let them be dismayed…let not [me]...be dismayed. Bring on them [the] day of disaster, and crush them with [a] twofold destruction! [Then the LORD said to me], „Go and stand in the public gate, through which the kings of Judah come in and go out, as well as in all the gates of Jerusalem.‟” (Jeremiah 17:18-19)

“I want you to go to every gate in Jerusalem and I want you to: „…Say to them, “Listen to the word of the LORD, kings of Judah, and [kings of] all Judah and all inhabitants of Jerusalem who come in [and out of ] these gates [the kings and the common man] (Jeremiah 17:20) „Thus says the LORD, “Take heed to yourselves…do not carry any load on the sabbath day or bring anything…through the gates of Jerusalem [on the Sabbath.] (Jeremiah 17:21) Do not “…bring a load out of your houses on the Sabbath… [don’t] do any work, but keep the sabbath [as] holy, as I commanded your forefathers.”‟ (Jeremiah 17:22)

Yet they did not listen [they did not] incline their ears, but [they] stiffened their necks [so as] not to listen or take correction. But it will come about, if you listen attentively to Me,‟ [says] the LORD, „to bring no load…through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but to keep the sabbath day holy by doing no work on it, then there will come…through the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David….‟” (Jeremiah 17:23-25)

“The ones that will come in will not be the enemy. They will be your own flesh and blood. They will be at the tribe of Judah. They will be of the house of David.” He says “[Then there] will come...riding on chariots and…horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and this city will be inhabited forever.” (Jeremiah 17:25) All you have to do is keep the Sabbath.

Now what’s the Sabbath a picture of? We’re going to go into it more in our next program. But I want you to get the rest of this. Then “They will come…from the cities of Judah…from the environs of Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the lowland, from the hill country and from the Negev, bringing burnt offerings [and] sacrifices [and] grain offerings and incense, and bringing sacrifices of thanksgiving to the house of the LORD. (Jeremiah 17:26)

“But if you do not listen to Me to keep the sabbath day holy by not carrying a load and coming in through the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem and not be quenched.” (Jeremiah 17:27)

The choice is yours. Obey or disobey, be blessed or be cursed. What are you gonna do? Are you gonna obey God? Are you gonna trust Him? Are you gonna look to the throne that’s on high? Then you’ll be secure if you do.

