This past week we entered the eleventh month on the Hebrew calendar called Shevat. The focus this month is on trees and water. In the Scripture humankind is likened to trees. We, like trees, are called to be life-giving by bearing fruit. In fact, when God created Adam and Eve, He told them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." (Genesis 1:28)
On the fifteenth of this month there is a celebration called "Tu B’Shevat" or the New Year for Trees. During this celebration new trees will be planted. They, like us, need to be planted where they will be watered, and their roots can take hold in rich soil. Psalm 1:1-3 gives us a key to God's blessings: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Jeremiah 17:7 and 8 has a similar message to Psalm 1. "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Trust comes from the heart, and our confidence in God is what allows us to touch the living stream of God's presence so that our lives will be fruitful. Zechariah tells us about "The Day of the Lord" when He comes as a warrior to fight for Israel. "On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem..." (Zechariah 14:8) The prophet Isaiah says of God's people, "I will extend peace to her like a river and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream." (Isaiah 66:12) Joel 3:18 also talks about living water that will flow from God's house. "In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord's house and will water the valley of acacias." All who dwell by the living water that God provides are destined to be healthy, happy, and fruit-bearing. It is no coincidence that the constellation that appears in the sky during this month is Aquarius, “the water carrier.” God intends for His river of life to touch us and for our roots to awaken to His ever-flowing stream. We must ask ourselves where we have rooted and how we are being watered. When Jesus stopped at Jacob's well and met the Samaritan woman He explained, "Whoever drinks the water I give to him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water, welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13, 14) Jesus is the source of everything that we need. Let's root ourselves in His living Word and allow His Holy Spirit, the River of Life, to saturate us so that our roots are strengthened, and we bear abundant fruit. Humility is the virtue that attracts God's transforming grace according to Pastor Francis Frangipane. Scripture makes it clear, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) If we want to become more Christlike, we must allow humility to do its work, because it is the basis for transformation. Meekness or humility must become a way of life.
The root of all sin comes from pride. We must ask ourselves, "What spirit am I rooted in, pride or humility?" Pride is our fleshly nature, and Satan is all about going after it! He is very familiar with pride, because this is the sin that reared its ugly head in him when he lived in heaven and led to him being expelled. Isaiah 14:12-15 describes Satan's fall: "How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthrone on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the top of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit." Ever since his fall, Satan's goal has been to neutralize our walk with God. He wants to make us ineffective for the Kingdom of God. Keeping this in mind will help us to surrender our souls to the Lord. There are two verses in the Beatitudes that address our need for humility. "Blessed are the poor in spirit (those who recognize their need for constant help from God) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven...Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:2, 5) Jesus is our source of humility and holiness. Our goal while we are on earth should be to become more like Him. It is pride that gives us hard hearts so that we cannot see our needs. If we are full of self, we cannot be filled with God. That is why, "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him." (1 Corinthians 1:27-29) Jesus uses the parable of the wheat and tares to teach His listeners about two types of people who co-exist. The enemy comes to sow tares in the Lord's field of wheat. Jesus, representing the farmer, explains that the tares cannot be uprooted until harvest time because the wheat may be uprooted with them. Both must grow side by side. (Matthew 13:24-30) The wheat represents the Believer whom God is growing in Christlike character, while the tares represent unbelievers. As the wheat and tares grow, it is difficult to discern the difference between them. Yet, one is producing grain in its head while the other is barren. It is through the tares that the wheat learns how to live in a Christlike way. These godly behaviors include forgiveness, compassion for others, humility, and love. At harvest time, when the Lord looks at His field, it becomes evident who is humble. The head of the wheat, heavy with grain or the fruits of the Spirit, bows before its Creator while the tare stands straight with nothing to offer Him. Psalm 25:9 says, "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way." Our goal in life should be to become like Christ. When we humble ourselves before Him, He guides us. Our prayer should be that we will grow into the full stature of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13) Humility is the key! God gave a major sign to our nation on New Year's Eve. Storms started along the eastern seaboard that included lightning and thunder. At about the same time, lightning struck the Washington Monument and the Capital building in Washington, D.C., and the Empire State Building and the Tower at Ground Zero in New York City. All four of these strikes were confirmed on the day that ushers in our new year, 2025.
