September 30, 2019 -- Psalm 119:26 -- Trained for Battle

When I told of my ways, you answered me;

   teach me your statutes!

Psalm 119:26 English Standard Version

Sometimes I have to school my reactions so that I don’t roll my eyes and let a derogatory sigh of exasperation escape my lips when I am listening to a speaker. It can be tempting for me to fold my arms and shake my head and act as if I am so much wiser, superior to whatever drivel is being spouted by the talker. Then I must consider this: I am not even smart as a paramecium compared to unlimited wisdom and knowledge of God. Therefore, in allegiance to the All-Wise God Whose ways are higher than my ways and Whose thoughts are inexpressibly elevated beyond mine, I am compelled to exercise kindness and forbearance in all my interactions with other people who share a paramecium-like cranial capacity with me

This glorious, wise, omniscient God does not deride His people; He does not disregard us when we are speaking and mock our ineptitudes. He answers us! James teaches us that God is our Good Father, the source of every good gift. What a gentle Father.

Teach me—the English is rather prosaic here. The background of this word in Hebrew includes a sense of being trained for war. While laying out his life before the Living God—complaints and exasperations all—the psalmist realizes he is being overwhelmed by his sins and the temptations of the enemy. A good friend and prayer-partner had a great description of the very difficult situations of his life. He’d call them “the four horsemen of his personal apocalypse”. He names them: being hungry, tired, lonely, and dealing with untamed sexual urges. When any of those four horsemen, or any combination of them, began riding out, he knew he would be in trouble. He admitted when he was being wise in the LORD, or at minimum aware of the threat, he would cry out to God. I imagine the psalmist being aware of the threats arrayed against him, as he lays out his life before the Lord of Glory, as he is about to be overwhelmed by temptations, enemies, or sin. Therefore he cries out “arm me for battle according to Your statutes”.

The statutes of the LORD are something a believer owes to the Captain of Salvation. When the LORD our Warrior responds to us, teaching us to overcome our enemies, we would be fools to do anything else other than follow His training.

 Thank You, Father—Source of Every Good—for the graciousness with which You hear us. We know Your kindness and compassion are given to us in boundless measure because of Jesus Christ—in Whom all our enemies are vanquished. Spirit of God, as we are being trained for spiritual victory, give us the humble wisdom to put into practice all we are learning. Thank You for the communities into which You have, by Your providence placed us, where we will grow in grace. You have designed it that way. Blessed are You, our God, Warrior and Captain of our Salvation. Amen.

September 29, 2019 -- Psalm 119:25 -- What do you cling to?

My soul clings to the dust;

give me life according to your word!

Psalm 119:25 English Standard Version

At first glance it seems like a strange statement—clinging to the dust. You might think of Adam—he was created out of the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7) and God breathed life into his nostrils. Maybe your mind goes to a phrase often used in burial services: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust”. That exact wording is not found in the bible, but is a reference to Genesis 3:19—”for you are dust, and to dust you shall return”. After Adam and Eve had rebelled against God He brought the down His curse of sin into our very DNA and the curse of sin which affects all of creation. The LORD Who made us informed us we will return to dust.

The dust then is both what we are made of and what we return to. What sustains us? It is the breath of life from God. Ephesians teaches that we are dust—dead in our sins and trespasses. We do not bring any good thing to the table. We do not please God by our words, thoughts, gifts, deeds, there is no good thing that is in us or flows from us. We sin because we are sin-filled creatures—we are clinging to the dust of death.

But God, rich in mercy, calls us to life. In Jesus, the living word, we are brought from the dust of death to life which begins in Jesus and lasts forever more. Believers in Jesus Christ are raised from the dust and from the useless and meaningless actions which reveal our deadness. Our souls still cling to death. We are still creatures that, left to our own devices, always choose sin, death, destruction and chaos rather than life. Until the very Spirit of God takes up residence in our hearts and works in us the life of Jesus—the living words—and directs us in the way of life—the written word we will always somnambulate through life—live like sleep-walkers.

Today is Sunday. Christians delight in going to church because we praise God—Who has given us life. Today is Sunday and believers across this globe defy governments, risk imprisonment and shunning by their non-believing family members and community because in Jesus Christ alone is life. The Spirit of God Who lives in us reminds us: greater is He Who lives in us (the Spirit of Jesus) than he that is in the world (Satan and the hosts of darkness)—this is I John 4:4. Those who have met Jesus through the Bible and because of the powerful presence of the Spirit don’t have to be cajoled into going to church—we are drawn by joy. God has answered the prayer of this psalmist—my soul clings to the dust-I am appealing to You, asking so urgently: give me life according to Your Word—on the basis of all the promises You have made to me.

Come to church. If you are feeling some inkling to go to church—plan on going this day and seeing the life God our Father is giving through Jesus Christ. See the powerful life-bringing work of the Spirit. That curiosity is God-prompted. You will not regret going to church!

God of Creation and Life-continue to breath life in us through Jesus Christ. God our Father, give us life that wells up in us through faith in Jesus Christ and by the powerful presence of Your Spirit overflows through-out this life and brings us to the joy of eternal life in Your Presence. This day, as the curious ones, drawn by Your Spirit, come to church may we who know life in Jesus’ Name welcome them and show them the joy that is found in Christ alone. Amen.

September 26, 2019 -- Psalm 119:24 -- But God is my testimony

Your testimonies are my delight;

they are my counselors.

Psalm 119:24 English Standard Version

There is a tiny two word phrase that gloriously testifies to the work of the Mighty One of Heaven and Earth.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:20

But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me. Selah Psalm 49:15

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Man’s power fails, but God’s power avails. Man’s schemes fall to the ground, but God’s power brings renown. Understand it, the Bible is not a moral code book. It is not a successive series of great kings and prophets and moral leaders who conquer all their enemies and have won or earned a right to walk with God! The Bible is filled with sinners, losers, posers, those who were rushing with abandon straight to hell, but God rescued, saved, and delivered. In every instance the Living God is the hero. Therefore the testimonies of Holy One are the delight of this psalmist. Therefore the Bible is the Psalmist’s counselor and advisor. There is no other resource able to inform us of our true condition but God’s word. There is no help available but God makes His great treasures available for all who believe.

