Fear Prevents Powerful Leadership - 1 Samuel 16-20

1 Samuel 17:11 (ESV Strong's)
11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

Fear Prevents Powerful Leadership

The “words,” in the above passage, that Saul and all Israel heard, were the threats and insults from the giant, Goliath.   Goliath was bigger than anyone and tried to intimidate the entire nation of Israel.    It is not surprising that people were fearful.  If you hear the description of the giant, you might be fearful, as well.   But, the fear not only paralyzed the rank and file of the nation, it took the leader out of commission.  At this point in his leadership, Saul was not a Godly leader.   This giant of a situation was not going to produce in him the leadership he needed.   That is what these situations do; they reveal leadership capacity.   Saul did not have leadership capacity.   In a few verse a young shepherd boy will kill the giant with mere slingshot and a stone.   This does not mean that David did not fear the giant.  What it means is that David listened to the voice of God and what God had taught him, while Saul listened to the voice of Goliath.   Fear is an emotion that comes like any other emotion.   How we frame an event invites emotion.  If we “frame” an event through the voice of a Goliath in our lives, we will see the emotion of fear produced in our lives.  If we “frame” an event through the voice of God we have peace.  This is why Paul told the church:

Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV Strong's)
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

We have “peace’ if we keep our mind on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, etc. This is what David will do.  He listened and thought about the things of God and His power.  That gave him strength to do something amazing.   Fear crippled Saul.   David conquered fear by framing the situation through the lens of God’s promises and God’s Word. David did not fear man, He feared God.  

He Brought Us Out to Bring Us In! Exodus 1-4

Exodus 3:7-9 (ESV Strong's)
7 Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.

He Brought Us Out to Bring Us In!

The story of God rescuing Israel from the bondage of slavery to the Egyptians is a story of redemption.  It is a picture of God saving us from our slavery to sin.   Egypt, in this picture, is the land of sin.  We always seem to want to return there (as we will see the Israelites want to do over and over in the book of Exodus).   God will, eventually, bring them out after God slays the first born of the land (a picture of Christ’s death).   But, God did not just want to “bring them out of the land of Egypt,” he wants to bring them into the the “promise land.”  As Egypt is a picture of the land of sin, the Promise Land is a picture of the sanctified, holy believer living on promises of God’s rich blessing of grace.   God does not JUST want to save us from sin, He also wants to bring us into a victorious live of living in His abundant grace.   God saved us to give us victory of the slavery to sin, but also victory in our lives each day in His grace.   This is not always physical blessings.  But, it is always victory in His grace.   Some believers will believe that Jesus died for their sins and they are set free from the penalty of sin.  But, they will not always realize that God saved us FOR something ... to walk in the victory of His grace.   That is the story of Jesus redeeming the Israelites and bringing them into the promise land.  It is God saving us from our death penalty and into a victorious walk in grace by His Spirit.  

Discipline for the Right Reasons - 1 Corinthians 9-10

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV Strong's)
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Discipline for the Right Reason

The above passage is quoted in many different ways by the Church.   It certainly is a good passage to memorize and mediate upon if you are an athlete.   If you are tying to find motivation for self-control, this passage really hits home.   There is nothing wrong with using the text in this manner.  However, the power of the passage is found in the context of the section it was written.   Paul, in chapter nine, is writing to the Church at Corinth.  The church, at this time, had some of their leadership or follower-ship, opposing Paul’s authority and ministry.   By reading the context we can see that some objected that Paul “might” be using a collection of money he was soliciting for the Church in Jerusalem for his own benefit.  The entire chapter is Paul making a case that he is NOT doing that, but he COULD do that if he wanted.  He is telling them that the person who lives by the gospel should be able to be supported (financially) by that preaching the gospel.  Paul makes the point over and over that it is “permissible” and “right” to earn your living by preaching the Gospel.  But, he goes on to say, he is NOT.  He is working a job (him and Barnabas) to support himself. The implication is that the financial support he is soliciting for the persecuted church in Jerusalem is FOR THEM ONLY.   So, why the reference, above, to an athlete preparing for the Olympic Games?   Paul knew that the Corinthians would understand the metaphors of the athlete.   The Corinthians understood the “games.”   They controlled their bodies, disciplined their bodies, to obtain a physical wreath around their necks.  That was their gold medal.   Paul is saying that he, on the other hand, is denying himself some of the luxuries of life (a wife, eating, drinking, living off the gospel ... see verses 4-5) in order to obtain an incorruptible prize ... the pleasure of Christ.   The discipline in of the body is a great thing. If it is ONLY for a physical reward, however, it is useless.  If we are doing so to obtain the pleasure of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, it is for great gain.  That is the point of discipline the body.  It is for the pleasure of Christ when it is done in the power of the Spirit.

Proclaim what Jesus did for you!! Mark 5-6

Mark 5:19-20 (ESV Strong's)
And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

Proclaim what Jesus did for you!!

In the above passage the demon possessed man of the country of the Gerasenes has been healed by Jesus.  A man once controlled by demons is now a man in his “right mind.”   Jesus has changed the man’s life forever.   He now wants to go with Jesus.  Jesus and his disciples are going into a boat and Jesus did not permit him.   Imagine this man’s plight.  For years it says he tormented the people around him.

Mark 5:3-5 (ESV Strong's)
3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

Even in his healing he caused harm to the local pig farmers:

Mark 5:13-14 (ESV Strong's)
13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.
14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened.