Do you think God is trying to say something to America by this quadruple hit three weeks before Donald Trump will become the 46th president of the United States? I would say a strong yes! Rabbi Jonathan Cahn pointed out some interesting facts to consider about these lightning strikes. All four buildings are American icons that represent our nation. Washington, D.C. is our capital city and the center of our political world. New York City was the first capital of our country and the center of our economic world. Rabbi Cahn reminds us that both cities are capitals for abortion. On September 11, 2001, the terrorists struck significant buildings in these cities. Since September 11, the agenda of the darkness has progressed and continues to push forward in our nation. We must ask, "Where is the fear of the Lord in our country?” It would be wise for us to investigate some of the Scriptures on lightning. When Elihu was speaking to Job, he told him, "He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark." (Job 36:32) The Lord Himself questioned Job: "What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed or the places where the east winds are scattered over the earth?...Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, 'Here we are?' (Job 38:24.35) The psalmist, David speaks of God's power through several of his writings. "The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning." (Psalm 29:7) "The Lord also thundered from the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice, amid hailstones and coals of fire. And He sent out His arrows and scattered them; and He flashed forth lightnings and put them to rout."(Psalm 18:13, 14 - AMP) "Fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles." (Psalm 99:3, 4) These are just a few of the Scriptures in the Bible that talk about lightning, but all of them carry similar messages that convey to us the power of the Lord, His glory, and the use of lightning to demonstrate judgment. Jonathan Cahn reminds us of a Biblical principle that "in the day of judgment destruction returns to the ground where the nation was consecrated to God in prayer." This principle has already been played out. Our concern should be that the blessings of God on America will be removed if we do not return to Him. I believe God's warning signs are also meant to give us hope and to encourage us to pray for our country to be revived. I have quoted the Scripture from 2 Chronicles 7:14 numerous times. It seems appropriate to do it again. "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." This verse is for the Body of Christ. The Lord is giving us signs because His desire is to heal our land. Only our steadfast prayers will do so. A principle that is especially important to God but rarely talked about in the Church is called the "Principle of Firstfruits." What we say to God when we practice firstfruits giving is that we honor and worship Him, we have faith in Him, and we bless Him. The idea is that we are setting aside the first and best portion of what we have in gratitude to Him.
God introduced the principle of firstfruits to the children of Israel as they camped at Mount Sinai and after Moses met with Him to receive the Ten Commandments and other laws. He told them, "Three times a year you are to celebrate a festival to me...Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crop you sow in your field...Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord." (Exodus 23:14, 16, 19) Monthly, the Israelites celebrate what they called Rosh Chodesh (The Head of the Month) or The New Moon Festival. Firstfruits offerings were an integral part of these celebrations. Not only did they set aside the firstfruits of their time to worship the Lord, but also the firstfruits of their possessions and crops. When King Hezekiah was arranging for worship contributions, he assigned priests and Levites to give thanks and sing praises. Second Chronicles 31:4 and 5 tells us what he did next: "He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and all that the fields produced." It seems to me that when we follow the principle of firstfruits we are showing God our hearts toward Him. Only the Lord is worthy of receiving our first and best offerings. What does this look like for us today? How do we acknowledge the one who provides for our sustenance and increase? For most of us firstfruits are no longer tied to fields and growing. Today it is all about our lives and sacrificing in a way that we put Him first in our lives. We must ask ourselves if we are giving the Lord our first and best in time, resources, and love. We must be intentional in what we do and how we do it. Romans 11:16 says, "For if the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches." According to the Passion Translation footnotes, the firstfruit portion of the dough refers to Abraham and the patriarchs, whereas the batch of dough refers to those descended from them. Since the first "portion" was dedicated to God, the rest belongs to Him also and is considered consecrated to God's use. James 1:18 explains further: "He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created." With the New Year upon us, it is appropriate that we offer the Lord the firstfruits of our time and resources. Let's remember all the ways He has been faithful to us in the year 2024 and that as the God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He will be faithful to us in 2025. Isn’t He worthy of our worship? For as long as I can remember, my brother has always been intentional about encouraging others with special cards on their birthdays and anniversaries. He just sent me a birthday card that delights me. It says, "Cupcakes are muffins that believed they could be so much more. It's your birthday; reach for the stars." As I read this card images began to form in my mind of steps I want to take to be so much more than I am. I think this is God's desire for all of us. In fact, a line in His prayer says, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) God's Kingdom is the kingdom of more, so why not for us?
