The rule of desert survival was to live with the desert and not against it, for all desert life is an accommodation to conditions that exist.”
–Louis L’Amour (Taggart)
“Bless the Lord, O my soul… Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.”
–Psalm 103:1,4 (NKJV)
——————————
The presence and promise of the Lord is all we need to face life’s challenges. The first part of Psalm 115 dealt with the futility of idols which we studied last week. Now we see the faithfulness of God in the later portion. As George Wood puts it, “From verse 9 to the conclusion, this psalm calls upon you to deepen your walk with God by depending wholly upon Him.” Trust does not go to idols or individuals, but to God. “In God We Trust” –oh that this nation would go back to this basic truth!
9 — O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.
10 — O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.
11 — You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.
12 — The LORD has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.
13 — He will bless those who fear the LORD, both small and great.
14 — May the LORD give you increase more and more, you and your children.
15 — May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
16 — The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; but the earth He has give to the children of men.
17 — The dead do not praise the LORD, nor any who go down into silence.
18 — But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. (NKJV)
We are called to trust and rely upon the Lord–the One who does as He pleases (vs. 3). Notice, three times the phrase: “He is their help and their shield.” This proclaims God’s protective care over those who put their trust in Him. His shield is His divine protection over us from our enemies. It is not a cliche; it is a proclamation. Dare to trust Him!
God is ever mindful of our needs. Do not be like those who trust in idols, for Jesus tells us, “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8, NKJV) He is good and He cares for His own. I used to wonder how I could ever bless God. How can mere man bless God? We are told to “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!” (Psalm 103:1, NKJV) When He blesses us, we in return should bless Him. How? By praising Him. By not forgetting He forgave our sins and iniquities. By offering something within ourselves in response to His blessing–such as a “living sacrifice.” We bless Him by our actions of obedience, we bless Him when we give gratitude for His deeds to us.
Praise and give Him adoration now, among the living. The dead can no longer praise the Lord. Their voices and hearts have become silent. Now is the day of salvation; now is the time to praise and extol Him. Bless the Lord now and regard His benefits now. Tomorrow may be too late. What do we have to guard against idols today? Most certainly, John writes that we should keep ourselves from idols–the idols of the mind. Those things which give a false representation of God. False teachings, twisted doctrines, compromise with the teachings of the world, these are idols that we face today along with materialism and self-centeredness. “The most important thing about you is what comes into your mind when you think about God.” (A.W. Tozer) That means our thoughts and actions must be based on Scripture, those things that are worthy of Him. Lloyd-Jones says, “A man’s god is that for which he lives, for which he is prepared to give his time, his energy, his money, that which stimulates him and rouses him, excites and enthuses him.” Yes, be careful for there are plenty of idols in the world today. Our obligation is to bless the Lord–forevermore.
“Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord;
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by thy word.”
–Isaac Watts
Month: April 2024
Coffee Percs
You’re welcome at anytime, for no other reason than a cup of coffee and a little conversation.”
–Lou Bradshaw (Hickory Jack)
Greetin’ to yuh, Pard. Glad yuh stopped by. Coffee’s hot, strong, and ready for yuh to guzzle. Been doin’ plenty of contemplatin’ this week. Thoughts just seem to float through my mind, and sometimes they zip and I cain’t quite get holt of them. Lot’s of disturbin’ things happenin’ in the world; reckon they’ll continue as long as the Lord tarries His comin’. Boy, howdy, won’t that be a day!
Was readin’ some this past week. Once in a while I glean something; not much to chew on, but I do move it ’round some on my molars. Saw where our “distinguished” President is goin’ to sign some of our rights over to WHO. Seems like that pandemic of the virus still resonates in his mind, if that’s possible. This little deal gives the director-general of WHO the “power to declare a public emergency in any member nation–even over the objections of a member nation.” Whooeee, think of all the possibilities. But we know, the whole thing’s about power. The implications are staggerin’ though. Don’t wear a mask–yur a danger. Don’t get a shot–yur a threat and could be thought of as a domestic and international terrorist. My, and the scenarios continue. Best be ready, Pard. The days of evil are just beginnin’; we need to be prayin’ that last prayer in Revelation, “Even so, Lord Jesus, come.”
