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!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
SAD NO MORE
Not long ago I visited the massive MD Anderson Hospital in Houston. My brother and close friend has been a regular there for over seven years as they have successfully treated him for a form of cancer. During the hour or so that he was with his primary doctor I went down to the cafeteria to wait for him to join me. As I sat and drank my coffee and watched the several hundred people of all ages who were there in wheelchairs, on crutches, some accompanied by nurses others by family, many attached to containers of medication with needles in their arms, I was struck by how much joy there was on nearly all the faces.
One group of men especially attracted my attention. There were seven of them gathered at a large round table quietly talking about life. I sat down near them to see if I could pick up on the conversation without being too obvious. These were working men who had taken time off from work to come for treatment. They seemed to all know each other so I assume they have been doing this for a long time, like my cousin Doug. All of them were dressed in jeans, boots and work shirts as though they worked in some type of construction or the oil industry. Just a group of everyday, lunch pail type guys doing what they had to do to survive. BUT, I heard no hint of self pity, anger, or even angst. They were sharing about their families and the great support they consistently received from the medical staff, their loved ones and even their employers. They were talking about regular "guy" stuff, sports, fishing, golf, and three of them shared about their men's Bible study group.
As I sat there spellbound by all I was seeing and hearing, I was reminded of one of David's songs, "To you O Lord I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy; What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? Hear O, Lord, and be merciful to me! O Lord my helper! You have turned my mourning into dancing, you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever." PSALM 30:8-12 HALLELUJAH!!!
One group of men especially attracted my attention. There were seven of them gathered at a large round table quietly talking about life. I sat down near them to see if I could pick up on the conversation without being too obvious. These were working men who had taken time off from work to come for treatment. They seemed to all know each other so I assume they have been doing this for a long time, like my cousin Doug. All of them were dressed in jeans, boots and work shirts as though they worked in some type of construction or the oil industry. Just a group of everyday, lunch pail type guys doing what they had to do to survive. BUT, I heard no hint of self pity, anger, or even angst. They were sharing about their families and the great support they consistently received from the medical staff, their loved ones and even their employers. They were talking about regular "guy" stuff, sports, fishing, golf, and three of them shared about their men's Bible study group.
As I sat there spellbound by all I was seeing and hearing, I was reminded of one of David's songs, "To you O Lord I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy; What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? Hear O, Lord, and be merciful to me! O Lord my helper! You have turned my mourning into dancing, you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever." PSALM 30:8-12 HALLELUJAH!!!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
HAPPY FROM THE INSIDE OUT
How tragic, how utterly sad and depressing life must be for the millions of good men and women who live along the Gulf Coast. To have to wake up every morning and deal with the horrible mess that has now made their once pristine beaches a place to watch your step and hold your nose, must make life seem almost pointless. For many, they now have had their income stream destroyed by a disaster over which they had no control. Others are having to cope with the loss of someone they loved and depended on to provide for their family. Now, their life has been radically altered, forever.
Then there are all the politicians, television and radio people with their cameras and microphones and their constant stupid questions, and all the experts speculating on this and that, each one with an opinion about who is to blame. But most of all are the normally hard working people who have depended on those waters for sustenance for many generations, now working alongside a growing army of volunteers from everywhere doing their best to help salvage life on many fronts.
All over the world there is more to be angry and depressed about than there is that inspires a sense of happiness, of well being, of confidence in the future. Among the many critical lessons I have learned in my nearly 7 decades of living is this - ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, ANYTIME ANYWHERE! Any one of us can lose our trusted source of income or our cherished dream house or someone we love, literally in the blink of an eye. Our future can become a virtual "black hole" with no source of light. Well, unless you look in the right place.
I like the way Paul states the stark reality we all must face up to at some point in our lives - "God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness', has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God, not to us. We are afflicted in every way, BUT not crushed; perplexed, BUT not driven to despair, persecuted, BUT not forsaken; struck down, BUT not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:6-9 ESV
People of true faith are always looking ahead because we know that the power ultimately belongs to God our Father, not men who only think they have power. To be sure any man or woman who thinks they have the power will always seek to flex that muscle for their own benefit. And very often they achieve their self serving goal at the expense of others. But any advantage they may seem to have gained, is short lived at at best.
Today may be a black hole, don't give in to despair. You may have to alter some things in your life to have a better future, but you do have a future, God will see to it.
David wrote: "The wise counsel of God gives me when I'm awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night, I'll stick with God; I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go. I'm happy from the inside out, and from the outside in, I'm firmly formed. You canceled my ticked to hell--that's not my destination. Now you've got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I'm on the right way." Psalm 16:7-11 MSG
For me that is a huge HALLELUJAH!
Then there are all the politicians, television and radio people with their cameras and microphones and their constant stupid questions, and all the experts speculating on this and that, each one with an opinion about who is to blame. But most of all are the normally hard working people who have depended on those waters for sustenance for many generations, now working alongside a growing army of volunteers from everywhere doing their best to help salvage life on many fronts.
All over the world there is more to be angry and depressed about than there is that inspires a sense of happiness, of well being, of confidence in the future. Among the many critical lessons I have learned in my nearly 7 decades of living is this - ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, ANYTIME ANYWHERE! Any one of us can lose our trusted source of income or our cherished dream house or someone we love, literally in the blink of an eye. Our future can become a virtual "black hole" with no source of light. Well, unless you look in the right place.
I like the way Paul states the stark reality we all must face up to at some point in our lives - "God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness', has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God, not to us. We are afflicted in every way, BUT not crushed; perplexed, BUT not driven to despair, persecuted, BUT not forsaken; struck down, BUT not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:6-9 ESV
People of true faith are always looking ahead because we know that the power ultimately belongs to God our Father, not men who only think they have power. To be sure any man or woman who thinks they have the power will always seek to flex that muscle for their own benefit. And very often they achieve their self serving goal at the expense of others. But any advantage they may seem to have gained, is short lived at at best.
Today may be a black hole, don't give in to despair. You may have to alter some things in your life to have a better future, but you do have a future, God will see to it.
David wrote: "The wise counsel of God gives me when I'm awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night, I'll stick with God; I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go. I'm happy from the inside out, and from the outside in, I'm firmly formed. You canceled my ticked to hell--that's not my destination. Now you've got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I'm on the right way." Psalm 16:7-11 MSG
For me that is a huge HALLELUJAH!
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