Now Jesus was telling him to go back to his home and tell others what good things Jesus had done for him.   This is what God wants from us.  We are to go out into the world and show the good work that God has done for us, in us and to us.  We are not to fear what we were, but to rejoice in what and who we are.  God wants us to proclaim His work in our lives.  He does not want us to live in the fear of the past or the fear of the present ... of what people might think of us.   The above passage says the man left and “began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him.”   Note, later in the book of Mark, what happens when Jesus arrives in the land of the Decapolis:

Mark 7:31-32 (ESV Strong's)
31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.

The minute Jesus shows back in that area, the people are aware of who Jesus is and what He can do.  How did they know that?  Because a man with a bad past lived in the present based upon what God did for him for the future.  

Why Does God Send Punishment? Jeremiah 1-5

Jeremiah 5:18-24 (ESV Strong's)
18 “But even in those days, declares the LORD, I will not make a full end of you. 19 And when your people say, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ you shall say to them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.’”
20 Declare this in the house of Jacob;
proclaim it in Judah:
21 “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people,
who have eyes, but see not,
who have ears, but hear not.
22 Do you not fear me? declares the LORD.
Do you not tremble before me?
I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea,
a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass;
though the waves toss, they cannot prevail;
though they roar, they cannot pass over it.
23 But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart;
they have turned aside and gone away.
24 They do not say in their hearts,
‘Let us fear the LORD our God,
who gives the rain in its season,
the autumn rain and the spring rain,
and keeps for us
the weeks appointed for the harvest.’

Why Does God Send Punishment?

The prophet Jeremiah was sent to the nation of Judah to proclaim to them that God was going to send judgment upon them from the “north.”  The north was Babylon.   The Babylonians would raid and pillage them and take them all captive.   Although there was a remnant that would remain faithful, the majority would not.  In the above text we see why.  They not only did not “fear the Lord,” they sought after other gods and ways to worship.   It is by the fear of the Lord we depart from evil.  Note:

Proverbs 8:13 (ESV Strong's)
13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.

Proverbs 16:6 (ESV Strong's)
6 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.

They treated God as other gods.   They saw no majesty in Him.  They saw no might in Him.  They saw no difference in Him as compared to the nation’s gods around them.   Yet, it was God who provided for them the rain when they needed it and the crops to satisfy them.   God sends punishment when we fail to fear Him.   They had turned away from God so He would turn away from protecting them.  

How Powerful is God? Job 25-26

Job 25:3 (ESV Strong's)
3 Is there any number to his armies?
Upon whom does his light not arise?

How Powerful is God?

In the above passage, Bildad, one of Job’s three friends, is speaking to Job about the power of God.  All three of Job’s friends believe Job is suffering because he has great sin in his life.  They believe he is failing to acknowledge God in the sin and therefore their arguments to him about the character of God ... as they know it.  They are often right on theology.   They are almost always wrong on application to Job’s situation.   This is often true of our own counsel we give people today.   We see a situation and draw a theological conclusions, without really knowing the hand of God in the midst of it all.   In the above passage Bildad makes the claim about God’s power being limitless and His presence being all encompassing.    Again, Bildad is not wrong.   God’s armies cannot be number, demonstrating His great power.  God, like the sun, shines down on man and exposes all his shadows.    Nothing is hidden from His sight.  To those who have a relationship with God based on grace through faith, that can be a great thing to know and believe.  For Bildad, talking to a man he thinks is full of sin (Job), this is supposed to strike terror and repentance.   But, Bildad would have been better to understand the application to Job’s situation.   We ought not use good doctrine to club people living in a bad situation.  In chapter one of the book we read that even God thought Job was a righteous man.   Never-the-less this does not diminish Bildad’s doctrinal truth.   No one and nothing compares to God.  His armies are without number and He sees all the world.   We ought to rejoice in that truth whether we are Job or Bildad.

He Will Act!! Psalms 36-38

Psalms 37:5-6 (ESV Strong's)
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.

He Will Act!!

We always wonder and often ask, “Where is God?”  In the time of great stress and strife and fear, the world claims God is absent.   They like to disregard God during times of feast and complain He is not present in times of famine.  In the above passage we see that God has given us assurance that He does and will act.   Our part is to simply rely on Him and allow Him to do the “action” He wants to do.  He does not promise that we will “see” His acting on our behalf.   He does not promise that the acting will be what we want or what we would do.  He only promises that He will act in a way that is according to His plan and good for us.  He states in this passage that He will bring out our righteousness and our justice.  Just so we realize, in other parts of Scripture we learn that we have NO righteousness and we have NO justice.  That means what God wants to bring forth to us and in us will be the work of Christ’s righteousness and justice in us.   We are to trust and believe and put our absolute faith in God.  God does act by producing the person of Christ within us.

Crisis Leadership - 1 Samuel 11-15

1 Samuel 11:5-7 (ESV Strong's)
5 Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. 7 He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.

Crisis Leadership

In this section of 1 Samuel we will eventually learn that Saul is an inadequate king and a very poor leader.   However, it does not start out this way.   In the above passage we pick up a story about the city of Jabesh.   The Jabesh city and people were besieged by Nahash, the leader of the neighboring Ammonites.   Nabash gave Jabesh fair warning that they were going to capture them and gouge their eyes out and make them servants.    Jabesh subsequently sends a message to all Israel for help.  The main response of ALL Israel?

1 Samuel 11:3-4 (ESV Strong's)
3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.” 4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people, and all the people wept aloud.

