Daddy to the Rescue

When I read Psalm 18:6-15 I cannot help, but think of hearing my son's cries in the middle of the night. Right now Evan cries for food, but in the future the cries will be for skinned knees, bumps and bruises and eventually for broken hearts. I want to be there through all of those times; both good and bad. In these verses David is bragging about the way God came to his rescue. This account of God bowing the heavens and riding on a cherub is not in the historical account of these events found in 1-2Kings or 1-2Chronicles. However, David did have success evading Saul's army as it pursued David and fighting against Israel's enemies. God did come through for David when David was in tight spot after tight spot. This was one of the ways God taught David to trust in Him. Like a bank account, God was putting pennies into the account to teach David, God could be trusted. David was also putting money into the account by relying on God more and more, and by lifting up praises to the Lord God of Hosts, or as the message puts it "Lord God of the Angel Armies of Heaven." This idea of the relationship bank explains what I am trying to do during January. When the semester begins I have so little free time it is very important I pay into the relationship bank with my wife, and with my son. Sure, at 3 months (today) he probably won't remember this specific month, but I hope he will always have the same feeling about me that David has about God. I want my son to know in his heart I will always be there when he is in a tight spot.

God is Worthy of All Praise!

This week I'll be spending time with Psalm 18. It's a longer Psalm so I've broken it up into five sections in order to try to wrap my head around the various messages. Psalm 18:1-5 sets the stage for the rest of the Psalm. David announces his faith in the Lord and God's worthiness to be praised. There is a lot of really neat imagery. Again and again David refers to God as a "fortress", a "stronghold," a "shield," a "rock," on which David bases his faith and salvation, and a place of refuge. More than a rock, God is a deliverer from the harm caused by David's enemies. The imagery of defense and refuge is part of the reason why the Psalms are so popular with so many. The Psalms remind us God is always there when we return to God's house.

This Psalm has a war theme as it tells of a time in David's life when he was hotly pursued by King Saul. There are times in our lives when we feel hotly pursued by all of the things which pull us away from God's love. Either we are fighting with ourselves and some sin which the Tempter knows will trip us up, or we are fighting to offer an appropriate response to the pride, jealousy and sinfulness of the World. Psalm 18's imagery depicting God as a safe refuge from all the brokenness in the world and within ourselves is a tremendous comfort when we, the prodigal, wander far from home.

When I am challenged

As a third year seminary student it would be easy to assume I agree with everything in the Bible. It would be easy to think nothing throws me any more. You could think that, but you would be wrong. This morning I read through Psalm 17. The first thirteen verses are pretty straight forward. David is oppressed by his enemies and asks for God to subdue those who mean David harm. David reminds God, that God has already tested David’s heart and found David worthy. David acknowledges when he calls to God; God answers. It is with confidence David asks God to continue to look upon David with favor and to hid David in the shadow of God’s wings as protection. David then compares himself with those who have already received their prize in this world. I struggled with this part because David specifically points to those who fill their lives with treasure and who are satisfied with children. I am a new father, and those words from verse fourteen leave me with a cold feeling. My first thought is to justify by asking what kind of father was David? David’s eldest son tried to take the kingdom, and while Solomon may have started out asking for wisdom, by the end his example of having many wives and altars to foreign gods set Israel on the course to destruction. Solomon’s son Rehoboam was responsible for splitting the kingdom. What kind of fathers were these? Then I recall David had many many children. Who is David to denounce those who take pride in their children? As I wrestle with this text I at last come to verse fifteen.

¹⁵As for me, I shall^(X) behold your face in righteousness;
   when I^(Y) awake, I shall be^(Z) satisfied with your likeness

My question then becomes in what do I place the most value. Is my son more important than my God, and if so in what way…? This is not an easy question for me, but here is the short answer. Having a son is not enough of a treasure for me to be happy. Leaving my son financial wealth will not bring me joy. The wealth I hope to leave to my son is a love for my God who can shelter my son on the cold snowy mornings of life.

