An "Exegesis" of Psalm 100

"Make a joyful shout....Serve the Lord with gladness...."  (Psalm 100)

We can, "shout," joyfully, and, "Serve...with gladness," because there is just no greater "comfort zone" than to know, "We are His people and the sheep of His pasture," and literally that, "He has made us and not we ourselves."  If we did not "made ourselves," then do not try to rule, "ourselves," decide, "ourselves," or anyone else, for that matter. 

"Know that the Lord, He is God," none other.  "Know that...it is He who has made us."  If you and I, "know," this, then we will live this.  It is only Jesus Who has claimed, "I and the Good Shepherd;" hence, "we are the sheep of [Jesus'] pasture. "  Our text speaks of Jesus, "the Lord, He is God."  It is only of Jesus that the Bible declares, "[Now] Jesus is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; Jesus is the first born," i.e., "the Preeminent One over all creation.  For it was in Jesus that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Jesus [by Jesus' service, intervention] and in and for Jesus."---------- not Mohammed, not the Buddha, not the anyone or anything.  It is Jesus, only Jesus.  

Now, in view of the aforementioned, "Make a joyful noise."  In view of Jesus, Who is, "the Lord, He is God,..Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Jesus, and bless Jesus' Name.  For Jesus is good; Jesus' mercy is everlasting, and Jesus' truth endures to all generations."  When we celebrate Jesus, in Whom Father is, "well pleased," and of Whom Father says, "Hear Him," then Father is very, very happy.

Father, in Jesus' Name, You Whom no one has ever seen, thank You that You have appeared in Jesus, Son of God, Son of man.  May Your Name, the Name of the Living Triune God, empower, encourage, bless, heal, deliver me and my friend forever and ever.  Amen.

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

"....Launch Out Into the Deep...."

"[Jesus] said to Simon, 'Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.'  But Simon...."  (Luke 5:4, 5a)

....knew better.

Jesus tells them to, "Launch out into the deep," but the professionals said that as professionals they had done all which their wisdom, experience, and savvy could do.  If there are no fish out there, there are just no fish.  Now I don't mean to take the "miracle" aspect out of our text, but I wonder if Jesus just "outsmarted" the professionals.  Maybe Jesus saw something in the "natural world" which they did not.  Maybe they were so caught up in routine, always doing it a certain way, leaning on their own understanding that they just may have missed something.  It is good to listen to other people.  Sometimes they just may have something, see something which you have overlooked, for whatever reason.  In our text, Jesus, "Who is made to us wisdom from God," became Peter's Wisdom."

There could be something here similar to what I often notice about the David and Goliath "incident."  It is always touted as some miracle, when the reality is that there were many of the Jews in Saul's army who could have done what David did.  One Biblical record says of some Jewish men, "....every one could sling a stone at a hair's breadth and not miss."  Too many times we like to make "miracles" out of Biblical texts because many think that somehow the "miracle" status excuses them; that's for the really "spiritual," you know, the ones who get very rich in book and speaking fees.

So many times there is the, "we have...caught nothing," in us.  We tried something, some endeavor, or just life itself and, "caught nothing."  We come to the defeatist conclusion that we gave it our best shot, but it just isn't working.  We go back to "shore" and mope, "Woe is me.  I just can't do anything; nothing ever works."  But then Jesus "comes along" and says, "Launch out into the deep...."  Maybe it's, "Go where you have not gone before."  Or maybe it's, "You have been doing life the same way so long that you cannot see My way.  You have prayed, worshiped, read the Bible, do good works, but in it all there is the underlying self-made person of, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing."  Or, "We tried that, and it doesn't work."

Maybe what we all need is a renewal in, "nevertheless at Your word."  Could we all be "ripe" for revival, renewal, restoration, or whatever it is which brings us back to the simplicity of Jesus, believing Jesus, obeying Jesus, reading His Words in a way which is not dominated by, "O, I've read and heard that so many times before."  Away with such a life style.  Today, join me in a renewed, "nevertheless at Your word...." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, maybe I have too much in me of, "...."We have toiled all night and caught nothing."  I pray for a renewed, "....Nevertheless at Your word...." Amen.
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* Some on our devotional list have reported from time to time that our devotionals go to their spam folder.  If you don't receive them for a while, perhaps it's the old "spam" demon at work. 

* March Mission: March 9-31

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

He Chooses Some "Strange" People

"And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant and instrument, and the beasts of the field also I have given him to serve him."  (Jeremiah 27:6, Amplified Bible)

This was in my Major Prophets reading yesterday, and is a somewhat disturbing and confusing passage to those who like a predictable, religionist god.  Here the Living Triune God is speaking of a predecessor of Saddam Hussein, and, who was not a whole lot different.  From Daniel's account we seem to get the ideal that Nebuchadnezzar "got saved," came to recognize the Lord God as King of the nations.  But the fact remains that Nebuchadnezzar was a pagan king when Jesus chose to call him, "My servant and instrument."  If one accepts this Biblical Theology, then one has to accept a whole lot of people who we would not, in our "spiritual" concept of life, accept.  Remember what God said to Pharaoh, "But indeed for this purpose I raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth."  Sort of gives an interesting "take" on history and current events.  Two ancient kings, one seemed to repent and believe the Lord God; we have no record, however, that the same happened to the other. 