The response?  Cry aloud!!   In the midst of a crisis the people cried.   That is not a positive response to a crisis.    We assume the tears were coming from a place of fear, frustration or inadequacy.    They had “framed” this episode in a way that only saw defeat.    This is where one of Saul’s only shining moments as the new king of Israel comes to life.  Saul comes in from plowing his father’s field and takes charge.  In the midst of a crisis, someone has to see an opportunity.    Saul saw this through the eyes of opportunity and decided to seize the day.    The Sprit of God came on him to lead him and guide him.  Here is a key to crisis leadership:  You have to have an internal relationship with the sovereign God of the universe if you wish to lead in crisis.    The problem with a crisis is that it knocks all the knowns out from under you.   You have lost your basic support of life, especially if that support is temporal.   Saul was enabled by the Spirit of God to lean into God’s power and grace to accomplish the task.

However, his leadership did not end with a “let go and let God” mentality.   Notice that he took the oxen he was using the plow the field and cut them up in pieces for an object lesson to the rest of the nation.   In those days, oxen and other animals were source of production.  Just to have oxen to plow a field meant you were a person of means.   Saul cuts his OWN oxen up and sends them out in pieces to the rest of the country.  He warns them that those who don’t come together over this crisis, will meet a similar fate.   This adds another component to crisis leadership:  Harmony is a key ingredient to defeat chaos.    Coming together and not assigning blame, is a key course of action in crisis.   Saul could have blamed others for not responding.  He could have done a study on the cause of the attack against Jabesh.  He could have forgotten his brothers and went into a self-preservation mode.  But, instead he sacrificed his own source of income and used it as an object lesson to pull his country together.  This was a shining moment in Saul’s leadership.  Perhaps the only one he actually had.  

In the midst of crisis, panic and emotional outbursts is not a solution.   Self-sacrifice, unity and vision for how to attack the problem is.  Saul went not to crush Nahash and the Ammonties.   If you read on in the story you see that he used stealth and combat strategy to defeat them.    Saul stepped up and lead his people by giving up something and pulling others together to focus on a single enemy.   Something we miss today in a land where scoring political points is worth more than solving an actual problem.  

The Unexpected Blessings of God - Genesis 48-50

Genesis 48:8-11 (ESV Strong's)
8 When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.”

The Unexpected Blessings of God

God, in His sovereign grace, gives us things we often don’t expect and never deserve.   Israel (Jacob) was blessed by God.   When Joseph was “declared” dead via the lies of his brothers, Israel naturally only had memories of the boy.   He did not expect to find out years and years later that Joseph was alive.   In many respects, Joesph is a type of Christ, in that he came back from the dead.  Not literally, but figuratively, in the eyes of Israel.   This is what Israel is expressing in the above passage.   God, in His grace, gives us blessings.   Israel’s physical eye-sight is diminished, but his spiritual vision is 20/20.   He can see that God  is blessing him, beyond measure.  That is the vision we all are to look for each day.  We can easily look at the fears of the world and cringe with terror.   But, those with spiritual eyes, look for the blessings we get from God.   It would be expected that Israel even stopped praying and asking God for a blessing like this.   He thought Joseph was dead, so why pray.   Those type of blessings that God gives to us are spectacular.  We aren’t asking Him, we are not praying to Him and pleading with Him.  We just receive blessings from Him.

The Reality of Christian Community -1 Corinthians 7-8

1 Corinthians 8:4-6 (ESV Strong's)
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

The Reality of Christian Community

In the city of Corinth there was a lot of idol worship.   In that “idol” worship their would be sacrifices of animals to those false/no gods.   The “meat” that was often offered to idol would then become merchandise in the market place.   Believers in Christ had access to that meat.  The question Paul is answering in the above passage is, “Should a believer buy cheap cuts of meat that was once used as an offering to false god?”   Paul, in this chapter, will go on to say that the guiding principal for this discussion is to not do something that might offend another believer in this area:

1 Corinthians 8:13 (ESV Strong's)
13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

However, in the above verses we see the basis of his proclamation.   He does not believe the “meat” is good or bad, because there is really only one true God.   Eating meat that might have previously served as a sacrifice to someone’s make-believe god does nothing to the meat.  That is Paul’s point.  However, in the mind of a brother or sister in Christ who used to live in that arena, it can make a difference.   The point Paul is making is that Christ is the only true God and what we do with Him and in front of His children matters more than a piece of flank steak.   My individual appetite should not go to the extent to offend another brother or sister in Christ.   We don’t see much centered around meat today, but we might consider these principles in regard to wine, alcohol, entertainment, or similar areas.  Paul is telling us that real Christianity considers these areas in our lives.  We are not living in a vacuum.  We live in a community of believers and we must considering our actions in light of the greater community.   In our society, today, we have lost sight of both the power of community, as well as the obligation we have to support and honor the convictions of others in the community.   Christianity is the antidote for the havoc and disrespect we see in our world toward others.   The above passage teaches that Christianity is real in practical matter of community.

