Sept 20 - Psalm 22:1

My God, my God!

Why have you forsaken me?

Psalm 22:1

Psalm 22 is arguably one of the five or ten most important passages of the entire Old Testament.

Why? Well, ask yourself where have you heard this phrase before?

It’s not just in the Psalms. We’ve heard it from our Savior on the cross too. “At about three o'clock” in the afternoon, on the day of his crucifixion, “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Mt 27:46).

One of three things was happening as Jesus uttered this cry …

•      This was absolutely the most horrifying moment in history. The presence of God abandoned the Son of God.

God – specifically God-the-Son – allowed himself to literally die. And while it might have been for a greater purpose – to conquer sin and death and save humanity – his death is no less terrible.

•      Faithful Jews, like Jesus, knew the Psalms by heart. In fact, they often utilized a short-handed method of praying the Psalms: saying the first line of a Psalm counted – especially in times of distress – as praying the whole Psalm. Therefore, while Jesus was certainly lamenting his awful forsakenness, he was also praying every blessing of this Psalm as well. He was saying, “Because of this sacrifice on the cross …

•      ²⁷ People from every nation … will acknowledge the LORD and return to him.’
•      ²⁹ Mortals – … born to die – [will] bow down in [God’s] presence.’
•      ³¹ [God’s] righteous acts will be told to those yet unborn. They will hear about everything he has done.’
•      ²⁶ All who seek the Lord … will rejoice with everlasting joy.’

In other words, while Jesus’ prayer on the cross began with agony and defeat, it simultaneously pointed to hope and light.

•      The third reason for citing this verse, reveals why Psalm 22 is so powerful and significant. By praying this passage, Jesus was reminding the faithful – those in his day and all of the believers yet to come – of the profound and specific prophecies that come from God!

•      ⁶ I am scorned and despised by all!” On Palm Sunday, the crowds cheered Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, but a week later he was scorned. The people who once praised him, now called as a mob for his violent death.
•      ⁷ Everyone who sees me mocks me.” At the crucifixion, leaders, soldiers, and crowds repeatedly mocked him.
•      What did this oppression feel like? Probably like Psalm 22:12-13, “My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls … Like roaring lions attacking their prey ...”  
•       ⁸ ‘Is this the one who relies on the LORD? Then let the LORD save him!’ At the cross, “the leaders laughed and scoffed,” teasing and tempting Jesus with this exact sentiment, “‘He saved others, … let him save himself if he is really God's Chosen One, the Messiah’” (Lk 23:35).
•      ¹⁴ My life is poured out like water …” Those who are familiar with communion surely remember his blood poured out for us, but when the soldiers saw that he was dead and “pierced his side with a spear … blood and water flowed out” (Jn 19:34).
•      Can’t you just imagine the pain of crucifixion, as Jesus cries and the Psalms prophesy, “¹⁴ all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me.”
•      ¹⁵ My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.” One of the seven last words was, “I thirst.” They “fill[ed] a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him to drink” (Mk 15:36).
•      ¹⁶ They have pierced my hands and feet.” If the specificity hasn’t hit you yet, stop and marvel here at the specificity of God’s Word. Several hundred years before crucifixion was even invented, Psalm 22 was prophesying the manner of the Messiah’s death. If people want to doubt, many details of a charlatan’s life could be faked. But we don’t get to control the manner in which we die. Even Roman documentation (see the records of Tacitus) record the crucifixion of “Christus” under the reign of Pontius Pilate.
•      ¹⁸ They divide my clothes among themselves and throw dice for my garments.” Again, it’s exactly what the disciples record.

Which of these three explanations do you find most helpful?

Me? I think it’s all three! God is active, alive, and in control of the events of this earth. Let us praise him.

In Christ’s Love,

A guy who wants to fulfill verse 26 …

“all who seek the Lord …

Will rejoice with everlasting joy”

Sept 19 - Psalm 21:5

Your victory brings

[the king] great honor.

Psalm 21:5

Psalm 21 is a victory song. “³ Success and prosperity” have come to the land. Though “⁸ enemies” once threatened, the king’s life has been “⁴ preserve[d].” Now “³ a crown of finest gold [rests safely] on his head,” and “¹ shouts [of] joy” echo across the kingdom. Indeed, “¹ the king rejoices.”

