nothing new under the sun

In pondering upon the current situation in our country (and the world for that matter) and measuring it against God’s Word, the verse in Ecclesiastes- That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So, there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9) has really hit home as of late.

As you read through the Old Testament there are vivid and direct reminders of how man has not changed at all. The striving for worldly possessions and power as well as our sin nature that leads us away from the Lord continues to pervade the heart of mankind.

So, let us take a look at today’s ‘there is nothing new under the sun’ lesson from Psalm 62:

As we look at our government and their continued efforts to ‘resolve’ our country’s issues we see a similar word of truth from this portion of scripture.

- Our government’s current leadership seems to be an exact fit:

They delight in falsehood (falsehood- meaning the absence of truth or accuracy, which our leaders appear to have cornered the market on)
They bless with their mouth (we, your government, have all the answers to all of your problems and we will take care of you- don’t worry)
But inwardly they curse (their continued desire for control using the power of money to motivate us will have an enormous future cost that, in the end, will be a curse to our country)

- Here is what we need to watch out for:

Do not trust in oppression (we are seeing unprecedented examples of unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power as we move through this time of crisis, our representatives, our senators and our administration continues to push the boundaries usurping constitutional power moving us ever closer to a socialistic state as well as attempting to silence the voices of Christianity)
And do not vainly hope in robbery (if you truly believe that the government’s desire to take money away from the people, that being higher and more onerous levels of taxation at all levels, who are the economic producers and contributors and use it to ‘solve’ all of our country’s ills is not robbery than you are part of the problem- your hope is in vain)
If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them. (we have leaders who appear to truly believe that money is the answer to everything and the more money government has to spend the better -if you believe this, as Solomon warns us in Ecclesiastes 10 that ‘and money is the answer to everything’, than your heart is set in the wrong direction)

- And here we find God’s desire for His children:

My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.

In these verses we find truth that enables us to take refuge as well as gather strength during these chaotic times. I continue to find comfort in the fact that God’s Word is a strong tower that can be trusted in all ages – even in ours today as we face a mighty battle with the forces of darkness.
People of the Lord - stand firm, trust in our God, pour out your heart before Him.

the Passover Lamb of God

As another Passover is celebrated
The foreshadowing of what was to come
Celebrating a future fulfillment of the promise
A promise made from the foundation of the world
The Passover Lamb of God

His broken body would be pierced for our transgressions
He would be crushed for our iniquities
By His scourging we would be healed
He would be poured out even to death for our sin
His blood would be shed to overcome death’s sting
The Passover Lamb of God

And yet, He was despised and forsaken of men
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him
The Passover Lamb of God

The Righteous One who came to serve
His sacrifice made, the price paid that many might be set free
Redemption accomplished through an act of His loving-kindness
Grace and mercy interceding for our transgressions
The Passover Lamb of God

Salvation is among us, liberty and life anew
Rejoice for He has risen, Rejoice for He is alive
Our Passover Lamb of God
Our Redeemer, Our Savior, Our Lord
Jesus

the valley of discontent

Lord, as I walk through this valley of discontent
Through a time of distress and anxiousness
Of concern and fear
Remind me that I am not alone
That You, Lord God Almighty, are with me
A mighty fortress in times of trouble
Established by Your loving-kindness
Lead me afresh into Your Presence
You are my Provider
You are my Strength
You are my Hope
You are my Joy
Your life living in me
For the momentary fire of adversity and strife will refine me
An instrument fine tuned to Your Voice and Your Leading
Your Grace and Mercy shall uphold me
And I will find comfort in the Glory of Your Presence

God's lovingkindness

But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength
Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning
For You have been my stronghold
And a refuge in the day of my distress
O my strength, I will sing praises to You
For God is my stronghold
The God who shows me lovingkindness
My God in His lovingkindness will meet me…
Psalm 59:10,16,17

In these hectic days that include a crisis reaction mentality to every distressed news item that is uncovered let us take a moment to reflect upon our place in this world.
Of late I find myself being caught up within this cyclone of crisis news and strife that besets not only the financial world but our country as a whole. This creates a spiral of thoughts that take me from frustration and anxiousness to fear and trepidation. Yet, I know in Whom I believe but the flesh’s desire to control rages within me taking me down the path of despair which leads to fear. What is to become of me ?
As we ponder upon these verses from Psalm 59 may we invite the Holy Spirit to lead us to the place of peace and rest that God’s Word promises to those who believe in Him. And may we exchange the fear of the world for the fear of God that places us within the shadow of His wing – His stronghold of lovingkindness.
As we head into each new day, as a believer in Christ Jesus, may we not forget:
- we have a Solid Foundation that the winds of stress can not wash away
- we have a Refuge that is not swayed by any crisis that may make front page headlines
- we have a Stronghold that will not be moved nor breached due to a global financial collapse
- we have a Redeemer whose lovingkindness restores and refreshes
- we have a Savior who has lifted us up out of the miry clay and set us on solid ground
- we have a God who desires our presence
So, might we sing joyful praises each morning as we are reminded that my God in His lovingkindness will meet me…

my part of the puzzle

As I walk through this time of discontent and discouragement regarding where we are headed as a country and I struggle with the ‘whys’ of our present situation and contemplate how are we ever going to restore the founding principles of our nation that seem to be fading away so quickly, I continue to ask myself what can or should I be doing – what is my part in this puzzle.

When the church has become just another piece of the world around us and no longer sees fit to stand firm on God’s Word but seeks to placate the desires of the world. When ministry becomes entertainment and preaching becomes feel good sound bites and the city on the hill has lost its light, I continue to ask myself what can or should I be doing - what is my part in this puzzle.

And I seek after God’s face but the sounds and activity of the world seem to drown out that still small voice and the fear and the anxiousness of the times distract me from His presence. And I ask – what is my part in this puzzle.

And the Lord finally broke through all the clutter and said to me ‘your part must emanate from a heart that longs to see the truth and grace of My Word boldly imparted to a lost and dying world. A life that moment by moment is lead by My Spirit, relying totally on My sovereign hand and is filled with fervent prayer that seeks after the things of My heart above all else. Come, walk with Me for the struggle has been since times past and you are called to persevere for I am with you.’

our hope and our faith

All this has come upon us,
but we have not forgotten Thee,
And we have not dealt falsely with Thy covenant.
Our heart has not turned back,
And our steps have not deviated from Thy way
Psalm 44:17-18

These have become very difficult times in our nation. We are becoming wearier by the day. There seems to be no end to the trials that appear before us. We, by our nature, look to man and his wisdom to save us from our predicament – from all this that has come upon us.
All this has come upon us (as the Psalm says) and we have a choice as to which path we shall follow. The choice is a simple one – either follow man and his wisdom or steadfastly follow the Lord.
We have a growing population in our country that seems to believe that the government is their messiah. They believe that fallen and sinful men, who do not serve the Living God, can provide the answers to life and hope and restoration that will save us.
People of the Lord, may it be our resolve and our humble prayer that we not forget our Lord, that we not deal falsely with His covenant, that we do not turn our back on Him and that we do not let our steps deviate from His path.
May our hope and our faith be completed rooted in Him – let us not waiver. For just as Job said “though He slay me I will hope in Him’ let us also hold fast to the words from Nahum “the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble and He knows those who take refuge in Him”.