The See Produces Fruit - Not the Ground - Mark 3-4

Mark 4:3-9 (ESV Strong's)
3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The Seed Produces Fruit - Not the Ground

In the above passage we have the parable of the sower and the seed.   In Jesus explanation of the parable we see that the “seed” is the Word of God (Mark 4:14).   The word is put into the ground (the potential believer) and the word produces fruit in some and not in others.   The confusion on this parables lies in the fact that when the word goes out and is mixed with faith it produces faith.  But, when it is not mixed with faith, the WORD does not produce fruit.   The only contribution the “ground” (potential believers) provide is faith in the word.   It is too easy to read this passage and think that the believer has the effort and responsibility to produce fruit in their lives.  The only contribution we provide is faith.  And, even faith is a give from God.  Note what the writer of Hebrews stated:

Hebrews 13:20-21 (ESV Strong's)
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

It is God who equips us to do the good things that please God.   When we know that our part is to believe and it is God part to produce faith, we can enter into real rest in the plan of God and cease from our own hopeless works.  

New Hevens-New Earth - Isaiah 62-66

Isaiah 65:17 (ESV Strong's)
17 “For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.

New Heavens-New Earth

We love our world and our existence.  We hang pictures on the wall to remember great moments and people of our existence.   We take pictures of the places we have been in order to go back and remember those moments.   In the old days we had scrape books; in the new age with have FaceBook.   In times past we had video cameras; in the time present we have phone cameras that take video.  Long ago we carved pictures on the walls of cave; in recent past we drew pictures on our bridges and walls.   We love to memorize our existence.   That is what makes the above passage so shocking.   God is speaking, through Isaiah, about a time when He will great a new heaven and a new earth.   The new heaven and the new earth will, in fact, be such a great place we will remember our current heaven and earth or even COME TO MIND.   Think of something so spectacular that you would forget the most precision memories in your mind.   Think of a transformation so special that you would not call to remembrance the special things in your life.   That is how amazing and awesome God’s new creation will be.  The glorification of believers is an event that should cause us to come in awe of God.   God is going to bring us into a place that is filled with His glory.  He has a plan for us that includes the glorification of our our lives.

Why Doesn’t God Keep Office Hours? Job 23-24

Job 24:1 (ESV Strong's)
1 “Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty,
and why do those who know him never see his days?

Why Doesn’t God Keep Office Hours?

Job has been “encouraged” by his “friends” to repent and give God the credit for punishing him for his sin.   We know, from the first and last chapters, that Job is NOT suffering because of his sin, but because of sin in the world, caused by the havoc of Satan.  Job has been on the defense because of his friends “help.”    In the above passage he begins to speak to them about his desire to meet face-to-face with God.  His complaint in chapter twenty-four seems to be that he sees God has absence in the affairs of mankind.  His friends have tried to convince them that God is simply responding to Job’s “sin” and that is the reason for suffering.  But, in this chapter Job makes the case that the injustice in the world seems to go both ways.  He maintains that the wicked often get punished, at times, and, at times, they don’t.   He states the same for the righteous in other passages in the book.  So, where is God?  That is the complaint of the above verse.  Job seems to be saying that if God simply had office hours and showed up to listen to Job’s compliant, Job would, indeed, be vindicated.   The world, today, might have a similar view.   Many in the world today think God is completely absent.   The fact that God does not just show up in the flesh like your doctor, investment broker, or best friend, gives the world the false thought that God is absent in out lives.   The person who knows the character of God knows this not true.  God is constantly intervening in the affairs of mankind.   But, that intervening can only be seen through the eyes of faith.  When we read Hebrews 11 we get the understanding that the great men and woman of faith looked at life through the eyes of faith and didn’t understand God as the local doctor or lawyer, hanging a shingle that He is open for business.  Note:

Hebrews 11:13-16 (ESV Strong's)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

We are looking for God’s interaction in our lives through the eyes of faith, not the flesh.

God Speaks to Our Soul - Psalms 33-35

Psalms 35:1-3 (ESV Strong's)
1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of shield and buckler
and rise for my help!
3 Draw the spear and javelin
against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation!”

God Speaks To Our Soul

Psalms 35 is a prayer to God for His help in contending with those who are out to get us.  David is the writer of the song.   He, as we know, was not only pursued by King Saul, but also his own son, Absolom, wanted him dead at one time or another.   David wanted God to be his shield and the savior of his soul.  In the above verses he asks God to “contend” for him.   He asks God to take up weapons of war for him.   But, not only does he desire this “outward” manifestation of God power and protection in his life, David asks for something “inward” as well.  David wants God to change the fear in his heart.   He wants God to speak to his soul and say, “I am your salvation.”    We have many voices in the world speaking to us.  Most of them are there to cause us to fear and to turn away from God.   But, we can cry out to God and have Him change our will and our desire and turn it toward Him. Notice what Paul told the church:

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV Strong's)
Lights in the World
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Verse 13 is the key (... for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure).   We have no will. Our “free will” will always choose sin.   We need God to produce a Spirit filled “will” in our lives. That is the only way our soul will say, “you are my salvation.”  We must, by faith, pray every day that God changes our will.   We need God to speak to use to have our will trust in Him and not fear the world around us.  God will give us both outward and inward protection from the attacks of the world.

