Conclusion of Psalm 119 Study

"Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; and let Your judgments help me."  (Psalm 119:175)

I received this article this morning from a person in the Middle East: "In my Middle Eastern reality, there are tens of thousands of mosques that demonize and curse Jews on a daily basis....In our region, people hate one another, fight with one another, and disagree about everything, except their common hatred of Jews and Christians.  In our region, heads of state proclaim that the total annihilation of Israel is their goal....In our region, the hatred against Jews has taken the shape of artistic, cultural and political festivals.  In our region, they deny the Holocaust happened even though there are thousands of eye witnesses who are still alive today, while those who admit that it did happen say that Hitler's only mistake was that he did not manage to get rid of every single Jew in the world.  In our region, Jews have been spared only because their opponents lack the ability to eradicate them.  In brief, our region is infected with a curse of excessive hatred and violence, which is increasing exponentially and is about to be unleashed on the world."  Anyone living in the Middle East would be well advised to pray Psalm 119;  the hatred will only increase.  Yet I can say with confidence, the People of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom will increase also, "Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might." 

I close our study in Psalm 119 with our text.  The whole psalm is a prayer and covenant, a prayer, supplication, and declaration.  I cannot recommend strongly enough a regular reading/praying of this powerful Word; it reveals Covenantal provision in the Living Triune God.  Perhaps we could say that our text is an excellent summary of Psalm 119 as well as one of the greatest prayers anyone could ever utter, "....let Your judgments (Words) help me."  Whatever you and I face today in our health, our finances, our family, or countries, whatever the gathering storm of the close of the Age may bring, "Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; and let Your judgments help me"---------- and you!

Father, in Jesus' Name, I never need worry about just the right prayer for the moment, for, "Your judgments help me."  Amen.
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* Please be praying for me as I prepare for and participate in "David's Tent," September 24-October 1.

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

Do You Desire, "Great Peace"?

"Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble."  (Psalm 119:165)

The word for, "peace," here is, "Shalom."  You know what that means.  The meaning of the word, "stumble," includes, "stumbling block."  When someone says, "Shalom," to you or me, it can only go as far as we, "love Your law."  Contrary to some teachings, you cannot "wish" or impart peace.  Only, "The Word of  God," Jesus, and His Words can do that.  As for, "nothing causes them to stumble, " the Bible is quite clear, "now unto Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling" (NASB).

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you."  This is not an ephemeral peace.  Some people think that the "things of God" are somehow magically transferred, some, well, to tell you the truth, I don't know what they think.  Maybe there was a time in my life when I thought erroneous thoughts about how God does things in our lives, what "living for Him" means, "work out your salvation," how He "speaks" to us, etc., but the Bible is very clear.  His peace, and dare I say, "everything" comes to, "those who love Your law."  Any other "peace" is just a feeling.  If only Christendom would get away from some Eastern meditative approach.  The reality of our creative purpose, what Genesis says of the, "sound of the Lord God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day," in our day can be indeed a mystery, so many ideas, so many books about "walking with God."  The only way I can come close to that purpose, however, is in, "The Word of God," Jesus, and His Words, the only "tangible" instruction which can be fully trusted. 

The longer I live, the more the Biblical word, "mystery," seems to apply to our walk in Jesus Christ.  If that is indeed a mark of our sojourn here, then we need to find all we can which helps us through the mysteries of life.  As Followers of Jesus Christ, we are, "stewards of the mysteries of God;" and I can only be a faithful steward if my base, my foundation, my authority and source is, "the Word of God."  If anyone bases what has been entrusted to us on any other foundation, disaster is surely to come.  If, however, our life theme is, "love Your law," then, "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock."  And let us be perfectly clear; Jesus earlier defined, "the rock," as, "these sayings of Mine." 

Today, in the midst of the clamor of life, the Bible declares above the noise and confusion, "Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble."  Here is promise preceded by condition.  To love Jesus Christ is to love His Words, inseparably one.  Find a moment in the midst of everything to avail yourself of, "Your law."  Then let the world throw up every stumbling block they wish; you have, "Great peace." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I just want to thank You for Your, "Great peace."  Amen.

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Please pray with me about next week.  I am planning to spend 12 to 15 hours a day in "the tent."

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

Who Was Better, Hitler or Gandhi?

"Trouble and anguish have found and taken hold on me, yet Your commandments are my delight.  Your righteous testimonies are everlasting and Your decrees are binding to eternity; give me understanding and I shall live [give me discernment and comprehension and I shall not die]."  (Psalm 119:143, 144- Amplified Bible)

No wonder Paul, after writing the best treatise on the place of the Jews in Salvation History, burst forth with, "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments...!  And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)!"  And, as His Words do so regularly, today's text spoke so much to something I read this morning. 

