–1 Peter 2:19 (NLT)
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Frustrations…do you ever find them in your life?  It is important that we remember that God is there–He is with us every step of the journey.  Martin Luther said, “Our life is a beginning and a progress, not a consummation.”  Even if there is one great event in your life, it is only a part, not the whole.  We see in the first part of Psalm 132 a remembrance of the suffering of David when the ark was taken by the Philistines and David promising the Lord a royal house.

          1 — LORD, remember David and all his afflictions;
          2 — How he swore to the LORD, and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:
          3 — “Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house, or go up to the comfort of my bed;
          4 — I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,
          5 — Until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
          6 — Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of the woods.
          7 — Let us go into His tabernacle; let us worship at His footstool.
          8 — Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength.
          9 — Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let Your saints shout for joy.  (NKJV)

     David had a dream, one that was in his mind constantly.  To build a house for the Lord.  George Wood draws our attention to the fact that of all that David had to endure.  He is a “model for those who have been spiritually or emotionally bloodied and bandaged.”  He continues, “Hardships.  A lifetime of adversity summarized in two syllables.”  Then of the life of David and all that he went through; the ups and downs, the successes and failures.  One of the things that enabled David to endure was his dream–the dream of building a house for the Lord.
     We know that this did not happen.  It was David’s son, Solomon who built the temple.  David never witnessed the fulfillment of his dream.  Dreams–that is almost a magical word.  Some dreams are fleeting, some are fantasy.  Some may be realized, but for one reason or another are never brought to completion.  David had a “consuming passion to build the temple, a request denied by God.” (Steven Lawson)  A couple of things to remember:  one, make sure your dream is in the will of God and not contrary to His Word; and second, endure, most dreams are not fulfilled overnight.  William J. Petersen states, “God wants you to have dreams and goals and ambitions, but don’t analyze your progress at every bend in the road.  How God measures you and how you measure yourself may be two different things.”
     But this house that he wanted to build for God, wasn’t that beyond comprehension?  God is a spirit and does not dwell in houses or buildings made by man.  Or does He?  Haven’t you ever been in the house of God–the church, and felt His overwhelming presence?  It is not the building, it is what it represents.  “What truly counts is the spiritual reality of what happens inside that place–the purity of the pulpit, the fidelity of the ministries, and the sincerity of the hearts.  This is what makes God’s house a true place of worship.” (Lawson)
     Ah, but look at one more aspect.  As you endure your suffering and afflictions remember that your body is now the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Are you willing, are you trying to make it a dwelling place for Him?  The journey upward is not an easy one, but the dream, the desire must always be there–to have a place where the Holy Spirit dwells.  “Perhaps you’re very restless because you don’t see any progress or hint of resolution in the problems you’re dealing with.  You will outlast your trouble if you refuse to give in to it; if you keep your eyes instead on what is most important–living in a way that pleases God.” (Wood)  
     We are a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9) therefore we are to be clothed with righteousness.  Not our righteousness, oh no, but that of Jesus Christ.  In our daily activities as a “priest” we are to be holy for we represent the house of the Spirit.  We are to endure, taking up our cross daily, and with joy sing and shout as we continue upward and onward to glory.

               “Lord Jesus Christ, the work is thine,
               No ours, but thine alone;
               And prospered by thy power divine
               Can ne’er be overthrown.”
                     –German hymn, translated by Frank Houghton

                    –Kenneth Pratt  (The Wolves of Windsor Ridge)

       “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.”