Neglecting God - 1 Samuel 6-10

1 Samuel 7:1-2 (ESV Strong's)
1 And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to have charge of the ark of the LORD. 2 From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

Neglecting God

The above verse is a transition verse.  It is here to show us what was happening in the land of Israel during the time of Samuel the prophet.   The Ark of the Covenant was THE central piece of worship for the nation of Israel.  It was to be placed in the Tabernacle and put behind the veil.  Only a the High Priest, once per year, would ever see the Ark.  However, in the act of haste the nation of Israel took the Ark to war with them, treating it like a lucky rabbit’s foot.    The Ark was taken captive by the Philistines.   God punished the Philistines, however, and they sent it back to the nation of Israel.  That brings us to the above verses.   When the Ark was returned it was NOT brought back to the Tabernacle.   It was brought to the house of Abinadab and his son, Eleazer, was assigned to watch over it.   We have very little information about this, expert, that the Ark sat in this location for twenty years.   That is significant.   The worship of God, per what was outlined by Moses in the book of Deuteronomy, was being neglected.  The lesson in all that is that, today, we, as believers in Christ, can also fall into the practice of neglecting our faith.  Notice what the writer of Hebrews wants us about in one of his six wining passages in his sermon:


Hebrews 2:3 (ESV Strong's)
3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,

We are warned to not neglect our faith.   We can’t sideline God for twenty years and expect His blessings in our life.   Our faith is to be practiced and we are to be active in our faith.  

God Makes a Way - Genesis 44-47

Genesis 45:16-18 (ESV Strong's)
16 When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house, “Joseph's brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’

God Makes a Way

The story of Joesph is quite familiar to us.   Joseph is sold into slavery to an Egyptian because of the envy of his brothers.   He is sent to jail by that Egyptian because of the evil desires of the man’s wife.   He is left in jail because of the lack of memory of the kings cupbearer.   Joesph had ever reason to turn his back on God.   Yet, God caused him to persevere.   Joseph becomes the second most powerful man in the land.  When he finally resales himself to his wicked brothers God opens up even more doors for him. In the above passage we see the response of Pharaoh, when the King heard that Joesph’s brothers had come.   All along the way God provide a way for Joseph to be cared for, provided for and promoted.   Once again, God provides a way for Joseph to bring his family to Egypt.   Note what God will say to Israel, Joseph’s father, about this trip to Egypt:

Genesis 46:2-4 (ESV Strong's)
2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes.”

God provided a way for Israel to be saved in the famine.    God provided Joesph to make a way.   When all is lost, God will provide a way.

We Live in a Broken World - 1 Corinthians 5-6

1 Corinthians 5:9-11 (ESV Strong's)
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

We Live in a Broken World

Paul is writing this letter to the church in Corinth.  Corinth was a metropolitan city.  It was mixed with a variety of cultures.   Although its history was that of vice and immorality, the first century city would have been like most other cities in Ancient Greece at that time.   Like most cities in that Greek world, sexual morality had a foothold.  Apparently this sexual culture had infiltrated the church.  In this letter Paul is addressing that subject.   The specific example in this chapter is that a young man had taken his father’s wife.   Apparently the “step-son” had thought that was acceptable.  The crisis for Paul is that the church did, as well.   Paul is setting out to correct their casual approach to this “type” of sin in their midst.  To Paul it WAS sin.  To Paul, sin was sin.   In this chapter he is admonishing them to come to a better understanding of sin in the world and, specifically, in the church.   In the above passage, Paul draws a distinction between how the church responds to sexual sins within the church as compared to those without the church.   Note the difference.   He has just admonished them to have NO COMPANY with this young man who was in the church vs those who live in sexual immorality in the world.   This is a remarkable passage.  For those in the church, today, it has amazing implications.   We are to keep the church pure.  There is no doubt in Paul’s instruction.   But, our relationship with those without the church, we are to interact and reach for Christ.  We live in a broken world with broken people.  Our relationship with those broken people, no matter their sexual orientation, is to be one of compassion and interaction and support.   However, the church is NOT made up of such acts.   The church is to be pure for Christ.  It might be tough to practice, but it is truth to follow.  

Humility Supports Greatness - Mark 1:7

Mark 1:7 (ESV Strong's)
7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

Humility Supports Greatness

John the Baptist was a great man.  He is known in the New Testament era as much as Paul or John or the other Gospel writers.   Yet, he lived in the desert, wore unusual clothes and had unique eating habits.   Jesus, however, is greater.   This is the point John the Baptist is making in the above verse.   In order to great in the kingdom of God, you must know the position you have in that kingdom.   Note the following:

Luke 9:48 (ESV Strong's)
48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

Matthew 20:20-28 (ESV Strong's)
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

If we want to be great in the Kingdom, we must be servants of all.  We are unworthy even to untie the shoes of Jesus.   He use increase, I must decrease.  That is humility.

What is Real Fasting? Isaiah 56-61

Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV Strong's)
6 “Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

What is Real Fasting

In today’s world focused on body shape and weight loss, fasting has taken on a completely different framework than we read about in Scripture.   Today’s fasting is for the purpose of self improvement.   It is a pathway to self fulfillment.   In the Old Testament God declared a fast for the purpose of pursuing Him and showing a contrite heart.   It was for the purpose of seeking God’s favor.   Notice what the writer says about King David:

2 Samuel 12:16 (ESV Strong's)
16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.

David sought the life of his sick child.    However, the nation of Israel abused the fast.  They made it about them, as we do today.  For this God spoke the above condemnation.   Notice what matters to God in this passage.  It is not the way we think of a fast.  God sees the fast as showing Godliness.  In the above passage we see that the fast is showing mercy to others.   It is about caring for others.  It is about putting others before self.   Jesus put us before Himself.   That is the fast God honors.  Skipping a meal or meals for your physical well being probably has some physiological benefit.    That action could be seen as giving up something (a meal) for some physical benefit.   But, the fast that Isaiah is talking about is giving up something for SOMEONE else.    That is a real FAST.  

