I take very seriously the preference of men with many scars.”
–John Deacon (A Man Called Justice)
“He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.”
–Psalm 147: 3 (NKJV)
——————–
I was reading the other day and within the material was the idea of “scars.” It reminded me of one of my best friends growing up who had scars on the side of his face. One day I asked him, “Tommy, how did you get those scars?” Deadpanned, he replied, “While sledding, a barb-wire fence jumped out at me.”
Everyone carries some kind of scars. Some more pronounced, some hidden. Many carry physical scars while others bear hidden ones. The number varies as well. In my book, “Winter of the Wolves,” Miles Forrest remarked, “Scars also remind me that a person cannot run from life.” Then I thought of the words I read recently from Mike Allred, “Maybe life isn’t about avoiding the bruises. Maybe it’s about collecting the scars to prove you showed up for it!”
True, often scars are the result of the lack of common sense, or even sheer stupidity. As David wrote, “My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness.” (Psalm 38:5, ESV) Take a look in the mirror, glance at your scars, including those etched and marked on the soul. How many came from the lack of good sense? Perhaps we need to think like Greg S. Baker, “He studied the scars, old friends that sometimes reminded him of things best forgotten”; and hopefully lessons learned.
Dave Roever, a man well acquainted with scars, asks a poignant question, “Can He trust you with your scars?” That brings me back to what I was reading.
“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him… Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip…the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.” –Genesis 32:24-25, 31,32, NKJV
Not only did Jacob have a spiritual experience, but for the rest of his life he walked with a limp. God’s touch caused pain. (Ponder that!) “Like Jacob, like all of us who limp along in this life, wounded within or without, we are called to be stewards of our scars. It is a sacred duty.” (Chad Bird)
Stewards of scars! Imagine that; something I had never considered before. God should be able to trust us as good stewards of anything that belongs to the Master. Chad Bird explains, “Stewards do not own that for which they are responsible. They are called to faithfully manage what another has given them. God owns our scars; we steward them.” The Vietnam veteran Dave Roever reminds us, “The scars are only temporary signs of a worldly battle.” Paul wrote, “I carry on my scarred body the marks of my owner, the Lord Jesus.” (Galatians 6:17, Phillips)
Scars are also valuable in identification. “Any identifying scars?” may be on a questionnaire for employment or used by law enforcement to aid in apprehending a criminal. Scars identify battles which were fought and bonds that were forged. As Shakespeare penned the words spoken by Henry V:
“He that shall live this day, and see old age, will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours, and say, ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian’: then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars. And say ‘These wounds I had on Crispin’s day’…. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother…”
Perhaps there is more to the words preached by the Chaplain of the Senate, Peter Marshall when he said, “When we eventually reach the goal to which we are all striving, God will look us over, not for diplomas, but for scars.” As the now deceased missionary Charles Greenaway used to say, “we’re going to make it. We may not look like much when we enter the gates of heaven, but we’re going to make it.”
I would be remiss if I did not mention the Man of Sorrows who caused Thomas to cry out in anguish, “My Lord and my God!” Remember what Thomas said, “Unless I see in His hands the prints of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25, NKJV) Scars–proof. Scars–battle. Scars–stewardship. Scars–identity. There is one stanza of Edward Shillito’s poem, “Jesus of the Scars”, I want to share:
“The heavens frighten us; they are too calm;
In all the universe we have no place.
Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm?
Lord Jesus, by thy scars we know thy grace.”
Alexander Maclaren tells us, “The wounds can all be healed, for the Good Physician has lancets and bandages, and balm and anodynes for the deadliest; but scars remain even when the gash is closed.” Thus the question remains–“Can He trust you with your scars?” “It is a sacred duty!”
Echoes from the Campfire
Echoes From the Campfire
Young’uns have to learn by experience. All you can do is try to teach ’em and hope them survive.”
–Donald L. Robertson (Five Women and the Star)
“…These men oppose the truth–men of depraved minds… But they will not get very far because…their folly will be clear to everyone.”
–2 Timothy 3:8, 9 (NIV)
——————————
Proverbs 2:6-9
6 — For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; (NKJV)
7 — He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; (NKJV)
He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, (NIV)
8 — He guards the path of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. (NKJV)
for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. (NIV)
9 — Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. (NKJV)
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair–every good path. (NIV)
“We’re lost, but we’re making good time,” so go the words of the song written by Clifton Jansky. You may be driving a Rolls Royce, going full speed, but if you’re not on the right road going in the right direction all is for naught–you’ll never reach your destination. Somewhere along the road you missed a sign and took the wrong fork in the road. Only through Christ, and follow His directions can one make it to glory, all other roads lead to perdition.
