At Exodus 29 God gave Moses very specific instructions about the offering of the daily sacrifices, one in the morning and the other in the evening at twilight. He called it "a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the Lord by fire." (v:41)
About a thousand years later, David wrote these words for the people of Israel to sing to God during their worship, "O Lord, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you. May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting of my hands be like the evening sacrifice." Psalm 141:1-2
It is almost certain that the practice Moses initiated continued as long as the tabernacle survived but after Joshua and his generation had died, most likely so did the practice of morning and evening sacrifice. The practice may have been revived by Samuel because David certainly was familiar with the ancient ways. He set out to revise the practice of worship and his songs contributed immeasurably to the success of his nation during his reign. They still speak to men and women of faith.
I feel honored and deeply grateful to David for teaching me to love and worship God in an ancient way that truly gives him praise. God loves the expressions of joy we feel in his presence and he surely loves to hear us sing David's songs that take us all the way back to the days of Moses. How blessed we are to be loved by a Father who listens when we call out to him and lift our hands to praise him. HALLELUJAH!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
LIFE CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE - BUT.........
Life is good! I hear that from folks just about every day and even say those words myself. Why? Because it's true, life IS good! Well, maybe not every minute of every day of every year, but when I step back and take a broader look, I see my Father's hand in my life.
At Psalm 139, David seems to have that same sense but he also seems to be struggling a bit with some inner challenge. At v:7-12 he sings about the impossibility of hiding from God's Holy Spirit, day or night. I don't think he is really trying to hide from God because he affirms there is no such place, but he seems to write this song to be sung as a form of praise to God and directs it to the "choirmaster". He wants his people to fully appreciate God's love for and care of his people. Then he affirms, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before even one of them came to be."
I am quite certain God hasn't "ordained" every decision I have made and every action I have undertaken because too many times I have ignored what I knew was God's will and went my own way. But, he never gave up on me, even at my worst. He just kept leading me to a better place - his place for me.
So, even though life at it's best is unpredictable and can shift in a blink, the one constant that keeps me grounded is the presence of God and the constant comfort of his Spirit. He's been there all along, watching for the right moment to step into my life and make just the right adjustments to get me back on the path he has ordained for me. That path will always be Jesus. HALLELUJAH!
At Psalm 139, David seems to have that same sense but he also seems to be struggling a bit with some inner challenge. At v:7-12 he sings about the impossibility of hiding from God's Holy Spirit, day or night. I don't think he is really trying to hide from God because he affirms there is no such place, but he seems to write this song to be sung as a form of praise to God and directs it to the "choirmaster". He wants his people to fully appreciate God's love for and care of his people. Then he affirms, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before even one of them came to be."
I am quite certain God hasn't "ordained" every decision I have made and every action I have undertaken because too many times I have ignored what I knew was God's will and went my own way. But, he never gave up on me, even at my worst. He just kept leading me to a better place - his place for me.
So, even though life at it's best is unpredictable and can shift in a blink, the one constant that keeps me grounded is the presence of God and the constant comfort of his Spirit. He's been there all along, watching for the right moment to step into my life and make just the right adjustments to get me back on the path he has ordained for me. That path will always be Jesus. HALLELUJAH!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
NO LONGER A COWARD
"WHEN I CALLED, YOU ANSWERED ME; YOU MADE ME BOLD AND STOUTHEARTED." Psalm 138:3 NIV
I love these words of David because they mirror my own experience. I don't think I have ever really thought of myself as a "coward" but "bold" and "stouthearted" might be a bit above the reality. David's words seem to imply that, like me, he experienced a fearful hesitancy at times. There is certainly no shortage of risks and dangers as we stumble through life, and fear can be a healthy warning sign.
For people of faith, fear is an illusion. Although some of the things we fear come to pass, our worst fears rarely do. And in those times when you say, "I was afraid this would happen", doesn't it turn out not to be as devastating as you thought? Fear is Satan's most effective control button, but for people of God, faith ALWAYS rises to the top to smother that fear - ALWAYS!
Read David's words again and try to recall some moment in your own life when God did the very same thing for you. Pick up your Bible and read Jesus' words in the garden that fearful night before he went to the cross. Then read Luke 22:43.
Our Father is still in the business of making his people "bold and stouthearted". I can testify. HALLELUJAH!
I love these words of David because they mirror my own experience. I don't think I have ever really thought of myself as a "coward" but "bold" and "stouthearted" might be a bit above the reality. David's words seem to imply that, like me, he experienced a fearful hesitancy at times. There is certainly no shortage of risks and dangers as we stumble through life, and fear can be a healthy warning sign.
For people of faith, fear is an illusion. Although some of the things we fear come to pass, our worst fears rarely do. And in those times when you say, "I was afraid this would happen", doesn't it turn out not to be as devastating as you thought? Fear is Satan's most effective control button, but for people of God, faith ALWAYS rises to the top to smother that fear - ALWAYS!
Read David's words again and try to recall some moment in your own life when God did the very same thing for you. Pick up your Bible and read Jesus' words in the garden that fearful night before he went to the cross. Then read Luke 22:43.
Our Father is still in the business of making his people "bold and stouthearted". I can testify. HALLELUJAH!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
THE FACE OF GOD
As I have wandered through David's 70+ Psalms I have been intrigued and surprised by some of his statements about God, many of which kind of fly in the face of what I have been taught and believed my whole life. One of the greatest lessons I have learned from David is to resist my cultural habit of making God into what I am comfortable with.