False Assumptions Lead to Bad Counsel - Job 22

Job 22:15-16 (ESV Strong's)
15 Will you keep to the old way
that wicked men have trod?
16 They were snatched away before their time;
their foundation was washed away.

False Assumptions Lead to Bad Counsel

The above verses are taken from the middle of Eliphaz’s final speech to Job.   Eliphaz was one of Job’s friends.  He (and his other two friends) came to comfort Job.   Somewhere between chapter two (and their intent to comfort Job) and chapter twenty-two, Eliphaz has come a  major conclusion:  Wicked people are punished by God; Job is being punished; therefore Job must be wicked.   This is Eliphaz’s philosophy.   Although he has just made the argument that God is NOT affected by whether man is righteous or unrighteous (Job 22:1-4), he now insists that Job is being punished because of his unrighteousness.   But, if God is not affected by man’s condition, then Eliphaz’s argument has no merit.   But, this thought does not impact Eliphaz from drawing false assumptions and making poor conclusions.  If you start with a wrong premise you will, in the end, have a wrong conclusion.    In verses 6-12 of this chapter Eliphaz claims that Job has done some very wicked things.   Even through, we as readers, know that God has declared Job righteous in chapters one and two of the book, Eliphaz has his premise, has drawn his assumptions, and has come to his conclusion.   This, regretfully, is how many people work.  We have a false premise about someone, we draw up some assumptions about them and then conclude they must be ___________!    God, thankfully, does not do that with us.  He knows us. He knows our inward hearts.   He gives grace where we ask and he gives punishment where we resists his grace:

James 4:6 (ESV Strong's)
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5 (ESV Strong's)
5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

That is how God works.   In Eliphaz’s mind, he sees one thing and concludes another.   In God’s mind and plan we see that God operates on grace and mercy and applies those to anyone who seeks His divine favor.   We should counsel the same way.   Judgment is for God.  We should counsel by offering God’s grace and merry.  

I Commit My Spirit - Psalms 30-32

Psalms 31:3-5 (ESV Strong's)
3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

I Commit My Spirit

Verse five in the above section was uttered by Jesus just before He took His last gasp of breath on the cross.   Jesus commuted Himself to the Father.   The truth that these verses provide is encouraging as we fast the day.  Those who have God s their rock and fortress CAN commit their spirit to the Lord, knowing full well He cares for them.   Those who commit their spirits to the Lord, make God their rock and fortress.   The reason for all this is that God “redeemed” the writer.   When we know that we have been giving redemption we can rejoice in our Savior’s love and in His care.   Committing your spirit into God’s hands is to give Him you body, soul, heart and mind.   You are asking Him to shape it and maintain it and sustain it.   Jesus in His death needed to give His spirit to the Father because only the Father would be able to keep Him.  Because He was God the Son, Jesus overcame death.   God can handle our spirit!!!

There is None Like the Lord - 1 Samuel 1-5

1 Samuel 2:2 (ESV Strong's)
2 “There is none holy like the Lord:
for there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.

There Is None Like the Lord

In today’s society we really don’t think about “other” gods the same way they did in the Old Testament.  We indeed have “other” gods, we just don’t practice worshiping them in the same way.  In chapter five of this book the story is told of the Philistines capturing the Ark of the Covenant (Israel symbol of worship).  In that chapter they Ark is taken to a town of the Philistines and place next to their god, Dagon.   The next morning they find their god, Dagon, (apparently in statue) fallen down in front of the Ark of the Covenant, as though worshiping it.   They set Dagon back on his feet (what kind of god is it that YOU had to set him back on his feet?).   The following morning, Dagon is once again down worshiping the Ark of the Covenant.  This time his hands and head have broken off.  The message is clear, there is NO other God like our God.   The above verse is part of a song that Hannah wrote the day she offered her son, Samuel, to serve God.   In her acknowledgement of this sacrifice, she acknowledges that God is sovereign over the affairs of mankind and He is unique among all those who worship a god.  Our gods today are not, for the most part, statues of images we bow down and worship.   Our gods are sports teams that we worship that keeps us away from serving God.   Our gods are shinning and move fast. Our gods are brick and mortar surrounded by perfectly cut blades of grass.  Our gods are occupations and pay stubs that provide the finances we need and the value we need in our lives.   These are nothing like our God!!!   They all, at one time or another, fall down with broken hands and displaced heads to worship our real God. There is NO god like our God!!!

The Ancillary Value of the World - Genesis 40-43

Genesis 41:44-45 (ESV Strong's)
44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

The Ancillary Value of the World

Joesph has been in-prisoned for what may have been 10-15 years.   The reason?  His brothers disliked him.   However, he remained faithful and God brought him into the world of the Pharaoh of the land.   This was a man of great power.   He appoints Joseph as “second in command” as a result of Joseph giving him answers to his questions.  These are answers that Joesph admits came to him from the God of the Universe.   Joesph was not afraid to speak truth to Pharaoh.   As a result, Pharaoh gives him power in the land and provides for him a wife, who will eventually give birth to Manasseh and Ephraim, two of the tribes of Israel.  So, God uses a Gentile woman to produce two tribes of Israel.   God uses the world to accomplish His means and end.   Joesph is given great power in the land.   God gives Joseph wisdom and Joseph is rewarded, by the world, for that wisdom.    Our walking in this world will have these ancillary benefits when we give glory to God and make sure He is completely at the center of our lives.  When we are His Kingdom focused, we can be assured that He will guide us in this kingdom we live in and work.   God makes sure that the world treats us the way HE wants us treated.   That can be persecution but, like Joseph, it can be with favor, as well.