I also read Psalm 90 today.  "Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting (also, "forever"), You are God."  This is the Theology which rules.  It rules Jeremiah 27:6; it rules all.  The longer I live, the more the mystery.  I stand in awe of Him who alone is, "....from everlasting to everlasting."  Just so are His ways, "passed finding out."  Theologians for generations have attempted to understand and explain, both professional and armchair.  Books have been written, sermons preached, teachings taught------- to "explain."  I have studied Church History and "secular" history.  One time I and a brother prayed for 11 hours straight.  I have read the Bible through many, many times, very many mission services, and still, in spite of all the praying, Bible reading, fasting, worship, contemplation, going to the nations, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting You are God," is my "conclusion," my worship, my surrender.

Jesus is, "The Ancient of Days."  Jesus is, "King of kings, and Lord of lords."  Nebuchadnezzar and Pharaoh are under Jesus' rule, so all the kings, prime ministers, presidents, ISIS, etc.  Jesus moves history; other kings don't; you and I don't.  Let's stop trying.  Only as you and I are in Jesus Christ and Jesus in us do we "accomplish" anything, change anything or anyone.  "Be still and know that I Am God," saith Father, Son Jesus and Holy Spirit.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Before," anything and anyone, "You are God."  That's all I need to know.  Amen.  
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March 9-20:  Berlin Mission
Still moving gingerly, but at least I can get around.  Appreciate any prayers.

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

"Where Then Is My Hope?"

"Where then is my hope?  As for my hope, who can see it?"  (Job 17:15)

This is Job.  This is suffering.  This is, again, "the dark night of the soul."  Now many of us have been there; some are there. 

Do not be condemned if you have said this.  Job was just being honest, honest in his appraisal, honest in his pain.  Yet instead of the giving-up of so many over the centuries, Job continues in the battle.  We know how it "turned out" for Job; he ultimately triumphs in his faith in the Living Triune God.  But we also know out it turned out for so many throughout Church History.  Hebrews 11 shares just some of the triumphs and some of the great trials of Followers of Jesus Christ.

The men who were beheaded the other day were murdered because they were "people of the cross."  Just so, you and I are "people of the Cross."  So was Job, because, like Abraham, he too, "rejoiced to see [Jesus] day, and he saw it and was glad," and as Moses, "for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible."  And, this was the rejoicing, the enduring, "hope," of Job.  Yes, Job had times of wondering, "Where then is my hope?"  The Amplified Bible says, "And if I have hope, who will see [its fulfillment]?"  There is some of the Hebrew 11 theology here.  Job was not like so many today, a "Bless-God-Hallelujah-Everything-is-just-peachy" religionist.  He was a realist, a person of, "All the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes."  This is victory living.  This is overcoming, triumphant living.  Everything else is "death."

The Old Testament saints were declared righteous by looking forward to the Cross.  The Cross was the answer to their question, "Where then is my hope?"  Since then, the righteous are those who look back to the Cross, as in, "Where then is my hope?"  So, "Where then is my hope?"  Our hope is in the Same One as, "Our help is in the name of the [Lord Jesus Christ], who made heaven and earth."  And I am sure Jesus has a, "hope," a, "help," for you and me.

Father, in Jesus' Name, my hope is You.  Amen. 
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I am operating at quite a slower pace today, due to an accident.  I slipped on some ice which was under snow.  I didn't fall, but it may have been better if I had.  I tore something on the inside of my leg.  This is life, but would appreciate any prayer you would offer.  I have three weeks until we leave for Berlin.  Pray that it will be "all better by then."

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

The Battle Just Keeps Raging

"O God, why have You cast us off forever!...Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.  The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.  Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place....They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land."  (Psalm 74)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer put a note in his Bible beside the last sentence in our text after "Kristallnacht," November 9, 1938.  The German did not invent such hatred.  This has been going on since Cain.  It happened again yesterday.

I learned yesterday that 21 Followers of Jesus were beheaded by Arabs; they were "Coptic Christians."  This is not, however, a "religious war."  This is barbaric ancient tribalism; make no mistake about that!  Do not allow the media and ignorance of history deceive you.  The whole Shia vs. Sunni "wars" over the centuries is based in tribalism.  The murderous, pillaging Mohammed wrote, "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve.  Therefore, strike off their heads, and strike off every fingertip of them" (Allah, from Qur'an 8:12).  Murderous thugs just invented a religion to satisfy and justify their blood lust.  Religions of man are just extensions of barbarous tribalism.  Look at the Balkans after the 1989 revolutions.  Look at Russia and Ukraine.  Look at Southern "Christians" and slaves.  Look at.................. 

The question is always,  What are you and I to do?  " Be not deceived," is an injunction in the Scriptures of the Living Triune God.  And there is only one way to win over deception.  "Jesus said to them, 'Is this not where you wander out of the way and go wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God'" (Amplified Bible).  In short, know your Bible and the Holy Spirit.  Pray in your spirit in the Holy Spirit.  And above all, Obey, "the Scriptures," and, "the power of God."  Jonah said an interesting thing in his prayer, "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."  Neglect of, "the Scriptures (and) the power of God," is a forfeiture of, "the grace that could be theirs." 

If you and I are to navigate through this minefield called "life," we desperately need, "the Scriptures (and) the power of God."  It is not some natural discernment or ability to "read people."  It is only, "the Scriptures (and) the power of God."  I know I must sound like the proverbial "broken record," but it is as Moses said to the Jews of the Words of God, "they are your life."  Do not allow the water cooler talk and the ignorant media be your source of understanding.  Only the Word of God, Jesus, in and by the Holy Spirit, is our understanding, our knowledge, our, discernment. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, let me never rely on anything or anyone apart from, "the Scriptures (and) the power of [you]."  Amen.

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