Believe me, this is the truth I need to be sounded deep into my own soul every day. I can feel like such a hypocrite as I go out to preach. Yet, time and again I am given strength to go, to do, to speak. Oh, what glory I have found in Jesus Christ—But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

I hardly dare raise my eyes to heaven to appeal to You and ask of You—but God, while we were still sinners You sent Christ to rescue us. I can slip into fear-filled inertia knowing all the wrongs I have committed even though I know You and claim that in You I have every grace needed for victory—but God You have given us the Only Mediator Jesus Christ, Who points to the fact He was punished in our place and He has given us His righteousness.

Blessed be Your Name O King of Righteousness. Glorious are You. Let this be our song-filled service and testimony all the day: God Your testimonies are my delight; for they are my counselors. Amen.

September 24, 2019 -- Psalm 119:23 -- On what is your attention fixed?

Even though princes sit plotting against me,

your servant will meditate on your statutes.

Psalm 119:23 English Standard Version

Your social standing cannot protect you from the hate non-believers harbor against the faithful followers of the Living God. King David experienced this. Though he was mighty in the land, his own sons plotted against him rebelling against showing themselves to be enemies of the LORD and enemies to their own father.

What was David’s response? Speaking from a worldly point of view, one would expect David to become a bitter old man. Two of his sons mounted rebellions against him. One of David’s sons violated his own sister. His brood was troublesome like a boiling cauldron. Yet the LORD Who is King of kings rescued David each and every time. David is not the hero of this story—it is the LORD his God—Who is David’s Rescuer and the One Who brings peace Who is the Hero.

So David refused to retreat to bitterness. Instead he meditated on the statutes of the LORD the Lawgiver. These are the rules by which we measure the boundaries of our lives. These are the laws which God gives so that we do not conform to the patterns and standards of the world but are wholly directed by Him Who made us and therefore knows what is best for us.

Ultimately it is David’s descendant and his LORD Who lived and fulfilled this verse perfectly: Jesus—Who with the Father, created the heavens and the earth—came Incarnate—God-Man—and His own people did not acknowledge Him. Kings judged Him and pursued Him, hounding Him. Unlike His ancestor, Jesus never sinned. Never was tossed to and fro by sin and doubts. Jesus remained perfectly submitted to the statutes of God. He meditated on them and by them guarded His hearts and His steps so that He became the perfect High Priest and the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.

This Psalm, line by line, verse by verse, stanza by stanza, always points to Jesus. He is the hero of our faith and LORD of our life. The psalm encourages us to live for Him—eyes fixed not on our circumstances, our weaknesses and failures, but sharply focused on His perfections. The rules and laws and statutes and Word of God direct us so that we do not constantly rehearse bitterness in the sound track of our minds, but as we remember all His directives we are ever and always teaching our souls of the perfections of our God.

You are the LORD—faithful to all Your promises which are “yes” and “amen” in Jesus Christ. You are the perfect Lawgiver—teaching us what is just and right in a world gone crazy. Ah, Spirit of God, move our stubborn and inclined-to-bitterness-hearts from focusing on ourselves and lift our thoughts and aspirations to where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God. You know what is best for us therefore as we submit our lives to You show us the secret places of our heart where we are hanging on to unjust thoughts and wicked ways and as these rebellions are exposed, conquer them so that we will be wholly and fully submitted to You and find the peace of Christ which passes all understanding. Amen.

September 22, 2019 -- Psalm 119:22 -- Rolling away scorn

Take away from me scorn and contempt

for I have kept your testimonies.

Psalm 119:22 English Standard Version

Matthew Henry, in his commentary on this verse, writes “Hard and foul words indeed break no bones, and yet they are very grievous to a tender and ingenuous^ spirit; therefore David prays, ‘Lord, remove them from me, that I may not be thereby either driven from my duty or discouraged in it.”

[^innocent, unsuspecting] Mathew Henry Commentaries BibleWorks10 Reference Library

In fact that word “remove” can be translated: roll them away. As if they are a great crushing weight. Interesting that even a king, great as David feels the weight of words and scorn. The very same word, “roll” is used in Joshua “And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.” (Joshua 5:9 note Gilgal sounds like the word “roll” so it is a place name that refers to God’s salvation.)

It is a very odd story. Here is the history: the people of Israel were delivered from Egypt. God formed them as His covenant people, claiming them as His Own, His Kingdom, His priests, His treasured people at Mt. Sinai and having made this declaration He gave them the 10 Commandments. This people went to the Promised Land and were given the opportunity to take it. Ten spies came back with a report: “It is too hard, giants are in the land—we cannot overtake them.” That is true. There were giants. It is also true the people of Israel, who could not save themselves from slavery in Egypt would never be able to move as a military unit capable of invading the Promised Land and conquering the mighty inhabitants. In this instance only God the Warrior (as He described Himself in Exodus) could prevail. Two of the twelve spies pointed this truth out: God Himself is their Warrior.

Israel, in fear, rebelled against the two spies and against Moses their leader and their punishment was to have that generation of adults die off in the wilderness. Anyone twenty or older would die before the LORD of Glory would ever bring His people back to the Promised Land. The forty years passed. That generation which did not believe God’s promises died out. Only the two faithful spies remained and would receive the blessing of entering the Promised Land.

In Joshua 5:9 the army of the LORD is circumcised. They are on the edge of hostile territory. Surrounded by mighty kingdoms. Adult men who are circumcised are in pain for a few weeks. It is odd. An army circumcised is helpless to defend themselves. That is exactly the point. These soldiers, these men, by ways of this act of submission state all their protection and all their hope is fixed on God Who alone can protect them and save them. The reproach of Egypt is taken from this army—they no longer trust themselves, or their own power, powerless they are fully entrusting themselves to the Living God.