                    –Isaiah 32:17 (NIV)
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          “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  –Luke 2:14 (KJV)  Bah, humbug!  Where is the promised peace?  Look at the world, look at the inhumanity to humanity.  Look at the terror, the wars, the pestilence, the disasters, the crime, the racism — hmpf, where is the peace?
     Perhaps you have heard some state that or something similar.  Perhaps you have thought the same.  The first thing that will help is to look at another translation.  The King James is a good translation, but in some places it misses the point or is confusing.
          “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.”  (NASB)
          “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  (NIV)
          “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!”  (HCSB)
          “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”  (ESV)
Not all will have peace.  It comes only to those who have a relationship with the heavenly Father.  If you’ve ever been to a symphony and one instrument is out of tune, or one string is broken there is discord.  The instruments must all be in tune for harmony–for peace.  John Henry Jowett says, “Peace is the outcome of certain relationships, and when those relationships are secured then peace is assured.”  
     A proper relationship is required.  Jesus came to bring man back into proper relationship with God.  “Peace is to spread everywhere this child is received.” (John Piper)  Accept Jesus and you will experience the peace He brings.  Paul states, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1, NASB).  Where there is faith, there is peace.  True peace, then, is born out of faith in Christ.  The Old Testament Prophet Isaiah assured us, “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3, NKJV)  God’s peace is offered to the world, but only those who accept Jesus receive it.   To receive this peace that is offered we must go to Jesus the Peacemaker.  He must be the “most glorious Person in your life” (Piper).   We read in Ephesians 2:14, “He Himself is our peace…”  Therefore we see that we cannot separate this peace from Christ.
     Peace, the real peace that Christ offers, cannot be manufactured.  It does not come through global institutions or organizations.  Laws, policies, and politics cannot bring the peace that is “to rule in our hearts.” (Colossians 3:15)  See, peace is not foundational; it is not a root.  Peace is the “Fruit of personal rightness with God.” (Jowett)  Peace can be the absence of conflict and animosity, but it is also the presence of joyful tranquility. (Piper)  It is personal; it is an experience and a relationship with Jesus Christ that brings peace.
     One more thought, notice the beginning of verse in Luke 2–“Glory to God…”  That’s where peace begins.  When the heart has accepted Christ and we begin to give glory to God then we have true, inner peace, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7, NKJV)  Jowett states, “If only we would give glory to God in the highest, peace on earth is sure, and goodwill among men is secured.”
     Let peace rule in your heart, begin now in these early days of the Christmas season.  Keep your mind stayed upon Him, for then, and only then will you have peace.  Live for Him, let your life bring Him glory.  Realize that peace comes only through faith in Jesus and that “Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.” (Psalm 85:10, NKJV)

                    –Psalm 141:9 (NKJV)
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“More, more, more — give me more!” the people cry.  “I want my fill, I have my rights!  Why shouldn’t I be given higher wages?  Why shouldn’t the government pay off my loans?  Why, why why?  More, more, more!”  Let’s look closely at Proverbs chapter 1:

          (NKJV)
          17 — Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird;
          18 — But they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives.
          19 — So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners.
          (ESV)
          17 — For vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird,
          18 — but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.
          19 — Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of it possessors.
The NIV puts that last phrase of verse 18, “they waylay only themselves!”
     Bob Beasley gives us a warning, “Establish this principle early on in life:  ‘You can never, ever get away with sin.'”  That’s one reason the prisons are full.  Don’t be deceived but heed what the Bible says:
           “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”   –Galatians 6:7 (NKJV)
           “They sow the wind, And reap the whirlwind…”   –Hosea 8:7 (NKJV)
Men set a trap, but do not realize that they will step into their own snares.  Man hungers for more, he covets what others have, he lusts to please his own greedy desires.  “This greed, when full grown, is coarse and cruel.  It has no bowls.  It marches right to its mark, treading on everything that lies in the way.” (William Arnot)  So is the way of wickedness.  
     I recall the Prophet Elijah confronting the royal couple because of their greed that led to murder.  “And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says:  ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’  (There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.  He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols…” (1 Kings 21:23,25-26, NIV)  Or what about Haman, who built gallows for Mordecai?  He was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.  (Esther 7:9-10)  Remember the old saying, “If you play with matches you’ll burn your fingers.”
     It would do us well to examine the path we are on.  Don’t just plod along, but take care where you place your foot.  One way to stay away from the trap that is set is to stay on the straight path.  That path is always upward, heading towards glory.  “The way of sin is down hill; men only cannot stop themselves, but, the longer they continue in it, the faster they run and make haste in it, as if they were afraid they should not do mischief enough, and were resolved to lose no time.” (Matthew Henry)  
     Life is serious, but too many think of it only to fit their needs.  More, more, more, or as from “Finding Nemo — ‘Mine, mine, mine!'”  Listen, as Warren Wiersbe points out, “You’re free to take what you want from life, but eventually you’ll have to pay for it, and the price you pay is higher than the value you gain.  You end up sacrificing the permanent for the immediate, and that’s a bad investment.”  Dare a person sacrifice honor and integrity for selfish gain?  Shame to say, many have done so, and will continue to do so.  
     Notice that “these men are plotting with their eyes wide open.” (Samuel Miller)  They are laying the trap, and soon they will step in the ways of their own making. (Hmm, is this what will happen to those in high seats of government in our country?  Time will tell.)  But no matter if they are not caught up in this life there is a righteous God before whom all men and women will one day stand.  Yes indeed, to sell one’s soul to gratify fleshly and earthly desires is a bad investment in the light of eternity.
     No matter how much morality is diluted; how much wokeism and relative truth is thrown at us–God’s Word still stands true and man will be judged by it.  It is not man’s opinions that count, but the eternal Word of God.  Man is fussy, flexible, and fickle, but the Bible is a sure foundation–tried, tested, true, and stable.  Yes, my friend, “the study of wisdom is a matter of life and death.”