The Good Life

This morning I was reading from Psalm 16. According to the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible the title of this Psalm is "You Will Not Abandon My Soul." This Psalm is like many Psalms in that it focuses on trusting in the Lord and taking refuge in God's grace. Today this Psalm speaks to me as I try to rest in January while I am not taking a class. However, even without classes it is not easy to rest in January. There are scholarships to apply for, books to read before the spring semester and before Evan starts teething, or perhaps crawling. Plus it is time to start looking for a job. I promised Karen we would only be in Wilmore two years when we got married, and our time in Wilmore, Kentucky, is drawing to a close. I still have a year of school left, but I can take those courses on line, and should still be able to finish in time. There are a lot of things to figure out. As I delve into that process Psalm 16 helps me to remember from whence my strength comes. It is entirely too easy for me to run off and try to handle things on my own. Where is the faith in trying to do things without God? I am too familiar with those particular sins which specifically call me after other gods. I know that misery and sorrow. I do not want to follow the old gods. I will put my trust in the Lord. YHWH is not safe, and the paths He asks us to walk are not easy, but God is Good. I will follow His will for my life and my family as best as I am able. This is a good life. Wouldn't you like to live the good life?

A Life of Fasting

Psalm 13 reminds me of the complaints people have about fasting. There is a difference. David is not talking about fasting from food, but a fast from God’s presence. The fast is not something David has taken upon himself. Rather, David feels very far from God. David’s enemies are all around him ready to gloat because of their victory over David, but have David’s enemies really won? David’s enemies do not just want to see David defeated. These enemies want to see David broken in spirit. David faces this challenge by choosing to put his faith in God. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, or selfishly longing for the things which will make him feel better, David chooses to rely on God. David chooses to remember who has provided for him again and again.

David is not talking about fasting, but fasting is supposed to prepare us for these kinds of times. Fasting is about denying ourselves something we really want so we might better learn to rely on God during those times when life is really hard. When we fast we are not supposed to gloat or brag we are fasting. People who brag about fasting often come across as condescending, or as outright jerks. Fasting is not about being better than anyone else. Fasting is about learning to rely more fully on the grace of God to sustain us through difficult times. I love David’s words in verse three.

“Consider and answer me, O Lord my
     God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep
     of death.” (Psalm 13:3 ESV)

While David could certainly be talking about physical death, there is another death – the death of credibility. I know I cannot be credible in my walk if I do not turn to God to “light up my eyes” when I do not feel like being good, or when I get stuck feeling sorry for myself. When I rely on God, when I ask for His light to shine through me, and then allow it to shine; others can see the fruit of my fasting.

New Years Resolutions

This morning I've been reading Psalm 12. King David portrays a world without truth; where everyone lies, and spins the perceptions of reality to support personal agendas. David says the reason f or this psalm is the poor are taken advantage of, and the groans of the needy just trying to survive can be heard in the streets. As I consider these words, the groans of the needy must be really loud for the king to hear them in his palace. Imagine if our presidents heard the cry of the American poor in the White House. It is a scary thing to consider when all too often the body of Christ cannot hear the groans of the needy within the church; much less out side of the body of Christ. The Psalm moves on to say the Lord will arise and tend to the poor and the needy, and they shall have the safety they are seeking. As I read Psalm 12 I wonder what does it mean when it says God will arise? Can God come down and provide a place for all those who are poor, sick and needy? Absolutely! Could the Holy Spirit rain down peace and blessing for those in greatest need? You Bet! Jesus Christ certainly cared for the sick, the poor and the needy during his earthly ministry. My next question is also pretty obvious. Is God going to intervene in that way today? I think He does. I think God through Jesus' example and the power of the Holy Spirit works to intervene today. God is continually pouring His love into each and everyone of us. God is calling us home, and calling us to love people as God loves each and everyone of us. However, we are attacked on every side by temptations, and so much busyness we are distracted from even seeing the poor, and the needy. We cannot hear the groans of those who need safety. We do not see the poor and homeless begging for food on the side of the road, and their are those who would take advantage of the poor and homeless's situations. My New Years Resolution is daily to pray God would grant me a look through His eyes; to be able to hear with His ears for just a moment; to be able to feel compassion for all those around me - not just the ones I like; the way God does. "On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of men (Psalm 12:9)." Please Lord, rise up among us that the wicked would tremble at Your love for all of us.

