Psalm 19, Part 2

"The law of the Lord is perfect...."  (Psalm 19:7)

PERIOD!  I accept this.  Okay, for the religious, I believe this.  My life was saved by this, is being saved by this, and will save me and take me to Glory by this. To give an old movie line a little different spin, "I have a lot of faults, Brad, but ingratitude is not one of them.  I owe, 'The Law of the Lord', a lot"-- my life.

Yesterday we noted, "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.  Day to day pours forth speech and night to night reveals knowledge."  Yet, "There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard."  Apparently, the Holy Spirit is telling us that, "speech," and, "words," cannot do the, "....telling...."

Now, "The Word of God," tells us in the following verses, "The Law (Word).., the testimony.., the precepts..., the commandment.., the judgment[] of the Lord is perfect...."  Words are communication, yet they do not and cannot explain the unfathomable.  Such is, "the glory of God."  My gazing at, "the heavens," does not bring clarity on, "the glory of God," even though, "the heavens declare the glory of God."  The limitation is I myself.  When, "the carpenter's Son," appeared, he did that which only Jesus can do, "The only begotten God Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him"-- and life and what, "the heavens are telling...."

Our text tells us that, "The law (Word) of the Lord is perfect...."  It can be translated, "blameless, complete, sound."  Nature worshippers can gaze at the Sun, Moon, stars, the pantheon of creation and will never "see" nor understand, "....the glory of God....  The only way that you and I can come to any knowledge, appreciation, etc., of His glory is what we read in 2 Corinthians 4.  "Our Gospel is veiled...to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God....For God, Who said, 'Light shall shine out of darkness,' is the One Who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I see no, "glory," apart from Jesus.  In Jesus alone can I see what, "The heavens are telling...."  Amen.

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* More on the Khan debacle at:    jhs58.blogspot.com
* Please pray for the September and October Missions

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

Some Thoughts On Psalm 19-- Part 1

'The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.  Day to day pours forth speech....There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard." (Psalm 19, NASB)

The NIV says, "The heavens declare the glory of God...day after day...."  And we could add, "Day after day," after day after day.  Since, "In the beginning God..., the, "Day after day...," reality has been manifest.  Even man, "....declares the glory of God...."  Look at the human body, a tiny fetus forming, growing and coming forth from the mother.  "God created man in His Own Image...,telling of the glory of God...."

Psalm 19 speaks of glory declared, not with what is commonly thought of as speech and language.  It is inexpressible "speech" and "language."  It is the kind of glory which, when one beholds, is left speechless, as Charles Wesley wrote, "lost in wonder, love, and praise."  Or as Job finally realized after he and his "friends" attempted to comprehend the ways of the Blessed Trinity, revealed in Jesus, "the carpenter's Son," Who rules the Universe, "I am unworthy--how can I reply to You?  I put my hand over my mouth.  I spoke once, but I have no answer, twice, but I will say no more."  Or, "There is no speech, nor are there words...."    

There is mystery, perplexity even, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place...."  I, too, say with David, "....What is a human being that you are mindful of him, I, a son of man, that you care for him?"  But O how thankful I am that You do!  In the vast and endless Universe, You Who are, "from everlasting to everlasting," know me, care for me, love me.  It is enough.  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

"Darkness Covers The Earth...But The Lord Rises Upon You...."

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to...comfort all who mourn,...to bestow on them a crown of beauty...and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair....They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations." (From Isaiah 61:1-4, NIV, July 31 reading in the Major Prophets)

Within the last 24+ hours Sarah and I lost a great friend.  She had supported our work for a number of years, a faithful intercessor, and one upon whom we knew we could rely for prayers.  She always contributed towards our mission work in the US and overseas, a precious lady and a great loss to so many.  There was a sweetness and encouraging gift in her which all who knew her will greatly miss.