David is claiming God alone can roll away the scorn and reproach he experiences. Only the LORD can defend him and cause the scornful and contempt-filled words to lose their power over him. And David is reminding God that he is guarding and keeping his ways according to the LORD’s commandments. He is a soldier in the army of the King of Kings. In Hebrews Jesus is described as: “The Captain of our Salvation”. Men are no longer circumcised. Baptism has replaced the Old Testament sacrament of circumcision. Men and women are covered by the sacrament of baptism and claim they are helpless and unable to rescue themselves unless Jesus the Captain of our Salvation should claim us as His Own.

All our hope for living our new life as sons and daughters of God is fixed on You, Jesus. You alone have rolled away the reproach of our sins and given us new life. Jesus, lead us by Your Word and by Your Spirit—Who lives in us. In our lives God our King be glorified. Amen.

September 20, 2019 -- Psalm 119:21 -- Is God the God of Mercy?

You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones

who wander from your commandments.

Psalm 119:21 English Standard Version

Some hard-hearted people read these words and go: “See, here it is—God is just an angry deity.” Having made that statement they then proceed to act as if by such words they are not bound to act in response to His commandments. But let’s take a moment and unpack this verse.

In the context of this psalm, the insolent and accursed ones are part of the people of Israel. These are the members of the Twelve Tribes, who have seen the mercy of God, experienced His rescue from Egypt, are under covenant promises, have their land protected by the High King of Heaven—despite all these blessings and so many more such people are insolent against their LORD to Whom they owe all their allegiance. To be insolent is to be rude, arrogant, lacking grace or respect.

Consider the mercy of God, as we read it in Isaiah

I spread out my hands all the day
to a rebellious people,
who walk in a way that is not good,
following their own devices; (Isaiah 65:2 ESV).

In His great patient love, God the Mighty and the Merciful has His hands opened wide to receive a people who are continually rejecting them. As long as His hands are open, there is time to repent, there is time to know He truly loves us. However, there will be a day of judgment, a time when the hands spread wide in mercy will clasp together. Jesus, the Saviour of all the Earth and the Just Judge will hold court and those who lived and died in rebellion against God will then face the curse of hell.

Our verse today serves as an invitation and as a warning. God, Who made the heavens and the earth and so knows what is needful for a life of blessing on this planet, is calling us, any who hears these words today, to turn to Him in repentance. Leave your sins. Stop being insolent. Find a Christian whose walk with God you respect and ask him about the way of joyful submission to the LORD.

Who is a god like You, God of Wonderful Mercy?! Help us to see that Your hands are stretched out prepared to receive prodigal sons and daughters. Help us to realize Jesus’ hands were stretched out at the cross where He took our place receiving the punishment which should have fallen on us. Help us to realize the powerful presence of the Spirit Who defeats our flesh’s continual prodigal longings and strengthens us to live for You, our Father the King. We have friends and family members, dear to us, who are still walking as those who are accursed and insolent—break down the stubborn barriers that keep them from running into Your out-stretched arms. Let them know, as we do, the joy of Your salvation and the bountiful way in which Your deal with Your servants—who are renamed sons and daughters of the Most High. Amen. In Jesus’ Name we pray all this. Amen.

September 19, 2019 -- Psalm 119:20 -- A soul consumed with longing

My soul is consumed with longing

for your rules at all times.

Psalm 119:20 English Standard Version

The opening line is one an addict can easily identify with: a soul consumed with longing. The longing of an addict fills his thoughts with getting the next high. The actions of an addict are geared towards sweet talking or manipulating or wheedling—whatever it is that will allow him to get his next hit. It is so easy for those not addicted to alcohol or drugs of some kind to turn up our noses and feel superior. But I ask you, pause a moment and evaluate your life against this text.

What consumes your soul? What is it you think about all the time? Maybe you are someone who records every program of a particular series so that you can “escape” and enjoy this show—ignoring duties and responsibilities in order to do so. There are “acceptable” additions that consume the soul, an example is gluttony. There are many who struggle secretly with pornography—consuming the thoughts and desires, affecting normal healthy relationships tainting them with the comparison of the on-line high. Anger is an addiction, red-hot rage blinding the vision and clouding clear thinking so that periodically, sometimes without warning, words spew out as fountains of fury.

By the profound mercy of God the Faithful the writer of this psalm knows the Living God as the One Who satisfies His soul. The longings of his heat, the impulses of his mind, the focus of his time all of these are directed on the rules of God the Just. He fills this out later in this psalm when he praises God the Mighty by saying: “To all perfection I see a limit, but Your commands are boundless” (Psalm 119:96, NIV; for some time that has been my absolute favourite verse of this lengthy Psalm). All our false loves and addictions will disappoint. Only God Who is infinite in power, boundless in knowledge and unequaled in love can sustain our interest and attention and love by leading us in His ways.

Jesus, when He walked this earth as a man, showed this so powerfully. No matter how great the protests, temptation, the rejection and betrayals, His soul was consumed with longing for the rules of His Father in heaven. He found the boundless strength and hope to continue in the work His Father had given Him—remaining faithful even to the point of enduring death on the cross. Hebrews tells us He endured this all for the sake of the joy set before Him—the joy of obedience to His Father, the joy of walking in His Father’s limitlessly perfect commands. And by His obedience He is for all who believe in Him the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. Glory be to His Name.

God of Clarity and Truth by the powerful presence of Your Spirit expose all our false addictions for the death traps they are. When we, exhausted and spent, realize we have given our lives and our hearts to all sorts of things that can never satisfy, we ask, Spirit of Comfort, fill us with the glorious knowledge of Jesus Christ. In Him and by His power sealed to our hearts by Your presence Spirit of God, help us to deny ourselves, and live in wonder-filled obedience to Him. Let the vast delights of obedience to Him induce us to ever greater acts of obedience and love directed squarely to You, Father: our soul’s greatest longing and only true delight. Amen

September 17, 2019 -- Psalm 119:19 -- What do you boast in?

I am a sojourner on the earth;

hide not your commandments from me!

