Down an Unfamiliar Road

On the Tonight Show, comedian Johnny Carson used to have a segment called, “Carnac the Magnificent,” and now Jimmy Fallon has, “Celebrity Tweets,” where they give the answer before revealing the question. The answer part often does not make sense until the question is given. We find a similar thing in the Scriptures. The apostle Paul was encouraging the Christians in Rome in response to their times of hardship and persecution. Paul certainly knew what it was like to be tortured and jailed by opposition forces. He talks about his own suffering, hardship, and weaknesses. So this raised the question: can death or life, angels or demons, present or future hardships, or any powers, or heights or depths, or anything else in all creation, be able to separate them from the love of God they received through their Lord Jesus Christ? Paul’s answer: “If God be for us, who can be against us!” It’s not that we won’t have troubles or persecution or opposition, it’s just that none of it can cancel or make void God’s love for us. You can certainly believe without doubt, when ever thing else fails, His lovingkindness is secure and will last for eternity.

TURN YOUR GRIN INTO A SMILE –

There were so many incidents in King David’s life where he had to deal with circumstances caused by his own mistakes and errors in judgment. When he needed his friends to stand by him until he was able to get straightened out and back on the right path, he often found that they were now his biggest critics and were taking advantage of his weakness and vulnerability as an opportunity to make him look bad so they would look better. But there was always that guiding light from God that he focused on to lead him through such foggy incidents and keep him on the path laid out for him. Even though with eyes closed he could hear the loud drums of discontent, he could also hear the quiet voice of God whispering, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you always, even unto the end.”

“O One True God whom I adore, please say something! Dishonest people and those who are full of deceit have begun lying about me; calling me bad names and verbally attacking me for no reason. In return I offered them respect, but denouncing me was the only thing on their minds. So they repaid my good with evil; my love with hate. They are saying of me, ‘Appoint a dishonest lawyer for him, let his accusers take the stand. When he goes to trial don’t let him be acquitted, even hold his plea of innocence against him. That way his position in authority will come to an early end and allow someone else to take his place.’ That’s why I’m asking You, O LORD Eternal, my Divine Master, act on my behalf. This is what You’re known for, and through Your undying love You will see that I’m acquitted. You know how despondent and destitute I am, with my heart bleeding inside. My life is quickly fading; I’m being brushed off like a pest. And because of my fasting I’ve been reduced to skin and bones. Even my friends just shake their heads at me; I’ve become a disgrace to everyone I know. So don’t leave me now, O LORD Eternal, my One True God; let Your steadfast love come to my rescue so that everyone will know that it was You who pulled me through; yes, that You, O LORD Eternal, did it. Let them wish me the worst, but You bring honor; let them try their hardest, but let it become their shame so that Your servant can feel relieved. They will walk out wearing the humiliation like a robe, but I will certainly adore You, O LORD Eternal, in a special way, and celebrate You publicly no matter how many may be watching. Because You never leave the side of those being wronged; You make sure they never become victims of such undeserved prejudice.” Psalm 109:1-8, 21-31

Reflection: When the British and French fought in Canada in the 1750s, Admiral Phipps, commander of the British fleet, received word to anchor outside Quebec and wait for the British land forces to arrive, so he could cover their landing with artillery fire. Admiral Phipps arrived early and spent time surveying the city. He became disturbed by all the statues of saints that adorned the towers of a nearby cathedral, so he decided to have his men fire at them with the ship’s cannons for practice. No one recorded how many rounds they shot or how many statues they destroyed, but when the British troops finally arrived to storm ashore, the admiral proved to be of no help. It turns out that because of his annoyance he used up all his ammunition blasting away at the saints. David was asked by God to stand by while things were sorted out before making him King of Israel. But like the admiral, David may have been tempted to fire on all the idols he saw in the character of his enemies, but he held back. After all, he didn’t beg God to make him king, nor did he run after Samuel and insist on being anointed; neither was his heroic defeat of Goliath the result of prior planning. It all came about as part of God’s will and plan for his life. He stood ready to suffer any inconvenience for the LORD’S sake, but refused to buckle under and give up hope when falsely accused. David learned that with God on his side he stood the best chance of being vindicated. As the third stanza goes in the song Amazing Grace: “Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” We possess every right to fight the good fight for honesty, but we must be patient and let God fight in defense of our honor. Remember, any serviceman on whom is bestowed the Medal of Honor did not go into battle with the intent to earn it, but their bravery and faithfulness to the mission were found worthy of it. Don’t be like Admiral Phipps and throw away your needed ammunition on petty aggravations and perceived annoyances. You’ve got bigger battles to fight and God is depending on you to be ready when the time comes.