The article was about the outbreak of extreme violence in Germany in recent months, a violence dominated by Middle Eastern expatriates.  A little history reminder:  After the rise of Mohammed, the Arab/Islamic curse on the world began its genocidal fulfillment by rampaging through the Middle East.  Later they would attempt to conquer Europe, but were turned back "at the gates of Vienna."  Moreover, for centuries, the "strongest" and most prominent Churches were in the Middle East.  After Arab/Islam's reign of terror, the Church in the Middle East was almost nonexistent.  Many Followers of Jesus were murdered, while others chose the Islamic "submit" over loyalty to Jesus Christ.  I point no finger.  Even though I would like to think otherwise, I cannot say what I would have done.  "Trouble and anguish...found," the Church in the Middle East during the Middle Ages, yet those who could say with the psalmist, "yet Your commandments are my delight," overcame.  That day is upon us throughout the world as never before, and victory over sin and the Devil will come on the same Word. 

Fact: The attempt is currently under way to finish what Mohammed began.  It is playing out globally, but most aggressively in Europe and The United States of America.  Now most people, including most "Christians," don't believe any of this.  They somehow think that 1500 years of history has been erased by politically correct mumbo jumbo, appeasement, nice talking and appearing political leaders, and that "goodwill" will be met by "goodwill."  But this is just "Goodwill Hunting"; they will never find it.  Some will just not take the lesson of history.  The majority of humanity today does not believe the Biblical declaration, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God"--- ALL.  Most think, however, that some are worse than others, e.g., Hitler was worse than Gandhi.  I think the word, "All," takes care of such "good feeling" philosophy.  Sin is sin; the sin nature is the sin nature, and it is in all of us.  "He who believes in Jesus is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God"---------------- Hitler or Gandhi------ you or I.  But I am confident that you have chosen Jesus Christ; you are of the Redeemed; you are righteous and on your way to those "mansions," not because you are a "good" person, but because you and I are "good" with the Goodness of Jesus.

I close with the admonition, "Remember now your Creator...before the difficult days come..,"  and come they will----------------------------------- but so will He, and we will be, "found in Him."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Your commandments," and, "Your righteous testimonies," and, "Your decrees are binding to eternity."  Bind me in them/Him.  Amen.
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Read the Article to which I referred:  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 Study (Almost Finished)

"Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth."  (Psalm 119:142)

Today we are in the midst of Rosh Hashanha.  We are told that Rosh Hashanha and Yom Kippur, which follows 10 days later, is the Jewish New Year and "Day of Atonement" respectively.  It is a time when the Jews "embark upon the serious task of examining their lives."  It is called a "time of...trying to be a better person."  It sounds noble enough, but most Jews of the First Century AD rejected Jesus for this very reason; no one saves me except me.  The Day of Atonement was never meant to be a time for "trying to be a better person." Our Lord Jesus said this to the Jews, and the first "Messianic Jews" proclaimed this throughout the Roman Empire. 

While introspection does have Biblical roots, one can over do it to the degree that he/she becomes the focus rather than Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.  Our text is full of the glory of the Living Triune God, His mercy and grace, His Faithful Provision for mankind.  The Bible does not advocate self-made religion; it condemns it.  What the Bible does command is absolute dependency, trust in, reliance on, obedience to Jesus Christ; and all of this is, as Moses told the Jews of antiquity, "for our good."  Jesus atoned for sin, not I, nor you, nor any other.  Only Jesus Christ is, "an everlasting righteousness."  Man's attempt at righteousness lasts only long enough to salve a guilty conscience, a self justification for the life it attempts to "purify," and more seriously, to build a "Tower-of-Babel-righteousness," a righteousness-tower which attempts to storm Heaven and make man the center of the universe rather than Jesus Christ. 

But no need to go down that road today.  You can see the futility of man's attempt to make himself righteous.  You have discovered and accepted and are building your life on the reality that, "Your law is truth."  You have rejected all claims of "truth" which rejects the absolute Supremacy of Jesus Christ and His Words; you have not succumbed to the lies of, "the father of lies," because your Father is He Whom the Bible describes as the One Who, "chose us in Jesus before the foundation of the world."  He did the choosing; He does the keeping, and He Alone, "does" the righteousness.  I can say our text this way today:  "Because, 'Your law is truth,' I know that the only righteousness which can save me, make me whole and accepted, 'in the Beloved,' Jesus, is the, "everlasting righteousness," found only in Jesus Christ.  No one but He Who Alone is Truth declares this.  So I only believe Him.  "On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I am so thankful that You are my Atonement for sin.  You, Jesus, alone are that sacrifice on the altar, You alone are the One who was driven into the "wilderness" for my sin.  Thank You.  Amen.
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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