As the history books are written, who always gets credit for the victories? Kings and generals and mighty warriors.

But the scriptures remind us who really ought to get the credit: “¹ O Lord … ⁵ Your victory brings [the king] great honor.”

Kings like to claim credit. So do most of us. We’re prideful. We want to be self-sufficient. But if life is a game of chess, then God is the chessmaster and we’re just knights and pawns and rooks. In fact, even if we were to rise as tall as a king on this chessboard called earth, true victory would still only come from God’s omnipotent hand.

But a strange thing happens when we humble ourselves – like the king in this Psalm – and admit that we’re little more than pawns. God lifts us up. He “⁶ endow[s us] with eternal blessings.” He “⁶ give[s us] the joy of being in [his] presence.”

When the King of Heaven makes us his children, we become princes and princesses. And that’s not a position of pride; that’s a gift from relationship.

In Christ’s Love,

a prince when I realize I’m a pawn,

a pawn when I think I’m a prince

Sept 18 - Psalm 20:1

In times of trouble …

may the God of Israel

keep you safe from all harm.

Psalm 20:1

The Irish have a famous old prayer. It’s a perfect blessing for a friend who’s embarking on a grand adventure …

May the road rise up to meet you,

may the wind be ever at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face

and the rain fall softly on your fields.

And until we meet again,

may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

May … may … may … may … Time and again, God is asked if he may and might bless a good friend’s journey.

That’s what this Psalm is too, another famous old blessing. Nine times in the first five verses, God is asked if he may and might bless a good friend’s life …

•      ¹ May the Lord respond to your cry … in times of trouble.
•      ¹ May the God of Israel keep you safe from all harm.
•      ² May he send you help from his sanctuary.
•      ² May he … strengthen you …
•      ³ May he remember all your gifts.
•      ³ May he look favorably on your burnt offerings.
•      ⁴ May he grant your heart's desire.
•      ⁴ May he … fulfill all your plans. …
•      ⁵ May the LORD answer all your prayers.

Here’s what I would like to suggest today … Read back through this list, and attach a name beside each of these petitions. Who do you know, for example, who is in times of trouble and needs a response to their cry? Who do you know who needs to be kept safe from harm today?

Now pray those names again with additional confidence from Psalm 20, saying, “⁶ I know that the LORD saves … He will answer …”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s excited about

your life’s adventure

Sept 16 - Psalm 19:7

The law of

the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul.

Psalm 19:7

Do you view “the law” as good or bad?

Wait … let’s ask this another way.

When you’re cruising down the interstate and see a police car, do you smile and think, “Thank heavens for that kind-hearted police officer. He’s keeping me safe”? Or do you curse your bad luck and pray that someone else will get stopped?

When we’re good, the law seems good. But when we’re pushing our luck, the law is a hindrance … an inconvenience … a burdensome bother.

I like to use the image of sports.

Is the rule book good or bad? Imagine playing baseball when …

•      Sometimes three strikes is an out … but other times you get just one.
•      Sometimes hitting the ball over the fence is a homerun … but other times it causes you to be ejected from the game.
•      Sometimes you can throw with your right hand … other times it allows the other team to have an extra at bat.
•      And there’s no warning. The umpire can change the rules at any moment. 

Without the rule book, the game would be chaos.

Similarly, without God’s rule book, life would be chaos.

•      Sometimes you get three strikes and forgiveness … other times you’ve permanently separated yourself from God with the first mistake.
•      Sometimes when someone strikes you on right cheek, you should turn the left cheek too … other times they’re allowed to just shoot you in the cheek.
•      Sometimes when you stand up against false authority, it’s cheered in heaven like a homerun … other times insulting any earthly authority will condemn you to hell.
•      And there’s no warning. God can change the rules at any moment.

That would be chaos, wouldn’t it? If God was not a Lord of consistency and order, we’d never know where we stood. It’d be frightening. And life itself would be uncertain.