                    –Job 27:6 (NASB)
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Matthew Henry states, “Where God has a mouth to speak, we must have an ear to hear; it is our duty, it is our interest; yet so stupid are most men, that they to be again and again called upon to hear the word of the Lord; to give audience, to give attention; hear this word.”  He doesn’t mince words–men are stupid when they do not listen to the Word of the Lord.  
     Listen to the prophet:  Hear God’s Word!

5.1 — Hear this word which I take up against you, a lamentation, O house of Israel:      5.1 — Hear this word which I am taking up for you as a song or mourning house of Israel:
5.2 — The virgin of Israel has fallen; she will rise no more.  She lies forsaken on           5.2 — She has fallen, she will not rise again–the virgin Israel.  She lies unnoticed on her
her land; there is no one to raise her up.                                                                         land; there is no one to raise her up.
5.3 — For thus says the Lord GOD:  “The city that goes out by a thousand shall            5.3 — For this is what the Lord GOD says:  “The city which goes forth a thousand strong
have a hundred left, and that which goes out by a hundred shall have ten left to           will have a hundred left, and the one which goes forth a hundred strong will have ten left
the house of Israel.”  (NKJV)                                                                                           to the house of Israel.”  (NASB)

Amos is mourning Israel; there is bad news.  These verses are a lament or dirge over Israel.  Note that lamenting is usually done after death.  What is the prophet doing?  It is a time of festivities at Bethel; Israel is prosperous, yet here this prophet is singing a dirge over its death.  He is preaching a funeral sermon to the nation of Israel, much like was told to John, “You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” (Revelation 3:1, NKJV)  Inside the nation was rotten.  As Warren W. Wiersbe says, “The way we treat God’s Word is the way we treat God.”  It would do the United States to take a deep, hearty look inside to see the rottenness and the wickedness as it has turned away from the morality of God’s Word.  Look inside, before the cancer eats away at the innards.
     Listen to the Word of God — America:  Hear God’s Word!
     Death is upon you.  Hope and dreams and aspirations are gone.  “The virgin has fallen; she will rise no more.”  The corpse will be left to rot.  A rotting body leaves a stench, and the prophet knows that it is already decaying inside.  The army and mighty men will not be able to help; they will not be able to withstand the might of the Assyrians.  
     Wiersbe points out, “There can be no victory when the Lord has abandoned you to your fate, because you have abandoned Him.”  Wake up!  Do not mock God!  Hear God’s Word–repent for now is the day of salvation.  Recall the blessing proclaimed in Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…” (NKJV)
     Hear, O Israel, the Word of the Lord — Listen, O people of America and heed the Word of the Lord.  Perhaps there is still time.  “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?  Show us Your mercy, LORD, and grant us Your salvation.  I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly.  Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.” (Psalm 85:6-9, NKJV)  Only when we fear the Lord and obey His Word will He smile upon us.  Is the prophet beginning His death chant?  Let it not be Lord, but let us turn to You.