Psalm 139:13-15 reminds us that God made us uniquely: "For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Your works are wonderful; I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place..." Every individual on the face of the earth has a distinct call on their life. It is what allows us to contribute, in a positive way, to the plans and purposes of God for humanity so that everyone will be saved and join the Lord in heaven for eternity and that everyone will live life to their greatest potential. When the book of Genesis describes creation, it is very clear that God intended for us to be like Him. "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, in Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So, God created man in His own image in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:26, 27) Imagine for a moment what being created in the image of an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God looks like for us! Think about the latent talents and abilities that lie within us! Let us also remember what the angel Gabriel said to Mary when she was told that she would bear the Son of God. "For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37) We have been created by One whose word contains seeds of life. The Lord reminded the prophet Isaiah of this: "My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purposes for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) When the apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians, he wanted them to understand what God had placed within them. Here is some of what Paul wrote: "...He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all those in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In Him we were chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:9-12) Paul reminds us in Ephesians 3:20 that He "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us." He told his protege Timothy to "fan into flame the gift of God which is in you..." (2 Timothy 1:6) He also said, "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." (2 Timothy 1:14) So, why don't we get out of the “muffin mindset” and aspire to be a “spectacular cupcake”? Let us stir up the gifts that are in us and spend more time with the Lord. The more time we spend with Him, the more we become like Him. Drought has decimated life in the eastern part of the United States this fall. What usually is a rainy season has become a parched one. As we drive around Bucks County, PA we see how the lack of rain is taking its toll on farm fields and ponds and streams. There is a pond that we pass every time we drive to our church. For decades it has been the home of birds, turtles, and insects. All that remains now is a depression in the land with a cracked, muddy bottom. I thought of the Scripture in Jeremiah 2 where God is chastising Israel for forsaking Him. Here is what God said through His prophet: "'...But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols. Be appalled at this, O heavens, and shudder with great horror.' declares the Lord. 'My people have committed two sins; They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.'" (Jeremiah 2:11-13) Verse 19 continues: "'Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me.' declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty."
In the parched lands of Israel, spring water was and is extremely rare. Cisterns, hewn out of rock, were frequently used to collect and store water. No sane person would trade a clean and flowing spring for an unreliable cistern. In His discussion with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, Jesus identified Himself as the One who dispenses living water. (John 4:10) Referring to Jacob's well, He says, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13, 14) God was telling the Israelites through the prophet Jeremiah that their worship of false idols had subjected them to slavery and allowed the destruction of their lives. Their broken cisterns (religious systems with false promises that had become idols) could not be sustained. What are the unstable cisterns of today? What are the idols we as individuals and as a nation have allowed to take the place of God? There are multiple ways in which this can happen. Here are a few: Striving for power, putting our trust in religious systems, depending on money, looking to technology to solve all our problems, or consuming drugs and alcohol. God reminds the people of Israel how they turned their backs on Him yet cry out to Him in times of trouble. He says, "You have as many gods as there are towns in Judah. Why do you accuse me of doing wrong? You are the ones who have rebelled,' says the Lord." (Jeremiah 2:27-29 - NLT) In spite of their sins, God holds out hope. He says, "'O Israel, my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful. I will not be angry with you forever. Only acknowledge your guilt. Admit that you rebelled against the Lord your God and committed adultery against Him by worshipping idols under every green tree. Confess that you refused to listen to my voice. I the Lord have spoken.'" (Jeremiah 3:12, 13 - NLT) "'My wayward children,' says the Lord. 'Come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.'" (Jeremiah 3:22 - NLT) We should examine ourselves today to determine if we have replaced the worship of the Lord with any idols. When we have, we can repent and return to the Lover of our souls. Mercy and grace are always flowing from God's throne for those who repent. We must destroy cracked cisterns that cannot hold water and return to our Fountain of Living Water, a constant source of love and mercy and wisdom. God has always been looking for a people who will be faithful and obedient to His Word. In the days of Noah, the Lord was grieved by the explosion of evil in the world. He said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet their days shall be 120 years.” (Genesis 6:3 - NKJ) We understand that these 120 years would be the time it took Noah to build the ark. Verse 6 goes on to say, "So the Lord was sorry He had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke His heart." He determined to destroy every living thing except for one family. It should be of particular interest to us because it happened during the month that we are in, the eighth month on the Hebrew calendar called Cheshvan. Eight is known as the number of new beginnings. Appropriately, the flood began on Cheshvan 17, and one year and ten days later, on Cheshvan 27, the flood had ended. On Cheshvan 28 Noah brought God a sacrifice.