God’s law designed to bless us and protect us. After all, a life without people stealing from us, cheating on us, lying about us, or shooting at us is obviously more blessed and secure.

So why do so many people call Christianity legalistic? And why do WE constantly chafe against the burdens of the law?

Why? It’s the same reason we drive faster than the speed limit and curse at the police officers. We think we have a better way.

God knows our future. He has a glorious plan for our life. He wants to bless here and now and forever. And yet from our limited vantage point, we think we have a better way.

It’s pride. And as Proverbs 16:18 reminds us, “Pride goeth before … a fall.”

In Christ’s Love,

an average ballplayer who’s

pridefully ignored the advice of the coach

… yet one who’s also learned to listen – on occasion –

and even after he strikes out has The Manger

pick him up, dust him off, and put him back in

Sept 12 - Psalm 18:25-26

To the faithful you show yourself faithful;

to those with integrity you show integrity.

To the pure you show yourself pure,

but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.

Psalm 18:25-26

“How long, O Lord?”

Have you ever cried that?

We all want for there to be justice. Indeed, we expect for our God to be noble and just. In fact, if God isn’t just and life isn’t fair, then sometimes we’re not really sure he really “deserves” to be called “God.” (Now, we may not say that to his face, but isn’t that how we occasionally feel?)

Thus, the question has always been, “If God is God, and God is just, then why are there so many injustices in the world?!”

We want the scales to be balanced. We want Psalm 18:25-26 to come true … daily. We yearn for our acts of faithfulness to be met with God’s prompt and obvious faithfulness. We want the pure to experience God’s purity, and we expect for the upright to experience His integrity. Similarly, we think that the wicked ought to occasionally get a little taste of their own medicine, right?!

What percentage of the time do you settle for the explanation that God will work all things out in the end? Conversely, what percentage of the time do you want to demand a little justice right now?

Here’s the problem with immediate justice: Our Lord and King turned the rule and dominion of this world over to us – see Genesis 1:26. In Genesis 3, however, we turned the rule and dominion of this world over to the serpent. It’s not that God couldn’t just reassert his authority, but he’s waiting for us to act first.

He waits for us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,”

He wants us to put our stake in the ground.

He wants us to declare war against the forces of injustice.

He wants us to be instruments of his peace.

In one of my most careful readings of Revelation, I caught a glimpse of a bowl that sits in front of the Lord. In one of these bowls – see Revelation 6:9-11 – we see God collecting the persistent cries for justice by the faithful – “10 Sovereign Lord … how long will it be before you judge and avenge our blood …?”

How long? I couldn’t help but seeing God crying along with us; nevertheless, “11 they were … told to [wait and] rest a little longer.”

The question is this: If God is so just and earth’s inhumanity is so painful, why does he wait?  

It’s grace.

He’s allowing time for one more sinner to repent.

And then another … and another.

Thank God he does! Otherwise, every one of us – including you and me – might have already tasted the awful recompense for our own unique sin.

In Christ’s Love,

an impatient person

who’s glad that God

occasionally waits

Sept 9 - Psalm 18:46 (Part 3)

The LORD lives!

Blessed be my rock!

May the God of

my salvation be exalted!

Psalm 18:46

Part one of our analysis of Psalm 18 deals with attack. Part two deals with rescue. Part three – if we want all of the exclamation points in verse 46 – is response, our proper response to God generosity.

In verses 18 and 19, it’s easy see our first two themes, attack and rescue. David says …

18 They attacked me at a moment when I was weakest,

but the LORD ... 19 led me to a place of safety ...

What is David’s response to God’s generosity? Celebration!

46 The LORD lives! Blessed be my rock!

May the God of my salvation be exalted!

You may know that as a popular American hymn of celebration. I do too! When God rescues, we ought to respond with praise and worship. (And we’d better pray we’re not like the nine of the ten lepers who forgot to come back and give thanks – see Luke 17.)

Blessing and exultation are the main themes in verse 46, but those aren’t most important realization. The greatest truth of Psalm 18 is that “the LORD lives!”