Pard, this ol’ boy could declare that my coffee is a danger to yur health. Goodness, the thought is unnervin’ almost. Too strong, yuh have to weaken it. Need to add some sweetin’ to make yur gizzard happy and tolerable. Make cinos, not strong coffee. Whooee, think of all that could take place. Best enjoy this brew whilst we got the chance for yuh never know. Why the ol’ buzzard could declare that the batch of coffee beans contain some kind of parasite–one that makes yuh sit up straight and take notice and not cowtail to his power. Enjoy Pard, I don’t even mind yur slurpin’.
Whilst yur doin’ that, I’ll pour another cup then share a story. This comes from an ol’ preacher-man and it’s about an ol’ cowboy hat. He said that backslidin’ is like this: Yuh can sit down on yur hat once and straighten it right up. But keep on sittin’ on it, an’ the more yuh do it, the less likely yur to gettin’ it back into proper shape ever again. He’s right, it takes work to keep yur hat fit and proper lookin’. Mess it up, an’ well, yuh understand what I’m a-sayin’. People who were once sold out taste a little of the world, hmmm, sorta like sippin’ a cino if that’s possible, now put a little smudge on their hat. Oh, they can still wear it, but it’s sullied up some, and sits on yur head a little lopsided. One side is bent over, yet yur proclaimin’ that it’s still a good fit. The ol’ boy finished his message with this: “It’s time for you and I to keep alive a Godly fear and carefulness in our daily Christian walk.”
Hear me, Pard, yuh right tall in the saddle. Don’t take no guff from ol’ slewfoot, and be wary and watchful of the trail. Remember, sittin’ on yur hat is ’bout the same as not checkin’ yur cinch. One makes yuh look silly, the other might give yuh a knot on yur noggin’. Keep yur gun oiled and Bible handy.
Vaya con Dios.
Echoes From the Campfire
This is the road I must travel, so travel it I will.”
–Chris Bennett (Road to the Breaking)
“Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”
“Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”
–Psalm 37:5 (NKJV)
———————————-
“God! God! God! Best defined when undefined; a Fire that may not be touched;
a Life too great for shape of image; a Love for which there is no equal name. Who
is He? God! What is He? God! Of whom begotten? God! He is at once the question
and the answer, the self-balance, the All.”
–Joseph Parker
The Oxford Dictionary defines omniscient: “knowing everything.” Merriam-Webster adds a little more to the definition: “having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight; possessed of universal or complete knowledge.” Omniscient is something that we can know the meaning of but cannot fully comprehend or understand.
There is nothing hidden from God. He knows everything about everything and everybody all the time. He knows everything: everything possible, everything actual. Think on that thought for a moment. Some people have the idea that God changes His mind. If He did so, then He is not omniscient. That means He made a mistake if He has to change His mind. It is something we cannot grasp. God does not, cannot change His mind, however, He does change His actions. He said He was going to destroy, then Moses interceded and He did not. This does not mean He changed His mind, but changed His actions. Since His knowledge is perfect, He never errs, never changes, never overlooks anything.
God knows all events and all creatures of the past, the present, and the future. He knows the possible events that never happened no less than the actual events that do. Try to grasp that! I heard recently that God may allow a person to die in order for his soul to be saved. Could it be that He knows the course of the person’s life should he live? Of course…oh, my feeble mind. God is perfectly acquainted with every detail in the life of every being in heaven, in earth, and in hell.
This knowledge is ever before Him. He does not have to access the information or retrieve a file. His knowledge is always immediately and ever and directly before His mind. E.S. Williams states, “God knows the past, the present, and the future as one eternal now.” No wonder David cried, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.” (Psalm 139:6, NKJV) And let’s remember the definition of “wonderful” — awesome, mysterious, unique. The HCSB translates it this way, “This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.”
Daniel declares, “He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.” (2:22, NKJV) Nothing escapes His notice. When we walk in the darkest of nights He will not stub His toe because of something unseen, something He does not know about. Nothing is hidden from Him, every snare, every obstacle, every rut that may be there and He knows the way so well that He nothing is ever forgotten by Him.