Genesis 6:9 reports that "Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God." (NLT) God decided to share His plan to destroy the earth and all living creatures with Noah. He was instructed to build a huge boat. The length of it was the length of one and a half football fields and as high as a four-story building. The footnote in my Bible explains that the boat was six time longer than it was wide which is the same ratio used by modern ship builders. The boat would be the mechanism by which God would save Noah and his family (eight people) along with a pair of every kind of animal. (male and female) Imagine the commitment Noah and his three sons made to build a ship in the desert on dry land! In doing so, he became the second father of the human race. His obedience and persistence paved the way for a new generation of people and animals to be born on the earth. The writer of Hebrews explains the importance of Noah's faith in his relationship with God. "Faith opened Noah's heart to receive revelation and warnings from God about what was coming, even things that had never been seen. But he stepped out in reverent obedience to God, and built an ark that would save him and his family. By his faith the world was condemned, but Noah received God's gift of righteousness that comes by believing." (Hebrews 11:7 - TPT) Noah was 600 years old when the flood waters came. He and his wife and three sons and their wives, along with the animals, entered the boat in pairs, male and female. There were enough animals taken on the ark for eating and for sacrificing to God for an entire year. Scripture reports that the "rains fell in mighty torrents," for forty days and nights. So much water covered the earth that the boat rose twenty-two feet above the highest mountain peaks. For 150 days the floodwaters covered the earth. Five months from the time the flood began the boat rested on the mountains of Ararat. The meaning of Ararat is "curse reversed." How appropriate! One year and ten days later, on Cheshvan 27, Noah, his family, and the animals left the ark so that they could "be fruitful and multiply throughout the earth," as God had originally planned. Noah's first act upon leaving the ark was to build an altar to the Lord so that he could sacrifice burnt offerings. The pleasing aroma filled the nostrils of the Lord, and He promised to never again destroy all life by flood waters. (Genesis 9:11, 15) A covenant made between Noah and God was confirmed with the sign of a rainbow. God said, "The rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures." (Genesis 9:14 - NLT) Today, when the storms of life crash down on us, we have the ark of Jesus to run to. He is the one who is faithful to calm the storms and bring us to a safe haven. With this in mind, I believe it is our season to establish an altar to the Lord so we can bring Him a fragrant offering. Just as God made a covenant with Noah, He has made one with us through His Son Jesus. He is worthy of our sacrificial worship. Similar but not the same are the words faith and trust. Let us see if we can discern the difference between the two of them. Faith is described beautifully in Hebrews 11:1. "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." (NLT) The prayer written by Paul in Ephesians 3:16 and 17 puts words to God's desire for us where faith is concerned. "I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."
Faith comes from God. It is a state of belief that God is who He says He is. We believe that God sent His Son to die for us because of His love. Faith is a noun; it is something we possess. Henry Morris IV of The Institute for Creation Research wrote on July 29, 2016, "Faith in God is the confident belief that He is sovereign Creator of all things and that He is and will do what He claims." Romans 12:3 warns us "...think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you." Trust is an action that comes from faith. We trust in God because of His nature. While faith is a belief system, trust is an action. By acting on our faith our trust in God grows over time. When we decide to trust in someone or something we make a willful choice and take a deliberate action. Trust grows out of faith, and yet as we daily renew our trust in Jesus our faith also grows. Remember the man who asked Jesus to heal his son from the violent seizures that possessed him? Jesus responded, "'Anything is possible if a person believes.' The father instantly cried out, 'I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!'" (Mark 9:23, 24 - NLT) This father was asking Jesus to increase his faith and realized he had to trust his son's wellbeing to Jesus. Let us look at some examples of people in the Bible who had faith in God and put that faith into action by demonstrating their trust. Genesis 6:9 says, "Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." He trusted God by taking the action of building the ark. Hebrews 11:7 puts it this way: "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to receive his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." Hebrews 11:8 and 9 talks about the faith of Abraham: "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, (action of trust) even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country..." Hebrews 11:17-19 talks about another astounding act of trust that Abraham took because of his faith in God. "By faith Abraham, when God tested him offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.' Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death." The bottom line is that we must grow our faith in God by demonstrating our trust in Him. Proverbs 3:5 and 6 says it perfectly: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Use your faith in God to take actions of trust and both your faith and trust in Him will grow. George Mueller, Christian evangelist, and director of the Ashley Down Orphanage in Bristol, England experienced tests of faith on multiple occasions, many through caring for over 10,000 orphans in his lifetime. That is why his conclusions on how faith grows are ones we should respect. He said, "The only way to learn a strong faith is to endure great trials. We learn faith by standing firm amid the most severe of tests." "Faith does not operate in the realm of possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends." "Trials, difficulties, and obstacles are the food of faith. God delights in increasing the faith of His children."