YOU WILL KNOW IF IT’S REAL –

The history of the Jewish people combine four perilous types of travail they had to endure: being exiled, being disciplined, wandering in the wilderness, and traveling long distances under trying conditions. As a result, they experienced four traumas that affected them deeply: feeling lost, feeling vulnerable, feeling unloved, and feeling forsaken. But God responded with four divine interventions that brought them through each time: His kindness, His power, His love, and His promise. The writer of this psalm puts all twelve of these in perspective throughout his narrative of their historic legacy. He punctuates them again and again with a call to praise God for His endless grace.

“Here’s what the ransomed of the LORD Eternal should say, those He ransomed them from the clutches of their tormentors; those He gathered from countries around the world, say: ‘Let us worship the LORD Eternal, for He is so kind, and His grace never ends.’ Many wandered around lost in a wasteland because they didn’t know where to go for help. They were hungry and thirsty and were thinking about giving up. But that’s when they cried to the LORD Eternal for help, and He plucked them out of their hopeless situation. He then put them on the right road to reach His Holy City. So let them worship the LORD Eternal for His grace, and for the wonderful things He’s done for all mankind. He gave relief to the thirsty soul and satisfied the hungry heart with things that were necessary. Some wandered in darkness, weary of bondage because they went against His word and ignored His warnings. They realized after they sank in despair that no man could save them. In distress they cried to the LORD Eternal, and He rescued them. He brought them out of darkness and set them free. Let’s thank the LORD Eternal for His grace that worked miracles for man. In their foolishness they let sin imprisoned them, but He shattered the doors and snapped the bars; reduced to skin and bones they couldn’t eat and were on the verge of dying. But in their distress they called on the LORD Eternal; He sent His Word and healed them and delivered them from sure destruction. Let’s thank the LORD Eternal for His grace that worked miracles for mankind. Sing with joy and gratitude about His deeds. Those who sail life’s ocean see His greatness. He sends storms with huge waves tossing them up and down. They lose courage and become disoriented. But in their distress they call on the LORD Eternal, and He calms the storm and quiets the waves to bring peace, then guides them to a safe harbor.” Psalm 107:1-30

Reflection: There is a tradition about a young Chinese boy who wanted to learn all about the beautiful gem called jade. So he went to study under a monk famous for his expertise. This wise man accepted the lad and put a piece of jade into the youth’s hand and told him to hold it tight. Then the monk began to talk about philosophy, men, women, the sun, and almost everything he could think of except jade. At the end of their session he sent the boy home and told him to come back the next day. When the boy returned the old man repeated the same procedure, and continued to do so day after day. Soon the boy became frustrated, but feared interrupting his venerable master so he dutifully followed the instructions given him. One day when the monk put the stone in the boy’s hand, the boy cried out instantly, “That’s not jade!” It turned out that the boy became so familiar with the look, touch, weight and feel of this gemstone that he could tell the difference by merely touching another stone. The psalmist seems to be using the same method in teaching God’s children by putting in their hands the tablets that contain the historical record of God’s way in dealing with difficulties. Christians have adopted the same approach as they meet several times a week to hear the story of their redemption again and again; to sing about it over and over. To a genuine believer, it’s hard, if not impossible, to label something else as the gospel other than the Word of God, or someone else as their Savior other than the Lord Jesus Christ. But you won’t get to know it if you don’t hold on to it tightly every day.