Psalm 119:19 English Standard Version

A sojourner is one who moves from one place to another—we are invited to be such people—followers of Jesus Christ. He says to each of us: “Follow Me”. He has the right to command this of us because He rescued us from our sins. He has exchanged the filthy rags of our guilt and shame and given us the clothing of His perfections. He gives our lives the great purpose of knowing we will live with God in eternity where sin can not ever take up captive again. Our boast, therefore, is in Jesus Christ, all day long.

Ray Pritchard asks:

What would heaven be like if you had to earn your way there? It would be like going to

one of those $500-per-plate political dinners where people stand around bragging

about how much they gave to help their candidate win the election. “I gave $5,000.”

“So what? I gave $10,000.” “Big deal. I gave $50,000.” “Move out of the way, pipsqueak.

I own this guy. He’s got $300,000 of my money.” And so it goes.

Wouldn’t it be horrible to spend eternity listening to people brag about what they did

to earn their salvation? Heaven would not be heaven if that were the case. Someone

would put his arm around Jesus and say, “You and me, Jesus, we did it. You died on

cross and I baked the cookies.”

Ray Pritchard An Anchor for the Soul, Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2011. page 70

How gross and revealing Pritchard’s statement is. Truly it is all to Jesus, all to Him we owe. He alone is our boast and our song. No one can say to Jesus: “You owe me!” Our best works are as dung and dumpster worthy trash. For this reason He alone can command us: “Follow Me.” As those purchased by His blood and debtors to His mercy, we gladly leave our sins and the weight of condemnation these sins deserve and ask Him: “show me Your commandments—teach me how to walk in step with You.” We follow Him from death to life. We follow Him through joys and trials, pains and victories assured of this: He is the Only One Who can lead us through this life, through death and the grave to the victory of living in the Presence of Almighty God.

Who is a God like You, Mighty and Glorious One?! You live in the Splendour of Unapproachable Light and You deign to make Yourself known to us—weak and sinful though we are. More than this, Jesus our Saviour and King, You rescue us from the clutches of darkness and give us new life. Teach us Your ways, Jesus. Lavish Your Spirit on us so that we have the strength and the ever greater desire to follow You. Amen.

September 16, 2019 -- Psalm 119:18 -- Is the Law Wondrous?! Yes!

Open my eyes that I may behold

wondrous things out of your law.

Psalm 119:18 English Standard Version

Recently I was listening to the well-known preacher, Paul Washer. Washer had been approached by someone right after sermon he’d preached and this man complained, “Don’t you find the law of God oppressive?” In response Washer replied: “Which law do you find oppressive? Do you find it oppressive not to kill? How about not sleeping with your neighbour’s wife? Perhaps do not steal—is that the one?” What a great response.

The law of the LORD our God is wondrous. How so? By the law of the LORD we realize we have been rescued. The God of our Salvation rescued us from our futile way of living, futility which leads to death. By the law of the LORD we understand we need a Savior—for God is holy and perfect and we are sinful and unworthy to enter His presence. By the law of the LORD we recognize, as those rescued from sin, we have a rule for thankful living. God our Father has identified in His wondrous law, the way in which we can show our gratitude for His goodness to us. And the law of the LORD is wondrous because we can live in true community.

Think about the challenges of our culture here in North America. There is the hammer of political correctness that is being wielded by the enemies of Christ. The laws of the land forbid anyone to criticize the false religion of the Muhammadans—followers of Mohamed. The laws of our land promote the abuse of children. Those as young as ten years old, may decide they are trapped in the wrong body—at which point social and medical services will ensure such gender confused children will be given powerful drugs that suppress the very biological expression of maleness or females which their D.N.A. has impressed upon every cell in their bodies. Our Governor General, in Nov. 2017, publicly mocked those who believe the LORD our God created the heavens and the earth. It is confusing. What is wrong is celebrated as what is right and what is right is despised. Christians who disagree with such laws are hounded and fined, ostracised and facing tribunals.

Yet, for us as Christians, we pray that God the Maker of All, will open our eyes so that we will see the intricate beauty of His Laws. We ask the Mighty One to show us how His law allows people to live in community. The laws of God the Compassionate are not oppressive—they are wondrous, giving all those who follow His laws the opportunity to live at peace with the LORD Our Judge and Lawgiver and at peace with one another.

Your Word declares: “Blessed are those who keep the LORD’s testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart.” We have experienced the truth of this, Living LORD of All. And with the psalmist we continue our appeal to You, asking: Open our eyes that we may behold wondrous things out of your law! Great and Worthy are You, God of Salvation—worthy to receive our praise and honour, love and obedience. Who is like You, King Jesus, sacrificing Himself in our place, so that sinful men and women, are set free from the punishment our sins deserve and by Your Name are called “daughters and sons” of God the Father?! Spirit of God, blessed are You, living in us directing us in the bountiful goodness of God. Amen.

September 14, 2019 -- Psalm 119:17 -- Has God be Bountifully Kind to You?!

Deal bountifully with your servant,

that I may live and keep your word.

Psalm 119:17 English Standard Version

What privilege we have in reading this verse as New Testament Christians. The prayer of the first line of this verse has been answered with God’s great extravagance. Our sins have been washed away by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God’s great bounty is seen in the fact that He sees us as righteous (those who are made right) because of the life of Jesus. The overflowing blessings of God our Father are seen in the fact that He is leading us in the path of holy living by His powerful Spirit. Do we still sin? Yes. And the Father in heaven has given us the powerful gift of confession—as often as we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness—that is the rock-solid promise given to us in I John 1:9.

In view of His great bounty, all the showers of mercy and downpour of His compassionate love, believers are kept in the pathway of life. Sins lead to death. Sins rob us of life. Sins lead to isolation and the break-down of community. In glorious contrast sins confessed can’t separate us from deep relationship with God and sins that are broken open before God cannot break community. We reach out to one another all of us recognizing God knows the worst about each one of us and He is healing us. That is good news. In fact, it is good news we want to share with others.