Calm in the Battle ~ Bob Caldwell

Psalm 120 — Calm in the Battle 120:6 My soul has dwelt too long With one who hates peace. Unending conflict results from attacks fueled by deceit and lies upon your life can weary you to the point of hopeless despair. This was the experience of the psalmist, as it has been for many. Peace with his attackers seemed impossible to find. What do you do when it seems you can no longer bear what will not go away? Cry out to God. Lay all your burdens upon Him. The overwhelming pressures we experience may not be removed when we like. We must therefore be quick to let the strength of God carry this load. If we do not, our enemies have their desired end. They have broken us and left us in deep sorrow and anxiety. That is victory enough for many of our enemies. Instead, may God's strengthening grace be with us in the onslaught of attacks upon us. An assurance from God of calm strength and peace within our soul will be our portion until our vindication comes. Psalm 121 — Look Up 121:1-2 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. In this fallen world there is much that can downcast our soul. It's interesting that this often results in our eyes cast down, looking to the ground in despair. The advice of the psalmist is one of the surest ways to overcome despair. Look up! Look to God. Rehearse in your mind and proclaim with your tongue our shared expectation from God. He promises to carry us through the fiery trials and turbulent waters we all must face in a world that is cursed because of sin. Look up, then look out in to this tough world with all the hope of a victor. For you are a victor when you go forth surrounded by God. Psalm 122 — Anticipated Joy 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD." For those who personally experience the riches of God there is nothing like the joy of anticipating time to seek Him. To experience the pleasure only His presence can give us and the deep satisfaction we feel in expressing our love to God. In return we know we will be immersed in God's love for us. To be surrounded by those who share in our love for God adds all the more to our joy. What pure gladness is our shared pleasure in God! Psalm 123 — Mercy For Those Scorned 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He has mercy on us. Those who mock God will do so in even greater measure toward those who believe in God. They find pleasure in pouring scorn and contempt upon those who trust in God for their lives. The psalmist therefore pleads that God would make it beyond doubt that He is real. That God has faithfully given blessings of mercy upon those who believe in Him beyond anything man could have ever done. This is a wise prayer. It not only blesses the one praying, but it opens the heart of the scornful. Psalm 124 — God's Help Beyond Expectation 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. The honest testimony of God's people includes countless times when God has divinely intervened to save us from what would have been sure ruin. How often God has led us to escape from sin that would have destroyed us. How often has He faithfully kept us from financial ruin, or the loss of blessings that money could never buy. That God is "on our side" should in itself cause us to live in hopeful expectation no matter what the oncoming troubles may be (v. 1). Psalm 125 — Protected From Corruption 125:3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest On the land allotted to the righteous, Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity. For us to be unmovable in our faith in God requires that we do not compromise with evil. There lies the wisdom of this prayer that God would remove the corrupting influence of evil that could ruin us. Let us therefore be partners with God in this process. We cannot remove ourselves to where there is no evil as long as we dwell in a fallen world. Therefore may we build lifestyles that do not invite evil influences. Instead, may we live in the fruits of righteousness so that we will be able to bring God's goodness wherever evil has left its tragic results.
Psalm 120-25 A Song of Ascents. 1 In my distress I cried to the LORD, And He heard me. 2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue. 3 What shall be given to you, Or what shall be done to you, You false tongue? 4 Sharp arrows of the warrior, With coals of the broom tree! 5 Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar! 6 My soul has dwelt too long With one who hates peace. 7 I am for peace; But when I speak, they are for war. Psalm 121A Song of Ascents. 1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? 2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore. Psalm 122A Song of Ascents. Of David. 1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD." 2 Our feet have been standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem! 3 Jerusalem is built As a city that is compact together, 4 Where the tribes go up, The tribes of the LORD, To the Testimony of Israel, To give thanks to the name of the LORD. 5 For thrones are set there for judgment, The thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you. 7 Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces." 8 For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, "Peace be within you." 9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good. Psalm 123A Song of Ascents. 1 Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He has mercy on us. 3 Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt. 4 Our soul is exceedingly filled With the scorn of those who are at ease, With the contempt of the proud. Psalm 124A Song of Ascents. Of David. 1 "If it had not been the LORD who was on our side," Let Israel now say— 2 "If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, When men rose up against us, 3 Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us; 4 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul; 5 Then the swollen waters Would have gone over our soul." 6 Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 125A Song of Ascents. 1 Those who trust in the LORD Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever. 3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest On the land allotted to the righteous, Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity. 4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, And to those who are upright in their hearts. 5 As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, The LORD shall lead them away With the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel!
Psalm 120-125 This psalm begins a series of 15 psalms that have the title "A Song of Ascents." Most Bible scholars think that these were song during pilgrimage up to Jerusalem for the three major festivals at which each Jewish male living in the promised land was required to come to the Temple. v. 1 In my distress – This verse clearly identifies this psalm as a thanksgiving hymn. v. 2 lying lips…deceitful tongue(s) – The psalmist is being slandered by his foes. v. 3 You false tongue? – As James puts it, the tongue is "a world of evil among the parts of the body" (James 3:6). v. 4 Sharp arrows of the warrior – This verse compares a sharp tongue to the war arrow with its point honed to razor sharpness. with coals of the broom tree – Wood from the broom bush burns hotly for a very long time. v. 5 Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! – This is probably a proverbial saying, citing the two farthest-flung points of the world known to the poet; it would be like us saying, "It's horrible! I feel like I'm living on another planet!" v. 6 My soul has dwelt too long with one who hates peace – The psalmist mourns the fact that he is living for what seems like an interminable time with people who aggressively attack others. Psalm 121 This beautiful little pilgrim psalm has been the companion of the people of God on their journey through life for three millennia. The psalmist is gripped by fear as he faces the dangers of the "trail" he is on. v. 1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? – This is a rhetorical question that the psalmist seems to be using in an "inner conversation." He asks about the source of confidence and hope as he is on his way through life. The "hills," though, are clearly not the source of his aid; this may be an oblique reference to the various shrines (most of them to pagan gods) high on the hilltops. But the poet's help comes from an entirely different source. v. 3 He will not allow your foot to be moved – He will not allow me to stumble. He who keeps you will not slumber – Or guards. The English translation obscures the fact that the verb "guard" (shomer, Heb.) is repeated 6 times in the brief 8 verses of this psalm. This phrase in v. 3 is only two words in Hebrew. Literally: "Does-not-sleep, the-One-guarding-you." On a dangerous journey, it was of vital importance that someone be constantly on watch. v. