When Foundations Are Destroyed, The Righteous Can Do Nothing

"When the foundations are being destroyed what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3, NIV)

I have commented on our text before, but just as Jesus,' "compassions fail not," and, "....are new every morning," so too are the, "God-Breathed," Words.  JFB says of our text, "Literally, 'The foundations (that is, of good order and law) will be destroyed, what has the righteous done (to sustain them)?'  All his efforts have failed."  Now let us be perfectly clear about what the Bible says, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed ('well-laid').  He who believes will not be disturbed (literally, 'be in a hurry')....For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."  Or, "....The foundation, firmly placed ('well-laid')," is, "The Word/s of God." 

When a society, a people group, a nation rejects and mocks, "The Foundation," there is absolutely nothing left to do to save it, nothing. The more I consider just the United States of America, let alone, the rest of the world, the more I realize that Psalm 11:3 is the epitaph of human history.  Don't call me a pessimist.  If one reads the Bible with Holy Spirit and not religious "glasses," they discover that things on this planet will not end well for the "optimist" and religious hype purveyors.  It is really quite simple yet extremely sobering, Take away, "the Foundation," and we are "taken away."

Yes, and thank our Lord Jesus, that you and I are indeed, "more than conquerors."  We are, "under the Shadow of the Almighty."  Moreover, we can say with absolute certainty that Jesus Christ cannot be "destroyed."  Mankind and nations do, however, destroy themselves when they reject Jesus, His Words, His Reign.  The present chaos in the American political scene alone reveals the failure of American Christendom in setting down the, "sure (literally, 'well-laid') foundation."  When people "remove" our Lord Jesus Christ form the pulpit, the songs, the "worship," missions, evangelism, His prayer from the schools, and replace the Name of Jesus with "god-talk," political correctness, "inclusive" theology, we then have the inevitable, "The foundations will be destroyed."  The more I consider our text, the more I see a prophecy. 

I am left with one question I ask of you and me today, "....what has the righteous done (to sustain them)?"

Father, in Jesus' Name, "have mercy on us and on the whole world."  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

So You Need "Stronghold"?

"The Lord also will be a refuge ('a sure height, stronghold') for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble." (Psalm 9:9, KJV)

Intervarsity and the Navigators were/are big on Scripture memorization.  I memorized our text while a freshman in college.  The text is as empowering as it was the first time I read and memorized it almost 55 years ago.

"....stronghold in the day of trouble."  30 years ago last month I first visited Berlin, Germany, and crossed the well-known Check Point Charlie.  It was on that day that I first saw the Pergamon Museum in the then, East Berlin.  Also, 40 years ago this month my first mission outside of the US took me to England, Nigeria, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Hungary.  In those days, there was even a border stop and check between The Netherlands and Germany.  We crossed into Hungary from Austria with hundreds of Bibles.  40 years have come and gone since that day in June, 1976, when I took off from the Pittsburgh Airport.  Over the many years I was detained by the KGB, had to jumped off a train in Romania, was robbed/threatened, body-searched, had cars practically dismantled, "The Lord Jesus Christ also will be a refuge/sure height/stronghold...," was then, is now a Rock Solid, "God-Breathed," Living-Triune-God-Sustaining Word.

What about you today?  I know you have many such testimonies.  I so desperately needed a, "stronghold/refuge," when Stephen died.  Jesus Was, Is, Ever Shall Be my, "refuge/ stronghold in times of trouble."  He is, or for those who may not know Jesus, Jesus can be the Same to you.  There are so very many passages in Scriptures which give a similar life-empowering promise.  Let me write it, and hear our Lord Jesus Christ say again to you and me, "I, "The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You are My Hiding Place.  Amen.
*********************
Read: Someone finally gets it right about illegal immigration, when even Fox News didn't get it right.  Go to:   jhs58.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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Delight, Desire, Pleasure, Precious"

"Blessed is the man who...delight[s] (from Hebrew for, "pleasure, desire," translated elsewhere, "precious")..in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night."  (From Psalm 1:1, 2-- the beginning of a month's Psalms reading)

The key here is, "delight ('desire, pleasure, precious')," and, "day and night."  Any "Blessed," which seems to be ours today, and which does not find us walking in our text, is a the proverbial, "fool's paradise," deceptive, illusory.  Do not let the religious pundits deceive.  Without, "delight...in the Law of the Lord," there can be no, "Blessed."  I tremble at the thought of where and what I might be.  I could say, If you think I'm whatever now, without, "the Words of God," I would be nothing but, as another verse in Psalm 1 says, "....like the chaff which the wind drives away."