Two notes from verse 6. The term “wisdom” may be translated and mean, “abiding success,” or “victory.” To have victory or success in this life it is imperative to listen to the Word of the Lord. By success I am speaking of it in an spiritual sense, in the light of eternity. Some versions translate from His mouth come “principles of practical godliness.” We live in a day of fast food and chaotic lifestyles. Hurry, hurry, scurry and we wonder why we wear ourselves out. “It’s no wonder fewer and fewer people ‘take time to be holy” and more and more people fall prey to the enemies that lurk along the way.” (Warren Wiersbe) God will keep His promise and protect us from the enemy, but we must do our part. We must follow and obey His Word; love and obey His commandments; and make sure to take the right fork in the road.
It is up to us, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to “walk uprightly.” This may be translated as “to be walkers of innocence.” It is the Word of God that preserves the way of the saints; it helps to keep us on the right road and going in the right direction. We must discipline ourselves to look and study the Word for it is a “light unto our steps, and a lamp unto our paths”. (Psalm 119:105) Look around and you will notice that H.A. Ironside is right as he points out that, “diligent Bible study is on the wane.” Should we then be surprised at those that stumble, at those who lose their way, at those who take the wrong fork in the road?
I hate to drive in dense fog. Several years ago, Annie and I were driving to Pittsburgh and around Zanesville, Ohio we hit heavy fog. I could barely see the front of the car. I was doing my best to stay on the road and found that I could follow the red lights of a truck in front of me. I knew that if the truck pulled off and went into a garage that I would be right behind it. J. Vernon McGee says that is the plight of many today, “Many Christians are out in the fog today; they wonder where to turn.” What lights do they follow? Where will they take them? In the last days there will appear vain talkers and deceivers, people with depraved minds. The shame of it is that many of these are the lights we follow through the fog. Woe unto us, when we allow ungodly men and women to lead us. We have the truth, but the important thing is that the truth holds us. (McGee) Charles Bridges so aptly pointed out during his life and it is much more apparent today, “Never has apostasy from the faith been connected with prayerful and diligent study of the Word of God.” It is not always sunshine nor an easy road to travel.
In this day we need people who understand, who listen to wisdom, who follow the right path. “There’s a price to pay if we would gain spiritual wisdom, but there’s an even greater price to pay if we don’t gain it.” (Wiersbe) There is a right way for saints to walk in, but we must beware of the trap of antinomianism. We must develop “the habit of living in the element of Scripture.” (Charles Bridges) This is the way to live, to walk.
Are you living in the truth, practicing it to the best of your ability? Thomas Chalmers said, “The righteousness of our conduct contributes to the enlightenment of our creed.” Want to know more, study the Scriptures, then practice what you have studied. God will keep us and protect our way. He will show us the right way, the good path. Know this, that “He walks uprightly who lives with the fear of God as his principle, and the Word of God as his rule, and the glory of God as his end.” (Ralph Wardlaw)
“…These men oppose the truth–men of depraved minds… But they will not get very far because…their folly will be clear to everyone.”
–2 Timothy 3:8, 9 (NIV)
——————————
Proverbs 2:6-9
6 — For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; (NKJV)
7 — He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; (NKJV)
He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, (NIV)
8 — He guards the path of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. (NKJV)
for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. (NIV)
9 — Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. (NKJV)
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair–every good path. (NIV)
“We’re lost, but we’re making good time,” so go the words of the song written by Clifton Jansky. You may be driving a Rolls Royce, going full speed, but if you’re not on the right road going in the right direction all is for naught–you’ll never reach your destination. Somewhere along the road you missed a sign and took the wrong fork in the road. Only through Christ, and follow His directions can one make it to glory, all other roads lead to perdition.
Two notes from verse 6. The term “wisdom” may be translated and mean, “abiding success,” or “victory.” To have victory or success in this life it is imperative to listen to the Word of the Lord. By success I am speaking of it in an spiritual sense, in the light of eternity. Some versions translate from His mouth come “principles of practical godliness.” We live in a day of fast food and chaotic lifestyles. Hurry, hurry, scurry and we wonder why we wear ourselves out. “It’s no wonder fewer and fewer people ‘take time to be holy” and more and more people fall prey to the enemies that lurk along the way.” (Warren Wiersbe) God will keep His promise and protect us from the enemy, but we must do our part. We must follow and obey His Word; love and obey His commandments; and make sure to take the right fork in the road.