Many of us believe in God in theory. David believed in him in fact. Now, some will say “faith implies uncertainty or else it would be called fact not faith.” There is obviously some truth to that. But for David, he kept seeing God’s hand, God’s action, God’s power, and God’s grace. It wasn’t theory. It was reality.

The world scoffs at that kind of conviction. Why? Usually because they haven’t seen that evidence. That’s where faith begins. Even when we’re not sure we’ve seen God’s hand clearly, we are convicted. As it says in Hebrews 11:1, “faith is … the conviction of things not seen” (NRSV).

I pray that this is where all faith starts. But then I pray that …

•      as we grow in trust, we start looking for his presence …
•      and as we look daily for his presence, we’re going to begin seeing his hand more clearly …
•      and when we see his presence more actively, we’ll enter more fully into today’s third activity – a response with exclamation points!

In verse 46, that response is celebration!

In verse 1, that response is love! David says …

1 I love you, LORD; you are my strength ...

2 my rock, my fortress ... my savior ...

my shield ... my salvation ... my stronghold ...

Why does David love God? Because he’s grown to love him in a fact, and in spite of life’s circumstances, David knows God as his rock, fortress, and salvation.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who likes a life with

exclamation points!!!!!!!!

Sept 8 - Psalm 18:46 (Part 2)

The LORD lives!

Blessed be my rock!

May the God of

my salvation be exalted!

Psalm 18:46

In part one of our examination of Psalm 18, David cried to the Lord for help. In part two, here’s how God answered …

7 Then the earth quaked ... because of his anger.

9 He opened the heavens and came down ...

11 He shrouded himself in darkness, ...

with dense rain clouds.

12 [But] the brilliance of his presence

broke through the clouds. ...

14 His lightning flashed ... He shot his arrows.

[He] scattered his enemies ...

16 He reached down from heaven and rescued me ...

God absolutely quakes with anger when there’s injustice in this world.

But here’s the hard part … we don’t always see it. We don’t always see his answer. Sometimes God’s presence seems cloaked in clouds and darkness. Has God ever seemed slow or missing to you?

When trouble comes, we want the answer we want … and we want it when we want it.

•      Now, God sometimes literally and visibly saves us from the storm. That’s what we’re always hoping, and when we can see God’s hand in our timing, it’s awesome.
• 
  
•       But that’s not the only form of rescue. Other times, God saves us through the storms. God often helps us ride out the violence of the waves and the violence of the world. His answer may not have come in the form we hoped or the timing we wished for, but it’s no less kind or gracious.
• 
  
•      A final way in which God saves us is in spite of the storm. Now, this is by far our least favorite form of rescue – but let me be clear, it’s no less gracious. Too often evil seems to win. Too often on earth there’s destruction, death, and defeat. Without a confidence in heaven, we could literally have no hope. But when we cry out in faith, God will always “reach down from heaven and rescue” his faithful. Now, his answer may not be defined as victory in human terms. But whenever and however he brings us up to heaven that’s victory indeed.

In spite of the trials of this earth, there is always hope and victory with God. We may not always see him, he may seem “shrouded … in darkness,” but he is always and definitely there.

And when we claim that faith in unseeing but unwavering faith, we inherit all of the exclamation points in verse 46.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who has

a personal lifeguard

Sept 7 - Psalm 18:46 (Part 1)

The LORD lives!

Blessed be my rock!

May the God of

my salvation be exalted!

Psalm 18:46

Psalm 18 is a long Psalm, but it tells an important story. Indeed, if we make it the cry of our heart, we get all of the exclamation points found in verse 46!

Here’s the simple story. Part one …

6 In my distress I cried out to the LORD ...

My cry reached his ears ...

Point one, when there’s trouble in life, don’t try to conquer it yourself. Cry out to the Lord! Ask for help. The call will reach his ears. God will reach down. And if we watch carefully, we will see his hand, and then we can cry out like David …

28 LORD, you have brought light to my life ...

29 In your strength I can crush an army;

with my God I can scale any wall. ...

In Christ’s Love,

a Philippians 4:13 kind of guy

(I can do all things through

Christ who strengthens me.)

Sept 6 - Psalm 17:15

When I awake,

I will be fully satisfied,

for I will see you face to face.