Looking at these statements, I cannot help but wonder if we are in a time where God is expanding our faith. The recent losses and challenges that are before us tend to shake our faith. The catastrophic events of the past year, including fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, terrorist attacks, severe illnesses, economic downturns, and financial challenges, have landed in our backyard bringing great loss and resulting in emotional shock and trauma. It is during these times that we find it easy to question the truth upon which our lives have been built. Trust in God and His Word is where we must take a stand, especially during trials. King David, the King of Israel that was hand-picked by God, had multiple opportunities to express his trust in God, and his psalms are ripe with the fruit of it. He made a choice to trust in God and His plans for his welfare. Here are a few of my favorites: Psalm 16:8 - "I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalm 62:1, 2, 8 - "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress; I will not be shaken...Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him for God is our refuge." Psalm 125:1, 2 - "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore." It is our focus and our confession that will help to build our faith. We must focus on the Father heart of God when circumstances shake our foundation. He is a dad of compassion and love that promises to redeem whatever shakes our faith. As we stand on the Word of God, we must confess it. Hearing the truth from our own lips will strengthen our foundation. Before Jesus returned to heaven He reminded His disciples of this truth: "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) And let us remember 1 John 5:5. "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." When George Mueller had a need, he and those who helped him at the orphanage kept it a secret. They agreed that they would only share their needs with God in prayer. There were times when George did not know how he would feed the orphans. But provision always came, albeit frequently at the eleventh hour. Imagine what this practice did for his faith! Pastor John Maxwell said, "There are a lot of things in life that our difficult to understand. Faith allows the soul to go beyond what eyes can see." Let us cling to the words of Peter in his first book. "...You may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even through refined by fire--may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:6, 7) It is through our faith that we reveal Jesus to others, and isn't this what we are called to do? Some scholars believe that the daily reading of Psalm 27 during the month of Elul is what is needed for preparation of the Jewish high holy days. In fact, they say the phrase "my light" in verse one is a reminder of Rosh Hashana, and "my salvation" a reminder of Yom Kippur. Verse five says, "He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle" which refers to Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles. All this aside, Psalm 27 is a powerful Psalm to read at any time of the year. This Psalm is one of adoration and the truth of who God is in our lives. A key to remember as we search the depths of Scripture is that adoration brings revelation and revelation brings intimacy.
Psalm 27 is one that brings adoration to God through declaring who He is and what He has done. We are given the key to conquering fear in verse one. "The Lord is my light and my salvation—in whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold (a place of refuge and defense) of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?" The author of Psalm 27, King David, was familiar with being hunted down. When he wrote about evil men advancing against him or an army besieging him, he was living his life running from King Saul who wanted to kill him. Despite the battle David was in, he expresses his first priority: "to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." (Verse 4) Here is how The Passion Translation says it: "Here's the one thing I crave from God, the one thing I seek above all else: I want the privilege of living with Him every moment in His house, finding the sweet loveliness of His face, filled with awe, delighting in His glory and grace. I want to live my life so close to Him that He takes pleasure in my every prayer." God has a perfect place for us to run to when we are in trouble. That shelter is His tabernacle where He sets us "high upon a rock." (Verse 5) Think about that picture of being placed on a high rock. This placement keeps one above their enemies, out of their reach. The result should be that we will "sacrifice with shouts of joy." (Verse 6) The Passion Translation says, “Triumphant now, I'll bring Him my offerings of praise, singing and shouting with ecstatic joy!" Next, David makes a plea to the Lord: "Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, 'Seek His face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek." (Verses 7, 8) He remembers how he had been rejected by his family and the hurt that this causes. However, the Lord fills every void that we have in our lives. David recalls the hope he has in the Lord. He makes a request of the Lord: "Now teach me all about your ways and tell me what to do. Make it clear for me to understand, for I am surrounded by waiting enemies...Yet I totally trust in you to rescue me one more time, so that I can see once again how good you are while I'm still alive!” (Verses 11, 13 - TPT) The classic statement in verse 13 is rendered like this in the NIV. "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Psalm 27 ends with a word of advice that I am sure David learned through his years of battle. "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (Verse 14) The Passion Translation says, "Here's what I've learned through it all. Don't give up; don't be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for He will never disappoint you!" David had a great deal of experience in waiting for the Lord. Afterall, he was anointed to be king of Israel as a young man but was not able to sit upon the throne until age 30. His waiting was not easy, as we have already noted. King Saul was after him during most of his wait. Waiting for God takes perseverance and patience. During these times of waiting, we must remember that the Lord uses them to teach and prepare us for what is ahead. We must make good use of our seasons of waiting and walk in the revelation He gives us after taking shelter in His tabernacle. |
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