Thinking about January

The fall semester is over and after a year of attending classes straight through I'm a little burned out. I still love God. My devotion to Him has not changed. I am just running low on steam to keep pushing up the hill towards a Master of Divinity. Running out of steam is usually a good indicator I have been trying to run the race on my own power. With the semester over I am taking some much needed time to spend time with my son, and my poor, neglected wife, and work on our marriage. I'll be doing a little doodling and starting the reading for the Spring semester. I am taking January off so it should offer me a chance to get a head on the spring semester's reading at a more leisurely pace. The two classes I hope to get ahead are John Wesley's Theology for Today, and Preaching from the Psalms. My plan for January is to read through the book of Psalms by reading for an hour in the morning. Then I hope to read John Wesley's 52 standard sermons by reading for an hour at night before I go to bed. I'll probably be rubbing my wife's head while I read. Head rubbing is an activity which is good for both of us.

I started reading from the Psalms this morning, and I had forgotten how much the Psalms have to say about nonbelievers and atheists. Check out Psalm 10. I have known many atheists and agnostics who claim to be "moral" people. I wonder if the atheists and agnostics really are moral people? I also wonder how many Christians would make the same claim. Since I am wondering, I wonder if the Bible has the same definition of atheists and agnostics as we do today.

Psalm 10 (English Standard Version)

Why Do You Hide Yourself?
 ¹Why, O LORD, do you stand^(A) far away?
   Why^(B) do you hide yourself in^(C) times of trouble? ²In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
   let them^(D) be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
³For the wicked^(E) boasts of the desires of his soul,
   and the one greedy for gain^(F) curses^[a] and^(G) renounces the LORD.
⁴In the pride of his face^[b] the wicked does not^(H) seek him;^[c]
   all his thoughts are,^(I) "There is no God."
⁵His ways prosper at all times;
   your judgments are on high,^(J) out of his sight;
   as for all his foes, he^(K) puffs at them.
⁶He^(L) says in his heart, "I shall not be moved;
   throughout all generations I^(M) shall not meet adversity."
^7(N) His mouth is filled with cursing and^(O) deceit and^(P) oppression;
   ^(Q) under his tongue are^(R) mischief and^(S) iniquity.
⁸He sits in ambush in the villages;
   in^(T) hiding places he murders the innocent.
His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
 ⁹he lurks in ambush like^(U) a lion in his^(V) thicket;
he^(W) lurks that he may seize the poor;
   he seizes the poor when he draws him into his^(X) net.
¹⁰The helpless are crushed, sink down,
   and fall by his might.
¹¹He says in his heart, "God has forgotten,
   he has^(Y) hidden his face, he^(Z) will never see it."
 ^12(AA) Arise, O LORD; O God,^(AB) lift up your hand;
   ^(AC) forget not the afflicted.
¹³Why does the wicked^(AD) renounce God
   and say in his heart, "You will not^(AE) call to account"?
¹⁴But you do see, for you^(AF) note mischief and vexation,
   that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless^(AG) commits himself;
   you have been^(AH) the helper of the fatherless.
^15(AI) Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
   ^(AJ) call his wickedness to account till you find none.
 ^16(AK) The LORD is king forever and ever;
   the^(AL) nations perish from his land.
¹⁷O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
   you will^(AM) strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
¹⁸to^(AN) do justice to the fatherless and^(AO) the oppressed,
   so that^(AP) man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.