When we see God as the One Who has dealt bountifully with us—and keeps on pouring out His goodness and love—the response drawn out of us and obedience. We study the Bible thinking “How can I honour You? How can my life bring blessing to Your Name?!” Even that is a sign of the Majestic One’s goodness to us. Frail and foolish as we are, He receives our acts of love and service as beautiful and honouring to His Name!

Mighty and Merciful Father in heaven, thank You for answering the Psalmist’s prayer! Thank You for the place You have given us in history that we can see the great arc of Your never-failing love most brilliantly revealed in Jesus Christ—in Whom we have forgiveness of all our sins and right-standing before You. Don’t stop there, but as You promised, keep pouring out Your Spirit so that we can live and keep Your Word. Let the words of our lips and the desire we have to please You bring honour to Your Name. Prepare Your preachers and missionaries so the preached word can go out with power to the far corners of this world and Your glory be made known and celebrated! And prepare each one of us, no matter where You have called us to live and serve You, ordinary as we are—help us to tell others of the ways in which Your are dealing bountifully with us! Amen.

September 13, 2019 -- Psalm 119:16 -- Instructions for life

I will delight in your statutes;

I will not forget about your word.

Psalm 119:16 English Standard Version

Notice the two-part vow the writer of this psalm is making. First he will delight in the statutes of the LORD. Years ago I used to love the cartoon strips of Calvin and Hobbes. Calvin was a young lad and his faithful companion was a stuffed tiger who he imagined was alive. Young Calvin had a to-be-assembled model of a World War II airplane. He loved the picture on the box. He was excited about, and imagined what, the finished result would look like—but he refused to use the instructions. So, he pulled pieces apart from the kit and haphazardly started putting things together. As he progressed he realized his model plane did not look anything like the picture on the box. Taking a hammer he smashed it to small pieces saying “It was hit by enemy fire.” We laugh because we can relate to this.

Our lives come complete with instructions: the statutes of the LORD. This are the instructions laid down for us in the Bible. The ultimate vision is this: eternal pleasures at God’s right hand (Psalm 16:11). As we follow these statutes we understand there will be trials and challenges, fussy bits and times of frustration—however, those who belong to Jesus know He has made us new. The challenges posed by the instructions we live by are worth it, every detail, because we know He has already won the victory over sin, death, and hell. Those who believe in Him will never have their lives smashed beyond repair and sent to the never-ending fires of hell. Knowing what we are rescued from and the purposes for which He is putting us together—such things truly bring delight!

The second part of the vow of the psalmist is never to forget the Word of God. Everything God has spoken he will keep in mind. Impossible—that is what my mind is telling me—that is impossible. Is it? Remember that Psalm 119 is written so that each of the twenty two stanzas starts with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Recall also this is a device to help the psalmist remember it. My guess is that he will not forget the Word of God—all the things God has spoken—because he is committing it to memory.

While that seems daunting. consider how many things we remember! Many among us don’t have to open our cupboards before we go shopping because we know what we need to shop for. Others among us make an on-going list on the fridge to remind us. Either way, we are keeping before us the things we need. So too with the Word of God—we can have post-it notes all around us, reassuring us of the great things God has spoken, or we can commit it to memory and rehearse such things regularly.

So many things crowd our thought-life. As the day unfolds there are different challenges and duties to perform. Yet the psalmist has bound himself to this: he will not forget the Word of the LORD. It will be his guide so that his life and his future will be put together as God intends.

What glories You have in store for all those who believe—Father, Source of Every Good Thing! Renew in us the vision of all that is in store for us in eternity. Fill us, Spirit of Truth, with the awareness of the blessednesses^ that accrue to all who walk in obedience to Jesus. We confess that following Your statutes can feel more like hard slogging than delight, but we pray—hold us through the trials and the storms until the strength and peace which accompany Your love fill our thoughts and hearts. Your Word is truer than all the lies that surround us—help us to remember this—according to Your Word and Your great mercy—increase our capacity to remember. Amen.

Yes, I understand “blessednesses” is not grammatically correct, so, in order to understand its usage, I recommend you turn back to the reflections on Psalm 119:1.

September 12, 2019 -- Psalm 119:15 -- Thoughts shaping actions

I will meditate on your precepts

and fix my eyes on your ways.

Psalm 119:15 English Standard Version

This particular psalm is an acrostic poem—each of the twenty-two stanzas consisting of eight verses begins with a letter from the Hebrew alphabet. So in the first stanza each verse begins with the Hebrew letter aleph. The second stanza, the one we are studying now, begins each verse with the Hebrew letter beth. I mention this because it may be the case that the writer memorized the psalm and having the eight verses of each stanza begin with a particular Hebrew letter would aid the memorization of this psalm. When someone memorizes, someone is meditating on, calling to mind and making part of himself whatever it is that he has fixt his thoughts on.

This author, inspired by the Spirit of God to write these words, recognized that repeating the precepts of God over and over again would help him to stay in line with the will of God. Psalm 16:6 notes: “the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.” What is regulated for our lives as the right pathway is in fact the best course for our lives. For the will of our King is that we have life and have it to full through Jesus Christ.

The invitation of Jesus Christ is that we follow where He leads us. His steps are radically different than anything offered by the world. Jesus calls us to deny our self-indulgences. He calls us to leave the life of sin celebrated by our world and instead, fix our thoughts on Him, confess Him before the world, and our friends and family, our peer group and to our own hearts.

I have heard this psalm described as something like a school boy exercise in poetry. You can almost hear a perky teacher requiring of the groaning students: “Make each stanza begin with this letter. Keep strictly to this formula.” I do not read as such a plodding exercise—that makes it seem joyless. Instead, I see in it the hopefulness of the psalmist for the young and the old, for the famous and the unknown, every person in every age and walk of life to fix their gaze on Him Who alone can lead us in the way of life. As the psalmist recites the eight verses of this stanza, all beginning with a “B” sound, he is reminding himself that the Author of Life is leading him in the way everlasting.