The older I get, the more I realize just how fragile is life.  Many of our friends are older than us, and we know that unless the Lord Jesus' Second Appearing is soon, we may say good bye to them, and perhaps they to me.  Don't be an "unrealist" and say, "Wow, that's dark."  There is nothing "dark" about truth.  If there is any people group on the Planet who should be realists, and have the power to walk in reality, it is those who, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes."

Our text speaks of the "work" of our Lord Jesus Christ in the earth, and I so want to be a part of it.  This is declared to the children of Abraham, of whom the Bible declares all who trust Jesus are a part.  We are the bearers of, "good news," to, "all who mourn," and are in, "a spirit of despair."  We declare that no matter what happens in life, we can arise in the power of the Living, Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ and, "....rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated...."  May our Lord Jesus give us all grace to continue in this as long as He wills.

I continue to pray, to pray the Scriptures, "I will pray with my spirit," and, "I will pray with my understanding."  The world is getting to be a darker and darker place.  Yet as the Holy Spirit commands us in the preceding chapter, "Arise, shine, for your light has come....See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that I can walk in These, Your Words, to all around me.  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

"My Shield, Defense," My "Armament"

"My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart." (Psalm 7:10)

The NIV says, "My shield is God Most High...."  The Word for shield means, "defense, buckler, armed."  These are military terms, perhaps because we are in a fight.  This is true on an individual basis, and it is for sure on a national basis.  The World is at war.  I know some of us have been accused of saying this too much, but I can say with absolutely certainty, The United States and Europe are in a crisis mode.

The NASB footnote says, "upon God."  Maybe it is akin to "trust."  But I again highlight the, "Is/Am," which dominates Biblical Theology.  Jesus does not so much "give" us a, "shield," and, "defense," and, "strength," and, "health," and, "peace."  Rather, Jesus Is All of the aforementioned.  Jesus is the, "I Am," of the Universe.  The Godhead appeared to humanity in Jesus.  As Isaiah put it, The Living Triune God said to humanity, "Here I Am."  What glorious reality. 

The CEV says in our text that the Blessed Trinity is also, "....the protector of everyone whose heart is right."  Now, if you do not believe that your heart is, "right," I have a good reminder for you and me today.  Jesus Himself is our, "Right."  There is nothing, absolutely nothing I can do to make myself, "right."  The Bible says this over and over in many different ways, "There is none righteous, no, not one."  While we are all so aware of this, we also are and must be aware of the great promise which came to us from, "The Word of God," by Jeremiah, and fulfilled in Jesus, "'Behold, the days are coming,' says the Lord,' That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.  In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called:
                        THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I continually thank You that You are my, "shield," and, "righteousness." Amen.
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* We really appreciate any prayers for the September and October missions

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

Job's Wife: "Curse God And Die"--Job: Never

"Then his wife said to him, 'Do you still hold fast to your integrity?  Curse God and die!'" (Job2:9, from today's Wisdom Literature reading)

Our text is the response of so many people through the centuries.  It is called "giving up, "throwing in the towel," as when a boxer's corner sees that it is useless, hopeless, even dangerous to continue the fight.  Over 52 years in King Jesus' service in His Church and in His Kingdom, I have seen this far too many times, give up, quit, go back to "Egypt," eyes turning from, "looking unto Jesus," to looking "unto" the abyss of utter despair. 

Below is a video clip which I think I have shared before, but I share it again because of its powerful insight into the Book of Job.  It is from the mini series, "War and Remembrance."  Aaron Jastrow and his niece are in the Tereisenstadt Concentration Camp near Prague, Czechoslovakia.  One of Natalie's friends with whom she has entertained prisoners with puppet shows, is slated to be sent "to the East" with his small child.  Aaron knows that the next day many also will be headed, most likely, to their deaths.  Aaron's "lecture" is the night before next train leaves.

Father, in Jesus' Name, though I cannot fathom Your Ways, I cling to You, need You, love You.  Amen.

CLICK HERE>        https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FwqohkCRylY


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