This is an attribute of God that we tend to put aside for we do not like to meditate upon it for it makes us uneasy. Look at the words of David again, “You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.” (Psalm 139:2-4, NKJV) Nothing can be concealed from God. Man would strip God of His omniscience and the wicked seek to banish God from their thoughts–all to no avail. The Prophet Ezekiel says, “I know the things that come into your mind.” (11:5) Hosea reminds us, “They do not consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness; now their own deeds have surrounded them; they are before My face.” (7:2, NKJV)
“To the Christian believer, knowledge of God’s omniscience brings the assurance that he has not been forgotten, but is being and will be cared for according to God’s promise.” (J.I. Packer) For the believer it should be an encouragement to prayer knowing that God pays attention. His knowledge of the future is as complete as His knowledge of the past and remember, the future depends on Him. We read in Acts, “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning.” (15:18)
J.I. Packer wrote, “A God whose presence and scrutiny I could evade would be a small and trivial deity. But the true God is great and terrible, just because He is always with me and His eye is always upon me. Living becomes an awesome business when you realize that you spend every moment of your life in the sight and company of an omniscient, omnipresent Creator.” And in this high tech world in which we live; remember–God does not need instant replays.
Therefore, we need to learn to trust Him. In the midst of suffering, when we have to make decisions, when we need direction for our life. Know that He knows! “Job cried, “But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” (23:10) Trust Him for He knows each thought and each step that you take or might take. He knows the way of the righteous (Psalm 1:6; Psalm 37:18) To trust Him comes from knowing Him. Get in the Word, know the God in whom you serve. Praise Him for His greatness and His unsearchable ways. “When we observe the greatness of God’s knowledge, it brings out our needs–needs for honesty, acceptance, and trust.” (David L. Hocking).
(taken from my notes developed for a course: “Knowing God.” Much of the material used was from J.I. Packer, Joseph Parker, Arthur Pink, and E.S. Williams).
———————————-
“God! God! God! Best defined when undefined; a Fire that may not be touched;
a Life too great for shape of image; a Love for which there is no equal name. Who
is He? God! What is He? God! Of whom begotten? God! He is at once the question
and the answer, the self-balance, the All.”
–Joseph Parker
The Oxford Dictionary defines omniscient: “knowing everything.” Merriam-Webster adds a little more to the definition: “having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight; possessed of universal or complete knowledge.” Omniscient is something that we can know the meaning of but cannot fully comprehend or understand.
There is nothing hidden from God. He knows everything about everything and everybody all the time. He knows everything: everything possible, everything actual. Think on that thought for a moment. Some people have the idea that God changes His mind. If He did so, then He is not omniscient. That means He made a mistake if He has to change His mind. It is something we cannot grasp. God does not, cannot change His mind, however, He does change His actions. He said He was going to destroy, then Moses interceded and He did not. This does not mean He changed His mind, but changed His actions. Since His knowledge is perfect, He never errs, never changes, never overlooks anything.
God knows all events and all creatures of the past, the present, and the future. He knows the possible events that never happened no less than the actual events that do. Try to grasp that! I heard recently that God may allow a person to die in order for his soul to be saved. Could it be that He knows the course of the person’s life should he live? Of course…oh, my feeble mind. God is perfectly acquainted with every detail in the life of every being in heaven, in earth, and in hell.
This knowledge is ever before Him. He does not have to access the information or retrieve a file. His knowledge is always immediately and ever and directly before His mind. E.S. Williams states, “God knows the past, the present, and the future as one eternal now.” No wonder David cried, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.” (Psalm 139:6, NKJV) And let’s remember the definition of “wonderful” — awesome, mysterious, unique. The HCSB translates it this way, “This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.”
Daniel declares, “He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.” (2:22, NKJV) Nothing escapes His notice. When we walk in the darkest of nights He will not stub His toe because of something unseen, something He does not know about. Nothing is hidden from Him, every snare, every obstacle, every rut that may be there and He knows the way so well that He nothing is ever forgotten by Him.
This is an attribute of God that we tend to put aside for we do not like to meditate upon it for it makes us uneasy. Look at the words of David again, “You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.” (Psalm 139:2-4, NKJV) Nothing can be concealed from God. Man would strip God of His omniscience and the wicked seek to banish God from their thoughts–all to no avail. The Prophet Ezekiel says, “I know the things that come into your mind.” (11:5) Hosea reminds us, “They do not consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness; now their own deeds have surrounded them; they are before My face.” (7:2, NKJV)
“To the Christian believer, knowledge of God’s omniscience brings the assurance that he has not been forgotten, but is being and will be cared for according to God’s promise.” (J.I. Packer) For the believer it should be an encouragement to prayer knowing that God pays attention. His knowledge of the future is as complete as His knowledge of the past and remember, the future depends on Him. We read in Acts, “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning.” (15:18)
J.I. Packer wrote, “A God whose presence and scrutiny I could evade would be a small and trivial deity. But the true God is great and terrible, just because He is always with me and His eye is always upon me. Living becomes an awesome business when you realize that you spend every moment of your life in the sight and company of an omniscient, omnipresent Creator.” And in this high tech world in which we live; remember–God does not need instant replays.
