"My Hands Also I Will Lift Up To"------ What or Whom?

"My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes." (Psalm 119:48)

If I do not lift up, "my hands...to Your commandments," then to whatever I, "lift up," my hands, it is not God.  Every other "lifting up of the hands," is subjective, worshipping someone or something of my choosing.  Only, "Your commandments," define and reveal the Living Triune God; all else is mere speculation, concepts, imaginings of our own creation.  "Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path," not my worship, my praying, someone's preaching, theology. Good as these may be, His Words are the foundation of praise.  What revelatory, "lamp," and, "light," we have in Jesus and, "Your commandments."  If indeed, "The Word of God," is in, "the words of God" (they, 'testify...of Me'-John 5:39), then, "My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments...."   

You and I can be so thankful today that His Words are available to us.  Most of humanity for most of human history has not had this privilege.  Our Lord Jesus said, "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed of him they will ask the more."  That is you and me, my friend.  But is it not a great privilege as well as a great responsibility to have His Words to read?  I think this could have been one reason my Grandfather Barnette kept in his lunch pail a New Testament wrapped up in a rubber band.  He took every chance he could to, as our texts says, "meditate on Your statutes," many times in that hot, dirty steam engine, or in later years, that more clean diesel locomotive.  I never saw anyone who shown more with the, "light," and, "lamp," than Tom Barnette.  His legacy and deeds still follow him.  

You and I can have the same legacy and deeds following us.  I encourage you to "seize the moment[s]" you have today to, "My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes."  Then our God will say of you what he said of the psalmist, "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I take so many opportunities in "free time" to do so much.  May, "Your statutes," be priority.  Amen.

*************************

* Be sure to visit us on Facebook

* Article--Israel On The Verge of Attack?-- www.jerusalemberlinwashington.blogspot.com

* Let me know if you wish to invest in the "David's Tent" Mission in DC   

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

American "Founding Father" Quote Echos Our Text

"I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts."  (Psalm 119:45)

I pray you are strengthened by our "journey" through Psalm 119.  I have not had any feedback, but have and always have enjoyed this Psalm of the Word.  

One of America's "Founding Fathers," Samuel Adams, wrote much about the concept of freedom and liberty.  "No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and virtue is preserved.  On the contrary, when people are universally ignorant, and debauched in their manners, they will sink under their own weight without the aid of foreign invaders....A general dissolution of the principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy....While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but once they lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader....If virtue and knowledge are diffused among the people, they will never be enslaved.  This will be their great security." (Emphasis mine)

"Liberty," is a much used, yet much maligned word.  "Liberty," is not "attending the church of your choice," or doing anything our little hearts desire.  Only servants of Jesus Christ know, "liberty."  Our text tells us that we only can, "walk at liberty," when we, "seek Your precepts," i.e., "the words of God." Apart from, "The Word of God," there never has been, is, nor shall ever be, "liberty."  Our Lord Jesus Christ declared, "the Truth shall set you free," and only, "the Truth," Who is Jesus Christ and His Words.  

Do not be fooled by people who speak of, "liberty," as though it were a human discovery.  The only discovery of "liberty" to an unregenerate person is, for example, "a woman's right to choose" murdering her unborn baby (a "liberty" so full of selfishness and hatred that a current political figure is fighting for his public-service life), homosexuals even perverting Biblical texts in the attempt to affirm God's affirmation of their life style, thievery disguised as "spreading the wealth around," an almost endless list. 

Our text is a short verse, but packed with the power of the Holy Spirit and, "The Word of God," Jesus Himself.  If you and I cherish the concept of, "liberty," there is one way and only one way to know and confidently say, "I will walk at liberty"-------- when we can say, "For I seek Your precepts."

 Father, in Jesus' Name, I reject any talk or claim of "liberty" if not rooted in You and Your Word.  Amen.

**************************
* Please pray for the "David's Tent" provision and gathering in DC
* Article on "Apartheid" Still Alive in South Africa: www.jerusalemberlinwashington.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"So I Shall Have An Answer"

"Let your mercies come also to me, O Lord-- Your salvation according to Your word.  So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word."  (Psalm 119:41, 42)

"Mercies," and, "salvation," come to you and me in God's Word.  Notice, furthermore, wherein lies the psalmist's confidence, "for I trust in Your word."  The psalmist does not trust his intellect, his opinions, his ability to out-smart another in, "reproaches," or argument or attack.  He goes to and relies upon Him Who called the universe into being, "The Word of God."  This is key to understanding, appreciating, and delighting in Psalm 119.  All expressions of the words "commandments," "testimonies," "statutes," "law," "precepts," etc., are incarnate in Jesus, as the Christmas Carol describes Him, "Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing." 

When I was in graduate school, a professor once remarked to me that he noticed while one of my friends "tends to respond philosophically; you refer to Scripture."  Our text seems to "vindicate" my approach.  Now not all interaction in seminary was, "reproaches me," but there was enough at times to make me wish I had gone to Asbury.  But at least my views, theology, opinions were recognized to be in, "The words of God," whether others agreed with what I had to say or not.

I would encourage you today to resist argument; some do, but some don't.  Yet if there is to be an answer to the reproach of those around us, it is as Luther said of righteousness.  "[Our righteousness] is an alien righteousness, that is, the righteousness of another instilled from without."  Of course, this is the Righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to us.  But as to, "an answer for him who reproaches," you or  me, our, "answer," is also "an alien [answer], that is, the [answer] of another instilled from without," i.e., "Your word."  Thank our Lord Jesus Christ, too, that while His words originate from "from without," they can be written in our hearts and in our minds.