NEVER GIVE UP HOPE –

As in the preceding psalm, the writer of this Hallelujah Hymn uses David’s benediction in 1 Chronicles 15:36; along with parts of Daniel’s prayer where he appeals to God’s steadfast love for forgiveness and deliverance (Dan. 9:4-19); as well as wording from the Levite Prayer after they returned from exile to rebuild Jerusalem (Neh. 9:5-37). His focus was on confession and making things right with God. For him, most of man’s distress stems from willful sinning and hardheadedness. However, he compares that to the remarkable patience and forgiveness of a compassionate and understanding God. His great faith and hope was for a day when it would all be over and we would be together forever with the one who loved us and came to get us when no one else would, or could.

“Hallelujah! Let us thank the LORD Eternal, for He is good and His undying love lasts forever. Can anyone count all the great things He’s done for us, or give Him enough praise for doing them? Count your blessings when you follow His Word and treat others fairly in every situation. So I ask, O LORD Eternal, include me when You shower blessings on Your people. And don’t forget me when You come to bring deliverance, so I can experience what You have prepared for Your chosen and share in the joy Your people will experience as they celebrate being part of Your family. At one time all of us fell short of Your expectations, just like our ancestors did; yes, we’re all guilty of making mistakes and doing things unpleasing to You. But we await Your arrival, O LORD Eternal, our God above all gods, to gather us up out from among unbelievers, so we can worship You for who You are, and join together in jubilant praise to You. Even now we lift You up in praise, O LORD Eternal, the believer’s God above all gods; the same yesterday, today and forever. So let everyone say, ‘Amen!’ O Hallelujah!” Psalm 106:1-6, 47-48

Reflection: Two American boys grew up in the same small mid-western town; went to school together; played sports on the same teams; went on double-dates together, thereby becoming inseparable friends. When they joined the Army during the Korean Conflict they insisted on being in the same unit; on the same squad. They ended up in Korea assigned to the same reconnaissance platoon. One night they both were sent out to check on enemy positions. But when all the scouts in their squad began to straggle back in, after enduring gunfire and explosions, one of these two boys noticed that his life-long buddy did not return. He insisted on going out to find him, but his commanding officer forbade it. But that didn’t stop him, he snuck out anyway. After crawling for hundreds of yards toward enemy lines, he heard a familiar groan. He quickly went in the director of the sound and found his best friend lying in a pool of blood, his body mangled by a mortar shell. As he rolled him over, his long-time friend looked straight into his eyes, and then whispered something before he died. The GI brought his pal back into camp slumped over his shoulders. Right away the sergeant started chewing him out for disobeying the Captain’s orders. The boy calmly looked back at the Non-commissioned officer, and speaking slowly as tears streamed down his face, “Sorry Sarge, but when I got to him and rolled him over, right before he died he told me that he knew, if anybody would come back to find him it would be me. So do whatever you want, I just couldn’t let my buddy down.” The Psalmist says much the same thing about his God. No doubt if the lyrics of Squire Parson’s touching song about God’s love were available to him back then, we might hear the psalmist begin singing, “He came to me, O, He came to me. When I could not come to where He was, He came to me.” To anyone feeling somewhat isolated, maybe even lost in their despair, there’s no need to panic. Take the psalmist and this soldier boy at their word, when you cannot get to where Jesus is, He will surely come to where you are. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MsgOvfccu0

IT NEVER GETS OLD –

The writer of this psalm decided to make a compilation of David’s praise song in 1Chr. 16:8-12, Asaph’s Psalm 78, as well as repeating some of the wording in Isaiah’s song of praise (Isa. 12:4-6) as a contribution to the Hallelujah Hymnal portion of the Psalter. He wanted to emphasize the need to honor God for all He has already done before we ask Him for more. The psalmist knew that when we get despondent and lose our joy, it’s best to remember an old song that gave us a sense of assurance and feelings of love, and sing it over and over again until the joy returns. It may be hard at first, but soon it activates our memory and breaks our emotional gridlock, letting our soul soar to higher ground.