It is up to us, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to “walk uprightly.” This may be translated as “to be walkers of innocence.” It is the Word of God that preserves the way of the saints; it helps to keep us on the right road and going in the right direction. We must discipline ourselves to look and study the Word for it is a “light unto our steps, and a lamp unto our paths”. (Psalm 119:105) Look around and you will notice that H.A. Ironside is right as he points out that, “diligent Bible study is on the wane.” Should we then be surprised at those that stumble, at those who lose their way, at those who take the wrong fork in the road?
I hate to drive in dense fog. Several years ago, Annie and I were driving to Pittsburgh and around Zanesville, Ohio we hit heavy fog. I could barely see the front of the car. I was doing my best to stay on the road and found that I could follow the red lights of a truck in front of me. I knew that if the truck pulled off and went into a garage that I would be right behind it. J. Vernon McGee says that is the plight of many today, “Many Christians are out in the fog today; they wonder where to turn.” What lights do they follow? Where will they take them? In the last days there will appear vain talkers and deceivers, people with depraved minds. The shame of it is that many of these are the lights we follow through the fog. Woe unto us, when we allow ungodly men and women to lead us. We have the truth, but the important thing is that the truth holds us. (McGee) Charles Bridges so aptly pointed out during his life and it is much more apparent today, “Never has apostasy from the faith been connected with prayerful and diligent study of the Word of God.” It is not always sunshine nor an easy road to travel.
In this day we need people who understand, who listen to wisdom, who follow the right path. “There’s a price to pay if we would gain spiritual wisdom, but there’s an even greater price to pay if we don’t gain it.” (Wiersbe) There is a right way for saints to walk in, but we must beware of the trap of antinomianism. We must develop “the habit of living in the element of Scripture.” (Charles Bridges) This is the way to live, to walk.
Are you living in the truth, practicing it to the best of your ability? Thomas Chalmers said, “The righteousness of our conduct contributes to the enlightenment of our creed.” Want to know more, study the Scriptures, then practice what you have studied. God will keep us and protect our way. He will show us the right way, the good path. Know this, that “He walks uprightly who lives with the fear of God as his principle, and the Word of God as his rule, and the glory of God as his end.” (Ralph Wardlaw)
Echoes From the Campfire
The law cannot be bent and retain her legitimacy.”
–A.K. Vyas (Dodge City)
“We know, of course, that the Law is good in itself and has a legitimate function. Yet we also know that the Law is not really meant for the good man, but for the man who has neither principles nor self-control, for the man who is really wicked, who has neither scruples nor reverence…”
–1 Timothy 1:8-9 (Phillips)
——————————-
You wouldn’t see Amos driving about Samaria with a bumper-sticker on the back of his chariot reading, “Smile, God loves you.” (Cohen) True, God loves each one of us enough to call us to repentance. Following this warning, Amos will then have several visions that he will declare to the people, but first we must look at the second half of chapter six.
8 — The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself, the LORD God of hosts says: “I abhor the pride of Jacob, and hate his palaces; therefore I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.”
9 — Then it shall come to pass, that if ten men remain in one house, they shall die.
10 — And when a relative of the dead, with one who will burn the bodies, picks up the bodies to take them out of the house, he will say to one inside the house, “Are there any more with you?” Then someone will say, “None.” And he will say, “Hold your tongue! For we dare not mention the name of the LORD.”
11 — For behold the LORD gives a command: He will break the great house into bits, and the little house into pieces. (NKJV)
Right at the start, we see a solemn, divine oath. God swears by Himself and there is no higher authority. This oath “puts the sentence past revocation.” (Matthew Henry) God’s message to those in arrogance is that lowliness is coming. He tells them that pride leads to collapse. God does not approve of people just the way they are, be they rich or poor. Amos’ message was to a sinful, prideful generation.
Because of their sin, God says, “He abhors the pride of Jacob” meaning the land, the Promised Land. The people boasted of their security, wealth, and luxury. Jesus proclaimed, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15, NKJV) Lloyd Ogilvie explains, “Like a deadly cancer, pride ate away at the soul of God’s people. Pride motivated their defection from Him.”