Persevere in Your Faith - 1 Corinthians 3-4

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV Strong's)
16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Persevere in Your Faith

The context of the above passage is found within an argument that Paul is making to the church at Corinth.   He is concerned that their are divisions in the church ... divisions that are about loyalty to him vs loyalty to other leaders in the church.    Paul is not concerned that members of the church are not loyal to him.  He is concerned that loyalty to one leader of a church over another can cause division in the church.    To prevent that from happening, Paul is arguing that it matters not WHO they follow, but how that person is building upon their faith.   He wants them to know both the building up of their faith and how they build on their faith are vital to their growth.  Paul then gives us the above warning:  Don’t “destroy” your faith!! The word destroy is:

(Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary) 2. phtheiro (φθείρω, 5351) signifies “to destroy by means of corrupting,” and so “bringing into a worse state”

It means that someone is bringing their faith into bad state.    Paul wants them to know that they are filled with the Holy Spirit.   If they do something that hinders the growth of their faith, they are putting their faith at risk.  The Scriptures teach that we are assured that our salvation is not going to waste.   But, the truth is, we have to persevere in our faith.  We can’t bring things into our faith that might interrupt the Spirit’s work in our lives.   We can’t choke off the Spirit’s work.  That is Paul’s warning.  

Prayer Prevents Temptation - Matthew 26-28

Matthew 26:41 (ESV Strong's)
41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Prayer Prevents Temptation

The above passage is about the time Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, prior to His crucifixion.   Jesus brought the disciples with Him into the garden and asked them to pray with Him.   When He goes farther into the garden and prays, He comes back and finds the disciples fast asleep.  Instead of being diligent prayer warriors, they turned out to be sleepy.   Jesus wants them to know the power of prayer.   Prayer has so many facets to it.  We have the power of prayer in our lives and we tend to neglect it.  We use entertainment instead of diligent prayer.   We use friendship instead of perseverance in prayer.  We use work responsibilities instead of being powerful prayer warriors.  Prayer, according to Jesus, can prevent temptation.   Notice they fell asleep and within a few hours they denied Jesus.   When believers know the power of prayer they see the power of God in their lives.  Temptation will come.  Notice how it came to Paul in Romans 7:20.

We are reminded to pray.  We are told to pray.  We are encouraged to pray.  We are provided power for prayer.   Prayer is available to prevent temptation.  When we are in the midst of prayer, Satan’s temptation will still be there. Remember that Jesus was tempted after He fasted and prayed for forth days.   But, He did not “enter” into that temptation.   Prayer gives us the power to stop the temptation before we fall into sin.

He TOOK OUR Griefs - Isaiah 51-55

Isaiah 53:4-6 (ESV Strong's)
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

He TOOK OUR Griefs

Imagine if someone walked up to you on the street and stated to you:

“I will take all your past and future debts, all your current pain, all your future sufferings and provide you all you could ever hope for ... right now, for free!  They only requirement you have to make is to believe I can do it and love me for it. You in?”

What would you say?   This is the above passage of Isaiah that the prophet is telling us.   The “he” in verse 4 is Jesus Christ.   He is offering to:

1. Take our griefs!
2. Take our sorrows!
3. Take our Transgressions!
4. Take our iniquities!

He wants to give us:

1. Peace!
2. Healing!

He wants to turns from:

1. Our own way to His way!
2. Put our iniquities on Him!

Paul said the same thing, shorter, this way:

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV Strong's)
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

This is often called the Divine Exchange.   God, through His dear Son, exchanged all our bad for all His good.  No man on the street would do that, could do that, would believed if they offered that.   God has that offer.  Rejoice that God is giving us Him and taken us to Him!!

They Don’t Deny Themselves of Anything - Job 20-21

Job 20:20-21 (ESV Strong's)
20 “Because he knew no contentment in his belly,
he will not let anything in which he delights escape him.
21 There was nothing left after he had eaten;
therefore his prosperity will not endure.

They Don’t Deny Themselves Anything

The above words are taken from the second speech of Job’s friend,, Zophar.   He is trying to convince Job that the reason for his many challenges and sufferings is that the wicked always end up suffering.   Therefore, Zophar reasons, since Job is suffering, he must be wicked.   Of course, we know that Zophar’s truth is only half truth and it is completely applied in a wrong way to Job’s situation.   Job is declared righteous by God in chapters one and two of this book and, in the next chapter (21) Job helps Zophar remember that there are MANY wicked who live very prosperous lives on this earth.   So, Zophar is wrong on application and conclusion, but he has struck some truth in the above verses.    In the above passage he states that the wicked are never content and they attempt to fill their lack of contentment by delighting themselves in anything that strikes their fancy.   In fact, they “eat” everything they can to try to fill the whole in their heart.  They “eat” so much, there is nothing left to consume.  Yet, they are still lacking contentment.   Notice how Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes says the same thing:


(ESV Strong's) Ecclesiastes 5:13
There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, 14 and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand.