“Let us hear you praise the LORD Eternal; describing who He is so everyone everywhere can hear what He’s done for you. Sing choruses and hymns about His miracles and mighty deeds. Boast about how special He is, so more and more people will get excited about getting to know Him. Learn all you can about the LORD Eternal and His power; don’t stop until you know as much about Him as you can. Study about the wonders He has performed; about His miracles and all His teachings.” Psalm 105:1-5

Reflection: During the second war in South Africa between Great Britain and the Dutch settlers, a visitor returning to England told a story about soldiers passing one another on the way to and from the front lines. The troops departing the combat zone greeted their replacements with the words: “Four-nine-four, boys; four-nine-four.” The arriving troops would reply, “Six further on, boys, six further on.” The visitor did not understand what this coded message meant, so he asked one of the servicemen to explain. The soldier told him that in a small hymn book sent to them from back home, on page 494 was the song, “God Be With You Till We Meet Again,” and six pages further on was the song, “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine.” No doubt the psalmist wanted this song to be passed on from generation to generation, so that they never forgot who got them where they were and who would get them to where they needed to be. These troops in South Africa illustrate how faith becomes fortified when we share what God did in the past, in order to inspire hope for the future. If it worked for those soldiers; it should work for God’s army and His soldiers of the cross. Never let the new generation of believers forget what God did for you, so they can live by the same blessed assurance. But most of all, that God will receive all the praise, glory and honor He rightly deserves for every battle won.

GOD’S MASTERPIECE –

We know from previous psalms that David and other writers loved to spend time looking up into the sky, especially at night, and marvel at God’s creative power. They knew that some men believed they could duplicate whatever had been attributed to God’s handiwork here on earth, but when it came to what man saw in the heavens, there was little doubt that this lay beyond anything humankind could replicate. To these psalmists, the beauty of the stars in the universe was indicative of God’s majesty and splendor. No wonder this is the first psalm in which we find the word, “Hallelujah.”

“I want to magnify my LORD Eternal with all my heart; yes, sing to my LORD Eternal and One True God, ‘How great Thou art.’ For You are dressed in splendor and majesty that cover You in brilliant lights, spreading out Your mantle in the sky. And may the splendor of the LORD Eternal last forever; let Him always be proud of His handiwork. One glance at the earth and it quakes; yes, one touch on the mountains make them erupt. There will be no stopping me, for I plan to keep on singing hymns of praise to my One True God as long as I’m alive. I want every thought I have of Him to make Him glad, and cause the LORD Eternal to fill my heart with joy. And after sinners and evil doers are long gone, I will still be shouting, ‘Hallelujah!’ to the LORD Eternal with all my heart.” Psalm 104:1-2, 31-35

Reflection: As far back as the 1980’s, before the ensuing debate between evolution and intelligent design, molecular biologists like Dr. Michael Denton, who himself was a not a creationist thinker, questioned Darwinian evolution. He stated that to grasp the reality of life as revealed by molecular biology we must magnify a single cell a billion times until it’s about twelve miles in diameter resembling a giant airship large enough to cover New York City. Once that is done, we would see an object of unparalleled complexity and adaptive design. On the cell’s surface we’d see millions of pores, like the port holes of a vast space ship, opening and closing to allow a continual stream of materials to flow in and out. If we entered one of these openings we’d find ourselves in a world of supreme technology and bewildering complexity. Denton states, that this small element contains intricacies beyond our creative capacities, a reality that offers the strongest antithesis of this happening by accident or chance. He goes on to say, that practically every field of fundamental biological research continues to reveal ever-increasing levels of design and complexity at an ever-accelerating rate of discovery. We doubt that David or any other psalmist qualified as a molecular biologist, but one thing they never doubted for a second: God created the heavens and the earth. If the Almighty had decided to dictate His creative design methods in Genesis, detailing everything down to the smallest DNA and RNA, Moses would still be writing, causing the volume to rise above the tallest mountain peak, and beyond the ability of man’s brain to comprehend even the introductory portion. It is only by faith we can assimilate and embrace all of this wonder (cf. Isaiah 40:12-14).