Here's an example, "The Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall see his face." Psalm 11:7 ESV
Having heard my whole life that no one can look on God's face and live, that statement from David has caused me to look more critically into what he Holy Spirit has revealed to us about the face of God. It is true that God told this to Moses at Exodus 33:20, but there are numerous other scripture references where God either said the opposite or he allowed men to look in his face and live.
I have no logical explanation for this apparent difference and feel no need to explain God's words or his actions. However, the idea of seeing God's face is truly a rather exciting prospect and something I am totally incapable of getting my mind around.
God is my Father and I love him as my Father but seeing his face isn't an event I can visualize or rehearse. He is very real to me and I long to see his face because he has given me everything I love and cherish. And, I am satisfied with the sure knowledge that my Father has revealed himself to all the human family in the face of his Son, Jesus Christ, so actually seeing his face isn't a real issue for me. But, it is an intriguing prospect. Kind of makes me think of Paul's self description at 2 Corinthians 12 about a man who was caught up to the third heaven who saw and heard things he could not even speak about.
This I know for certain - heaven will be way beyond anything I can even imagine right now. That doesn't frighten me and it shouldn't frighten any person of faith. It should be exciting and charge us with a renewed sense of destiny as we stumble around our own imperfect world. We will see things and experience some things that we wont be able to put into words. We will see Jesus. That's enough! HALLELUJAH!
Here's an example, "The Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall see his face." Psalm 11:7 ESV
Having heard my whole life that no one can look on God's face and live, that statement from David has caused me to look more critically into what he Holy Spirit has revealed to us about the face of God. It is true that God told this to Moses at Exodus 33:20, but there are numerous other scripture references where God either said the opposite or he allowed men to look in his face and live.
I have no logical explanation for this apparent difference and feel no need to explain God's words or his actions. However, the idea of seeing God's face is truly a rather exciting prospect and something I am totally incapable of getting my mind around.
God is my Father and I love him as my Father but seeing his face isn't an event I can visualize or rehearse. He is very real to me and I long to see his face because he has given me everything I love and cherish. And, I am satisfied with the sure knowledge that my Father has revealed himself to all the human family in the face of his Son, Jesus Christ, so actually seeing his face isn't a real issue for me. But, it is an intriguing prospect. Kind of makes me think of Paul's self description at 2 Corinthians 12 about a man who was caught up to the third heaven who saw and heard things he could not even speak about.
This I know for certain - heaven will be way beyond anything I can even imagine right now. That doesn't frighten me and it shouldn't frighten any person of faith. It should be exciting and charge us with a renewed sense of destiny as we stumble around our own imperfect world. We will see things and experience some things that we wont be able to put into words. We will see Jesus. That's enough! HALLELUJAH!
Monday, July 5, 2010
WHO MAY DWELL IN GOD'S HOUSE!
David wrote - "I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells." Psalm 26:8 NIV
I love that place too! But, it's more a journey than a place. God made that very clear long after David wrote those words when his son Solomon dedicated the temple. God told the wise man that He was more interested in how people live than where.
So, here is David's challenging list of guidelines for living in God's house. Don't rush through them, take it slow and let the Holy Spirit's words penetrate your heart.
"Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks truth from his heart, and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong, and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken." Psalm 15 NIV
David repeated much the same list at Psalm 34:12-16, which Peter quotes at 1 Peter 3 urging the new disciples of Jesus to seek this life of blessing from God.
All through the teaching of Jesus and the Apostles two crucial organs seem to be the source of all of the difficulties we create for ourselves and build our own barriers with others and with God - the HEART (mind - seat of our emotions), and the TONGUE. James said "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers this should not be." James 3:10 Jesus said, "Out of the overflow of the HEART, the MOUTH speaks." Matthew 12:34
So, it all boils down to this - if you truly wish to live in God's house check your heart by monitoring what comes out of your mouth. If we aren't very careful Satan will make us deaf to the words we speak, by which we may finally be condemned.
There is hope for even the most hateful, ignorant, potty mouths in the world. I know because I too have been there. James said it, "The wisdom that comes from above is first of all PURE." James 3:17 The Holy Spirit can cleanse any heart and teach anyone to speak with purity. But you gotta' be honest with yourself and come clean with God about your heart. HALLELUJAH!
I love that place too! But, it's more a journey than a place. God made that very clear long after David wrote those words when his son Solomon dedicated the temple. God told the wise man that He was more interested in how people live than where.
So, here is David's challenging list of guidelines for living in God's house. Don't rush through them, take it slow and let the Holy Spirit's words penetrate your heart.
"Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks truth from his heart, and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong, and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken." Psalm 15 NIV
David repeated much the same list at Psalm 34:12-16, which Peter quotes at 1 Peter 3 urging the new disciples of Jesus to seek this life of blessing from God.
All through the teaching of Jesus and the Apostles two crucial organs seem to be the source of all of the difficulties we create for ourselves and build our own barriers with others and with God - the HEART (mind - seat of our emotions), and the TONGUE. James said "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers this should not be." James 3:10 Jesus said, "Out of the overflow of the HEART, the MOUTH speaks." Matthew 12:34
So, it all boils down to this - if you truly wish to live in God's house check your heart by monitoring what comes out of your mouth. If we aren't very careful Satan will make us deaf to the words we speak, by which we may finally be condemned.
There is hope for even the most hateful, ignorant, potty mouths in the world. I know because I too have been there. James said it, "The wisdom that comes from above is first of all PURE." James 3:17 The Holy Spirit can cleanse any heart and teach anyone to speak with purity. But you gotta' be honest with yourself and come clean with God about your heart. HALLELUJAH!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)