Psalm 97
1 "The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice, let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
2 "Clouds and darkness are round about Him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne.
3 "A fire goeth before Him, and burneth up His enemies round about.
4 "His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
5 "The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 "The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory.
7 "Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship Him, all ye gods.
8 "Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of Thy judgements, O Lord.
9 "For Thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: Thou art exalted far above all gods.
10 "Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12 "Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness."
Confusion follows us when we choose to trust in our "idols", be it our own strength, man, methods…..but as we love Him, we fear Him (reverential awe and a fear of doing anything to harm our relationship to Him), He preserves our soul. He delivers us out of the hand of the wicked.
That doesn’t necessarily mean we won’t suffer—but the wicked can’t touch our soul, because God is preserving it. It’s easy to fear what will happen in the future, but we aren’t given the grace ahead of time. As Corrie ten Boom’s wonderful analogy shows–He gives us the "ticket" when it’s time to get on the "train".
Four years ago my husband was in a terrible accident that by many estimations, should have taken his life. If I had worried about that happening ahead of time, God would not give me the grace to face it. I can attest that through the worst of times (well, for me so far), God has faithfully given the grace as I needed it.
When we went through miscarriages and infertility.
When we lost Noah Ross 18 years ago.
When Anna-Pie had an auto-immune disorder that looked to become chronic 10 years ago.
When Bekah fell from the barn loft 4 1/2 years ago.
When Dallas was in his accident 4 years ago.
When my dad died a year ago.
If we sit around worrying about it all, we waste energy and time, and really, we say God is a liar. I’ve not counted for myself, but I’ve heard the Bible says 365 times to "fear NOT". So truly to fear is a direct disobedience to a clear command of my heavenly Father and my God!!!
It is tempting to fear. America has squandered her heritage and the grace of God for so long. I have no doubt we are under judgment. And I’m not referring to the recent election, necessarily. That is only a reflection of our hearts as the people, just as the kings of Israel were a reflection of her people. It has to start in our hearts as God’s people–it has to start in mine.
So I examine my own heart–am I trusting in "idols"? They can be so sneaky. My fear itself becomes an idol. It has been said we worship what we fear. Therefore, if I fear troubled times, the future, the economy, my leaders, accidents, weather, whatever–I have just set up an idol. God says to set no idol before my eyes–He alone is to get my worship, according to the first commandment!!!
That is why we are to fear nothing but God Himself–and again, that fear is not a cowering, "hope He doesn’t spank me" fear. It is a "I don’t want to disappoint my Daddy" fear–yet with a reverential awe that my Father is the King and Creator of the universe.
In place of a hymn, I would like to post a few selections from Spurgeon’s "Morning and Evening" that really speak to me at this time.
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From November 6:
Morning
"I will pour water upon him that is thirsty."-Isaiah 44:3
When a believer has fallen into a low, sad state of feeling, he often tries to lift himself out of it by chastening himself with dark and doleful fears. Such is not the way to rise from the dust, but to continue in it. As well chain the eagle’s wing to make it mount, as doubt in order to increase our grace. It is not the law, but the gospel which saves the seeking soul at first; and it is not a legal bondage, but gospel liberty which can restore the fainting believer afterwards. Slavish fear brings not back the backslider to God, but the sweet wooings of love allure him to Jesus’ bosom. Are you this morning thirsting for the living God, and unhappy because you cannot find him to the delight of your heart? Have you lost the joy of religion, and is this your prayer, "Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation"? Are you conscious also that you are barren, like the dry ground; that you are not bringing forth the fruit unto God which He has a right to expect of you; that you are not so useful in the Church, or in the world, as your heart desires to be? Then here is exactly the promise which you need, "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty." You shall receive the grace you so much require, and you shall have it to the utmost reach of your needs. Water refreshes the thirsty: you shall be refreshed; your desires shall be gratified. Water quickens sleeping vegetable life: your life shall be quickened by fresh grace. Water swells the buds and makes the fruits ripen; you shall have fructifying grace: you shall be made fruitful in the ways of God. Whatever good quality there is in divine grace, you shall enjoy it to the full. All the riches of divine grace you shall receive in plenty; you shall be as it were drenched with it: and as sometimes the meadows become flooded by the bursting rivers, and the fields are turned into pools, so shall you be-the thirsty land shall be springs of water.
From November 7:
Morning
"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands."-Isaiah 49:16
No doubt a part of the wonder which is concentrated in the word "Behold," is excited by the unbelieving lamentation of the preceding sentence. Zion said, "The Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me." How amazed the divine mind seems to be at this wicked unbelief! What can be more astounding than the unfounded doubts and fears of God’s favoured people? The Lord’s loving word of rebuke should make us blush; He cries, "How can I have forgotten thee, when I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands? How darest thou doubt my constant remembrance, when the memorial is set upon my very flesh?" O unbelief, how strange a marvel thou art! We know not which most to wonder at, the faithfulness of God or the unbelief of His people. He keeps His promise a thousand times, and yet the next trial makes us doubt Him. He never faileth; He is never a dry well; He is never as a setting sun, a passing meteor, or a melting vapour; and yet we are as continually vexed with anxieties, molested with suspicions, and disturbed with fears, as if our God were the mirage of the desert. "Behold," is a word intended to excite admiration. Here, indeed, we have a theme for marvelling. Heaven and earth may well be astonished that rebels should obtain so great a nearness to the heart of infinite love as to be written upon the palms of His hands. "I have graven thee."It does not say, "Thy name." The name is there, but that is not all: "I have graven thee." See the fulness of this! I have graven thy person, thine image, thy case, thy circumstances, thy sins, thy temptations, thy weaknesses, thy wants, thy works; I have graven thee, everything about thee, all that concerns thee; I have put thee altogether there. Wilt thou ever say again that thy God hath forsaken thee when He has graven thee upon His own palms?