I am not talking "Bible thumping," or "Bible beating," or some pharisaical quoting of the Bible.  It is His Word in my heart and mind imparting life, "to those who find It/Him."

Father, in Jesus' Name, whenever I am tempted to rely on my mind, let Your Mind prevail.  Amen.

************************************

* You won't believe who has been invited to the Democrat Convention:

Read About It At: www.jerusalemberlinwashington.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Psalm 119 Series

"Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it." (Psalm 119:35)

The NLT says, "Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found."  The word for, "walk," means, " tread, march."  Sounds sort of militaristic to me.  But why not?  The Bible is full of "army" talk; read The Revelation of John, Ephesians 6, 2 Corinthians 10, just to name some of the New Testament references.  Yet in the middle of life's warfare, "happiness is found," when I, "walk along the path of your commands." 

The word, "Make," is not in the Hebrew interlinear text.  Since I am not a Hebrew scholar, I assume that the form of the verb is imperative.  It can be a "dangerous" prayer, because God's "ways and means committee " can be quite effective in, "Make me."  Regardless, our text is another prayer from Psalm 119, a prayer with an affirmed causal effect, "for I delight in it."  The dictionary defines "delight" as, "something which gives great pleasure."  No one probably starts with an, "I delight in it," attitude towards, "Your commandments."  But when we learn the power, the life changing, best-way-to-live of, "Your commandments," then, "for I delight in it," will follow.

Someone once asked a nutritionist why he liked all the foods which are not good for you.  The nutritionist replied, "Because you have a perverted tongue."  Perverted tastes, defiled by a life time of conditioning are perhaps akin to a life accustomed to perverted "delights;" all of them are fluff, very temporary.  This is true of any taste.  Maybe what the human race needs is a conditioning of tastes, a constant "exercising" of walking in, "Your commandments."  Hebrews 12:11 says, "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained (exercised) by it."  Carrots compared to a Dairy Queen Blizzard may be a case of pain versus delight.  But no one in their right mind would say the "Blizzard" is better for you.  Maybe the religious community needs a, "for I delight," conversion.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that I lived too much of my life for the "blizzard," and not the carrots. Only the training of, "Your commands," have enabled me to see, "taste and see that the Lord is good."  Thank You.  Amen.

*************************

* Please pray for my involvement in the "David's Tent" effort in Washington, DC, 9/24-10/1/2012.

* Another Article on President Obama's complicity in the The Arab Winter:  www.jerusalemberlinwashington.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

From What Source Do You Receive Most of Your Advice?

"Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors."  (Psalm 119:24)

Someone kept coming to me for advice when I was a young pastor.  Finally I asked them how much of the Bible they read.  "Very little," was the reply.  I said, "I want you to read three chapters a day in the Bible for two weeks, then we will talk again."  At the end of two weeks, I contacted her and said, "Well, how was it?"  She replied, "Great.  I think I know what I must do."  How novel it was to her.  If you are giving counsel or advice to a person and that person is not reading, "the words of God," it is fruitless.  It is just prolonging an inevitable, self-reliant destruction.

The word, "counselors," is translated in a number of ways in various passages, "counsel, advice, consultation, counselors, plans, purpose, strategy."  What a plethora of security we have in Jesus Christ and His "Law/Word."  Think of the "places" and persons to whom most of humanity turns for all this, e.g, pastors, counselors, therapists, books after books, talk shows after talk shows, when all along, right there in the room where you are probably reading this, or at least not very far away are, "Your testimonies."  The aforementioned "advisors" can be good addendums, but they were never intended by our Lord Jesus to replace Him or be our fundamental, main source of, "consultation."  Yet this is exactly what has happened in modern Christendom----------- all over the world!  

"Your (Jesus') testimonies...are my delight and my counselors," because when I was at the lowest point in my life, "Your testimonies (became) my delight and my counselors."  No one could say anything or do anything to help me.  I have said before that I have never and will never minimize the love, prayers, words of encouragement of others in those days.  They were of comfort.  But it was only when, "I waited patiently for the Lord," in, "[His] testimonies," that I found, "my counselors," a counsel which went and goes beyond anything anyone can say or do.  This is not the proverbial "either/or."  This is the establishment of what is described in the Hebrews 11 description of Abraham, who, "went out, not knowing where he was going."  Anyone who goes, "through the valley of the shadow of death," knows how dark and, "not knowing," can be the experience.  It is said of Abraham that, "by faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country."  Everything I was experiencing in those dark days was, "a foreign country."   Yet I discovered a, "land of promise," in the the Bible, the very, "words of God."  It was and is in His Word, I, "waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God."  This goes beyond a "land flowing with milk and honey," etc.  This is the very Heart and Mind of God Himself.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I agree with the psalmist, "Your testimonies...are my delight and my counselors."  Amen.

***************************

* If you wish to contribute to my involvement in the "David's Tent" 40 day, 24/7 worship and intercession event in Washington, DC, September 24 to October 1, you may send contributions to:

FHMP

505 Liberty Ave.

Johnstown

PA

15905

* Read of Egypt Slipping More and More into a total Islamic State---- With American Approval! www.jerusalemberlinwashington.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2