Death is on the way. If not by the hand of the Assyrians, then by a pestilence that follows. Even in burial, there would not be the name of God mentioned. They know the pestilence is from God and they do not want to risk getting God’s further attention. “People who had not believed that God would come in judgment would now be afraid of what further disaster He might bring upon them.” (NKJV Study Bible) Matthew Henry puts it this way, “The foolishness of men perverts their way, and brings them into distress, and then their heart frets against the Lord.”
12 — Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood.
13 — You who rejoice over Lo Debar, who say, “Have we not taken Karnaim for ourselves by our own strength?”
14 — “But, behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel,” says the LORD God of hosts; “and they will afflict you from the entrance of Hamath to the Valley of the Arabah.” (NKJV)
Destruction is coming. The luxurious and elegant houses would soon be nothing but ashes. “They had perverted just judgment into the bitterness of gall, a thing obnoxious and to be despised, and had twisted the fruit of righteousness into hemlock, moral, ethical, and spiritual poison.” (Albert Garner) What seems to be foolish questions by Amos is exactly what the people had done–acted foolishly. “The pure fruit of just had been made into poison.” (Peter C. Craigie) Look at what the people have done to justice and Amos declares that the Lord will no longer put up with it. Ogilvie says that it is “folly and obdurate stupidity to go against what God has commanded.” Foolishness, lack of common sense, and arrogance have been the character of the people. What the people have done just didn’t make sense. (hmm, look at the conditions in Los Angeles before the fire–ponder). The people have mocked true justice. “The people deranged God’s order and went contrary to His design for humankind.” (Ogilvie) Is this not what we see in our nation today with the deconstruction of foundational ideas and values? Instead of justice there is chaos and absurdity. “If pride leads to arrogance…stupidity is not far behind.” (Ogilvie)
Warren Wierbe declares that, “Humble dependence on God is the only guarantee of His help and blessing.” That certainly wasn’t the mindset in Israel. Amos warns, “Behold, I will bring a nation against you [Assyria]” The Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed, later using the same words, “Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar [Chaldea].” (5:15, NKJV) Israel functioned as if God was no longer in control. With growing apostasy in the country they no longer took Him seriously and were on the threshold of losing their existence and identity. “Boastful arrogance was changed into baneful anguish.” (Wiersbe)
It would do us good as a nation and as individuals to check our attitude and our humility before the Lord. He desires, no, He requires a righteous people. H. A. Ironside said, “‘The righteous Lord loveth righteousness,’ and will not connect His name with what is contrary to it.”
——————————-
You wouldn’t see Amos driving about Samaria with a bumper-sticker on the back of his chariot reading, “Smile, God loves you.” (Cohen) True, God loves each one of us enough to call us to repentance. Following this warning, Amos will then have several visions that he will declare to the people, but first we must look at the second half of chapter six.
8 — The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself, the LORD God of hosts says: “I abhor the pride of Jacob, and hate his palaces; therefore I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.”
9 — Then it shall come to pass, that if ten men remain in one house, they shall die.
10 — And when a relative of the dead, with one who will burn the bodies, picks up the bodies to take them out of the house, he will say to one inside the house, “Are there any more with you?” Then someone will say, “None.” And he will say, “Hold your tongue! For we dare not mention the name of the LORD.”
11 — For behold the LORD gives a command: He will break the great house into bits, and the little house into pieces. (NKJV)
Right at the start, we see a solemn, divine oath. God swears by Himself and there is no higher authority. This oath “puts the sentence past revocation.” (Matthew Henry) God’s message to those in arrogance is that lowliness is coming. He tells them that pride leads to collapse. God does not approve of people just the way they are, be they rich or poor. Amos’ message was to a sinful, prideful generation.
Because of their sin, God says, “He abhors the pride of Jacob” meaning the land, the Promised Land. The people boasted of their security, wealth, and luxury. Jesus proclaimed, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15, NKJV) Lloyd Ogilvie explains, “Like a deadly cancer, pride ate away at the soul of God’s people. Pride motivated their defection from Him.”
Death is on the way. If not by the hand of the Assyrians, then by a pestilence that follows. Even in burial, there would not be the name of God mentioned. They know the pestilence is from God and they do not want to risk getting God’s further attention. “People who had not believed that God would come in judgment would now be afraid of what further disaster He might bring upon them.” (NKJV Study Bible) Matthew Henry puts it this way, “The foolishness of men perverts their way, and brings them into distress, and then their heart frets against the Lord.”
12 — Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood.
13 — You who rejoice over Lo Debar, who say, “Have we not taken Karnaim for ourselves by our own strength?”