Solomon goes on to say:


(ESV Strong's) 5:18-20
 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

Only God can give “enjoyment” to the things we posses.   It is NOT wrong to possess things and/or enjoy them.  It IS wrong to put those things before our relationship with God, which is Solomon’s conclusion at the end of his book.   Zophar was correct in saying that the wicked tend to devour whatever they want, in order to satisfy the longing in their heart.  They pursue it so hard there is nothing left for others.  This is why our society is called a “consumer” society.  We consume anything in our path.   Job understands this, but only objects that he sees many who consume simply going on to consume more and more.   The wicked to not always suffer on this earth (chapter 21).  But, they do fill their hearts with the wrong things and when they die, their wealth dies with them.   Job would teach us that the suffering we might have as believers will have an eternal hope in the end (Job 23:10).D

The Voice of the Lord - Psalms 27-29

Psalms 29:5-9 (ESV Strong's)
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

The Voice of the Lord

There was an old television ad designed to promote a brokerage firm, E.F.Hutton.  The firm is long gone now, but the ad might have a tag line that was one of the most famous of all tag lines.   The scene for the ad would always be the same: A large group of people traveling, or walking down the street or gathering somewhere. Two actors would be talking about the fear of their investments and then one of them would suddenly say, “Well, my broker is E.F.Hutton, and E.F.Hutton says ...”.   When that line was stated the entire cast of characters would stop and listen.  They would be on the edge of their seat to hear what E.F.Hutton told this poor soul.    That very long, silent, “pregnant pause” would be followed by a voice over saying, “When E.F.Hutton talks, people listen!”    That would be the end of the ad and everyone would get back to their favorite show.   The point of the ad was that people should pay attention to E.F.Hutton if they want to have financial security.  

In the above Psalms we read that there is really only one voice that should, could and would do that for us.   It is the voice of God.   God’s voice is the voice, that would heard, causes birth to take place.   God’s voice breaks down a forest.  God’s voice causes the storms of life.   God’s voice is powerful.  It has the power, authority and healing power nothing else can compare to.  The writer of Hebrews said it this way:

Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV Strong's)
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Listen to God’s Voice.   When God’s Voices people should listen ...

Under His Wings - Ruth

Ruth 2:12 (ESV Strong's)
12 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”

Under His Wings

Ruth was a foreigner to the nation of Israel.  She married Naomi’s son, who died shortly after their marriage.   Ruth could have stayed in her foreign land and could have worshiped the gods of her country.  Instead, she came with Naomi back to Israel.    When Ruth meets Boaz (her future husband) she is fully vested in the service and worship of Yahweh.   Boaz, recognizes this.  He is attracted to Ruth because of her commitment to Yahweh.   Boaz sees her character and wants her to know that he values someone who would sick refuge under the wings of Yahweh.    Perhaps Boaz was thinking of this Psalms of Moses when he said those words to Ruth:

Psalms 91:1-4 (ESV Strong's)
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

Those who are “under his wings” enjoy a sense of peace, bliss and comfort, only the God of the universe can provide.  It does not mean that we will suffer no harm.   But, it does mean that whatever harm comes our way we can rejoice that God is very much aware and will comfort us in it and bring us through it.  This is the essence of Ruth’s character.    She had a bad life, but knew that God would bring her through.   And He did.  

God Causes Favor on His Children - Genesis 36-39

Genesis 39:4-6 (ESV Strong's)
4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.
Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

God Causes Favor on His Children

In the above passage we read about Joseph being place in captivity in the house of a high ranking official named Potiphar.    God was so involved in Joseph’s life that He blessed Potiphar as a result.   God blessed Joseph’s “job” as Jospeh was willing to lean into God, via faith.   God watches over those who He calls.  God had a mission for Joseph.   That mission caused him to be rejected by his brothers and sold into slavery.  Joseph could have rejected God at this point.  He will soon (in the next few verses) be tempted by Potiphar’s wife in a sexual manner.   Joesph is so committed to God, that God CAN bless him.   God blesses as when we are doing His work.  We might not see it.   A pit, a prison and being enslaved does not sound like God’s blessings, but Joesph saw God’s hand in his life.   God even blessed Potiphar as a result.   We can rejoice that God sends His blessing on the believer who trusts Him and that blessing can overflow to the unsaved world.

Grace = Enrichment - 1 Corinthians 1-2

1 Corinthians 1:4-5 (ESV Strong's)
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—

Grace = Enrichment

Because of our relationship with Christ we are “enriched.”   Through Christ we have the Spirit of God.  The Spirit, in grace, gives us gifts to do the work God calls us to do.   Paul uses this same word, “enriched,” in his second letter to the church at Corinth, when speaking of both spiritual AND monetary riches:

2 Corinthians 6:10 (ESV Strong's)
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

2 Corinthians 9:11 (ESV Strong's)
11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

Until the Christian believer undestands that God “enriches” us, we will lack the resources, power and purpose God intends.   When we become believers we do not take personal inventory and see what we have that God can use.   When we become believers, we are “enriched” with God’s gifts, by His grace.   Many believers are held back due to their mindset of “lacking individual resources” self-argument and narrative.   It is through faith that we come to understand that God has “enriched” us with all the gifts we need.  We are empty vessels and have nothing to offer God; even after salvation.   We are “gifted” by the Spirit to serve and to become holy.   When we remain in the thoughts that think:  “Look at my life ... I am so terrible,” we fail to see what God can do in us and through us by how He gifts us.  On the other side of that argument we have some believers who remain in the thoughts that think: “Look what I have, God is so lucky to have me,” we also fail to understand the power of God in our lives to enrich us. Our pride hinders God from impacting us.  We must, by faith, understand that God is enriching us for His purpose and those gifts are provided to praise Him and do His work.