Psalm 17:15

Psalm 17 is a cry for help.

Have you ever had no other option than falling on your knees?

Life is tough. Hatred batters us. Injustice undercuts us. Greed robs us. Sickness pains us. Death grieves us. We’re too often worried, angry, helpless, and alone.

But you’re not alone.

Bookending Psalm 17’s cry for help is 1) a prayer of confidence at the beginning and 2) the reason for confidence at the end.

The prayer of confidence is: “6 I know you will answer.”

Do you have that confidence? Today’s verse tells us why David had such surety. He says his confidence and “satisf[action]” comes from knowing that “when I wake [O Lord] … I will see you face to face.”

Worry comes ultimately from a fear of death. But we don’t have to have fear when we know that when we awake from death, we will be blessed to see God face to face.

Do you have that confidence?

Too many people worry and fear that their sins are so black that they can never be forgiven. Let me remind you that if Jesus can forgive the very people who nailed him to the cross – “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34) – then he can certainly forgive you!

Having that confidence can allow us to pray, “6 I know you will answer.”

The confidence of heaven can also allow us to awaken daily to an earthly satisfaction. Knowing God and trusting in his saving help can help us see evidence of him each new morn.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s not a morning person

but has learned to see God more clearly

(even through the morning fog)

Sept 5 - Psalm 17:1

O LORD, hear my plea for justice.

Listen to my cry for help.

Pay attention to my prayer,

for it comes from an honest heart.

Psalm 17:1

“Pay attention to my prayer because __________.”

How does David fill in that blank? It’s the way we all ought to fill in that blank.

And yet we don’t.

Our hearts aren’t honest and clean. We knowingly break his commandments. And yet in the very areas of our rebellion, we still expect God to bless us.

•      Even as unmarried couples move in together, they ask God to bless their relationship.
•      Even as husbands cheat on their wives, they beg God to bless them with greater joy.
•      Even as a wife refuses to forgive, she prays that God will improve her marriage.
•      Even as children lie to their parents, they pray for more freedom.
•      Even as parents fail to spend time with their children, they ask God to fix their child.
•      Even as good churchgoers refuse to tithe, they want God to give them financial blessings.
•      Even as people refuse to take care of their bodies, they beg God to heal them.
•      Even as employees are lazy and ungrateful, they ask God to help them get a promotion and a raise.
•      Even as nice people fudge on their taxes, they complain to God about how life is not fair.
•      Even as good Christians fail to spend time daily in prayer, they expect God to snap to attention when a need arises.

Ouch. Hopefully some of those struck close to home.

Indeed, hopefully this list encouraged you to examine your own life and add a few more. Confession is often the beginning of greater healing and richer blessing.

God’s second greatest desire is to bless us. He yearns to answer our prayers. He wants to fill our lives with love, joy, and peace. But his second purpose never trumps his first.

God’s first and greatest desire is relationship. But we can’t fully know him when we aren’t even honest with ourselves.

Therefore, while most lives are always filled with incredible general blessings – we’re surrounded by the beauty of creation and good people made in God’s image – our Lord may withhold specific blessings until we yield our lives to him. Indeed, he may break us before he blesses us.

In today’s Psalm, David had a serious request – “9 protect me from wicked people who attack me.” Nevertheless, before he prayed, David first examined his heart. Indeed, this future king engaged in a three-step process before assuming it was proper to make a request to God. Obviously, we might do well to follow his advice …

      Review: Before praying, David searches his own heart. Now, it might sound prideful and presumptuous if any of us say, like David, “1 my prayer … comes from an honest heart.” But let’s remember that few people in history yielded their spirit to God like David did. And let’s assume that before he prayed, “1 O LORD … listen to my cry for help … for it comes from an honest heart,” David actually examined his heart to determine if there were areas that were impure.

      Repent: Do you know the difference between confession and repentance? Confession is acknowledging that we have sin. Repentance is acknowledging our sin and taking active steps to turn from it. When David says, “3 I am determined not to sin in what I say,” he’s acknowledging his temptation to use his tongue to curse and lie and tear down others, but he repents from this desire, determining not to speak in this manner.