Evening
"And ye shall be witnesses unto Me."-Acts 1:8
In order to learn how to discharge your duty as a witness for Christ, look at His example. He is always witnessing: by the well of Samaria, or in the Temple of Jerusalem: by the lake of Gennesaret, or on the mountain’s brow. He is witnessing night and day; His mighty prayers are as vocal to God as His daily services. He witnesses under all circumstances; Scribes and Pharisees cannot shut His mouth; even before Pilate He witnesses a good confession. He witnesses so clearly, and distinctly that there is no mistake in Him. Christian, make your life a clear testimony. Be you as the brook wherein you may see every stone at the bottom-not as the muddy creek, of which you only see the surface-but clear and transparent, so that your heart’s love to God and man may be visible to all. You need not say, "I am true:" be true. Boast not of integrity, but be upright. So shall your testimony be such that men cannot help seeing it. Never, for fear of feeble man, restrain your witness. Your lips have been warmed with a coal from off the altar; let them speak as like heaven-touched lips should do. "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand." Watch not the clouds, consult not the wind-in season and out of season witness for the Saviour, and if it shall come to pass that for Christ’s sake and the gospel’s you shall endure suffering in any shape, shrink not, but rejoice in the honour thus conferred upon you, that you are counted worthy to suffer with your Lord; and joy also in this-that your sufferings, your losses, and persecutions shall make you a platform, from which the more vigorously and with greater power you shall witness for Christ Jesus. Study your great Exemplar, and be filled with His Spirit. Remember that you need much teaching, much upholding, much grace, and much humility, if your witnessing is to be to your Master’s glory.
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I fear too many of us are muddy creeks instead of clear brooks! Oh, Lord! Make me a clear stream that I may be a true witness of You, Your power, Your love, Your sovereignty!
If we as His children do not show forth trust in His plans and His care, how can we give any hope to a world without Him?
One more, this one from Faith’s Checkbook, for November 6, also by Spurgeon:
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Delight and Desires
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (Psalm37:4)
Delight in God has a transforming power and lifts a man above the gross desire of our fallen nature. Delight in Jehovah is not only sweet in itself, but it sweetens the whole soul, till the longings of the heart become such that the Lord can safely promise to fulfill them. Is not that a grand delight which molds our desires till they are like the desires of God?
Our foolish way is to desire and then set to work to compass what we desire. We do not go to work in God’s way, which is to seek Him first and then expect all things to be added unto us. If we will let our heart be filled with God till it runs over with delight, then the Lord Himself will take care that we shall not want any good thing. Instead of going abroad for joys let us stay at home with God and drink waters out of our own fountain. He can do for us far more than all our friends. It is better to be content with God alone than to go about fretting and pining for the paltry trifles of time and sense. For a while we may have disappointments; but if these bring us nearer to the Lord, they are things to be prized exceedingly, for they will in the end secure to us the fulfillment of all our right desires.
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These might not all tie together, but for me God has used them to speak to my heart and quiet it.
And to close, I’d like to quote part of an e-mail from the Solis family, owners of Lifetime Books and Gifts:
"Although the end of the election process should have marked an end to our hectic days, there is still much uncertainty about our future as a nation. Many things are at stake, including the economy. As God taught us once again to trust in Him, not in the government, and not on the economy, we were edified by going to His word and being reminded that OUR CERTAINTY IS IN HIM!
His word answered all our questions…
When we said, "Lord, we are afraid," he responded,
"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strenght you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
"Father, what about my many concerns?" He assured us,
"The Lord will perfect that which concerns [you]; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever" Psalm 138:8
"Lord, what shall we do, where shall we go?"
"I will instruct and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye…Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!" Psalm 32:7, 10-11
He confirms in His word, HE IS SOVEREIGN IN CREATION AND IN HISTORY!
"Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance" Psalm 33:8-12
"Lord, I have no power…" yet He says, "Not by might nor by power, BUT BY MY SPIRIT" Zechariah 4:6
How wonderful to know He supplies us with His good Word to answer all our questions, take away all our fears, and uplift us with "wings like eagles."
I can truly say "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4
We encourage you to seek the Lord in prayer and to ask for boldness to preach His Word among the nations. This nation’s revival- the new "Great Awakening" is coming and we will all be part of it as He continues with His sovereign plan until eternity."
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May this encourage your heart today—remember David in I Samuel 30. What did he do when they returned to Ziklag to find the city burned and their wives and children taken captive by the Amalekites. His men spoke of stoning him! Did he lash out? Did he fear? Did he blame God?
No.
Verse 6b, "but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God…"
And then he sought God’s will on the next step!
Encourage yourself in the Lord your God! And then seek Him as to what you are to do next!
Blessings!
We seem to all have our trials, it is tempting to think that when we are in the midst of them we are the only ones. I am glad only God knows the future, if I knew the future, I think I might faint!