As the hymn-writer so poignantly wrote, we pray: “Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my life!”. With this psalmist we pray: let our eyes and our thoughts be focused on You so clearly and with such love that each step we take this day brings You honour and draws us a step closer to the blessed surety of eternity in Your mighty and glorious presence. By Your Spirit train us in the holiness given to us in Jesus Christ. Amen

September 9, 2019 -- Psalm 119:14 -- Whose Story You Gonna Follow?

In the way of your testimonies I delight

as much as in all riches.

Psalm 119:14 English Standard Version

Perhaps you have heard of Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias. He has a unique way of stating things. As he was talking about philosophy and postmodernism he referred to North American culture, how it wobbles and weaves going to an idea then to the next. One of the markers of postmodernity is that there is no over-arching narrative, no big picture story that gives our life meaning. In fact, if the media wants to know something they ask the average man on the street—Zacharias, in his tongue-in-cheek style said something to the effect if the media wants to know something they take a survey. It is the right way to learn “in our salvation by survey culture.” What a great statement. Indeed, it is clear our culture is prepared to be led by mobocracy—the tyranny of the mob as mediated by the leaders of government. Where there is no meta-narrative, no story that draws all things together, the every-man makes something up.

In sharp contrast, the psalmist delights in the testimonies of the LORD. The Mighty King of heaven and earth has clearly declared the way of salvation, found in Jesus Christ alone. There is no survey which can overturn this. No government leader can legislate against the testimonies which stand sure forever.

No wonder King David delights in the Truth of God:

"Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;

make known his deeds among the peoples!

Sing to him; sing praises to him;

tell of all his wonderful works!

I Chronicles 16:8-9 ESV

Kingdoms rise and fall. Nations gain power, then lose power, are famous and then infamous and finally are forgotten. We see ruined kingdoms and empires all around the world. There is only one Kingdom that stands forever—the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever. Therefore, hundreds of years ago the psalmist delights in the testimonies of the LORD. Because Jesus’ reign has no end, we, His followers today, delight in His testimonies and entrust our lives to Him.

As Isaiah so succinctly puts it: “the grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of the LORD stands forever.” Therefore we bless You, LORD of Truth, and we commit ourselves to the way of Your testimonies. Amen.

Septmeber 8, 2019 -- Psalm 119:13 -- What should I say about God?!

With my lips I declare

all the rules of your mouth.

Psalm 119:13 English Standard Version

How do I explain Who God Is? How can I share what He means to me? How do I tell others He has rescued me from myself. From my sins. From the evil that lingers and seeks to swallow me up? What about the times I am talking with someone at the YMCA, or the coffee shop, or at work—I imagine the barrage of questions and wonder if I’ll be adequate to answer. My life is given in service to Him, though I often falter in my vows and fail in keeping His rules. There is no other way for me to live. No other path of salvation!

I find the following words, spoken by Jesus to His followers, to be so reassuring! Look especially at the last verse, and ponder that.

“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Luke 12:8-12 English Standard Version

Blessed Sunday to you, one and all! Join with the people of God in worship and as you acknowledge Him in Church trust that you will be empowered by the Spirit to declare Jesus to everyone you meet. Your words and your actions are never neutral. Either Jesus is acknowledged by them, or you are showing signs of your defiant denial. Trust that as you worship Him, sins’ glamour is exposed as the noose of death, and that the light of day will drive away the temptations of darkness.

Knowing Whom we serve enriches our service and draws our hearts closer to Him! Jesus is not a set of rules. He is Living. He is personal—He knows you by name. He hears your prayers. He is both willing and able to answer. Jesus—sent by the Father into the world to seek and save lost sinners—this Jesus prays on our behalf to the Father Who is ready to hear His Son and bless those who have been rescued by Jesus. When we don’t know how to pray, or what to say—the Spirit of God brings the sighs and groans of our hearts to the very throne room, where Jesus is sitting next to our Father in heaven.

Blessed are You, Lord God Almighty. Great is Your Name. Mighty are Your acts of salvation. Let the words of our lips and the actions of our life declare Your Renown. As we gather for church this day, let those among us who are regular in our attendance be directed by Your Spirit to warmly welcome those who may be new, or shy or nervous. Make us new in Christ and revive in us the joy of Your great salvation. Amen.

September 6, 2019 -- Psalm 119:12 -- What do you own that you didn't receive?

Blessed are you, O LORD;

     teach me your statutes!

Psalm 119:12 ESV

There is so much hype and obsession in magazines and all forms of media about whoever currently is part of: the rich, the rockstar, the royals and the revolutionary set. It is all carefully scripted. Planned. Exploited. Money-generating. The schedules of these overly hyped folks are broadcast so crowds will follow them—or seem to mysteriously appear wherever they are. It backfires when a member of the rich or royal, rockstar or revolutionary set wants some privacy. Or a scandal breaks and spin doctors go into damage control. Generating a new message and a new story to appease the insatiable appetites of the worldly. Why mention this at all?

The Psalm is noting the LORD God alone is the sources of blessedness. The Name “LORD” is the Self-revelation our God has given. He was, He Is, He Will Be. He is completely Self-existent. There is no beginning nor will there ever be an end to God. He created all things. He sustains all things. He is of Himself glorious. He is always available. He is never caught out. Never crosses a line. Beyond the media-generated glamour of the latest “it” person—the LORD of Radiance—always is.

The rich will rise and fall. And yet their very breath is a gift from God which no money can ever repay.

The rockstar can’t count on his body—think of Gord Downy with his brain tumour. Talent and life are on loan to them from the LORD.

There is no “accident of birth”. Those deemed to be “royals” are born into such families and privilege at the will of the LORD. They are fully accountable to Him for what they do with their power.

The revolutionary gathers crowds and power, sways nations and in some cases influences generations who follow—but their days are numbered. Only the Eternal God has power that stretches from the beginning of history to its end.