Much of modern Christendom has it backwards.  The Bible calls, "Blessed," the person who, "in His law...meditates day and night."  Many claim that "blessing" is in "sowing seed" and getting a great "harvest," or some great "worship event," prayer gathering, serving the poor.  There is definitely Biblical basis for this, yet for too many it is some "answer" to prayers, which for many is code for, Cadillac.  Psalm 1 tells us that blessings come to those whose life is totally committed to, "the Words of God." 

I have quoted before what I once heard Derek Prince say: "God is committed to His Word, and as we are committed to His Word, God is committed to us."  This could be a paraphrase of our text.  What is your "need" today?  You may have what seem to be unanswered prayers as we spoke of Job yesterday.  You may have cried out, or are crying out what Job said, "O, that I know where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat!"  I can tell you that you will, "find," Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit is in His Words.  No one can, "find Him," apart from His Words.  This is why the Church so desperately needed The Reformation, and could greatly use another "one."  Separate Jesus from, "blessings," or "favor," worship, prayer, serving the poor, missions any promise which is ours in the Kingdom, from, "....his delight is in the law of the Lord," and there is no, "....tree planted by the rivers of water."

Today, what is your, "delight ('desire, pleasure, precious') ...in...."?

Father, in Jesus' Name, how I thank You for planting me, through Your Words, "....by the rivers of water."  Amen.

**********************
We have located a place to stay in Berlin.  Any prayers appreciated.

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....But You Do Not Answer"

"I cry out to You, God, but You do not answer; I stand up, but You merely look at Me." (Job 30:20, NIV)

If you have not been here, you are not breathing.

We are having difficulty securing a place to stay in Berlin.  Among other things, we may have to pay more, and security requirements have heightened greatly.  Personally, I don't think that this is an indication of a "change in policy."  I believe it is an indication of "the fight."  Jesus spoke Berlin to my heart many years ago.  Sarah and I lived there for a year.  Berlin's central place in the "prophetic calendar" has not changed.  People who become confused and quit in the battle are those who believe that God's will is a smooth sailing process.  They need to reread Job without cliche glasses!

I recently finished the section of the Bible which tells of David's life.  I also finished the Book of Jeremiah a few days ago.  Both of these men spent the majority of their lives in extreme chaos and suffering.  Whether suffering is of our own making or "providential, it is still suffering and not easy.  The person who is following Jesus does not consider the "source" or the whys of life's battles.  He/she presses on in Jesus, "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also."  I shall never forget the day Jesus spoke this to my heart; it was concerning the decision to live in Berlin for a year.  May the Holy Spirit help me to stay faithful to His Words.

I am in the Book of Job.  The endless speculations of not only Job, but also "the four" is a reminder to you and me that life has few answered questions.  We pray, we ponder, we discuss, we do everything we know to attempt to make some "sense" out of it all, but, alas, silence.  After we pray and pray, worship and worship, read and read, talk and talk--------- silence.  Yet for me there is something comforting, uplifting, blessing in His silence.  One of the greatest things which Jesus' silence says to me is that He is not worried, anxious, frustrated with the not-knowing, the unclearness.  If there are times when Jesus, "....merely look[s] at [you,]" do not fret.  His, "look," is sufficient.

You and I need a fresh "step-out-of-the-boat" faith today.  If we want some sort of "guarantee" of His Words, we will never get it, that is, the kind of guarantees of which the world speaks.  Jesus did not say to Peter, "Now here is how it's going to work.  You see, you just need to," etc.  No.  Jesus' response to Peter's uncertainty was one word, "Come."  The song says it well, and I share it with you.
        "Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
        Jesus, I come!  Jesus, I come!
        Into Thy blessed will to abide,
        Jesus, I come to Thee!"

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Praise Him"

"Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!" (Psalm 150:2)

This is "Memorial Day" in the USA.  I remember when they also used to call it "Decoration Day," for people who went to cemeteries to plant flowers, etc.

The world is free today because there is and has been a United States of America.  Take America out of the picture, and Russia would have extended the Second War by overrunning all of Europe.  No US, and Japan would own the Pacific.  Jesus raised up the US to be the key state in establishing the modern State of Israel.  This is not "national pride" or arrogance.  This is historic fact.  The world owes so much to those Americans who gave their lives to "make the world safe for democracy."

Of course, millions have died around the world and from many nations, who have participated in this battle, and we celebrate them also.  Yet war and hatred still go on; it will never stop until the Trumpet sounds.  Mostly, I "celebrate" Jesus today.  Even those who rail on our Lord Jesus are recipients of the much needed sun and rain which we have, and which keep life on the planet.  All is His doing and sustaining.  Jesus, Savior, shed His Blood for the sin of humanity, the root cause of war, hatred and bigotry. 

There is nothing more to do today than to join in with the psalmist, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord!"

Father, in Jesus' Name, I do praise 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.'"

Hebrews 12:2