Therefore, we need to learn to trust Him. In the midst of suffering, when we have to make decisions, when we need direction for our life. Know that He knows! “Job cried, “But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” (23:10) Trust Him for He knows each thought and each step that you take or might take. He knows the way of the righteous (Psalm 1:6; Psalm 37:18) To trust Him comes from knowing Him. Get in the Word, know the God in whom you serve. Praise Him for His greatness and His unsearchable ways. “When we observe the greatness of God’s knowledge, it brings out our needs–needs for honesty, acceptance, and trust.” (David L. Hocking).
(taken from my notes developed for a course: “Knowing God.” Much of the material used was from J.I. Packer, Joseph Parker, Arthur Pink, and E.S. Williams).
Echoes From the Campfire
See what your lookin’ at…and look at what you are seein’.”
–Lou Bradshaw (and Cain Smiled)
“Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are… Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”
“Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are… Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”
–Genesis 13:14, 17 (NKJV)
———————————-
One thing the Bible does is to give ample warning. God tells us to redeem the time, to look up for our redemption is near. He warns us against the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. He warns us of the coming judgment and that now is the day of salvation. By looking at the lives of those in the Bible we can see how they either obeyed God’s warnings or ignored them. Noah obeyed and was saved; Saul was disobedient and did not heed the Word of the Lord and died in shame. Demas left Paul, however, Paul knew that there was a crown of righteousness waiting for him. Take a look at a man that is a conundrum–Lot.
We can learn a lot from the lives of Abraham and Lot. It is clear that Abraham wanted nothing more than to serve the Lord. However, his nephew seemed to cast his eyes on the material things of life. Abraham took Lot with him when he left Ur, but now Lot was becoming uneasy and quarrelsome. Wiersbe states, “The heart of every problem is the problem in the heart. Lot’s heart was centered on wealth and worldly achievement.” We see with these two men the truth of Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
Finally, there came a break and Abraham let Lot choose which way he would go and Abraham would take the other course. Here we see the heart of Lot, “And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar…. Abraham dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.” (Genesis 13:10, 12-13, NKJV)
At this point in his life, at least, Lot was not devoted to the Lord. Note that term, “he pitched his tent.” He leaned toward Sodom and what it had to offer. He looked at the wealth and the possibilities, not at the wickedness and evil. He saw what he could gain, not what could happen. Yet, Peter tells us that Lot was righteous. There was something in Lot that must have caused him to turn his heart. He was well entrenched in the city for he was at the gate which speaks of leadership. The teachings of God must have taken root; the witness of Abraham’s life, must have lingered in his mind. “[He] delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for the righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)–then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations…” (2 Peter 2:7-9, NKJV)
When Lot separated from Abraham, I would ask, was he righteous? “The eyes see what the heart loves. Abraham had taken Lot out of Egypt, but he could not take Egypt out of Lot. Outlook helps to determine outcome… Lot’s eyes were on the sinful cities of men, and he went on to worldly success, spiritual failure, and a shameful end.” (Warren W. Wiersbe) Even when the angels came, he lingered. “And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought them out and set him outside the city.” (Genesis 19:16, NKJV) Lingering, Lot had to be “propelled from his home by physical force.” (NKJV Study Bible) The angels actually had to seize him (“took hold”) to take him from the city. This shows the power of evil and the hold it can have over people.
Notice a couple of contrasts besides what we have already seen. Lot and Abraham both pitched their tents, the difference was when Abraham pitched his tent he also built an altar. “Instead of lifting up his eyes to heaven, Lot lifted up his eyes to the plain of Jordan.” (Wiersbe) Abraham looked to the “child of promise,” while Lot was willing to give his daughters to the men of the city to use for their lusts. We do not see where Lot was ever thankful, or where he ever praised the Lord. Then, more depravity in the life of Lot, his daughters get him drunk and seduce him. (Genesis 19:30-35) It seems that his daughters were following the way that they had learned in Sodom. “Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father.” (Genesis 19:36, NKJV) Lot lost a family in Sodom which carried over to the evil of his daughters and himself. Moab and Ben-Ammi (Ammon) were born to Lot; people who became troublesome to the people of Israel.