The psalmist is dedicating his life and his allegiance to the LORD, Who is the source of all blessing now matter what takes place in life: sickness, health, riches, poverty, feast or famine, great adulation or obscurity. The greatest contentment life could ever offer is this: God knows each one of us. Whether or not we acknowledge Him, He gives us life, breath, He grants whatever is needful so that we will turn and acknowledge Him Whose power and splendour, rule and glory will never end.

God of Life with the psalmist we note You are the Source of all Blessing and You are, Yourself, blessed. All we have and all we are is a wonderful gift from You. Thank You for the greatest gift of all: new life in Jesus Christ. In view of all we receive from You, with the psalmist we pray: teach us Your statutes. And, Spirit of God, help us to live for God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Amen.

September 5, 2019 -- Psalm 119:11 -- Studying for love

I have stored up your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11 English Standard Version

One of the privileges of being a minister is officiating at weddings. I will often meet with a couple before they get married. This is for pre-marriage counseling. Fascinating to have an intimate glimpse into the lives of couples and see how people treat one another. There is a negative example that stands out: one guy who calculates how to irritate his wife to be. Whenever he cracks open a beer, he leaves the opener and the cap on the counter. He purposely does not put them away because it gives him joy to see his intended bride irritated. Hmm. You don’t need to be a professional marriage counselor to offer advice along the lines of: “For the good of your marriage you had better address that attitude. Stop it! Find ways to bless her and honour her. Study what pleases her and things that give her joy and do those things! You will find the marriage so much richer and delightful!”

The Bible describes believers as the Bride of Christ. Every action on the part of Jesus is designed to lift us from our path of death and inclination to sin. His love towards us always has in view the day when the Church (all the Christians submitted to Jesus Christ) will be dressed in white and join in the marriage feast of the Lamb. In response the Psalmist is studying the Word of God, knowing every detail and tracing out every single thing which might bring honour and blessing to God. The psalmist is living as part of the redeemed community. And the psalmist is preparing for the glorious day when sin will be fully, finally conquered and his every action will bring praise and obeisance to the God of Splendour and there will be fullness of ecstasy in His presence.

Patient God, as we study the Bible and commit it to memory, let Your Spirit move our will and understanding so that we do not focus on the “does” and “don’ts” but commit ourselves to obedience which is the fitting response to Jesus’ great love. As we store up Your word in our hearts let our eyes be fixed on Jesus Christ and in awe-filled reverence to Him let our every act of obedience be acts of worship. Amen.

September 4, 2019 -- Psalm 119:10 -- Where is freedom found?

With my whole heart I seek you;

let me not wander from your commandments!

Psalm 119:10 English Standard Version

Rules and statutes, commandments and precepts, Word and law—I am sure there are some reading this who might say something like: “I just want to be free. With the LORD God in charge of one’s life there are so many boundary lines. I am tired of all these restrictions!”

To this person I would reply look at the world. Our culture is bound up in all kinds of laws and taboos, unwritten rules and restrictions. Some laws we understand are for the common good: speed limits, laws against murder and so on. But what about the current taboo against Christians who, based in the word of God, disagrees with the LGBT? agenda? What about people who pray on the sidewalks of abortion clinics and are arrested because those seeking abortions—wanting to kill the baby in the womb—might be offended?! This world has a fixation on climate change. Anyone who speaks up and says “No, God has created the heavens and the earth and He has built in resilience in the systems He created” will be mocked and shouted down. In this world academia has bowed down to evolution so thoroughly that you can be fired for questioning it. I put to you in this world there is no freedom from restrictions, taboos, and laws and rules. The question is this: whose rules will you follow?

The writer of this psalm faced the very same kinds of pressures. In his society there were standards and laws and taboos designed to draw him away from the LORD of Glory. He has dedicated himself to the One Who made him. He is giving his obedience and his life, his joy and his service to God Who alone is worthy of all our praise. This commitment foreshadows the work of Jesus Christ.

Jesus, fully God and fully human, obeyed God the Father as no one ever has. He walked in complete submission to all God’s laws and had perfect peace. He faced down the hosts of hell and the worst temptations of Satan, and withstood all peer pressures. In so doing He demonstrated the greatest blessing and most wondrous adventure and freedom is found in following God.

The choice is basic. Those who follow the world, and therefore follow the prince of this world, Satan, are bound up by laws and rules that are leading them to death and hell. Those who are obedient to the God of heaven are following the rules that lead to fullness of life here on earth and life that unfolds gloriously throughout eternity. No wonder the psalmist prays: “let me not wander from Your commandments!”.

The Bible clearly tells us this creation is wearing out like a garment. The weight of sin and the effects of the curse mean that without You, O God, people will face an eternity in hell. Blessed are You, King of Kings, Lord of Glory for You have revealed the way of life and salvation through Jesus Christ. You are building a house which has Jesus as its foundation. You are blessing men and women to be living stones put together for the honour of Jesus—our Rescuer. You are leading believers by Your Spirit so that we are sealed for the Day of Judgment, marked as Your people. Who is a God like You? Who is faithful and just, merciful and good? There is no one else—no other god and there is no other salvation but what You so lavishly give through Jesus Christ to Your beloved! Amen.

September 3, 2019 -- Psalm 119:8 -- Didja catch the reference?

How can a young man keep his ways pure?

By guarding them according to your word.

Psalm 119:9 English Standard Version

Two words: “believer, believer”. If you listen to any music in the stores when you are doing your back to school shopping, you’ll have heard those two words. I am guessing your children will likely know the rest of the lyrics. With very little prompting they’ll be able to continue “Pain. Pain. You break me down, you build me up". (Imagine Dragons “Believer”—it is like a brain worm, whether or not you want it, the words burrow into your brain). In the gym music is blaring. In the store music is blaring. Walking along the streets you see youth with earbuds (and adults and even some of the seniors working out have those ubiquitous earbuds in!). With all the noise pouring out know for certain all these songs have very worldly messages! And such messages are directly opposed to the rule of God and HIs grace. So the question is urgent: how can a young man (a young woman) keep his way pure?