14 — “But, behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel,” says the LORD God of hosts; “and they will afflict you from the entrance of Hamath to the Valley of the Arabah.” (NKJV)
Destruction is coming. The luxurious and elegant houses would soon be nothing but ashes. “They had perverted just judgment into the bitterness of gall, a thing obnoxious and to be despised, and had twisted the fruit of righteousness into hemlock, moral, ethical, and spiritual poison.” (Albert Garner) What seems to be foolish questions by Amos is exactly what the people had done–acted foolishly. “The pure fruit of just had been made into poison.” (Peter C. Craigie) Look at what the people have done to justice and Amos declares that the Lord will no longer put up with it. Ogilvie says that it is “folly and obdurate stupidity to go against what God has commanded.” Foolishness, lack of common sense, and arrogance have been the character of the people. What the people have done just didn’t make sense. (hmm, look at the conditions in Los Angeles before the fire–ponder). The people have mocked true justice. “The people deranged God’s order and went contrary to His design for humankind.” (Ogilvie) Is this not what we see in our nation today with the deconstruction of foundational ideas and values? Instead of justice there is chaos and absurdity. “If pride leads to arrogance…stupidity is not far behind.” (Ogilvie)
Warren Wierbe declares that, “Humble dependence on God is the only guarantee of His help and blessing.” That certainly wasn’t the mindset in Israel. Amos warns, “Behold, I will bring a nation against you [Assyria]” The Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed, later using the same words, “Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar [Chaldea].” (5:15, NKJV) Israel functioned as if God was no longer in control. With growing apostasy in the country they no longer took Him seriously and were on the threshold of losing their existence and identity. “Boastful arrogance was changed into baneful anguish.” (Wiersbe)
It would do us good as a nation and as individuals to check our attitude and our humility before the Lord. He desires, no, He requires a righteous people. H. A. Ironside said, “‘The righteous Lord loveth righteousness,’ and will not connect His name with what is contrary to it.”
Echoes From the Campfire
There is a subtle awareness in the night. The darkness around you does not sleep; it is awake, alert, sensing. It is alive to movement, and feels the changes in the air, the smell, the temperatures.”
–Louis L’Amour (North to the Rails)
“The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
–Matthew 4:16 (ESV)
———————————-
“Shadows tonight have struck more terror than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers.”
–William Shakespeare
My Grandpa was a night watchman for Western Cutlery. Why is it that companies have to hire someone to be a guard over the premises and the goods at night? Because, the night is when evil lurks about all the more, when evil is done more frequently. When you read Psalm 134, ponder the night watches where the shadows move about.
1 — Behold, bless the LORD, all your servants of the LORD, who by night stand in the house of the LORD!
2 — Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
3 — The LORD who made heaven and earth bless you from Zion! (NKJV)
This is the last psalm of ascent. Perhaps darkness is falling as they finish their climb and see the Temple. Darkness is falling so they rush to the Temple before the doors close. Or maybe it is speaking of those who remain in the Temple after the pilgrims have made their sacrifice and are readying themselves to go home. Who are those who remain in the Temple? The priests. They remain, continuing to worship the Lord. They continue to worship after others have left.
Steven Lawson states that, “Worship is not to be a performance before men but a proclamation before God. It is not the entertainment of men but the exaltation of God.” How many times have I seen people doing “pogo-stick” worship to hype themselves, but also to show how “religious” they are. True worship must be “built upon the deep exposition of the Word.” (Lawson)
If you are in a dark time, or if you see darkness looming ahead, think for a moment not about the situation but about God’s Word. His Word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. (Psalm 119:105) If you want to get out of the darkness, get into the Word. If you want to worship in spirit and truth, get into the Word. I like what John MacArthur says regarding worship, “You must first take a church down deep in the Word if you would lead them up high in worship. The depth determines the height. The depth in the Word determines the height in worship. Shallowness in the Word leads to shallowness in worship.” The priests remain, worshiping for what has taken place, and then worshiping as they continue in their faithfulness to God.
Some of these priests doubtless were on “night guard.” I remember in basic training that possibly the worst thing that could happen was to fall asleep on guard duty at night. Woe to that person if caught. Worship must be a lifestyle; worship during the day, but also worship in the night. Worship in the good times of celebration, but also worship in times of distress and trouble. Worship when the house is full, yet continue to worship when you are alone.