You never hear worldly people talk much about their objection to the holy scriptures of Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, or even Islam. That’s because God’s holy Word has power that these other sacred writings do not possess. You can read all of them and never feel convicted, but you cannot read John 3:16 without knowing it was meant for you. Perhaps that’s why whenever the Bible is quoted, some people get all upset and want to blame you for being insulted. The next time they do, just open your Bible, point to the Scripture and say: “Don’t argue with me, argue with the one who said it!” Dr Robert R Seyda

One of my favorite songs is Rod Stewart’s “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You.” I sing it to my wife at special moments, and love to see the smile that comes over her face. She never gets tired of it. What motivates me to sing this song is not just her beauty and charm, but because of her dedication to seeing that she’s the best at what she does to make our lives together so harmonious and enjoyable. After serenading her on one occasion, this thought crossed my mind: “I wonder if my Lord and Savior would do the same to me?” But after what He did for me on the cross, that wouldn’t be necessary. However, we are just human enough that we want to be told if we are loved. Then this came to me: “Well, every morning I wake up in good health; every day I have food to eat and clothes to wear; a car to drive and a roof over my head; money enough in the bank meet my needs. Each day He protects me from harm, illness, danger, evil and hopelessness. So in fact, He is saying ‘I love you!’” So now it’s my turn to sing this song to Him, because I’m sure He wants to hear it too. So here’s that song to my Lord and Savior:

Have I told you lately that I love you?
Have I told you there’s no one else above you?
Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles, that’s what you do

For the morning sun in all it’s glory
Meets the day with hope and comfort too
You fill my life with laughter, somehow you make it better
Ease my troubles, that’s what you do

There’s a love less defined
And its yours and its mine
Like the sun
And at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray
To the one, to the one

Have I told you lately that I love you?
Have I told you there’s no one else above you?
Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles, that’s what you do

CAN HE HEAR YOUR PRAISE! –

It is amazing how many Psalms King David wrote while dealing with frustration, anger, pain, discomfort, and rejection by his friends and family. But some of the most poignant and touching are those he penned while dealing with sickness, especially after being disciplined by God for rebellion, when he ordered an illegal census. He learned that he must put God first in everything he did. So he wanted to acknowledge his place in God’s dominion, and that all believers must come to a place of surrender and obedience to God in order to benefit from His blessings, provisions, and protection, because God does not reward disobedience.

“I muster all the strength I have to heap praise on my LORD Eternal, and worship His holy name. Yes, let me bestow praise on the LORD Eternal with my whole heart, and never forget His marvelous grace. For He forgives our sins; He heals our bodies; He won the victory over the grave; and He grants us His undying love and compassion. He meets our every need at the right time, so we remain as strong as an eagle. Yes, our LORD Eternal always does what’s right, and stands up for those who have been taken advantage of. He revealed all this a long time ago to Moses and it became the practice of all His children. That’s because the LORD Eternal is compassionate and full of grace; He is slow to anger, but quick to pour out His undying love. He doesn’t argue over whether we are right or wrong, nor does He stay mad at us. He hasn’t treated us the way we should be treated after all the sins we’ve committed; nor has He given us what we deserve because of our sinful ways. Rather, as high as the sky rises above the earth so immense is His undying love to those who look to Him in faith; and as far as the east is from the west, that’s how far has He separated us from punishment for our rebellious sins. If a father can have compassion on his children, how much more will the LORD Eternal feel compassion for those who revere Him. After all, He knows what we are made of and where we came from. Our lifespan is like a flower in the meadow that grows and blossoms. Then the wind blows and before long it withers and dies and no one can remember where it was planted. But the steadfast love of the LORD Eternal never ceases for those who revere Him, which He passes on to their grandchildren as along as they abide by His teachings and remember to live by His principles. Our LORD Eternal’s throne is established in heaven, that’s why His realm covers the whole world. So let His angels, those mighty beings who do what He commands and obey each word He speaks, bestow praise on Him. Let those millions of servants who carry out His will bestow praise on the LORD Eternal. And let all of His handiwork in every corner of His realm bestow praise on the LORD Eternal. Yes, bestow praise on the LORD Eternal O my soul!” Psalm 103:1-22