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel – Again: "Indeed: not-nodding nor-sleeping, the-one-guarding Israel!" v. 5 The LORD is your keeper – "the-LORD – your-guard" The LORD is your shade at your right hand - "the-LORD – your-shade; at hand, your-right-one" v. 6 sun shall not strike you – Sunstroke is a constant danger for the traveler in the desert (hence the importance of "shade" in the previous verse); the moon was considered to cause madness v. 7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil – Literally: "The LORD shall-guard-you"…"He-shall-guard your-soul." your going out and your coming in – May refer specifically to the approach and departure of the pilgrim to and from Jerusalem, but is undoubtedly meant in a broader sense to include all of life. Compare this with Israel's great declaration of faith (Deut. 6:4-6). Psalm 122 v. 1 I was glad – Like the other "songs of ascent" (Ps. 120-135), this "song of Zion" was sung as the people of Israel went on pilgrimage to the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. v. 2 Our feet have been – The experience of entering the gates of Jerusalem and then the Temple precincts must have made an overwhelming impression on the pilgrims. v. 3 Jerusalem…a city that is compact together – Points either to the unity of the city or its compactness within the defense fortifications. v. 4 Where the tribes go up – on official pilgrimage (John 7:8-10) to the three "pilgrim festivals" at the Temple (Luke 2:41) The tribes of the LORD – the tribes worshipping the Lord To the Testimony of Israel – Better translated: "According to the statute given to Israel"; Or, as God had commanded Israel. v. 5 For thrones are set there for judgment – Jerusalem, as David's capital, was the political and judicial center of life in Israel. v. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem – A command understood by God's people through history that still applies to the church as a responsibility today. prosper – yishlayu (Heb.) a play on the name of Yerushalayem (Jerusalem) they…who love you – Literally, "your lovers" (O Jerusalem!) v. 7 Peace – shalom (Heb.) another word play on the name of "Jeru-salem" Walls – ramparts; the defensive outer walls of the city prosperity – Another word play; see comment on the previous verse. v. 9 the house of the LORD our God – the Temple I will seek your good – God calls upon His people to pray for Jerusalem and actively seek its well-being. Psalm 123 v. 1 Unto You I lift up my eyes – In an attitude of supplication and prayer. Perhaps reminiscent of the way the eyes of the pilgrims would keep looking up toward Jerusalem as they ascended the heights toward the city. O You who dwell in the heavens – In spite of the fact that God's Temple is in Jerusalem, it was always made clear to Israel that God was not confined to one location; He is (to use a modern word) transcendent. v. 2 as the eyes of servants…as the eyes of a maid…so our eyes look to the LORD our God –This beautiful and compelling metaphor clearly speaks to the proper attitude of God's people toward Him in total dependency upon His mercy and grace. v. 3 Those who are at ease – The smug and arrogant look scornfully upon the pious life of the psalmist; it is a bitter pill for the poet, who has endured much. He pleads for redress and justice. Psalm 124 This is a community psalm of thanksgiving, probably sung or chanted on pilgrimage to the Temple. v. 1 Let Israel now say – This is probably a "call" by the leader of the pilgrims to the band on its way toward Jerusalem…or of the priest as the worshippers entered the Temple precincts. v. 2 When men rose up against us – in an attack on the nation v. 3 they would have swallowed us alive – like a wild beast gorging on its prey v. 4 the waters…the stream // would have overwhelmed us…would have gone over our soul – Note the typical Hebrew parallelism, in which the second member of each pair strengthens or expands on the first: the "waters" (general term) come into focus as a "rushing torrent;" "overwhelmed" is strengthened to "washed over our deepest being." v. 5 the swollen waters...would have gone over our soul – As often in Hebrew poetry, the following verse picks up and expands on the theme: the waters are now "proud" or "raging;" they would have "swept us away." v. 6 Blessed be – switches back to the metaphor from v. 3: You have "not given us as prey to their teeth." v. 7 has escaped – Our life has been preserved by God smashing the trap in which we were caught, and we have escaped. v. 8 Our help is in the name – The "Name of the LORD" stands for all He is and does for His people (Ps. 121:2). As "Maker of heaven and earth," He has absolute authority. Psalm 125 This little pilgrim song expresses faith in God's love and care for Israel in spite of her enemies and conquerors. v. 1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion – the central hill upon which Jerusalem was built which cannot be moved, but abides forever – Even if the city is conquered, the Temple itself destroyed, God's purpose for Jerusalem and His care of His people will never be rendered invalid. v. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people – As the mountains encircling Jerusalem provide for her defense, God Himself will protect His people. v. 3 For the scepter of wickedness – the wicked and bitter rule of the conquerors the land allotted to the righteous – promised to Israel by God's covenant with Israel (Gen. 12:1-3) Righteous – zedekim (Heb.) the remnant community of the faithful v. 4 Do good – Those who are good…who are upright in their hearts are contrasted with those who cave in under the pressure of the conquerors and turn aside to their crooked ways. This is the key challenge of faith: to follow God through the darkness; as one old saint put it, "to trust God when you cannot trace Him!" Peace be upon Israel! – Shalom al-Yisrael! (Heb.)
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. –Psalm 121:1-2 These are amazing words we read in these psalms today, God. With You in our lives, we do not have to worry about how to fight against the things of this world—we have the most powerful presence in existence at our disposal! As we stand in the valley of trouble, let us heed these words and lift our eyes with the sure expectation of Your help.
Missions Prayer Being a part of missions prayer has helped me to grow in my faith and in awareness of the tremendous needs all over the world. Having some details about some of the Christians being persecuted for their faith has given me more compassion and a desire to pray more faithfully for all those being persecuted. Although I may not know their personal stories, God does and He loves them so much. This has helped my heart to grow. Prayer Points for those around the world who are under persecution for serving God and spreading the truth of Jesus that the words of the missionaries would be empowered with the Holy Spirit and that the truth of Jesus Christ would sink deeply into the hearts of those they encounter