The priests of the night time–what an awesome responsibility. George O. Wood explains this importance, “It’s the people who kept the night watch of intercession who now make it possible for you to enter: God’s special priests who do not punch the clock of duty, but who tarry long hours until every last pilgrim coming up the mountainside has had a chance to make it inside the gates of pearl.” These are those who do not walk off the job. These are the ones who are faithful in the night watch. There are those who may say, “that’s not my job,” ahh, but friend, we are to be a holy priesthood, therefore, we must be ready for the night watch when others are sleeping.
William J. Petersen relates, “Whether your way is shrouded in shadows, whether your work is completely in the dark, or whether you feel that you’re merely standing and waiting, your task is to bless the Lord anyway.” Some who are blind, in total darkness, often see more than those with eyes that are not blind. Read of Fanny Crosby who said, “If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it.” Another time she stated, “I sometimes think that blind people see more than their friends who have the power of vision.” Or look at the works of the blind poet John Milton who made this observation when he wrote “On His Blindness.” “Who best bear his mild yoke, they serve his best… They also serve who only stand and wait.”
“Bless, O my soul! the living God:
Call home thy thoughts that rove abroad;
Let all the powers within me join
In work and worship so divine.”
–Isaac Watts
“The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
–Matthew 4:16 (ESV)
———————————-
“Shadows tonight have struck more terror than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers.”
–William Shakespeare
My Grandpa was a night watchman for Western Cutlery. Why is it that companies have to hire someone to be a guard over the premises and the goods at night? Because, the night is when evil lurks about all the more, when evil is done more frequently. When you read Psalm 134, ponder the night watches where the shadows move about.
1 — Behold, bless the LORD, all your servants of the LORD, who by night stand in the house of the LORD!
2 — Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
3 — The LORD who made heaven and earth bless you from Zion! (NKJV)
This is the last psalm of ascent. Perhaps darkness is falling as they finish their climb and see the Temple. Darkness is falling so they rush to the Temple before the doors close. Or maybe it is speaking of those who remain in the Temple after the pilgrims have made their sacrifice and are readying themselves to go home. Who are those who remain in the Temple? The priests. They remain, continuing to worship the Lord. They continue to worship after others have left.
Steven Lawson states that, “Worship is not to be a performance before men but a proclamation before God. It is not the entertainment of men but the exaltation of God.” How many times have I seen people doing “pogo-stick” worship to hype themselves, but also to show how “religious” they are. True worship must be “built upon the deep exposition of the Word.” (Lawson)
If you are in a dark time, or if you see darkness looming ahead, think for a moment not about the situation but about God’s Word. His Word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. (Psalm 119:105) If you want to get out of the darkness, get into the Word. If you want to worship in spirit and truth, get into the Word. I like what John MacArthur says regarding worship, “You must first take a church down deep in the Word if you would lead them up high in worship. The depth determines the height. The depth in the Word determines the height in worship. Shallowness in the Word leads to shallowness in worship.” The priests remain, worshiping for what has taken place, and then worshiping as they continue in their faithfulness to God.
Some of these priests doubtless were on “night guard.” I remember in basic training that possibly the worst thing that could happen was to fall asleep on guard duty at night. Woe to that person if caught. Worship must be a lifestyle; worship during the day, but also worship in the night. Worship in the good times of celebration, but also worship in times of distress and trouble. Worship when the house is full, yet continue to worship when you are alone.
The priests of the night time–what an awesome responsibility. George O. Wood explains this importance, “It’s the people who kept the night watch of intercession who now make it possible for you to enter: God’s special priests who do not punch the clock of duty, but who tarry long hours until every last pilgrim coming up the mountainside has had a chance to make it inside the gates of pearl.” These are those who do not walk off the job. These are the ones who are faithful in the night watch. There are those who may say, “that’s not my job,” ahh, but friend, we are to be a holy priesthood, therefore, we must be ready for the night watch when others are sleeping.
William J. Petersen relates, “Whether your way is shrouded in shadows, whether your work is completely in the dark, or whether you feel that you’re merely standing and waiting, your task is to bless the Lord anyway.” Some who are blind, in total darkness, often see more than those with eyes that are not blind. Read of Fanny Crosby who said, “If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it.” Another time she stated, “I sometimes think that blind people see more than their friends who have the power of vision.” Or look at the works of the blind poet John Milton who made this observation when he wrote “On His Blindness.” “Who best bear his mild yoke, they serve his best… They also serve who only stand and wait.”
“Bless, O my soul! the living God:
Call home thy thoughts that rove abroad;
Let all the powers within me join
In work and worship so divine.”
–Isaac Watts