It is the question that touches every single generation. Every generation from the beginning to now faces this huge challenge. Every responsible teacher and adult must ask: what will distract them from God and what will draw them to the Living God?

Two words to show us the urgency of the crisis we are facing: “Jerusalem. Jerusalem”. Do you know the reference? Do the youth in your family, in your church know this reference? It is Matthew 23:37, Jesus mourning over the people of Jerusalem for failing to recognize the love of God stands incarnate before them in the person of Jesus.

We recognize fleeting references to music or things like MAGA [Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again]. Yet our biblical literacy seems to be failing. As believers we are called teach the Word to our children. As adults we need to model a great love for the word of God—Ephesians 6:17 calls the word of God “the sword of the Spirit”. By the word lies are cut down. By the word temptations are shown to be the way of death. By the word we recognize the intensity of the battle Satan is waging for our heart and mind. Yes, the only way a young person can keep his way pure is by the Word of God. Read it. Feed on it. Tell others about it.

Mighty God, our King, rule us by Your Word and Spirit. Retrain our tastes so that we will hunger and thirst for Your Word. As the Word takes hold of our thoughts and hearts let us then use it as the sword of the Spirit to divide truth from lies, and slice through the temptations to evil so when the temptation have been cut away we will clearly see the pathway of death they are hiding. Let the Word reveal to us the Living Word: Jesus Christ. In Him, Spirit of God, make us aware of His salvation and HIs protection through all the thick of battles we will face. Amen.

September 2, 2019 -- Psalm 119:8 -- When God says something!

I will keep your statutes;

do not utterly forsake me!

Psalm 119:8 English Standard Version

For a while I was listening to acapella groups—there is something incredible about the variety of sounds and tones that the human voice can make! One came up on my play list again and it was so fitting. Pentatonix, did a cover of a Great Big World and Christina Aguilera song “Say Something [I’m giving up on you]”. As far as I can tell one person is calling out to her lover this refrain “say something, I’m giving up on you”. It is melancholy and the desolate singer is pining for someone who is refusing to answer. The lover is admitting to love and failure, learning to give deeply and mourning, agonizing about the silence on the part of her beloved. What a lonely experience, to be so open and vulnerable, broken and hoping only to have no response whatsoever, not even pity.

What a glorious contrast we have in our Psalm. The writer of this Psalm is vowing to be faithful to the Living God—though his service may falter and at times fail. He is asking, pleading with God: “do not utterly forsake me”. We are beautifully reassured that our Father in heaven heard this plea—God said something.

God responded by His Word. The Bible is His love letter. The remaining 168 verses of this very psalm show the psalmist continued to be in conversation with the God Who says something glorious.

As New Testament Christians we are comforted: God said something. He sent His Son to rescue us from our sins and failures and bring us to Himself.

God acted on our behalf by sending His Spirit to live in our hearts so that we have the profound assurance we will call out and never have to wonder whether or not we’ll be heard. In fact, the prophet Isaiah, declaring to the people the rock solid promises of God spoke these words: “Before they call I will answer, while they are still speaking I will hear…says the LORD” (Isaiah 65:24).

The Gospel of John reminds us that You loved the world so much You made an open declaration of Your love through Jesus Christ. The letter to the Ephesians reminds us, that though You know the very worst of our behaviour, the evil of our heart and thoughts, the meanness we are capable of and still You have cleansed us. You have, in fact, given us Your Holy Spirit so that we will have the power to know how much You love us, how wide and long, high and broad is Your love for us in Jesus Christ. Oh, blessed be Your Name Great God of Mercy and Compassion. Let our lives say something of the praise and wonder we feel. With the Psalmist we vow to keep Your statutes and with great anticipation look forward to the many ways in which You will respond to us in love. Amen.

August 31, 2019 -- Psalm 119:7 -- What are you praising?

I will praise you with an upright heart,

when I learn all your righteous rules.

Psalm 119:7 English Standard Version

This seems like such a foreign concept to us—praise. The fact of the matter is this we are always expressing praise. Our lips and hearts speak praise about whatever we think is worthy. If it is your car that your life centres around, you will constantly speak of its acceleration, the leather interior, the great value of it. If your life centres around your grandkids, you will show anyone and everyone pictures and tell them the latest exploits. If it is the LORD your God Who has captured your heart and imagination, you will not be able to stop speaking of Him, honouring Him, telling others of His great works.

His righteous rules will make more sense to you as the only way to live in a world that is crushed by the weight of its own death-producing evil.

Our culture celebrates abortion—the murder of babies in their mother’s womb. Yet the righteous rules of God celebrate life because we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Suddenly life, even the life of an infant is of inestimable worth.

Our culture celebrates and promotes euthanasia—giving poison to the people deemed worthy of death, saying “those who should may do so and “die with dignity”. The righteous rules of God tell us every stage of life, and every trial of our lives, fit us for eternity. No part of day or night is free from sacredness. People are not inconvenient. People are not disposable. The righteous rules of God tell us we are precious—worthy of prayer, help, investment, time, and attention.

Christians speak praise to God and tell others of His righteous rules not because we want to beat others up with the Bible. No! We have become aware of that God speaks life over us. He rejoices over us with singing. He has prepared for us the way of living which conquers death and unites us with the resurrection power of Jesus. We see the world in a whole new way. We live with profound peace in the world, though the heavens and the earth are passing away and in the throes of death, as Christians we know and are assured we are being prepared for eternity in the presence of Him Who loves us. We know life has taken hold of us—life that begins now and will stretch through the glory and blessing and wonder of eternity celebrated under the just and loving reign of Him Who is the source of every blessedness. Therefore we know the righteous rules of God are the pathway of life, the place of joy-filled obedience and the celebration of our sure hope.

With the saints and angels, the living creatures and the elders in heaven, we pray to You, knowing You are worthy of all honour and blessing.

Praise God, all you His servants, great and small.

Praise God, all you who know Him and walk in His righteous rules.

Praise God, for He reigns and His mighty splendour and glorious acts will soon be revealed to all.

Let our lives bring You praise, Great and True LORD of All. Amen.