Reflection: Shortly after the British Royal Family returned from a trip to South Africa in the summer of 1947, Princess Elizabeth announced her engagement to Philip Mount Batten, Prince of Greece and Denmark. They scheduled their wedding for that coming November, and immediately began making plans. The wedding planners chose a song written by Henry Francis Lyte of Ireland, which he based on Psalm 103. The lyrics addressed the occasion well, since this young princess stood in line to become queen six years later. The song goes: “Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven; to His feet thy tribute bring. Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore His praises sing; Alleluja! Alleluja! Praise the everlasting King!” Lyte’s hymn reminded everyone, no matter how many kings, or queens, or emperors, or potentates rise to power on earth, only One sits in heaven supreme over all. He deserves all the allegiance and honor earthly rulers owe Him. How much more then do we need to praise Him for who and what and why He is the King of Glory! Like Queen Elizabeth on her wedding day, let us never be ashamed to use the Word as a source of encouragement, guidance, and strength. And don’t forget, as believers we have a wedding day coming when the Groom from Heaven will marry His bride, the church.

ARE YOU ADVERSE TO ADVERSITY –

After David made Jerusalem the capital of his kingdom, and his son Solomon fulfilled his vision by building the most beautiful temple ever seen in Israel to house the Ark of the Covenant and become the most holy spot on earth, it was heartbreaking when foreign kings invaded Judah and showed no respect for the Holy City; even destroying all that was sacred to them, then carting them away into captivity. But the love and desire for that precious mountain burned in the hearts of all those in exile, and they dreamed of the day when God would restore it in all its splendor. One lonely exile could contain his passion no longer, and put it into words for the entire world to read and remember how much he loved his God and the sanctuary where he often worshiped Him in the presence of His glory.

“O LORD Eternal, please hear my pray; let my calls for help reach Your ears. Don’t ignore me while I’m this stressed out; move closer to me so when I call for help You can respond right away. I’m running out of time; I feel my life slipping away. My heart is broken and beginning to grow weak; I’ve lost all appetite for food, and the intensity of my misery has reduced me to skin and bones. I feel like a lost bird out in the desert; like a solitary owl in a ghost town; yes, I feel restless, like a lonely sparrow perched on a rooftop. Those who don’t like me poke fun at me all day long; they ridicule me and use my situation as a joke. Swallowing my pride has become my bread, and tears have become my drink; all brought on by what You’ve done to discipline me; I feel like I’ve been picked up and thrown aside. I sense the end is drawing near; then I’ll just shrivel up and die. But You, O LORD Eternal, will remain on Your throne throughout eternity; people will admire You long after I’m gone. So You must do something quick and have compassion on our Holy City; the time to do something good has finally come; yes, the time you promised to act is here. Those who serve You cherish our Holy City; every stone; even the dust that covers her. We want all unbelievers to respect our LORD Eternal for the God He is, and all the leaders in other lands to admire the way You act after they see that once again You reign in glory after the Holy City is rebuilt; that You paid attention to the pleas of the destitute and did not ignore their prayers. That’s why I’m writing this for future generations to read, so that people yet unborn will have a reason to celebrate the LORD because they can see that He looks down from His sanctuary in heaven on high to see what’s going on so that He can hear the groans of those in captivity and free those doomed to die. That way, this will make sure that they keep the story alive about how wonderful the LORD Eternal is to the community of believers and so that praises can continue in His sanctuary until the day when kings and kingdoms assemble in unison to bow down before Him as their LORD Eternal.” Psalm 102:1-21.

Reflection: Fanny J. Crosby, one of the most beloved hymn writers of all time, suffered from blindness caused by an incompetent doctor’s treatment at six weeks of age. At the age of fifteen she entered the New York Institute for the Blind, and spent the next 35 years there teaching English and History. She said of her accidental blindness, “It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank Him for allowing it.” That positive attitude led to the writing of over 9,000 hymns, many of them popular to this day. But unbeknownst to her friends, she wrote one song that she never published and kept it a secret. She only revealed it at the request of well-known evangelist D. L. Moody. The words go like this, “Someday the silver cord will break, and I no more as now shall sing. But oh, the joy when I shall wake within the palace of the King! And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story, saved by grace: And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story, saved by grace.” Oh what a wonderful example she provides for anyone going through what she and the Psalmist experienced. We must ask ourselves: do we possess the same sterling qualities to be an example to those watching us and looking for us for inspiration? For their sakes, let us hope so. 03/12/13  http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/316#ixzz2D5NU5Iqz