Greatest Words Ever Written - Psalm 102-104

I am not much on quotes from men. I have a friend who's office is completely covered by quotes from famous people. I often wonder what is wrong with me, that as a reader and a motivational speaker I don't remember or use more quotes like that. However, in reading this morning's text I did come across what I believe may be the greatest words ever written:

Psalm 103:10-12: "He has not dealt with us according to our sins , Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities . 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth , So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west , So far has He removed our transgressions from us."

Are there any words that have a greater meaning or more important implications. Put Lincoln, Washington, King, Plato, or any famously quoted orator up against these words and they will pale by comparison. What David says here strikes at the very heart of life. David is telling us what God will do with our sin. David should know. He had a numerous wives and killed to get one more. He committed adultery and fathered a baby out of that adultery. David would not be able to preach in any of our pulpits today (he could never be ordained) and he could not teach in any of our schools. He has a felony arrest record. He couldn't coach any of our athletes even though he once conquered giants. More than likely he couldn't sit on any board but he once lead a nation. David had a good understanding of the need for these words. God accepted and forgave David. David bathed himself in these truths. When David brought his sins before God, God would say, "What sins?" As far as the east is from the west they have been removed from us!

Prepare to rejoice before you need to rejoice - 1 Chronicles 15-19

The last we read in 1 Chronicles David had attempted to bring the ark to Jerusalem; to the place he had prepared for it. However, instead of carrying the ark in the prescribed manner, David and friends put the ark on a cart. When the ox that was pulling the cart stumbled and the ark started to fall, Uzzia stuck out a hand to steady it and was struck dead by the anger of the Lord. In chapter 15 we have, "Moving the Ark to Jerusalem, Act II." This time David takes time to read the instructions. This time David instructs the Levi's to carry the ark with the poles, as ordained by God. David expects great things this time. This time he not only tells the to follow the instructions but to prepare the singers and the players to get ready to celebrate and rejoice (15:16). In 15:22 we read that David actually appointed someone in charge of the singing (Chenaniah). This is all an act of faith for David. He saw that when God's Word is obeyed, rejoicing should be planned for. He didn't wait "to see" if things would turn out well. He simply believed that if he obeyed God things would turn out well. He was ready to rejoice when it was time to rejoice because he knew rejoicing was about to come because it always comes when you believe and obey God!. Let's plan on some rejoicing today!

Heavenly Cloud for guidance still needs earthly eyes? Numbers 9-12

At the end of chapter ten of Numbers we read the story of the clound and the fire leading Israel. When God wanted them to move He would move the cloud or fire and they were to follow. The "cloud" of course kept them cool in during the day and the "fire" kept them warm at night. However, at the end of chapter ten we read that Moses asked his father-in-law to "be their eyes" on the journey. This begs the question, "Why do you need earthly eyes when you have a heavenly cloud guiding you?" I think the answer is you don't, but you should! God also commanded them in the begging of chapter ten to construct two trumpets for calling the Israelites to order or to battle. God doesn't need horns to do this but He instructed Moses to construct them. God incorporates the earthly to accomplish the heavenly. From the beginning it was so. When He created Adam His answer for Adam's "aloneness" was to create Eve. God was to be Adam's friend and Adam's companion. God was to be Adam's "complete me" person. However, in God's wisdom He created Eve. God uses the earthly to complete the heavenly. God used David with a "sling" to accomplish the victory over a giant. God uses the earthly to complete the heavenly. So, when you and I need wisdom we could rely completely on the "Spirit" of God who knows the mind of God who is Wisdom (1 Corinthians 2). But, we are to ask others and get advice because in a multitude of counselors there is wisdom (Proverbs 24:6). God gives us the heavenly and expects us to incorporate the earthly in that task.

Focus on the essentials of life ... the after life (1 Timothy 4-6)

Paul tells young Pastor Timothy to not get caught up in the false doctrines and false focus of the day (chapter 4). He tells him while others may be focused on their physical bodies (both in pleasing it and in profiting it ... 4:8-10) that he should focus on the spiritual aspect of body development. He states at the end of chapter four that Timothy is not to "neglect" spiritual development (vs. 14); to take "pains" with spiritual development; to be "absorbed" in spiritual development; and to "pay close attention" to spiritual development. Here you have a man of God being told by another man of God to spend as much time as possible with God. There is to be no relaxation when it comes to God. We are to passively go through this life without focusing on life ... the after life part of this life. We get so engrossed in the media world of television and shows that we fail to realize our main focus is to be on the development of our spiritual life. We are to foster it and protect it and to further it. We can use all these things as tools to further it but we have to careful we don't use things as the focus. Paul tells us that the end of being focused on spiritual things is our salvation and that of others around us (4:16). Does your focus in life reflect a growing desire to care of the physical body or the spiritual body?

Discernment change direction = John 7-9

In 7:1 it says that Jesus didn't go up immediately to Judea and stayed in Galilee because He knew that the Jews wanted to kill Him and it wasn't yet His time. That discernment changed His direction. How many times do we allow discernment to change our direction? That is the reason why God gives us discernment. To change our direction. However, we often, even after being equipped with discernment fail to alter our course and move right into the foolishness God is giving us discernment about. Maybe it is our pride, maybe it is our desire for the pleasures of sin, maybe we simply are too dull and don't see the discernment when it is offered, but in the case of Jesus, He discerned something and changed His course. We too ought to allow the Spirit of God to show us the dangers on the path ahead and then change the course we take. Discernment ought to change direction.

In our affliction we will return to God - Hosea 1-7

Read again Hosea 5:15 and 2:7. God uses our afflictions for a purpose in our lives. In 6:1 Hosea makes that very clear by saying, "... for He has torn us, but He will heal us ...". We see that God does allow afflictions to come into our lives and will use them in a great way to heal us and to sharpen us for righteousness. In Psalm 119:50, 67, 71, 76, and 107 David gives us the same thought: God uses affliction and matches them with His comfort and healing. The next time we are in an affliction let's look to the God of Healing and realize He has a purpose bigger than us and can use this affliction, if we allow it, to bring us closer to Him.

Money talks and poverty walks ... or does it? Proverbs 19

In chapter 19 of Proverbs we have several written on the subject of wealth and poverty. As I write this I am leaving for a small missions trip to Chicago that, along with soccer fun, we will be packing food for the poor of third world countries. I thought these truths were appropriate to meditate upon. In our country money talks and poverty is asked to take walk where we can't see them. But, notice Solomon's wisdom on this subject:

19:1 - "Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool."

19:4 - "Wealth adds many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friends."

19:6 - "Many will seek the favor of a generous man, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts."

19:7 - "All the brothers of a poor man hate him, He pursues them with words, but they are gone."

19:17 - "One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed."

19:22 - "What is desirable in a man is his kindness, and it is better to be a poor man than a liar."

As the above verses point out, poverty has its privileges. We don't believe that in our society and wealth certainly has its earthly pluses. But, God is in the life of the poor and we are to recognize their need for companionship, promotion and love - above weatlh.