      Recommit: In addition to confessing his sins, David confesses his faith! And it is an active faith, not a passive faith. David praises God, saying, “I am praying to you because I know you will answer.” In the midst of David’s trials, he is recommitting himself to faith … by doing what? Praying in confidence! In spite of hard circumstances, David’s prayer is an act of recommitment to God. Furthermore, in stating his desire to “4 follow [God’s] commands” and “stay[] on [God’s] path,” David is recommiting too.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who needs to

review, repent, and recommit

… daily

Sept 3 - Psalm 16:4

Those who chase after other gods

will be filled with sorrow.

Psalm 16:4

I shouldn’t doubt God’s wisdom. I especially shouldn’t doubt God’s commands. Nevertheless, I have a least favorite commandment.

           

It’s not one that you might imagine. It’s not some sin I’m aching to avoid. Rather, I just don’t see the point in it.

In the second commandment, God tells Moses and us, “"Do not make idols of any kind … You must never worship or bow down to them …” (Ex 20:4-5).

Now, let me backpedal a little from a first overstatement. I do see some point in this command. It would be silly to make clay frogs and say, “This represents the Lord God Almighty.” Other ancient religions did this.

It would be sillier still to proclaim that the God who made heaven and earth lived in objects made by human hands. (Paul chastised the Athenians about this in Acts 17:22-28)

With that said, however, I’ve never seen many truly faithful Christians picking out a favorite tree or a stuffed frog or a used Buick and imagining that God’s presence dwelled therein.

And yet we do it all the time.

How often have you heard a Christian say, “Well, I don’t envision God as a ________”? And we take some aspect of God described in the Bible, and we say, I don’t agree with that?

Have you ever done that?

•      Have you ever said, I view God as loving, but I could never conceive of him as angry. (And yet fourteen times, scripture specifically says: “the anger of the Lord was kindled.”)
•      Have you ever said, “my God is forgiving, but it sounds so harsh to call him a judge.” (And yet the New Testament is filled with the promise that God will “judge the living and the dead.”)
•      Have you ever heard anyone say, I could never believe in a God who sends people to hell. (First, God’s whole purpose is to invite people to heaven – not cast his children into hell! Nevertheless, hell is an undeniable destination as told repeatedly through the Biblical story.) 

The question is: Have you ever done that?

The answer is: When we do, we’ve made an idol.

It’s not an idol made with human hands. Nevertheless, it’s a false picture of God, forming in our minds. We are creating images of the Lord that are different from what scripture tells us that he really is.

We’d never be so blasphemous as to say, “God is in this clay frog.” And yet we regularly put the Lord in a box – loving but not judging, for example – and proudly tell others of the limited way in which we view him.

God is not the-God-of-the-box.

He’s infinitely bigger.

If you ever pause to think about this commandment, remember this advice: “Any depiction of God that makes our Lord seem smaller is probably false!”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who doesn’t chase after other gods,

(but has to occasionally chase

misconceptions out of his own head)

Sept 1 - 2 Chron 7:14

A solemn assembly has been declared in Charlotte. Have you ever heard of one of those?

The prophet Joel puts it like this …

Declare a holy fast;

call a SOLEMN ASSEMBLY.

Summon the elders

and all who live in the land

to the house of the Lord your God,

and cry out to the Lord.

Joel 1:14

2 Chronicles 7:14 discusses additional facets of this “cry … to the Lord.” It says …

“If my people who are called by my name …

•     humble themselves,
•     and pray
•     and seek my face,
•     and turn from their wicked ways [which is repentance again],

then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Have you sensed a growing uneasiness about the condition of our world? People’s prayers seem increasingly urgent. But the first prayer that’s needed is repentance. Repentance is always the first and necessary precondition for mercy and restoration.

Thus a solemn assembly is being called in Charlotte. It is this weekend. Eighty people from Spirit of Joy are already signed up. If you can’t come to Verizon Amphitheatre on Sunday, Sept 2, one of our council members will be at church from 3:00-4:00pm.

Let us pray for our nation. And let us start, as this event will, with our own individual repentance.

For more information, go to

www.charlotte714.com