Yet…Lot was righteous??? There had to be something in his heart. We do not see him praising God or thanking God or trusting God. Yet, he was deemed righteous. There is great mercy and grace that flows from God, there must have been a spark of faith in Lot’s heart. He hated the evil of the city, but could not leave it. Can a person be so caught up in evil that he cannot break the chains? Only God…only God can bring about a new heart, a new creation. F.B. Meyer puts it this way, “Lot was saved from Sodom, but took Sodom with him. He was saved so as by fire, but his life-work was burnt up.”
———————————-
One thing the Bible does is to give ample warning. God tells us to redeem the time, to look up for our redemption is near. He warns us against the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. He warns us of the coming judgment and that now is the day of salvation. By looking at the lives of those in the Bible we can see how they either obeyed God’s warnings or ignored them. Noah obeyed and was saved; Saul was disobedient and did not heed the Word of the Lord and died in shame. Demas left Paul, however, Paul knew that there was a crown of righteousness waiting for him. Take a look at a man that is a conundrum–Lot.
We can learn a lot from the lives of Abraham and Lot. It is clear that Abraham wanted nothing more than to serve the Lord. However, his nephew seemed to cast his eyes on the material things of life. Abraham took Lot with him when he left Ur, but now Lot was becoming uneasy and quarrelsome. Wiersbe states, “The heart of every problem is the problem in the heart. Lot’s heart was centered on wealth and worldly achievement.” We see with these two men the truth of Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
Finally, there came a break and Abraham let Lot choose which way he would go and Abraham would take the other course. Here we see the heart of Lot, “And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar…. Abraham dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.” (Genesis 13:10, 12-13, NKJV)
At this point in his life, at least, Lot was not devoted to the Lord. Note that term, “he pitched his tent.” He leaned toward Sodom and what it had to offer. He looked at the wealth and the possibilities, not at the wickedness and evil. He saw what he could gain, not what could happen. Yet, Peter tells us that Lot was righteous. There was something in Lot that must have caused him to turn his heart. He was well entrenched in the city for he was at the gate which speaks of leadership. The teachings of God must have taken root; the witness of Abraham’s life, must have lingered in his mind. “[He] delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for the righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)–then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations…” (2 Peter 2:7-9, NKJV)
When Lot separated from Abraham, I would ask, was he righteous? “The eyes see what the heart loves. Abraham had taken Lot out of Egypt, but he could not take Egypt out of Lot. Outlook helps to determine outcome… Lot’s eyes were on the sinful cities of men, and he went on to worldly success, spiritual failure, and a shameful end.” (Warren W. Wiersbe) Even when the angels came, he lingered. “And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought them out and set him outside the city.” (Genesis 19:16, NKJV) Lingering, Lot had to be “propelled from his home by physical force.” (NKJV Study Bible) The angels actually had to seize him (“took hold”) to take him from the city. This shows the power of evil and the hold it can have over people.
Notice a couple of contrasts besides what we have already seen. Lot and Abraham both pitched their tents, the difference was when Abraham pitched his tent he also built an altar. “Instead of lifting up his eyes to heaven, Lot lifted up his eyes to the plain of Jordan.” (Wiersbe) Abraham looked to the “child of promise,” while Lot was willing to give his daughters to the men of the city to use for their lusts. We do not see where Lot was ever thankful, or where he ever praised the Lord. Then, more depravity in the life of Lot, his daughters get him drunk and seduce him. (Genesis 19:30-35) It seems that his daughters were following the way that they had learned in Sodom. “Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father.” (Genesis 19:36, NKJV) Lot lost a family in Sodom which carried over to the evil of his daughters and himself. Moab and Ben-Ammi (Ammon) were born to Lot; people who became troublesome to the people of Israel.
Yet…Lot was righteous??? There had to be something in his heart. We do not see him praising God or thanking God or trusting God. Yet, he was deemed righteous. There is great mercy and grace that flows from God, there must have been a spark of faith in Lot’s heart. He hated the evil of the city, but could not leave it. Can a person be so caught up in evil that he cannot break the chains? Only God…only God can bring about a new heart, a new creation. F.B. Meyer puts it this way, “Lot was saved from Sodom, but took Sodom with him. He was saved so as by fire, but his life-work was burnt up.”